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Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad, or just hrad to the Czechs) may be the largest ancient castle in the world - 570m (1870ft) long, an average of 128m (420ft) wide and occupying 7.28 hectares (18 acres). It's the most popular tourist attraction in Prague, but at least there's plenty of room to spread out. The castle has been the seat of Czech government since Prince Borivoj founded the first fortified settlement here in the 9th century, though current president Václav Havel has chosen to live in his smaller (and less touristed) home on the outskirts of the city. Some of the complex's highlights, like the Spanish Hall and Rudolf Gallery, are only open one Saturday a year (usually in early May). The rest of the castle's collection of architectural and artistic marvels, created over the course of the last millennium, are on exhibit. The most popular edifices include Gothic St Vitius Cathedral (1344), its rich decorations epitomized by the glittering Chapel of St Wenceslas; the Old Royal Palace (1135) and its jousting and coronation hall, still used for the swearing in of new presidents; and the Royal Garden (1569), where homesick Hapsburgs surrounded their badminton courts with beautiful flowers and striking Italian Renaissance residences. Don't miss Prague Castle's less famous attractions, such as the network of tunnels the communist government built in 1950 for easy access to the bomb shelters. Other interesting artifacts include the Battling Titans statues (1767-70; Ignac Platzer), which oversee the hourly changing of the guards, and the Toy Museum, featuring one of the world's largest collections, with items dating back to ancient Greece. |
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Charles Bridge |
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Charles Bridge :-
Charles Bridge (Karlov Most) connects the Old Town with Lesser Town.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 .
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The Karlov Most, 502 meters 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 two 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. |
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Prague Castle
With a magnificent cliff-top outlook, a 1000-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 centrepiece of the Czech capital. Spend at least half a day in awe here. Prague Castle (Prazysky« Hrad, or just hrad to the Czechs) claims its 'largest' title by the followin figures - 570m long, an average of 128m wide and occupying 7.28 hectares.
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As the most popular tourist attraction in Prague, at least there's plenty of room to spread out. The castle has been the seat of Czech government since Prince Boryivoj founded the first fortified settlement here in the 9th century, though president V‡clav Havel chose to live in his smaller (and less touristed) home on the outskirts of the city. Some of the complex's highlights, like the Spanish Hall and Rudolf Gallery, are only open one Saturday a year (usually in early May). The rest of the castle's collection of architectural and artistic marvels, created over the course of the last millennium, is on exhibit.
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Old Town |
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Old Town Square
Old Town Square in Star? Mesto (Old Town) is the heart of the Old City since the 11th century and the greatest sight to see in Prague. Dominated by 18th century Baroque facades, you can see the Gothic originals behind those facades if you climb to the top of the Town Hall Tower and look down the steep roofs.
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Townsfolk and tourists gather in the square a few minutes before the hour to see the 15th century Astronomical Clock, in the Old Town Hall, where the life size wooden statues of the 12 Apostles rotate in two windows above the main dial as the clock strikes the hour. The great statue of Jan Hus is the epitome of the Old Town Square where Praguers have congregated throughout the centuries to demonstrate their feelings. |
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Powder Tower |
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Powder Tower
The 65m tall Powder Tower is the gateway to the Royal Route which leads through the Old Town over the Charles Bridge to the castle up the hill.The gothic Powder Tower was built in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II at the site of an 11th century gate, one of Prague's 13 original city gates. The master builder Matous Rejsek constructed an ornate tower based on the 14th century Old Town Bridge Tower.
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Originally the tower was known as the Mountain Tower, but ever since thestructure was used as a gunpowder storage space in the 17th century,it is known as the Powder' Tower.The Powder Tower (Prasna Brana) is located at the edge of Old Town (Stare Mesto), right next to the Municipal House (Obecní Dum). |
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Tyn Church
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Tyn Church
The most remarkable aspect of this building is the gothic vaulting. Construction of the Romanesque/early Gothic church started in 1365 when German merchants provided funds for a basilica to serve as their main church. The grand portal was built in 1390.
The West front wasn't erected until after the Hussite wars in 1485; the south tower was finished in 1511. |
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Wenceslas Square |
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Wenceslas Square :
Wenceslas square was laid out in 1348 by King Charles IV. The large square, measuring 750m (0,5mi) by 60m, originally functioned as a horse market but evolved into Prague's central boulevard lined with grand turn of the century buildings. The many hotels, shops and restaurants around Wenceslas Square attract throngs of tourists and locals alike.
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In front of the museum is a bronze equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas. Wenceslas, 'the good king' was a Bohemian Duke spreading Christianity. Murdered in 929 by his brother he was later declared a Saint and eventually became a national Czech symbol. Not far from this monument Jan Palach set himself on fire to protest the Soviet occupation in 1969.A small plaque commemorates Palach and other victims of the Soviet occupation. The Wenceslas Square contains some nice examples of Art Nouveau architecture, a style very popular at the beginning of the 20th century, when the square was being redeveloped. The most famous of those buildings is the Grand Hotel Europa, constructed between 1903 and 1906. The renovated building has a beautiful facade topped with a gilded statue of nymphs. The Wenceslas Square is located in the Nove Mesto (New Town), a district just south of the historic Staré Mesto (Old Town). Many of the important historical events in Prague's recent history took place here, such as the declaration of the First Republic in 1918, the protests against the Soviet occupation in 1969 and the protest march in 1989 which led to the Velvet Revolution and the end of the Communist era.
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St. Nicholas Church |
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St. Nicholas church
St. Nicholas church, designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, was completed in 1735. The white façade is decorated with sculptures made by Antonín Braun. The marvelous interior of the church is inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-invalides in Paris. The delicate stucco decoration was executed by Bernardo Spinetti, the frescos were made by Peter Adam the Elder. |
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Old Town Bridge Tower |
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The Old Town Bridge Tower
The Old Town Bridge Tower was designed by Peter Parler, the architect of the Charles Bridge. This most beautiful bridge tower in Europe, was built between 1370 and 1391 at the Old Town side of the Charles Bridge and served as a gateway to Prague's city center.The 64m tall tower was richly decorated on both the east and west facade, but the sculptures on the west facade (towards the Charles Bridge) were severely damaged during a siege by Swedish troops in 1648 and removed afterwards. Fortunately, thedecorations on the east facade were preserved. Above the arch are the coat of arms of all the lands that were part of the Bohemian Kingdom as well as the kingfisher, the symbol of King Wenceslas IV.
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The three statues above the coat of arms depict the patron saint of Bohemia, Saint Vitus in the center with King Charles IV to his left and King Wenceslas IV to his right. Near the top of the tower are two statues of Saint Sigismund and Saint Vojtech (Adalbert). A long stairway leads to an observation room from where you have great views of Old Town and the Charles Bridge. |
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Petrin Hill
This 318m (1043ft) hill is topped with a network of eight parks, comprising one of Prague's largest green spaces. It's great for cool, quiet walks and postcard-perfect views of the 'City of 100 Spires.' Once upon a time, the hill was draped with vineyards, and you can still see the quarry that provided stone for most of Prague's Romanesque and Gothic buildings. You can tone your thigh muscles hiking up from Hradcany or Strahov, or take the funicular railway for the same price as a tram ride. Just south of the cable-car terminus is Stefanik Observatory, where anyone can enjoy an enhanced view of a clear and starry night. North of the terminus on the summit is Petrin Tower, a 62m (203ft) copy of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1891 Prague Exposition. You can climb its 299 steps for a small fee. On a clear day, you'll be able to take in sublime views of the central Bohemian woodlands.
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Hradcany, the residential area around the west gate of Prague Castle, was made a town in its own right in 1320. Before it became a borough of Prague in 1598 it suffered heavy damage: in the Hussite wars and in the Great Fire of 1541. Nevertheless, the area is an outdoor museum of well-kept antiquities. Hradcany Namesti has kept its shape since the Middle Ages. At its center is a column by Ferdinand Brokoff (1726) commemorating Prague's struggle against the plague. Startling Scwartzenburg Palace and other examples of baroque- and rococo-style residences make the area an architecture buff's wet dream. A short walk west will bring you to Loretanske Namesti, created in the 18th century when Cernin Palace (now home to the foreign ministry) was built. The square's main attraction is the Loreta (1626), an extraordinary baroque place of pilgrimage designed to resemble the house of the Virgin Mary. It's surrounded by several lovely chapels and an eye-popping treasury, which features the tasteful Prague Sun, made of solid silver and plenty of gold and inlaid with 6222 diamonds. Another worthwhile destination in the Hradcany is Strahov Monastery (1140; completed in the 18th century), which features a baroque church where Mozart is said to have tickled the ivories, and the Strahov Library, with its unreal collection of tomes and education-themed frescos. It was a functioning monastery until the communist government closed the doors (and imprisoned most of the monks); monks have been trickling back in over the past few years.
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Mala Strana (the Small Quarter) clusters around the foot of Prague Castle. Most visitors pass through on steep Royal Way, as they climb to the castle, but the narrow side streets of this baroque quarter are worth examining in their own right. Almost too picturesque for its own good, the district is now a favorite for movie and commercial sets. Mala Strana started up in the 8th or 9th centuries as a market settlement, and was chartered in 1257 by Premysl Otakar II. Its castle-front location has long attracted visitors, friends and foes alike: It was all but destroyed in the Hussite wars of 1419. Charming churches and palaces in the area date from the 17th and 18th centuries, with renaissance facades that were late-'baroquified.' Along the Royal Way, Nerudova Ulice is the quarter's most architecturally important street. Gems like the House of Two Suns, where poet Jan Neruda penned Tales of the Little Quarter (along with plenty of influential liberal essays and articles), and Bretfield Palace are two great examples of Czech artistry. Dominating the quarter is St Nicholas Church, not to be confused with the eponymous chapel on Old Town Square. This exquisite building, with its huge green cupola, houses the largest fresco in Europe, Johann Kracker's 1770 Life of St Nicholas. Also fine for strolling are the grounds of Wallestein Palace, where summer concerts are often held, and quiet Vojan Park, established in 1248.
Wenceslas Square, the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge are good points of referral. Bridges link the Lesser Town and the Castle above with the Old and New Towns. Charles Bridge (Karluv most) was started back in the fourteenth century and is Prague’s most photographed location. Prague Castle (Prazski Hrad) is visible from all over Prague and dominates the skyline. The complex is very large and includes what could be described as a small town of its own. One of the main attractions is St Vitus Cathedral (Katedral sv. Vita), the Czech Republic’s largest church and an architectural gem. In the castle gardens is the Belvedere, a fine Renaissance building dating to the fifteen thirties.
The Jewish Quarter (Josefov) constituting the Jewish Ghetto until the end of the nineteenth century is the site of the Jewish Museum, Old Jewish Cemetery and Old-New Synagogue. Meanwhile the Municipal House (Obecni dum) an Art Nouveau gem has as its center piece the Smetana Hall home to Prague’s Symphony Orchestra.Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti) is in fact not a square but a long boulevard, heavily commercialized and very Western looking there are many shops here. At the top of square stands the National Museum.
Nebozizek - A visit to Nebozizek will ensure the finest view of the whole city, and ideal photo opportunity not to be missed. Use the Petrin Funicular - Lanouka Dr‡ha - the funicular railway or, if you are fit enough, the path up Petrin Hill. There is a restaurant - previously a vineyard cottage - with a terrace garden and a cafe serving the best waffles with fruit and cream.
Josefo - The Old - New Synagogue (the oldest in Europe) and still used for worship as well as the Old Jewish Cemetary is fascinating - the oldest tombstone is dated 1439. The novelist Frans Kafka is the most famous person associated with Josefov. He spent most of his short life in the area. Children's artwork from the concentration camp is on display in the 19th century House of Ceremonies. In Josehof, a small corner of Prague, you will find a wealth of history.
Jewish Quarter - Josefov is, Prague's former Jewish ghetto.The half-dozen old synagogues, a ceremonial hall and the powerfully melancholic 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 seven 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 Star? Meÿsto's streets against floods. Men must wear hats (conveniently for sale at the entrance), while women are relegated to an anteroom where they can observe male-only services. It's worth the trouble. The Pinkas Synagogue (1535) is a handsome place of worship inscribed with the names, birth dates and dates of disappearance of 77,297 Bohemian and Moravian Holocaust victims, while 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. Perhaps the most visceral of Prague's memorials, the Old Jewish Cemetery, Europe's oldest surviving Jewish burial ground, has been a monument to dignity in the face of persecution and suffering since the 15th century. Thousands of crumbling stones from other, long-razed cemeteries are heaped atop as many as 100,000 graves; in contrast are the elaborate bas-relief markers from the 17th and 18th centuries. The oldest marker (1439; now replaced with a replica) is that of Avigdor Karo, a chief rabbi and court poet to Wenceslas IV.
Mala Strana - Mala Strana (the Small Quarter) clusters around the foot of Prague Castle. Most visitors pass through on steep Royal Way, as they climb to the castle, but the narrow side streets of this baroque quarter are worth examining. Almost too picturesque for its own good, the district is now a favourite for movie and commercial sets. Mala Strana started up in the 8th or 9th centuries as a market settlement, and was chartered in 1257 by Premysl Otakar II. Its castle-front location has long attracted visitors, friends and foes alike: It was all but destroyed in the Hussite wars of 1419. Charming churches and palaces in the area date from the 17th and 18th centuries, with Renaissance facades that were later 'baroquified'. Along the Royal Way, Nerudova Ulice is the quarter's most architecturally important street. Gems like the House of Two Suns, where poet Jan Neruda penned Tales of the Little Quarter (along with plenty of influential liberal essays and articles), and Bretfield Palace are two great examples of Czech artistry. Dominating the quarter is St Nicholas Church, not to be confused with the eponymous chapel on Old Town Square. This exquisite building, with its huge green cupola, houses the largest fresco in Europe, Johann Kracker's 1770 Life of St Nicholas. Also fine for strolling are the grounds of Wallestein Palace, where summer concerts are often held, and quiet Vojan Park, established in 1248.
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