5/5 Nikos G. 1 year ago on Google • 1013 reviews
Ungelt
(Týnský
dvůr)
is
a
pleasant,
cobbled,
courtyard
that
was
a
cosmopolitan
centre
of
international
trade
during
the
Golden
Age
of
Prague
and
once
the
seat
of
the
city’s
wealth.
Thousands
of
merchants
came
from
all
over
Germany,
France,
Poland,
Russia,
and
Arabia
to
sell
furs,
fine
art,
clothes,
spices,
and
many
other
goods.
They
converged
on
this
fortified
courtyard,
where
they
could
declare
their
goods
and
pay
their
customs
(which
is
what
Ungelt
means
in
old
German).
The
highlight
of
the
courtyard
is
the
lovely
Granovský
Palace,
with
its
arcaded
loggia.
It
is
one
of
Prague’s
best-preserved
Renaissance
treasures
with
beautiful
sgraffito,
and
murals
that
depict
scenes
from
the
Bible
and
the
Judgement
of
Paris
from
Greek
Mythology.
After
centuries
of
disuse,
Ungelt
has
been
marvellously
restored
and
is
an
enticing
blend
of
upscale
restaurants
and
shops.
TRIVIA
TIDBIT:
The
Golden
Age
of
Prague
is
referred
to
as
the
period
in
the
late
Middle
Ages
when
The
Holy
Roman
Emperor
Charles
IV
chose
Prague
as
his
Imperial
residence
with
the
intention
of
transforming
it
into
the
most
magnificent
city
in
Europe.
He
founded
a
university
(the
Carolinum)
and
built
many
grand
churches
and
monasteries
in
the
Gothic
style.
He
also
initiated
several
town-planning
schemes
which
were
of
major
importance,
such
as
the
reconstruction
of
Prague
Castle,
the
building
of
a
new
stone
bridge
(Charles
Bridge)
to
replace
the
Judith
Bridge,
and
the
foundation
of
the
New
Town.
3 people found this review helpful 👍