One of the most beautiful places in Prague is definitely the Knights of the Cross Square, situated in the Old Town near the Charles Bridge. It is surrounded by impressive buildings, all architectural gems: The St. Salvator Church on one side, the Old Town Bridge Tower on the other side and the Church of the Knights of the Cross next to it. There is a breathtaking view over the river Vltava on the panorama of Prague Lesser Town and the Prague Castle.
Church of the Knights of the Cross
The place used to be called “the Bridge Square” and the present name is from 1870. Members of the order of the Knights of the Cross settled there already in the 13 th century by the former Church of the Holy Ghost. They built the present Church of the Knights of the Cross (St. Franciscus Seraphicus Church) above it later. French architect J. B. Mathey projected it with a Roman cupola. A Baroque winegrower´s column with a statue of St. Wenceslas is situated on the corner of the church.
Clementinum
Dominicans had originally a residence at the place of the present St. Salvator Church since 1232. They were replaced by Jesuits, who built the church in the 16 th century and also a large building complex Clementium, which became a Jesuit college.
Beautiful Old Town Bridge Tower
The Charles Bridge opposite the St. Salvator Church has the magnificent Old Town Bridge Tower, one of the most beautiful Gothic towers in Europe. It was built by Petr Parler at the end of the 14 th century.
There is a neo-Gothic statue of Charles IV. in the Knights of the Cross Square. The statue of the emperor holds a foundation charter of the Charles University in Prague, founded in 1348.
The Knights of the Cross Square is situated on the Royal Way – the way of the coronation parades of Czech kings in the past. The parades arrived from the Old Town through Karlova Lane and they continued over the Charles Bridge to the Lesser Town and then to the Prague Castle for the coronation.
