Fodor's Expert Review Náměstí Republiky

The city's architectural attractions center on this main square. Dominated by the enormous Gothic Chrám svatého Bartoloměje (Church of St. Bartholomew), the square is one of the largest in Bohemia. The church, at 335 feet, is among the tallest in the Czech Republic, and its height is rather accentuated by the emptiness of the square around it. There are a variety of other architectural jewels around the perimeter of the square, including the town hall, adorned with sgraffiti and built in the Renaissance style by Italian architects during the town's heyday in the 16th century. The Great Synagogue, which claims to be the second-largest in Europe, is a few blocks west of the square, just outside the green strip that circles the Old Town. Three very modern gold-color fountains were added to the square in 2011; however, not everyone is a fan, as the fountains don't really mesh with the historic surroundings.