Carolinum (Karolinum) - The Charles University Complex in Prague
N 50° 05.176 E 014° 25.425
33U E 458775 N 5548381
Carolinum is a National cultural monument, a symbol of Charles University. From the 14th century there was a residence of the oldest building of the University - the Great Hall of residence (Collegium Caroli) which was founded by Charles IV.
Waymark Code: WM6A5P
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 04/30/2009
Views: 205
When Czech King an Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. founded Charles University in 1348 he stressed out that it was the first university in the central Europe. There were four faculties at that time: faculty of art, medical faculty, faculty of law and theological faculty. The lectures were given first in churches, monasteries or private flats. Charles College was founded in 1366, seated in the Jewish quarter. The teachers and students realised more and more that they needed a building that would represent the university. That’s why the son of Charles IV, Wenceslas IV., bought for the university an imposing Gothic house of Jan Rotlev and added two other houses. These buildings were reconstructed for the university purposes and Charles Colleage moved into the new complex – Carolinum (Karolinum).
The buildings were extended – a new university chapel and a big hall for ceremonial assemblies – aula magna – were built. The university had lecture-rooms, assembly halls, flats for lecturers, a spa and even a prison.
The university building experienced a lot of events important in the Czech history. Professor and rector John Huss used to give lectures here. After 1620 the University was taken over by the Jesuits. They connected Carolinum with their college in Clementinum.
Carolinum’s pride is the big aula which is used for university celebrations and graduation ceremonies. The main wall is decorated by a tapestry with the motive of Charles IV. kneeling in front of St. Wenceslas. In front the tapestry there is a bronze statue of Charles IV.
The chapel, arcade and walls of Carolinum still survive. Notice especially a fine Gothic oriel window from 1370. When walking in the centre of Prague, don’t miss Carolinum where the important history has been written. Carolinum is open during ceremonies, special events or open-door days.
Visit Instructions:Logging requirements: Please upload your own personal photo of the building. You or your GPS can be in the picture, but it’s not a main requirement.
This category is focused only to original Gothic architecture, not to pseudo-Gothic, neo-Gothic or Gothic Revival. You can not find this kind of architecture outside of "Old World", moreover this architecture appeared in ca XIIth century (early Gothic) and the last buildings are from cca XVIth (late Gothic) century...