The New Town Hall was built in the middle of the 14th century as part of Charles IV's grand plan to expand the Holy Roman Empire. The tower was added in the mid-15th century, being completed in 1456. Bells were added later and other changes were made as a result of a 1559 fire. The building ceased to be used as Town Hall in 1784 after Josef II unified the four Prague boroughs. It then became a courthouse. At that point we may assume that a new New Town Hall was built, and, surprisingly enough, not far from the Old Town Hall.
With the exception of Operation Anthopoid, the daring assassination of Reichsprotektor Heydrich, the chosen form of political assassination in Prague has been defenestration since 1419. In that year Protestant rowdies led by Jan Želivský demanded the release of prisoners. When they were turned down and pelted with rocks, they stormed the New Town Hall and threw Catholic councilmen out of first floor windows. The crowd outside finished off those victims who hadn't died from the fall. With all due respect to the early Protestant Movement in Bohemia, this was a lynching. I assume that the prisoners under discussion were seen as terrorists by the Catholic (German) government and politicals by the Protestant protectors. This was the event that set off the Hussite Wars.
The tower was renovated between 1975 and 1995 and a panoramic photo exhibition has been added since then. The view from the 246-meter high gallery is worth the climb, as we see the city from an unusual angle. The TV tower appears to sprout out of the National Museum. The panoramic photos on the lower landing are identical to the view from the gallery. I very much enjoyed the photographs comparing Prague today with older photographs. While some buildings have not changed at all, others have been renovated and one more was completely replaced.
For some years I have wondered at the new building nicknamed “Ginger and Fred”, Tančicy Dům in Czech. What inspired the architects, Vlado Milunc and Frank Gray? Without entering into an argument whether it is pretty or ugly, it is certainly controversial. What I learned in the photo exhibition was that the previous occupant of the place, Vybembarovany Dům, was bombed in World War II. There is an uncanny resemblance between the bombed out building and the modern Dancing House.
