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ATTRACTIONS PRAGUEPrague - Attractions Prague region
Hradcany, the castle district around the west gate of Prague Castle, was made a town in its own right in 1320. Before it became a part of Prague in 1598 it suffered heavy damage in the Hussite wars, and in the Great Fire of 1541. The district stretches across the top of the hill overlooking the city and incorporates the best churches and museums in Prague set around 3 courtyards, immaculate gardens, fortifications and state apartments.
Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad or just Hrad to the Czechs) is 570 m long, an average of 128 m wide and occupying 7.28 hectares. The castle has been the seat of Czech government since Prince Borivoj founded the first settlement here in the 9th century, though president Václav Havel chose to live in his smaller (and less touristy) home on the outskirts of the city. Today, Prague Castle is still the seat of the President of the Czech Republic, and serves as the historical and political centre of both city and state. Situated within the Castle complex, the spires of St. Vitus Cathedral, an elegant but domineering French Gothic structure, soar above the ramparts.
The southern entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Gate, is decorated with a richly gilded colored mosaic representing the Last Judgment, dated from 1370, and it is one of the artistic treasures found in the Castle district. It is possible to climb the 287 steps of the tower for magnificent views over the city. The palace is located in the center of Hradcany right across from the St. Vitus Cathedral. The palace has been the seat of Bohemian princes since the 13th century. The most impressive part of the palace is probably the Vladislav Hall; an enormous hall with beautiful late Gothic ceilings and from the tall Gothic windows you can get a great view of the city. The hall dates back to the 16th century and it served as a meeting hall for assemblies, coronation banquets, and knights' tournaments when the weather didn't permit to hold them outside. Nowadays it is used for the swearing-in ceremony of the president of the Czech Republic. Inside the palace, you can also see models of Prague Castle. There is also a royal chapel; the Chapel of All Saints, with a huge gilded altar and organ. This Renaissance chapel from the 16th century replaced the original 14th century chapel, which was built in the same way as the St. Chapelle in Paris and destroyed by fire. From the palace, people can walk down the staircase to the palace gardens and from the bottom of this staircase one can get a good view of the castle high on the hill.
Located in the main hallway are the tombs of members of the princes of the Premyslid dynasty and in the side hallways and chapels lie parts of preserved Italian art. The Convent of St George, originally a Benedictine abbey founded in 937 AD, is attached to the basilica. The convent was converted into a barracks in 1782 by Joseph II. The building now houses the Early Bohemian Art Exhibition of the National Gallery. The greatest works of the Czech Gothic are concentrated in the basement and on the ground-floor, the first floor being devoted to works of the 17th and 18th centuries. 
This tower was built at the end of the 15th century originally as a part of the castle's defences, later it was a workshop of a cannon and bell-maker. During Rudolf II reign (1576 – 1612), the tower became a laboratory for alchemists and after this it was used as a gunpowder store until 1754. This garden was created in 1535 for Ferdinand I. It is a highly recommended place for a stroll especially in spring. The Lions Court is where the Emperor Rudolf II had his zoo. Also one can admire the bronze Singing Fountain and the azalea and tulip garden where tulips were first acclimatized to Europe before being taken to Holland.  This palace is a very good example of Italian Renaissance architecture. The Palace is situated in the Royal Gardens and was founded by King Ferdinand I in 1564. It is surrounded by an arcaded gallery with a rich figural and ornamental decoration. The reliefs show mythological scenes, historical events and hunting and genre motives. Also remarkable is the original Renaissance trust of the Palace. The original entrance of the palace from the garden was replaced to the north, where a monumental staircase running to the first floor was built. The Palace was in the first half of the 20 th century restored and now serves as a gallery for temporary modern art exhibitions. In the centre of the garden in front of the palace is the so-called 'Singing Fountain' made from bronze, which gained its name due to the sound made by falling drops of water. Golden Lane is a small street lined by 11 historic houses, some of which now house interesting armoury and textile exhibits, along with tourist souvenir shops. 
Golden Lane was created when a new outer wall was added to the existing Romanesque castle complex. It was originally known as Zlatnicka Ulicka (Goldsmith's Lane), due to the many goldsmith's residing there. In the 18th and 19th centuries they were occupied by squatters, later it were the homes of the writer Franz Kafka's sister (house 22), where the writer spent many evenings and the Nobel-laureate poet Jaroslaf Seifert. Most of them are souvenir shops today. 
This tower was built in the 15th century. It is named after Dalibor of Kozojedy who was imprisoned here in 1498 for supporting a peasant rebellion, and later executed. According to a legend he learnt to play the violin and his playing could be heard throughout the castle. The story was used by Smetana in his opera Dalibor.
Today Lobkowicz Palace is a branch of the National Museum with a collection on Czech history until 1848 including replicas of the Czech crown jewels and the sword of executioner Jan Mydláø. This building was built in the Italian Renaissance style, decorated with rich grafitto in the years 1545-63. Built originally for the Lobkowicz family it passed through several hands before the Schwarzenbergs acquired it in 1719. There has been a Museum of Military history since 1945. In the museum are gathered collections from the beginning of historical times until the founding of the Czechoslovak republic in 1918. This museum is a part of the Museum of the Czechoslovak Army and Defense. Bought by Ferdinand I in 1562 for the first Catholic Archbishop it is the seat of archbishops ever since. In the period of after the 1621 it was a powerful symbol of Catholic domination of the city as well as the Czech lands. It is only open to the public one day before Good Friday.
Named after Franc Josef Sternberg, who founded the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts in Bohemia in 1796, it houses the National Gallery's valuable collection of 14th to 18th century European art, such as works by Goya and Rembrandt.  This palace was built in 1668 for the Imperial Ambassador to Venice. It was badly damaged in 1757 when Prussian bombarded Prague and almost 100 years later sold to the state. Since 1918, it has been home to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1948 the foreign minister, democrat and anti-communist, Jan Masaryk fell to his death from one of the bathroom windows. It is still unclear whether it was a suicide or a murder planned by the communist secret service. The Loreta is a powerful and beautiful pilgrimage site built in 1626 with funds donated by Baroness Beligna Katharina von Lobkowicz in 1626. This historical building was created to promote the legend of Santa Casa, a copy of the house believed to be the Virgin Mary's. This Santa Casa copy, complete with original fresco pieces and the statue of Our Lady of Loreta, sits in a lovely courtyard surrounded by chapel-lined arcades.  Founded in 1600 it was the first monastery of its kind in Bohemia. It is connected to the neighbouring Loreta and is famous for its miraculous statue of the Madonna and Child. Each year at Christmas there is a delightful Baroque nativity scene of life-sized figures. Founded in 1140 by Vladislav II this monastery was completed in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was functioned until the communist government closed it. Now it is a working monastery and a museum. Inside is the Church of St. Roch , the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and the Strahov Picture Gallery. The biggest attraction is the Strahov Library; the largest monastic library in the country.
Mala Strana started life in the 8th or 9th century as a market settlement and is located around the foot of Prague Castle. In 1257 Premysl Otakar II granted it town status and around 1360-1362 fortifications were built on the orders of Charles IV. This has been known for centuries as the Hunger Wall, built, it is believed, with the aim of giving employment to the poor during a period of famine. Mala Strana was almost destroyed twice: first during a battle between the Hussites and the Prague Castle garrison in 1419, and then in the Great Fire of Prague in 1514. Renaissance buildings and palaces replaced the destroyed houses. The baroque churches and palaces that give Malá Strana its charm date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
 There are 3 St. Nicolas churches in Prague. Construction of the St. Nicolas Church (Malostranske namesti) began in 1703 and is the largest of Prague's churches founded by the Jesuits.
The dome was completed in 1751, shortly before Kilian Ignaz died. Over the Baroque organ is a fresco of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music. The organs were played by Mozart in 1787. The belfry was the last part to be built, constructed by Anselmo Lurago in 1751-56. During the summer months, classical concerts are held inside St. Nicolas. Named after the poet and journalist Jan Neruda, who lived at No 47 in the House of Two Suns, it is the picturesque narrow street that leads up to Prague castle as a part of Royal Way. There is a splendid selection of heraldic beasts and emblems on the houses, for example the Red Eagle, the Three Fiddles, the Golden Horseshoe, the Green lobster and the White Swan. Started as a market place it has always been the centre of life in the Lesser Town. Today, there are official buildings and restaurants. The important buildings include the St. Nicholas Church, the Town Hall, the Sternberg Palace, the Smiøický Palace. On the facade of the Baroque Kaiserstain Palace there is a bust of the great Czech soprano Emma Destinn who lived there between 1908 and 1914. Built between 1624 and 1630 by Albrecht von Wallenstein, generalisimo of the Habsburg armies, it was meant to overshadow even the Prague Castle . It is so large that 23 houses, 3 gardens and the municipal brick kiln had to be razed to make way for the palace and its grounds. There are also splendid gardens laid out as they were in those days. Now it houses the Senate of the Czech Republic. 
This original Gothic church was founded for the Order of Augustinian Hermits by Wenceslas II in 1285 and completed in 1379, along with an Augustinian Monastery and St. Thomas' Brewery. In the richly decorated interior are paintings and statues by Czech artists including Karel Škréta and Václav Vavøinec Reiner. 
Originally a Carmelite church this Early Baroque church was built on the site of an earlier protestant Hussite Church after the Battle of White Mountain in 1620. Inside, there is the miraculous Infant Child of Prague, one of the most revered images in the Catholic world, dating from the year 1628. It was named after the Knights of Malta who in 1169 established a monastery that used to stay beside the Church of Our Lady Below the Chain. The largest building, Nostitz Palace, is home to the Dutch embassy and in summer there are concerts given at the palace. Opposite the French embassy there is the John Lennon Wall that used to be a kind of political focus before 1989. Known as the Venice of Prague, Kampa Island has been formed by a branch of the Vltava called the Devil's Stream. Originally there were only gardens on the island but it was also used for washing clothes and bleaching linen. In the 17th century the island became well known for its pottery markets. Today it is an elegant part of Prague with a village-like character. It houses some restaurants, older residences and a park which is known for it's serenity in the midst of the center. It is popular with couples, the local population, as well as families enjoying the playground. Probably the most touristy place in Prague, the Charles Bridge (Karlov Most) connects the Old Town with Lesser Town. Especially during summertime it is filled with street-painters, street-vendors and tourists.
The first stone bridge over the Vltava, replacing a wood construction, was built between 1158 and 1732 during the reign of King Vladislav I. This bridge, named Judith bridge collapsed in 1342. In 1357, Charles IV started the construction of a new bridge. The supervisor of the project was Peter Parler, who also constructed the chancel of the St. Vitus Cathedral. The Karlov Most, 502 m long and resting on 16 arches was wide enough for 4 carriages to cross at the same time and would be the only permanent link between both riversides. Until 1683, there was no statue on the bridge. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk was the first one placed on the Charles Bridge, resulting in the total of about 30 sculptures presently decorating the Karlov Most. On the Lesser Town end of the Charles Bridge are 2 bridge towers. The smaller one is a 12th century remainder of the Judith Bridge. The taller, Late Gothic tower was erected in 1464 on the orders of King George of Podebrady who wanted a counterweight to the old town bridge tower. Foundation of this Late Gothic tower was started in 1370 and finished around 1400. The beautiful sculptures decorating this tower are created by Peter Parler. One of the oldest parks in Prague, Vojan Park, was founded around the year of 1300. It was devastated in 1420 but in the 17 th century it was the garden of the Convent of Barefooted Carmelites. There are 2 chapels; the Chapel of Elijah and a chapel dedicated to St. Theresa. By the entrance to the park there is an 18th century statue of St John Nepomuk by Ignaz Platzer. The top of Petrin Hill can be reached on foot or by funicular from Ujezb road. With a height of 318 m this hill is a network of 8 parks offering magnificent panoramas of Prague. Most of the vineyards from the 12th century were transformed into gardens and orchards by the 18th century and today it is a great place for quiet walks. Following the paths here, you will find all sorts of corners with statues and memorials.
The wall divides the park into 2 parts. Walking through the gate in the wall, we find ourselves in the Kinsky Gardens sloping down in the direction of the Prague quarter of Smichov. Here it is far less frequented and you will find streams and ponds hidden away here. You will also find the wooden Orthodox Church of St. Michael, which was brought to Prague in 1929 from Medvedovce, which was then part of the First Czechoslovak Republic and is now in the Ukraine. The Kinsky Empire-style villa in the lower part of the gardens was used for exhibitions already 100 years ago. Up the hill there is the Štefánik Observatory; stellar displays and telescopes offer glimpses of planets during the day and panoramas of stars in the night, the Mirror Maze; situated in a building originally constructed by the Czech Tourist Board has a lovely entrance in the style of a Medieval Gate with a drawbridge and the Petrin Observation Tower; a small imitation of the Eiffel tower which was built in 1891 for the Jubilee exhibition. The tower is 60 m high which may not seem particularly high except that the tower is, additionally on the top of Petrin hill. The view is magnificent. You can reach the viewing platform by climbing the 299 steps and on a clear day you will be able to see the highest peak in The Czech Republic, Snezka which is 150 km from the tower. Prague's old town is a maze of streets filled with impressive monuments and amazing architecture. Although restaurants and bars in this district are overpriced, it is still worth while exploring this neighbourhood. The centrepiece of the Old Town is the huge 1.7-hectare Old Town Square. It has been Prague's working heart since the 10th century, and hosted its largest market until the beginning of the 20th century. It's surrounded by a maze of alleys and is home to some of Prague's most famous monuments. Despite the over-the-top commercialism and crowds of tourists swarming the place, it's impossible not to enjoy yourself here; there is a lot of entertainment like cafes, street musicians and theatre, buskers and performing dogs, and silly horse-drawn beer wagons all conspire to elevate the area from ridiculous to sublime. It's also a great venue for outdoor concerts, political meetings and other public events.
At the centre of the Old Town Square is the Jan Hus statue, erected on July 6, 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer's death. The many supporters for his beliefs during the 14th and 15th centuries eventually led to the famous Hussite wars. It shows 2 groups of people, a young mother symbolizing national rebirth and the figure of Hus emphasizing the moral authority of the man who gave up life rather than his beliefs. 
This building is rather inconspicuous beside the Church of Our lady at Tyn, however look for the stone bell located on the corner of the simple gothic structure. 3 levels of exhibition and concert halls surround a beautiful baroque quart yard inside. The most enjoyable way to feel the essence of this building is to go and see one of the chamber concerts, which they regularly hold here. Some of the rooms preserve their original vaulting. It is the dominant of the Lesser Town Square and one of central Europe's finest baroque buildings. The statues, fresçoes and paintings inside the church are by leading artists of the day, such as Karel Škréta and Johann Kracker. This church is one of the best examples of high baroque architecture north of the Alps. The gilded interior is stunning. Gold-capped marble-veneered columns frame altars packed with statuary and frescoes added through the centuries. A giant statue St. Nicholas looks down from the high altar, as the midday sun strains through the domes, lighting it and the frescoes.
The church was founded in 1385 during the tumultuous period when the Hussites were slaughtered by the ruling Roman Catholics. The Catholic Jesuits then made the church their own by recasting the bell and replacing the Hussites symbolic chalice with a figure of Mary nailed between the towers. Impressive during the day, and striking at night lit up against the dark night sky, take a close look at the 2 spires. They are not symmetrical. This is characteristic of the gothic architecture of the time, which tried to represent both masculine and feminine sides of the world.
The most popular part of the tower is the Town Hall Astronomical Clock. Originally installed in 1410, the clock was rebuilt by the Master Hanus in 1490. It consists of 3 parts; the procession of Apostles, the astronomical clock and the calendar. The main attraction is the hourly procession of the 12 Apostles; every hour on the hour, a small trap door opens and Christ marches out ahead of his disciples, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell to a defiant statue of a Turk. The height of the tower is 69.5 m and it offers a great view of the city. Once part of Staré Mesto's system of fortifications, the Old Town Powder Tower (as opposed to the Powder Tower in Prague Castle) was built in 1475 as one of the walled city's major gateways. The tall tower marks the beginning of the Royal Route, the traditional route along which medieval Bohemian monarchs paraded on their way to being crowned in Prague Castle's St. Vitus Cathedral. It also was the east gate to the Old Town on the road to Kutná Hora. The tower was damaged during the Prussian invasion of Prague in 1737. The present-day name derived from the 18th century, when the development of Nové Mesto rendered this protective tower obsolete; it was then used as a gunpowder storehouse. This attractive Baroque church was a Minorite monastery church in the 14th century. There are about 20 altars decorated with works by Jan Jiri Heinsh, Petr Brandl and Vaclav Vavrinec Reiner. A tomb of Count Vratislav of Mitrovice is the most beautiful Baroque tomb in Bohemia. Hanging to the left of the main door is a mummified forearm. It has been there for over 400 years, since a thief tried to steal the jewelers of the statue of the Virgin. Legend says that the Virgin grabbed his arm and held on so tightly that it had to be cut off. Because of its excellent acoustics many concerts and recitals are given in the church. This is the most beautiful Rococo building in Prague. It was built between 1755 and 1765 by Anselmo Lurago according to the designs by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer and in 1768 it was bought by Stepan Kinsky, an Imperial diplomat. In February 1948 Klement Gottwald proclaimed communist rule in Czechoslovakia from the palace balcony. Nowadays, the Kinsky palace belongs to the National Gallery.
This building used to be a Jesuit college established in the former Dominican monastery of St. Clement between 1653 and 1723. It is the largest complex of buildings in Prague after Prague castle. The Church of St. Clemens and the Church of St. Salvator are part of it. When the Jesuits had to leave Prague in 1773, the Klementinum became the Prague University and National library. Concerts are often held in the Mirror Chapel. This route connects the Royal Court and Prague Castle and is a popular tourist walk as it retraces the coronation procession made by the Bohemian kings and queens in medieval years. George of Poderbrady was the first king to walk this route in 1458 and today the stroll, which starts at Powder Gate in the Old Town and finishes at Matthias Gate in front of the castle, takes 90 minutes. The Royal Route passes some of Prague's most familiar attractions including the Old Town Square with its eye-catching towers, distinguished churches and a collection of colourful Baroque, Rococo, Gothic and Romanesque houses and along the oldest street in the city, the Celetna. 
Josefov is part of Staré Mesto and contains the remains of the once-thriving neighborhood of Prague's former Jewish ghetto. The half-dozen old synagogues, a ceremonial hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery were perversely preserved by Nazi leaders, who declared them to be a 'museum of an extinct race'. Instead, all have survived as a memorial to 7 centuries of oppression. The Old-New Synagogue (1270) is Europe's oldest working synagogue; you step down into it because it predates the raising of Stare Mesto's streets against floods. Men must wear hats (conveniently for sale at the entrance), while women are taken to a kind of waiting room where they can observe male-only services. The Jewish Museum is the largest and most authentic of its kind in Central Europe with one of the most extensive collections of Judaic art in the world. Situated in the old Jewish Quarter it is spread over a variety of buildings and synagogues, including the Maisel, Spanish, Klausen and Pinkas Synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Robert Guttmann Gallery and the Education and Culture Centre. Objects from 153 Jewish communities throughout Bohemia and Moravia were brought to Prague by the Nazis in 1942, to be used in a 'museum of an extinct race' after their extermination program was complete. The Pinkas Synagogue (1535) was turned into a Jewish memorial after WW II and its walls are covered with the names of the Czech victims, the communities they belonged to and the camps in which they died. The 1868 Spanish Synagogue, named for its striking Moorish interior, offers an exhibit on Jews in the Czech Republic from emancipation to the present day. The Old Jewish Cemetery is a significant sight with over 12,000 tombstones visible, but the number of people buried here is much greater due to the earth layering system carried out to create space. The oldest tombstone dates back to 1439, now replaced with a replica and is the tombstone of Avigdor Karo, a chief rabbi and court poet to Wenceslas IV.
 Nové Mesto surrounds the Staré Mesto to the east and south and extends southward along the Vltava's east bank to the main railroad bridge. Geographically, it is one of Prague's larger districts. Culturally, it is rather varied. The parts closer to the Old City were busy commercial districts, the southern end was dominated by federal buildings, and hotels and residences comprised most of the ground in between. Wenceslas Square is Prague's main boulevard and the centre for hotels, shops, bars, restaurants, banks and casinos. It is an extremely popular place for tourists to stay during day and night, as most of Prague's sights and attractions lie within easy walking distance. Wenceslas Square was constructed over 600 years ago and ever since has been a regular parade ground for all kinds of organizations and political parties. Wenceslas Square can comfortably hold up to 400,000 people!
At the top of Wenceslas Square, behind St. Wenceslas, is the monumental building of the National Museum, dominating the whole square. Just along is the Prague state Opera. Close to the statue of St. Wenceslas are 2 plaques in memory of those killed during the Communist period. One is dedicated to Jan Palach, a 20-year old student who set fire to himself in January 1969 while protesting against the Soviet invasion 4 months earlier. Jan Palach died 3 days later with 85% burns to his body and 800,000 people followed the funeral. Groups gather annually on this day to commemorate his martyrdom, placing wreaths and candles on the spot.
One of the most popular meeting places in town today, the present monument took on a new look during the 1920s with the addition of 4 other Bohemian saints: Ludmilla, Procopius, Adalbert and Agnes. It has long been the area for demonstrations and is often decorated with flags and banners and used as a speakers' forum.
The theatre is built in neo-renaissance style and sits proudly alongside the banks of the Vltava River. It is decorated with incredible paintings and sculptures which present a great part of Czech jewels.
The theatre was founded in 1881 after collecting the necessary funding needed for building a huge theatre. The theatre was intended to be a symbol of The Czech nation's independence and its' language. In the same year the theatre was destroyed by a big fire and after 2 years of expensive reconstruction it was reopened. About 100 m downriver from the National Theatre, stands the best known and the most controversial modern building in Prague, the Dancing Building.
The building is situated on a site where American bombs accidently destroyed a building at the end of WW II. When first looking at the building the left side seems to have been crushed thus recreating an illusion to the effects of the violence from the bombs. And yet at the same time it appears to be whimsical and dancing. Nova Scena (or 'The New Stage') is the modern extension of the National Theatre on Narodni and is located just behind it. Designed by Karel Prager, it was completed in 1983 and is now used for the theatre company's more modern productions and also for the famous magic lantern shows. Though lacking the prestige of the National Theatre, it has earned its own respectable reputation for quality performances. Although the interior might be better known to locals for attracting not exactly the most upstanding members of society who loiter day and night, the huge structure is an architectural landmark in its own right. Having recently been renovated, the station still features prominent art nouveau architecture, with naked figures and high roofs. It was designed by Josef Fanta and opened in 1909 and is the main station in Prague with trains going to all the major Czech cities and the rest of Europe.
On entering Vysehrad you first pass the 17th century Tabor Gate and a bit further on the Leopold Gate with its sculptures atop. These gates are the most impressive of the fortress fortifications. The view from Vysehrad is very beautiful. From the top of the hill you can view the entire city of Prague and the Vltava River. Any time of the day is a good time to visit this area. It's a great place for a quiet picnic lunch or just a quiet stroll. There are few areas of Prague this quiet and green. Vysehrad castle (castle on the hill) is Prague's second castle, but built sooner than Prague Castle. Originally built in the 10th century, a little before King Wenceslas came to power, Vysehrad castle has been rebuilt many times since. According to legend princess Libussa founded Vysehrad castle in 710 AD. In Vysehrad she married Premysl Orác, a commoner, and together they went on to become the founders of Prague.
Now it is a quiet and peaceful fortress located on a rock, that offers the weary tourist a beautiful park and grounds whose walls overlook the Vltava River and historical Prague.
There stood also the Romanesque basilica of St. Lawrence, of which very little is left and the Romanesque St. Peter and Paul Church. This church, whose spires dominate the Vysehrad skyline, is a wonderful example of neo-gothic architecture and is a favorite place for weddings.  The Romanesgue basilica was built by King Vratislav II in 1070 - 1080 and was renewed and enlarged during the 12th century. Inside the building, in the crypt of the Church are buried the rulers of the Premyslid dynasty. In the year 1249 the basilica was destroyed by fire and in the following decades it was rebuilt in Early Gothic style. In the 16th century the church was rebuilt in Renaissance and at the beginning of the 18th century was modified in the Barogue style.
Today the basilic is Neo-gothic, designed by J. Mocker in 1885-1905. On the facade of the church we can see the statues of St. Peter and Paul and Christ with angels, the mosaic with St. Cyril and Method and the main portal, decorated with a relief of The Last Judgement by S. Zalesak. Situated in the grounds of Vysehrad Fortress, attached to the Church of St. Peter and Paul, is the beautiful and compelling cemetery and pantheon founded in 1869 and final resting place to some famous Czech artists, writers, actors and musicians.
Access is through 2 gates at either end of the Church of St. Peter and Paul, with the front entrance being at the front of the church where you will find a map denoting the locations of all the tombs of the most famous people resting within. Within the northern Brick Gate is a sign pointing to a doorway at the side, very easy to miss unless you are looking for it! Inside you will find a small exposition and history of the walled defences of Prague and Vysehrad in particular. If you don't know about what is hidden under the formidable ramparts of this great fortress, you could leave without realizing that you have missed one of the star attractions here. Every hour the attendant takes you on a guided tour of the casemates running under the walls from both directions of the Brick Gate. There are over 2 km of tunnels under Vysehrad and after what seems an age you come out into a large black space pierced by shafts of light from several small openings and you are aware of several dark shapes looming out of the inky blackness. When the lights are turned on it is truly a revelation because the Gorlice Hall is a large hall of some 330 sq. m with a 13 m ceiling and is used as a repository for 6 original Charles Bridge statues placed here at regular intervals since 1992: St. Bernard with Madonna (by M.V.Jäckel, 1709) St. Augustine and St. Nicolas of Tolentino (by J. B. Kohl, 1708) St. Adalbert (by F. M. Brokof, 1709) St. Anne (by M. V. Jäckel, 1707) St. Ludmila with small Wenceslas (by M.B.Braun, 1720 – 1724).
As a boy Kafka lived in the Minute House in U Minuty street, the black and white graffitioed building that is part of the Town Hall on Starometské nám. For some time he lived in an apartment, by all accounts a pretty substandard place, within the building that now houses the American embassy over in the Schornbornsky palac at Tržiste 15. He also lived for a time in another street off Starometské nám, Týnska 3. Kafka went to school in a German language gymnasium in the Goltz-Kinský Palace. Later his father rented part of the ground floor for his haberdashery shop. Tourists can visit his grave at the Jewish Cemetery. Kafka's grave is N°137. A bronze sculpture was unveiled in December 2003 in honour of Kafka. It is located next to the Spanish Synagogue in Josefov. |
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With a magnificent cliff-top outlook, a 1,000-year-old history going back to a simple walled-in compound in the 9th century and a breathtaking scale that qualifies it as the biggest ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle is the indisputable centerpiece of the Czech capital. The towers of Prague Castle can be seen from virtually anywhere in Prague.
It is the county's largest church containing numerous side chapels, frescoes, tombstones and beautiful stained glass windows. The most ornate chapel contains the tomb of St. Wenceslas, the 'Good King Wenceslas' of the Christmas carol, which has become something of a pilgrimage site. The Coronation Chamber houses the Bohemian Crown Jewels and the Crypt is where most of the Kings and Queens of Bohemia have their final rest place.
The Basilica of St. George was the second church built in the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic and was founded in 920 by Prince Vratislav I. The Roman style Basilica, located near the Benedictine Monastery, belongs to the most important Czech monastic basilica. The present appearance of the church dates back to the time of the reconstruction after a fire in 1142. After the destruction of the convent by troops in the late 18th century, the church was reconstructed between the years 1887 and 1908. From 1969 to 1975, it was reconstructed to adapt to the installation of the old Bohemian art of the National Gallery. 
The Lobkowicz Palace was built on eastern side of Prague Castle. There were some houses there already in the 13th century. It was rebuilt in the 17th century in Baroque style to the order of Eusebius of Lobkowicz, later governor of Bohemia. 
One of the most popular is the memorial to St. Valentine, the patron saint of love, but also of travelers, beekeepers, young people and the plague of all things. There is also a memorial to the famous Czech 19th century poet Karel Hynek Macha. Along the ridge of Petrin is the 'hunger wall'. The funicular railway goes through the Hunger Wall built in 1360 - 1362 by the King and Emperor Charles IV. The wall was given this unusual name to commemorate the fact that its construction was necessitated by an urgent need to employ Prague inhabitants at that time. The wall was a part of medieval fortifications of the city. 
This church dominates one side of the Old Town Square. A powerful looking Gothic church with a baroque interior, the building can be seen from all over Prague. 
The Old Town's ancient town hall was established in 1338 after the agreement of King John of Luxemburg to set up a town council. Several old houses had to make place over the centuries as the Old Town Hall expanded. A Gothic chapel and a neo-Gothic north wing were destroyed by the Nazis in spring 1945. The chapel has been reconstructed.
The 750 m long and 60 m wide boulevard that makes up Wenceslas Square, originates from the Charles IV period when it was used as the main Prague horse market. In the upper area of the boulevard, the statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse proudly survey's the busy activities. This is good King Wenceslas (Vaclav), murdered over a thousand years ago by his brother, and now a Czech national hero. 
Whilst the present monument by the Czech sculptor Josef Vaclav Myslbek (located at the top of Wenceslas Square) was completed in 1912, there has been a statue of Saint Wenceslas on the site since 1680.
It offers 3 different genres of art: opera, ballet and plays. On its repertoire there are about 60 performances. The Operas are mainly classical. 
Featuring 2 curved towers 'waltzing', it is also referred to as the Fred and Ginger. It is a strange twisted building sitting on a corner and jutting out slightly. It was designed by the California architect Frank O. Gehry and it seems out of place at first. Prague is one of the few cities in Eastern Europe to have escaped WW II with minimal damage. So this modern building almost stands alone amid the many historical buildings in Prague. It is designed in the tradition of deconstructive architecture. 
Vysehrad is one of the more overlooked areas of Prague. It's a little out of the way but still within the limits of the city. It's just a few metro stops away or you could even walk there. High up on a hill overlooking the city, Vysehrad has several walking paths to explore. It is a nice departure when you get weary of the crowds in Old Town Square and on the Charles Bridge. 
From 1085 - 1140 Vysehrad was the capital of Bohemia and Poland, but in 1140 the coronation of Vladislav transferred the capital to the newly built Prague Castle. During the centuries Vysehrad served as a fortress which protected Prague from the south.
The oldest building at the complex and located near the Leopold Gate is the 11th century St Martin's Rotunda. It was restored in 1878 and is the oldest of 3 well preserved Romanesque Rotundas in Prague that all date from the 11th and 12th centuries. All are incredibly small churches with naves measuring a mere 6 m across. It is one of the first things you will come across once you are inside the complex. 
The Pantheon is a giant tomb, which commemorates them. Among them are composers Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana, Alfons Mucha; artist of Art Nouveau fame, writer Jan Neruda and sculptor Josef Myslbek whose 4 gigantic sculptures can be seen adorning the attached park.
The world-famous existential writer and philosopher Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924) left many footprints across Prague. Kafka was born on July 3, 1883 at U radnice 5, a house on the corner of Maiselova and Kaprova; a border between the Staré Mesto and the Josefov.
There is a plaque there now and a small exhibition inside the house. 
Kafka's favourite sister, Ottla lived at Golden Lane 22 and he is reported to have written his short stories in her front room. Ottla was later shipped to Theresienstadt (Terezín) concentration camp in northwestern Bohemia from where in 1943 she volunteered to accompany a trainload of children to a destination which later turned out to be Auschwitz. 
