Praha Karla IV. – Royt Jan (2016)

This book presents a vivid portrait of Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, during the height of Gothic culture and art, set against the historical circumstances that made the city exceptionally prosperous under Charles IV (1347–1378). After Charles was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1355, Prague became, for the first time in its history, not only the capital of the lands of the Bohemian Crown but also the metropolis of the Holy Roman Empire. The city opened its gates to builders, students, artists, craftsmen and visitors from every direction. Under Charles’s royal and imperial patronage, shaped by his Western European education and cosmopolitan outlook as well as his faith, respect for the Přemyslid tradition and personal commitment, Prague blossomed into unprecedented beauty. The cathedral, stone bridge, university and the creation of the New Town, with its symbolic cross of churches, still stand as enduring signs of Prague’s Gothic architectural character, enriched by painting, sculpture and the entire sphere of spiritual culture. The book includes around 130 photographs of Prague’s monuments, sites and documentary material.