Ovocny trh 3
Tel. 2244 91 111
Subway: Mustek
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public
The Karolinum (also spelled Carolinum) is a
historic complex of buildings located in the Old Town of Prague,
Czech Republic, at Ovocný trh 541/3. It serves as the ceremonial and
administrative heart of Charles University (Universitas Carolina),
one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1348 by Emperor
Charles IV. Named after its founder, the Karolinum is recognized as
a National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic and is one of the
oldest dormitories in Central Europe. Today, it encompasses a blend
of Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic architectural elements,
reflecting centuries of evolution, and houses key university
offices, ceremonial halls, and exhibition spaces.
The origins of the Karolinum trace back to the
founding of Charles University in 1348, when Emperor Charles IV
established the institution to provide higher education in the Kingdom
of Bohemia. Initially, the university lacked dedicated spaces for
lectures and accommodations, leading to organizational challenges. To
address this, Charles IV donated a college in 1366, beginning with the
house of a Jewish merchant named Lazar. This marked the inception of the
Collegium Carolinum as a residence for professors and students, modeled
after institutions like the Sorbonne in Paris.
By the early 1380s,
under Wenceslaus IV (son of Charles IV), the complex expanded
significantly. Wenceslaus acquired the Gothic patrician palace of Johlin
(Jan) Rotlev, a wealthy German merchant and court financier, in 1383.
The Rotlev residence, dating from around 1350, became the core of the
Karolinum, with additional surrounding buildings purchased and renovated
to include auditoriums, lecture halls, a university chapel, and a large
hall. This made it the university's primary seat and dormitory.
The
Karolinum played a pivotal role in historical events. It was a center
for reform movements, where figures like Jan Hus served as professor and
rector. Key moments include the 1420 declaration of the Four Articles of
Prague (a Hussite manifesto) and the roots of the 1618 Defenestration of
Prague, which sparked the Thirty Years' War. After the Battle of White
Mountain in 1620, the complex was transferred to the Jesuits. In 1611,
all other university colleges were abolished, centralizing operations in
the Karolinum.
In the 18th century, Emperor Joseph II criticized its
dilapidated state during a 1786 visit and considered selling it, but
patriotic sentiments preserved it as a symbol of Bohemian education.
Following World War I and the formation of Czechoslovakia, it remained
with Charles University. Post-World War II reconstructions in the 1940s
and 1960s modernized parts of the complex, uncovering Gothic elements
and adapting it for contemporary use.
The Karolinum's architecture is a layered testament to
Prague's history, combining Gothic origins with later Baroque and
Neo-Gothic additions. The original structure from the 14th century was
Gothic, featuring elements like brick arcades, a gallery, and a vaulted
ceiling in the Cross Corridor.
A major transformation occurred in
1715–1718, when architect František Maxmilián Kaňka rebuilt the complex
in Baroque style following earthquake damage. This included a
provisional redesign that gave it its predominant top-Baroque
appearance, with features like a Baroque portal and an early Baroque
window inscribed "LEX CIVIUM DUX" (Law is the Leader of Citizens).
From 1879 to 1881, architect Josef Mocker introduced Neo-Gothic elements
to several parts, enhancing its historical character. Archaeological
work in the 1930s, resumed in the 1940s under Jaroslav Fragner,
uncovered and restored Gothic features across the 17-building complex,
including court buildings like the Bucquoy Palace and Opitz House. The
1945–1950 renovation expanded the Aula Magna with acoustic improvements,
and the 1960s added a new entrance, Courtyard of Honor, and a 1975
fountain.
One of the most striking features is the Gothic oriel
(bay) window from around 1370–1373, part of the original Rotlev house
and university chapel. It is adorned with the Rotlev family coat of
arms, emblems of Bohemia, Styria, Moravia, Archbishop Jan z Jenštejna,
and Johlin Rotlev, along with intricate carvings, gargoyles, and stained
glass.
Inside, the Aula Magna (Great Hall) on the second floor is the
centerpiece, used for major ceremonies like graduations. It features a
tapestry by Vladimír Sychra incorporating motifs from the university's
1348 Foundation Charter and symbols of its original four faculties
(theology, law, medicine, and arts). Other elements include metallic
ensigns by Jan Lauda, a bronze statue of Charles IV by Karel Pokorný, a
double choir-loft with organs and tapestries, and a small Gothic portal
leading to chambers housing university charters and insignia. The hall
also has a corrugated ceiling for acoustics and grandstands added in the
1940s.
Additional key rooms include the Small Hall and Patriotic Hall
(with busts of Czech historical figures), the Imperial Hall (featuring
1799 portraits of Austrian monarchs Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and
Leopold II by Barbara Kraft-Steiner), and the Cross Corridor with its
original Gothic vaulted ceiling, used for exhibitions. The ground-floor
gallery, known as Karolinum Cloisters, hosts contemporary art shows.
Other highlights are a chapel with a marble monument to Master Matouš
Kolín of Chotěřina (1568), staircases with paintings by Richard Wiesner,
and a statue of Jan Hus by Karel Lidický in the courtyard.
Today, the Karolinum remains the rector's seat and
houses most of the rectorate's offices, serving as Charles University's
primary venue for ceremonial assemblies, academic events, and official
gatherings. It symbolizes the institution's enduring legacy in education
and culture. The university's official publishing house is also named
Karolinum.
For visitors, the building is open to the public on
weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00, though access to areas like the Aula Magna
may be restricted during events. Guided tours for groups are available
in multiple languages (Czech, English, German, French, Russian) upon
request to the rectorate's Organizational Department. Virtual tours,
including a guided one by Vice-Rector Professor Jan Royt and a
self-guided VR experience, are accessible online.
The Karolinum
stands as a bridge between Prague's medieval past and its modern
academic life, embodying the city's rich intellectual heritage.