The capital of the Czech Republic does not need any recommendations. More than five million people visit Prague every year, and each of them, leaving, dreams of returning. In the Czech capital, you can spend day after day and constantly discover something new, interesting and exciting for yourself. The list of what to see in Prague is extensive and long, but even in a few days, guests of the Czech capital have time to enjoy its postcard views, taste a dozen or so beers, admire old cathedrals and bridges, and get lost in the maze of medieval streets.
The best time to travel to Prague is the first half of autumn, when school holidays and vacation time are already over, there are fewer tourists on the streets, and you can discover one of the most beautiful cities in the world without unnecessary fuss and noise.
TOP 10 sights of Prague
The Charles Bridge
Legend has it that the most famous bridge in Prague was founded in the 14th century by Charles IV, after whom the bridge was named. The crossing connects the banks of the Vltava River and the historical districts of the Czech capital - Staro Mesto and Mala Strana. Stretching for 520 meters, the bridge rests on 16 arches, each of which is faced with sandstone. The width of the crossing is 9.5 meters, and three dozen sculptures serve as decoration.
Until 1836, part of the path of the coronation ceremony of kings passed along the Charles Bridge, then railway tracks were laid and horse-drawn trams went.
The Charles Bridge is always very crowded. Street musicians, actors perform here, and city artists and artisans sell their work to foreign tourists.
To get there: by metro line A, Staroměstská stations on the left bank and Malostranská - on the right; by tram 2, 4, 18, 53 to the stop. Karlovy lázně.
Prague Castle
The huge fortress, built on the eastern side of a long hill, is called Prague Castle and is considered one of the most significant sights of the Czech capital. The Prague Castle includes a whole complex of defensive structures, residential buildings, churches and other premises. Today the Czech president works here, and in previous years the Prague Castle served as the royal residence. The fortress is a world record holder. Prague Castle is the largest residence of the head of state on the planet in terms of area.
In the Prague Castle are worthy of special attention:
- The old royal palace, built in the Gothic style. Today, the former royal residence houses the exhibition "The History of Prague Castle" and displays artifacts found as a result of archaeological excavations.
- St. Vitus Cathedral.
- All Saints Chapel. Built in the XIV century on the site of a Romanesque chapel. The paintings on the chapel walls illustrate the life of St. Procopius, who is buried here.
- Basilica of St. George from the 17th century by the architect Francesco Caratti.
The honor of opening Prague Castle for tourists belongs to Vaclav Havel. In 1989, he reorganized the residence so that Prague Castle could open its doors to the public.
St. Vitus Cathedral
The Catholic Cathedral in the Old Castle in Prague is worth seeing first. Built in the Gothic style, the temple is called the pearl of European architecture of the Middle Ages. The cathedral serves as the residence of the Archbishop of Prague and the burial place of Czech kings. The coronation regalia are carefully kept in the temple.
Construction began in 1344, but St. Vitus Cathedral acquired its final form only at the beginning of the 20th century. It stands on the site of the 10th century rotunda.
In numbers, the main Czech Catholic church looks very impressive: the length of the main nave is 124 m, the height of the south tower is more than 96 m, the neo-Gothic stone towers in the west rise by 82 m, and the height of the lancet window of the main nave is 15 m.
The most talented and famous masters of their time decorated the cathedral. Architects Benedikt Reith and Josef Mozker, sculptor Wojtek Sucharda worked on the construction, and the stained-glass windows in the northern part of the cathedral were created by Alfons Mucha. Above the portal of the southern facade, the oldest mosaic work in the Czech Republic, the painting "The Last Judgment", has been preserved.
Old Town Square
The huge and ancient Prague square in the historical part of the city is a favorite place for walks and photo sessions among tourists. It was known already in the 12th century as a large market. Many trade routes of the Old World crossed here. Soon the place began to be called the Old Market, and the official current name of the square was given at the end of the 19th century.
Coronation processions marched solemnly through Old Town Square, in the 15th century one of the inspirers of the Hussite uprising was executed on it, and in the 17th century participants of the popular revolt against the Habsburg rule were killed.
The main attractions of Prague and the Old Town Square are the City Hall with the clock, the Tyn Church, the Kinsky Palace and the Jan Hus Monument.
Since the 60s of the twentieth century, the square has been owned by pedestrians.
Town hall with chimes
The Old Town Hall is a famous architectural structure in Prague, the construction of which began in the 13th century. The wealthy merchant Kamene donated an old house to the city, to which a mighty tower and a chapel in the Gothic style were added a century later. In the 15th century, the construction of the chimes began in the town hall complex - a very popular attraction in the Czech Republic.
The astronomical clock first appeared at the Old Town Hall in 1410. These are the oldest astronomical chimes in the world that are still in operation. The chimes on the Prague City Hall show the time in the Czech Republic and Greenwich Mean Time, the hours of sunrise and sunset, the phases of the moon and so many other values and parameters that they can be called a scientific laboratory.
Every hour the chimes play a performance with several figures and music.
To get there: metro Prague, st. Staromestska.
Vysehrad
The oldest Prague district was founded by Prince Krok. The hill fort, built in the 10th century, served as the residence of Czech princes. In the 12th century, Vysehrad was decorated with a stone palace in the Romanesque style, and later with the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
After the move of the royal residence, Vysehrad lost some of its former splendor and importance, but the glorious victories in the battles near the walls of the fortress always gave Czechs a reason to consider it a part of national history.
In this area of Prague you can see the 18th century neo-Gothic church of Saints Peter and Paul, the ruins of a 15th century watchtower, an old cemetery where composers and artists are buried. Historical exhibits are displayed in the Visegrad Museum, and magnificent views of the city open from the observation deck.
dancing House
The architect who built the famous Dancing House in the Czech capital was clearly a passionate admirer of deconstructivism. The building symbolizes a dancing couple and is dedicated to Hollywood dancers D. Rogers and F. Astaire.
The house is called "drunk" and its construction in 1996 sparked many protests from Prague residents. But, as once Paris did accept the Eiffel's Iron Lady, Prague not only resigned itself to the appearance of the Dancing House, but also included it in the list of its most important modern attractions.
On the top floor of the "drunken house" there is a French restaurant, the tables in which are so popular that it is better to order them a few days before the intended visit.
Tyn temple
The temple built in honor of the Virgin Mary is the architectural dominant of the Old Town Square. It was built in the period from the XIV to the XVI century, but at its foundation were laid the stones of an early Romanesque church.
After the appearance of the Tyn Church, it immediately became the spiritual center of the Old Town. The authorship of the project belongs to Mathieu Arassky, who also built the Church of St. Vitus in Prague.
The interiors of the Church of the Virgin Mary, called Tyn, are made in the Baroque style. The main altar was painted in the 17th century by the artist Karel Škreta, the founder of the Czech Baroque school.
A beautiful legend is associated with the temple. The gold bowl from the main statue was removed thanks to the storks who made a nest in it. One of the frogs, which the birds diligently carried to their chicks, fell on the head of a high-ranking person and the storks had to look for a new place.
Golden street
Alchemists once lived on this street, which looks like a toy and descended from the villages of an old book of fairy tales. They worked on the creation of gold and for years did not leave the small houses built into the ramparts of the Prague Castle.
Alchemists were replaced by jewelers who saw gold and worked with it. Then the houses were inhabited by chasers and other artisans, but the name Zolotaya by the street has survived to this day.
Nine of the sixteen local houses have souvenir shops and small museums.
You will need a ticket to visit Prague Castle, the tourist complex of which includes Golden Lane. After 18.00 you can walk on it for free.
Beer Museum
Prague would not be itself if it did not allow tourists to touch the history of the creation of one of the national symbols of the Czech Republic. The Beer Museum, opened in the capital of the country, acquaints guests with the history of brewing, technologies for the production of a foamy drink, varieties of beer and, of course, gives the opportunity to taste both the most popular brands and rare varieties prepared according to special recipes.
The first beer in the Czech Republic was brewed in the 11th century, and since then its lovers and producers have had no rest. The former fly to Prague again and again to blow the foam off a mug or two, while the latter are kept awake at night by new ideas.
The Beer Museum is a beer bar where you can enjoy three dozen types of drinks. Despite the impressive prices, there are always a lot of visitors to the Beer Museum, and therefore it is better to reserve seats at a few tables.
To get there: by metro Prague - st. Namesti Republiky, by tram 5, 24, 26, 51 stop. Dlouha trida.
