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The Square of the Republic emerged at the crossroads of distant trade-routes during the founding of the New Town of Prague. Its formation started in the 14th century with several important church and municipal properties. Presently there are four buildings which are especially worth attention.
The square is without any doubt dominated by the most valuable tower in central Europe: Prasná brána (Powdergate). It was built as one of the gates between the Old and the New Town in the year 1475 on the site of an already very damaged gate. Matej Rejsek was the designer of the late gothic decoration.
Inside the tower there are beautiful halls, which nowadays serve for occasional exhibitions. Presumably they were originally meant for court functions, because the tower was connected with the royal court next to it by a covered passageway above the street. The court was the seat of several Czech rulers, who for one reason or another preferred it to the Prague Castle. The Powdergate used to be called New Gate. It gained its present name in the 18th century when it was used as a storage facility for gunpowder. This gothic tower was restored in the 19th century by the architect Mocker. In the open space it was decided that a representative house should be built, which would serve as a social and cultural centre of Prague.
The Obecní dum (Municipal House) was built between 1906 and 1911. It has remarkable art nouveau architecture and is richly decorated. Renowned Czech artists worked on it, including Alfons Mucha, who designed the special plaque for the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt. The front is decorated with the mosaic Hold Praze (Honour to Prague) by Karel Spilar. The Municipal House is also a memorable place because it was here that the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed after the fall of the austro-hungarian empire in the year 1918.
On the other side towers the house U Hybernu (Hybernia = Ireland) with its empire façade and doric pillars. It originates from the year 1355, when the monastery and Saint Ambrosius Church were there, founded by Charles IV in commemoration of his coronation in Milan in the local Saint Ambrosius Church. The monastery was subsequently inhabited by a number of different orders. It was renovated for the last time by Irish Franciscans in the mid-17th century. As a curiosity, it is said, that potatoes were cultivated in Bohemia for the first time in the gardens of this monastery. The monastery was abolished in 1786 and later deconsecrated. It served for several purposes afterwards. It was used as a storage facility, one time as a theatre and also for custom offices.
Today the former church is used for exhibitions and is still named after the Irish Franciscans - Hyberny. The Saint Josef Church, which belonged to the monastery of Capuchins, is less striking and not at all pompous. The church was consecrated in 1653 and is very simple but charming. It is decorated only by a little wooden tower with a bell. Also the interior is relatively simple. The walls are just white without paintings. Only the altar and the altar-paintings are in baroque style. In spite of all its simplicity it is loved by many. Strangely enough, if someone from Prague is asked the location of Saint Josef Church, he most likely will not know where it is. But he would most certainly know where "U Tadeáska" is. It is the statue of Saint Tadheus in a little square in front of the church. It is always adorned with flowers and candles burn before it on an iron tray. Believers come here to ask the Saint for help in all kinds of matters.
