The moat is now covered up by the streets (from north to south-west) Revoluční, Na Příkopě, and Národní—which remain the official boundary of the cadastral community of Old Town.

Across the river Vltava connected by the Charles Bridge is the Lesser Town of Prague (Czech: Malá Strana).

From its early existence, around the 9th century, Staré Město was laid out of settlements which appeared from the spacious marketplace on the bank of Vltava.

Records dating back to 1100 AD indicate that every Saturday a market was held on the marketplace, and large military gatherings also took place there.

Thanks to trade the merchants of the area became rich, and when King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia gave them the privileges of township, the Town of Prague (Město pražské) was formed.