New Town is a Prague district founded by King Charles IV in 1348 that was an independent town until 1784.
New Town is a Prague urban district and cadastral area of 3.34 km², of which 44 percent lies in the Prague 2 municipal district. It was founded in 1348 by King Charles IV and until 1784 was an independent town, before it became part of the Royal Capital City of Prague.[1]
Foundation
Charles IV announced his intention in a royal charter issued on 8 March 1348. Because of the scale and preparedness of the undertaking, historians assume that the planning work began before 1346. The aim was to enlarge the capital so that it could hold the growing number of Prague's inhabitants and the influx of foreigners, courtiers, students, teachers and nobility.[2] The founding charter of the university was issued less than a month later, on 4 April 1348. The foundation stone, in fact of the fortification wall, was laid on 26 March 1348.[2] Old Town and New Town were merged in December 1367.[2]
Before the founding of New Town, Prague consisted of the three towns of Hradčany, the Lesser Town of Prague and the Old Town of Prague. Charles IV decided to build, in the bend of the Vltava around the walls of Old Town, another, much more extensive fortification.[1]
Walls and squares
The belt of walls measured three and a half kilometres, the wall was six metres high and reinforced with square towers. According to period sources the fortification was built in two years. Four gates led into the town: Špitálská, Horská, Koňská and Svinská.[1] The New Town walls were largely demolished in the 1870s because of the growth of Prague.[1]
The basis of the layout was formed by three squares connected by regular streets. The Cattle Market, today's Charles Square, had an area of 85,550 m² and was among the largest squares in Europe. The Horse Market, today's Wenceslas Square, was an arterial route three quarters of a kilometre long and 60 metres wide, ending at the Horse Gate. The third was the Hay Market, today's Senovážné náměstí.[1][2] In 1354 a wooden tower was built in the middle of the Cattle Market, from which the imperial coronation jewels and relics of saints were shown every year, so that the town became an important place of pilgrimage.[2]
Construction and privileges
In the area within the walls a network of streets arose with one and a half thousand houses, a town hall and a number of churches and monasteries, among them Emmaus Monastery, where the king settled Benedictines who celebrated services in the Old Slavonic language.[1] Residents who built a stone house within 18 months received tax relief and other benefits. Citizens, Jews included, were exempted from taxes for 12 years.[1][2] Noisy or dirty trades, such as malthouses, breweries and smiths, were moved out of Old Town.[1][2] The division of land began in April 1348. Vyšehrad was also included in the defence plan.[2]