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Staromestské námestí (Old Town Square) Description: Prague’s picture-book Old Town Square, with its colourful facades and cobbled surface, is perhaps one of the most familiar tourist scenes of Central Europe. Although many of the facades are Baroque in style, the houses actually date from Medieval times when the square was the centre of the Bohemian world, and a meeting place for merchants and traders from across Europe. The Astronomical Clock on the Town Hall (Staromĕstská radnice) chimes every hour between 0900-2100; its ornate face is a complex work of art and shows three sets of time: Central European Time, Old Bohemian Time and Babylonian Time. The Town Hall dates from the 14th century, although much of the original structure was destroyed when the Nazis set fire to it in May 1945 during the Prague Uprising. Another monument of particular interest is the rather incongruous Jan Hus Monument which was commissioned in 1900, hence its Art Nouveau style. It took sculptor Ladislav Šaloun 15 years to complete and is an important national symbol for the Czech people. The House at the Stone Bell (Dům U kamenného zvonu) was restored in the 1970s and now houses avant-garde art exhibitions. Contact Addresses: Prague Information Service, Betlémské náměstí 2, 116 98 Prague 1, Czech Republic Tel: (02) 12444. E-mail: info@pis.cz or tourinfo@pis.cz Website: www.prague-info.cz Transportation: Air: Prague Ruzynĕ International Airport. Rail: Train: Hlavní nádraží Station (Prague Station). Underground: Staroměstská or Můstek. Road: Bus: 207 (Staroměstská). Coach: Praha-Florenc Coach Station; Želivského Coach Park. Car: E55 (from Dresden/Berlin); E67 (from Warsaw/Wroclaw) or E50 (from Paris). Visitors should note that the historic centre of Prague is pedestrianised. Opening Times: Town Hall (Staromĕstská radnice): Mon 1100-1700, Tues-Sun 0900-1700 (winter); Mon 1100-1800, Tues-Sun 0900-1800 (summer). Admission Fees: Town Hall (Staromĕstská radnice): Kč40 (adult), Kč30 (child). Concessions available. 
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