Old Town Square
Despite centuries of architectural diversity – in which Gothic and Baroque styles dominate – the square has a remarkably harmonious character. It has witnessed both glorious and tragic moments in Czech history: it was here, in the Town Hall, that George of Poděbrady was elected King of Bohemia in 1458, and it was here that the Bohemian lords were executed following the Battle of White Mountain in 1621. Today, thousands of visitors from around the world arrive daily – and since September 2025, readers who come to Prague in the footsteps of Robert Langdon have joined them.
What to See Here
Old Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock
The square is dominated by the Gothic Old Town Hall, whose tower offers a panoramic view across the entire historic centre. On its façade, the famous astronomical clock – the Orloj, one of the most renowned in the world – has been ticking since 1410. Every full hour, two windows open and twelve apostles parade mechanically around the clockface. From the tower, which can also be reached by lift, the square unfolds like a medieval theatre with breathtaking scenery.
Church of Our Lady before Týn
Looming over the square is the silhouette of the Týn Church with its twin Gothic towers, which glow golden in the night-time illumination. The church is among the oldest in Prague and its interior holds rare artistic treasures. Also buried here is the celebrated Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who worked in Prague during the reign of Rudolf II.
Kinský Palace
The Rococo Kinský Palace forms the north-eastern corner of the square. It now serves as part of the National Gallery Prague. Its passageways and arcades have offered shelter to travellers for centuries – and as readers of Brown's novel will discover, they continue to serve this purpose to this day.
St Nicholas Church
On the north-western side of the square stands the Baroque Church of St Nicholas of the Old Town, not to be confused with its namesake on the Lesser Town side of the river. Built in the 18th century, it is used primarily for classical music concerts today.
Jan Hus Memorial
The centre of the square is commanded by the imposing Jan Hus Monument by sculptor Ladislav Šaloun, unveiled in 1915. It commemorates the legacy of the Czech reformer, martyr and forerunner of the European Reformation. Tourists and locals alike gather around it daily, using the square as a natural meeting point.
Hotel U Prince and Black Angels Bar
Directly opposite the Old Town Hall stands the Hotel U Prince, whose basement conceals the underground Black Angels Bar – one of the most atmospheric spots in Prague's nightlife. The bar is decorated in Art Deco style, and its vaulted ceiling dates back to the Middle Ages.
Old Town Square in The Secret of All Secrets
For his sixth Robert Langdon novel, Dan Brown chose Prague as the primary setting, and Old Town Square became one of the most important stages in the entire story. In the novel, two parallel plot lines intersect on the square, weaving through the whole of the book.
Langdon and Katherine: The First Kiss
Kinský Palace plays an unexpectedly romantic role in Brown's novel. Professor Langdon and scientist Katherine Solomon take shelter from the rain in the palace's passageway and – breathless, within sight of the Astronomical Clock – share their very first kiss after decades of friendship. Brown captures the moment with precision: they "ducked into the arched passage of the Kinský Palace on Old Town Square and there, breathless, within sight of the Orloj, they kissed… It was their first kiss ever, after decades of friendship, and yet it felt surprisingly natural." The square becomes the backdrop for the beginning of something entirely new between them.
The Golem on Old Town Square
One of the novel's most enigmatic characters – the Golem – has his refuge in the surrounding lanes of the Old Town and returns to Old Town Square repeatedly. He also visits the Black Angels Bar beneath Hotel U Prince, where he uses a computer to search for the address of a secret research facility. Brown's choice of setting is deliberate: it is hard to imagine a more fitting environment for a creature from Prague's ancient legend than the shadow of Týn's Gothic towers and the mechanically ticking apostles of the Orloj.
The Clock through the Golem's Eyes
In one of the novel's most memorable passages, the Golem crosses the empty square early in the morning and pauses before the Astronomical Clock. He watches tourists waiting for the parade of apostles – a "rattling procession of saints appearing one by one through two small windows in the clock face. They have been drifting aimlessly there since the fifteenth century, the Golem thought, drawing ever more sheep to come and watch." It is one of the rare moments when the reader glimpses the interior life of this mysterious figure – and the square becomes a mirror of his alienation from the human world.
The Hub of the Story
Old Town Square functions in the novel as a natural hub from which the story fans out into other parts of Prague. From here, Langdon heads towards Franz Kafka Square, through Mariánské náměstí to the Clementinum, and on to Charles Bridge. A guide from Prague City Tourism, who leads themed tours of the novel's locations, describes the square as "the starting point of Langdon's journey": "Our walk begins in front of the Old Town Hall. Opposite stands Hotel U Prince with its famous Black Angels Bar, where the Golem appears in the novel."
World Book Launch
Old Town Square was also the setting for a real-world literary event: on 9 September 2025, sales of The Secret of All Secrets began at the Old Town Hall itself. The first hundred buyers received copies signed by the author. Queues had formed outside the Town Hall well before seven in the morning – testament to the powerful connection Brown created between his story and this place.
Practical Information
Getting Here
By metro: Staroměstská station (Line A, green). By tram: Staroměstská or Náměstí Republiky stops. The square is easily walkable from anywhere in the historic centre.
Old Town Hall Tower
The tower of the Old Town Hall is open daily; both a lift and stairs lead to the viewing platform with views across the entire square and the rooftops of the Old Town. We recommend arriving on the hour to watch the Apostles' Parade on the Orloj.
When to Visit
In his novel, Brown – through Langdon – encourages visitors to come to Prague in winter rather than summer: the atmosphere of the snow-covered square with its gas lamps and near-empty pavements is precisely what the author captured in the book. Early morning – just like the Golem crossing the deserted Staromák – is the best time to experience the square without the tourist crowds.
Nearby Highlights
From here it is just a few minutes' walk to Franz Kafka Square (mentioned in the novel), the Clementinum (the site of a key scene in the book), Charles Bridge, and Josefov (the Jewish Quarter). Prague City Tourism offers guided walking tours of all the locations from Robert Langdon's journey through the city.