Cobblestone Street, Prague, Czech Republic:
Cobblestones were the original stones that were used as a paving material to cover dirt roads during the 15th century in order to provide a cleaner and safer environment for horses and carriages. The word cobblestone derives from an old English word which means “large lump” which resembles their round shape. Typically, cobblestones with smooth round edges were collected along river banks and river beds and then set in sand and cemented with mortar to create paved surfaces. The first benefit to using cobblestones is that they were the strongest natural material available; Secondly, they were easy to remove from riverbanks rather than chiseling single pieces from large blocks of stone; and, thirdly, they were free. Some original cobblestone streets and buildings throughout the world are actually protected by law and can never be replaced or removed because of their importance as historic landmarks.