Malá Strana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Malá Strana (IPA: [ˈmala: ˈstrana] ) (in English literally "Little Side", though more frequently referred to as "Lesser Town", "Lesser Quarter", or "Lesser Side") was originally a popular and nowadays also the official name for the former Menší město pražské ("The Lesser Town of Prague"), one of Prague's historical and oldest boroughs.
Its name comes from its position on the left (west) bank of the river Vltava, on the slopes just below the Prague Castle, in opposition to the larger towns of Prague on the right bank, to which it is conjoined by the Charles Bridge.
In the Middle Ages, it was a dominant centre of the ethnic German civilians of Prague. It also housed a large number of noble palaces while the right-bank towns were comparatively more bourgeois and more Bohemian Czech.
The famous Czech novelist Jan Neruda was born, lived in and wrote about Malá Strana; Nerudova street is named after him.
The Petřín lookout tower is located in Malá Strana.
The famous statue of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague is located in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Malá Strana, Prague. The devotion and the church drawed millions of Roman Catholic faithful to Malá Strana throughout the years.
[edit] The pearl of Baroque Architecture
Without any exaggeration, Mala Strana deserves the title, "The Pearl of Baroque Architecture." However, though baroque architecture dominates in Mala Strana, history of the district dates back far before the baroque era. Baroque architecture eventually dominated when the style became successfully implanted on Mala Strana after the district was devastated by fires in 1541. The architectural style took on very deep roots in Mala Strana during this period.
[edit] Pre-History and History
Very long before, Mala Strana was called Male Mesto Prazske (Lesser Town of Prague). Male Mesto Prazske appeared in 1257 as a result of joining a few settlements underneath the Prague Castle, in a whole administrative unity. It was done during the power of Premysl Otakar II. The newly founded town got the permission to be a royal town, and many more previleges. The residents were mostly German crastsmen, invided by a King. Even though the city was royal, the King did not master the city as a whole. By the middle of the century the city was renamed into Mala Strana.
- The market place, now known as Malostranské náměstí, was a center of the town. Initially, this marketplace was divided on the upper and lower parts with a St Nicholas Church on border. Now there Church is replaced by a St Nicholas Cathedral.
- As in entire Prague, the traces of CHarles Fourth developments are seen in Mala Strana. The so-called Hunger Wall which is left till nowadays is one of them.
- In 1541 the finest Charle's City was damaged by fires, and devastating wars. Mala Strana was mostly destroyed.
- The most extensive and unforgettable building of Baroque Era on Mala Strana, is an Albrecht Valdstein palace. The man, in honor of him the palace is set, was a military general in-chief. Under his order 26 new houses and old gates were built on the freed place. THe extensive palace complex with five courtyards and the garden, which is set as a French Park.
- The Churches are the most frequent and interesting developments on Mala Strana. The finest one and the most prominent in the St Mikulash Church. This is a masterpiece of CHristoph and Kilian DIzenhoffer, father and son. The finest painting inside the church is an apotheos of St NIcholas, the depender of children, seamen, and wayfollowers. THis fainting is set in the dome of the church. It depicts an apotheos of Saint Trinity.
 The quietStreet at Mala Strana |
 The stair leading to Mala Strana form Hradcany. |
 The transport hub in Mala Strana |
 In the neighborhood of Mala Strana |
[edit] Bibliography
Prague, the wayguide. By ARTFOTO printing house, Russian Language Edition.
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