Discover the secrets of Prague’s Malá Strana district on an English-friendly walk

Prague’s streets are filled with history. People will be able to find out more about the Malá Strana district on an English-language walking tour on March 19.

The tour, presented by the non-profit group Open House Praha, will highlight the most important moments in the history of the district and Bohemia through the stories of historical figures as well as famous houses.

Topics will include the foundation of Malá Strana in the 13th century, the Hussite Wars, and the restoration of the quarter after a massive fire in 1541 devastated much of the area.

The fire, for example, extended from Malostranské náměstí and what is now Nerudova Street to Prague Castle, destroying almost 200 houses. While certainly a tragedy, the fire also cleared the space for many of the palaces and Renaissance buildings that can still be seen today.

Visitors will find out how historical movements such as the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Revival, and the Enlightenment impacted the area.

The revival of Catholicism after the loss at the Battle of Bilá hora in 1620, for example, led to the Church of Our Lady Victorious (kostel Panny Marie Vítězné) becoming the shrine of the Infant of Prague, one of the city’s internationally renowned attractions. On the other hand, later religious reforms led to some churches being turned over to secular use.

The district has a quite fascinating history. Even long-term residents are bound to learn something, and for more recent arrivals, much of the information should be new.

The tour will start at Pětikostelní náměstí, the small triangular square near the Wallenstein Palace (Valdštejnský palác), and will continue to Malostranské náměstí and on to the walls erected on the command of Emperor Charles IV at the border with the Smíchov district.

The tour should take about 90 minutes, and tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tour size is limited.

Open House Praha conducts tours on a regular basis, though the majority are geared toward people with Czech language skills. The group also organizes an annual festival that lets people see inside usually inaccessible spaces. The next Open House Praha festival takes place on May 15 to 21.