From the historian's notes

Prague, 1357

Czech Republic · Europe · July 1357 · summer

What it was high

the imperial residence of Charles IV and one of the largest cities north of the Alps, with a New Town laid out in 1348a seat of Bohemian dukes since the 9th century

That year

• The foundation stone of the new stone bridge is laid on 9 July at 5:31 in the morning, a time said to have been chosen by astrologers because it reads the same forwards and backwards 9 July 1357 mediumthe bridge that will stand for centuries
• Peter Parler, a young architect from Swabia, has taken over the building of St Vitus Cathedral since 1356 highGothic on a new scale
• The Golden Bull, the empire's new constitution, was issued last year 1356 highthe rules for electing an emperor

Who held it high

the Kingdom of Bohemia, in the Holy Roman EmpireCharles IV, King of Bohemia and, since 1355, EmperorCharles is rebuilding Prague as an imperial capital: a university (1348), the New Town, a cathedral under construction

Its name high

Praha in Czech; Prag in GermanWritten in Latin

The date, there high

1357the Julian calendar and the church yearChurch bells; astrologers are consulted for great beginnings.

Money medium

the Prague groschenparvi, small penniesbread and beer for a few small pennies

Weather medium

July: warm, around 23 °C, with summer thunderstormsthe old Judith Bridge was swept away by the flood of 1342

Things

ObjectsPrague groschen, the silver coin of central Europe; wax tablets; pilgrim badges; stone-masons' marksFoodrye bread; beer; carp from the ponds; porkClothwool; linen; imported silk for the courtGetting aboutferries and boats while there is no bridge; carts; horsesIn the airfresh-cut stone; river; brewing

What she'd hear

Czech and German in the streets; Latin at the university and in church.

Where she could stand

• the riverbank at the bridge site — masons, piles and the stumps of the old Judith Bridge
• the Old Town square — the market square with its town hall
• the castle hill — the castle and the cathedral in scaffolding
• the New Town horse market — the vast new square laid out by Charles

Researched for this card · confidence high