Lesser Town

Lesser Town (Malá Strana) is one of Prague's oldest and best-preserved historic districts, founded in 1257 by King Ottokar II on the left bank of the Vltava directly below Prague Castle. Unlike the busier Old Town, Malá Strana retains the feel of a lived-in neighbourhood — a layered maze of Baroque palaces, cobblestone lanes, hidden gardens, and embassy residences that has changed little in three centuries. Its centrepiece is Lesser Town Square (Malostranské náměstí), dominated by the Church of St. Nicholas, the largest Baroque church in Prague. The district also contains the John Lennon Wall, Kampa Island, the Wallenstein Palace and Gardens (seat of the Czech Senate), and Nerudova Street — the steep, sign-lined lane that connects Charles Bridge to Prague Castle along the historic Royal Route.