šٱ Castle was built by Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV to house holy relics and the crowns of the kingdom and empire. šٱ Castle consists of three different levels, those being the Imperial Palace, the Marian Tower, and the Great Tower. Throughout the castle, šٱ housed many jewels and precious stones, symbols of royal authority and legitimate monarchy. šٱ Castle remains a cultural, historical, and architectural icon in central Europe and the Czech Republic.
Charles IV and the New Town
For his time in the 14th century, King of Bohemia Charles IV was one of the most progressive rulers in his time. His greatest contribution to Czech culture is his urban plan for Prague, entitled New Town, or Nové Město. He centered the people of the town in his plans and centralized the working class members of society into New Town, which made it a hub for business and merchant activity. His establishment of Charles University also brought about many major institutional changes throughout Bohemia’s history.