Hotel Pinot in Verona House
Jewish Town: 6 minutes Wenceslas Square: 15 minutes Franz Kafka museum: 1 minute
Charles Bridge
virtual
travel
Charles bridge is the oldest bridge in Prague and the second oldest in the Czech
Republic. It was actually the fourth bridge built in the country (after Juditin
Bridge and the bridges of Roudnice and Písek). Charles Bridge replaced the
former Juditin Bridge, which was torn down by ice-floes during the spring of
1342. The new bridge was founded in 1357 by the king Charles IV. and was
finished in 1402. Until as late as 1841, Charles Bridge was the only bridge in
Prague. Thanks to the bridge the city became an important stop on the routes
through Europe.
Throughout history the bridge was decorated by 30 statues and sculptures. Formerly it was known as Kamenný (Stone Bridge) or Pražský (Prague Bridge). It bears its modern name since 1870, as initiated by Karel Havlíček Borovský.
Míšeňská street
Míšeňská is a quiet dead end street, about 80 meters long. The traffic here is only from local residents and businesses. It used to be called Nová (New) because it was built on unoccupied land after the huge fire of Malá Strana and Hradčany in 1541. The old-world atmosphere is enhanced by the Bishop palace on the close Dražické náměstí and Charles Bridge – the oldest stone bridge in Prague. Original documents refer to the street also as to Svatojosefská (Saint-Joseph), whereas the western part of the street also used to be called Uhelniště (Coal Place) after the charcoal shop. The street bares its modern name since 1870, after the students form Míšeň (Meissen), who lived in the street (in the house called “U Lužického semináře.” Meissen is a part of today’s southeast Germany, later integrated in Sachsen.
The history of Míšeňská street
The street, which was suggested in 1707 by Tomáš Haffenecker, originally ran across the Thunovská Garden and connected Lesser Town with the old road to the Lower Ferry (Dolní přívoz), which used to be near Vysoký or Panský dům (Tall House or Noble House), today known as No. 90/13. The corner building (U Lužického semináře) was built by Matěj Václav Jäckel and it was in 1726 dedicated by the priest Jiří Josef Šimon to the Lusatian students of theology. Another interesting house is on the other side of the street – right where Charles Bridge begins. It is No. 12, called U Tří pštrosů (At the Three Ostriches). Jan Fuchs (or Fux) – a supplier of ostrich feathers which were a fashion item of that-time – ordered Daniel Alexios of Květná (1606) to decorate the front wall of his house with a pattern of ostriches. In 1714 this was the first coffee house in Bohemia, selling coffee brought by the Armenian merchant, Deodastus Damascenus. Part of the block (closer to the river) belonged since 1707 to the Lesser Town Butchers Corporation (No. 11, 9, 7). In No. 7, 5 and 3 was the established the Demartin’s manufacture. This indeed was the street with the first industry within Malá Strana.
Míšeňská street is unique, as it is the only street in Prague built entirely in baroque style.
Malá Strana
Malá Strana (Lesser Town) is a unique part of old Prague. Here, among the world-known jewels of architecture (Charles Bridge, Prague Castle), you can find tiny streets with typical pubs and bars, restaurants with international and local cuisine, Czech beer, art shops and galleries and many other places reflecting the original and contemporary culture and way of life of Czech people.Verona House
Verona House
The three-storey house used to be called „Verona House“ (or „Lustermann House“). The front part of the building is built in a baroque style (1708 – 1726), the two rear wings encircling the quiet courtyard date from 1925. Beneath the building there are vaulted marl cellars. On the second floor you can find wooden and rendered ceilings and in the attic, parts of the interior are fitted with original wooden girders. During the reconstruction in 2005 we added a new gallery on the second floor and new roof extension was built in what is today the exclusive suite.
We are not certain about the historical name of the house (Verona House or Lustermann House). However, in times when these names appeared, it was common to name buildings after their owners or after important occupiers.