Prague, May 11 (CTK) – The National Technical Museum in Prague has prepared the exhibition “Civitas Carolina – Building under the Reign of Charles IV” (1316-1378) on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of his birth.
The new display presents the atmosphere of a medieval building site, the construction of fortifications of the New Town of Prague, which Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, founded as well as the period construction technology, from stone mining and processing to transport.
Functioning replicas of the 14th-century construction machinery, such as a wooden crane for lifting stone blocks and massive beams and a battering ram, are displayed outside the museum.
“The most significant Czech ruler and Roman Emperor Charles IV chose Prague for its residential town and made it the centre of European culture and education. Among his exceptional achievements is the foundation of the New Town of Prague on a 360-hectare area,” NTM general director Karel Ksandr said before the exhibition’s opening.
The New Town was exceptional thanks to its large central squares and broad streets.
The artistic concept of the arranged medieval building workshops was inspired by Gothic paintings and drawings depicting the life of carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers and smiths.
Visitors can also get acquainted with period tools, including original medieval axes, as well as other valuable items proving excellent construction successes from the Charles IV period. One of the biggest ones is a Gothic vault keystone with its original polychrome from St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, which Charles IV established in 1344.
The exhibition, which runs through February 2017, will be accompanied by special programmes for schools and a number of events for broad public.
