Portál Pražana
Commemorate the First Defenestration of Prague
New Town Hall (Novoměstská radnice) and the Municipal District Prague 2 have prepared an interesting programme for the anniversary of the First Defenestration of Prague, from the 27th to the 31st of July. You can take part in guided tours, an open-air cinema in the New Town Hall courtyard and other events in Charles Square (Karlovo náměstí).
New Town Hall is a national cultural monument and is located in Charles Square, the largest Square in the Czech Republic. Its history began shortly after the foundation of the New Town of Prague by Charles IV in the year 1348.
On the 30th of July 1419, the First Defenestration of Prague took place there. Thus, it is 600 years since the anti-Hussite councillors were thrown out of the city hall windows and cruelly beaten. The event, which the New Town Hall is forever connected to, is considered as the beginning of the Hussite Wars.
Guided tours
As part of this notable commemoration, three guided tours of the New Town Hall will take place. During these tours, you will be able to visit places that are not commonly accessible to the public, such as the former prison and the Large Hall, whose windows the councillors were thrown from.
You will also be able to visit ‘Konšelský salonek’ (a lounge for city councillors of the time), the historical Maazhaus, the Chapel and other areas of the tower, including a former tower guard’s apartment. If you succeed in climbing all 221 steps, you will be rewarded with an amazing view from the observation deck. From the almost-70-metre tall tower, you can even see Prague Castle.
Charles' Square
On the 30th of July, you will be able to step back in time to the year 1419 in Charles Square. Historical markets, Hussite weapons, traditional dance and music, and historical fencing performances will be part of the programme, along with a rich accompanying programme for children. You will also be able to try period dances.
‘Jan Žižka’ by Otakar Vávra
“On the evening of the 31stof July, the courtyard of the town hall will turn into an open-air cinema. Visitors are welcome to watch the film ‘Jan Žižka’ by Otakar Vávra from 1955. According to some historical sources, Žižka also took part in the New Town Defenestration attack,” Petra Baďurová from the New Town Hall said for the portal praha.eu.
‘Jan Žižka’ is the second film of the Hussite Revolutionary Trilogy that the screenwriter and director Otakar Vávra created based on literary works by Alois Jirásek. It is the biographical story of Jan Žižka, the Hussite military leader. The other films in the trilogy are ‘Jan Hus’ and ‘Against All’ (‘Proti všem’).