Though Nové M?sto translates as "New Town," its origins go all the way back to the 14th century and Emperor Charles IV. As Prague outgrew its Old Town parameters, Charles IV extended the city's fortifications. A high wall surrounded the newly developed 2½-square-km (1½-square-mile) area south and east of the Old Town, tripling the walled territory on the Vltava's right bank. The wall extended south to link with the fortifications of the citadel called Vyšehrad.
But don’t come here looking for Old Town charm. This part of the city was thoroughly rebuilt in the mid-19th century in the neoclassical and neo-Renaissance styles, and today forms the modern heart of the city, particularly around the two main squares: Václavské nám?stí and Karlovo nám?stí. The area is great for hotels and restaurants, but the number of traditional sights is relatively small with just a handful of important museums and churches.
