Carolinum
When Charles IV. founded Charles University in 1348 he stressed out that it was the first university in the central Europe. There were four faculties at that time: faculty of art, medical faculty, faculty of law and theological faculty. The lectures were given first in churches, monasteries or private flats. Charles College was founded in 1366, seated in the Jewish quarter. The teachers and students realised more and more that they needed a building that would represent the university. That’s why the son of Charles IV, Wenceslas IV., bought for the university an imposing Gothic house of Jan Rotlev and added two other houses. These buildings were reconstructed for the university purposes and Charles Colleage moved into the new complex – Carolinum (Karolinum).
The buildings were extended – a new university chapel and a big hall for ceremonial assemblies – aula magna – were built. The university had lecture-rooms, assembly halls, flats for lecturers, a spa and even a prison.
The university building experienced a lot of events important in the Czech history. Professor and rector John Huss used to give lectures here.After 1620 the university was taken over by the Jesuits. They connected Carolinum with their college in Clementinum.
More info:
http://www.praguecityline.com/monuments/karolinum
http://www.prague.net/carolinum
