Karlovo náměstí: The Medieval Cattle Market
Why is it significant?
Stand among the trees and lawns of Karlovo náměstí and try to see the edges of the square: it is so big that it feels like a park with buildings around it. Now replace the lawns with mud, straw and thousands of animals, and you have its original purpose.
Key Facts
| Place | Karlovo náměstí: The Medieval Cattle Market |
|---|---|
| Address | Karlovo náměstí, 120 00 Praha 2, Czechia |
| Geo Coordinates | 50.07480, 14.41920 |
| Part of Walk | Dark Lager and Dumplings: Prague's Historic Beer Halls & Food Markets |
| Generated | Generated |
Stand among the trees and lawns of Karlovo náměstí and try to see the edges of the square: it is so big that it feels like a park with buildings around it. Now replace the lawns with mud, straw and thousands of animals, and you have its original purpose.
When Charles IV founded the New Town in 1348, he gave it three enormous market places. The Horse Market is today's Wenceslas Square. The Hay Market survives as Senovážné náměstí. And this was the Cattle Market, Dobytčí trh, one of the largest squares in medieval Europe, covering around eight hectares. Cattle were driven in from the countryside, traded and slaughtered for a city that ate a great deal of meat. Only in 1848 was it renamed after its founder, Charles.
It was not only a place of trade. At the northern end stands the New Town Hall, where in 1419 the first Prague defenestration took place and the Hussite wars began. Trade, politics and violence shared the same muddy ground, as they did in most medieval squares.
Since we are standing in a cattle market, let us talk about beef. The queen of Czech cooking is svíčková: beef sirloin marinated with root vegetables, slowly braised, and served in a creamy sauce of puréed carrot, celeriac and parsley root. It comes with bread dumplings, a spoon of cranberries and, to the bewilderment of many visitors, a swirl of whipped cream on top. Every Czech family has its own version and is quietly convinced that every other version is wrong.
Look at the corner house at the southern end, with the baroque facade: it is called the Faust House, and legend says Doctor Faust himself was carried off by the devil through a hole in its ceiling. Nobody has ever agreed on whether he paid for his last dinner. Now head west along Resslova towards the river. Past the curving glass tower of the Dancing House, go down the steps to the embankment.