While
not an example of great architecture, itself, the
Old Town Hall shows how much the people of Prague
love great architecture, especially their own. It
is yet another building with an observation point
from which visitors can marvel at the spires, domes,
and clocks of the city. Though the Old Town Hall bears
a large clock face near the top of its shaft, it is
the clock at its base that attracts the most attention.
The Astronomical Clock shows the movement of the constellations
in its top half, and is a calendar at the bottom.
Also worth noting is the Oriel Chapel at the front
of the building. Its stained glass windows were blown
out during the second World War, but were replaced
in 1987. The town hall was established by King John
of Luxemburg in 1338. The fledgling town council quickly
ran out of space, and annexed the building next door.
When that was filled, another building, and another
were annexed until today when the town hall starts
with the great tower, but then extends back through
a number of formerly individual buildings.