Charles Square (Karlovo náměstí), Prague

Once New Town's cattle market, this space is now one of the city center's largest green spaces. It has become a large, tree-filled park complete with statues of Czech cultural icons, fountains as well as a playground, one of the few in the city center. Bordering the square are numerous shops and restaurants that make this a good place to enjoy an outdoor meal in the warmer months of the year. Not only are retail establishments rimming the square, but cultural buildings also surrounding the park. These include the New Town Hall, where Prague's first defenestration took place; the beautiful Baroque Church of St Ignatius; and the Faust House, for many years a bastion of alchemy.