TRAVEL PRAGUE
GENERAL INFORMATION-Prague is the capital and of the Czech Republic and the largest city of Czech Republic. It is also the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west side of the country on the Vltava River. Prague was the capital of the Czech state, also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors .It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire and after World War I became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.4 million international visitors annually. Prague was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe. Prague, City of a Hundred Spires, a UNESCO monument and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Gothic Charles Bridge and Church of St. Nicholas in the Lesser Town, the most beautiful Baroque church in Prague. Prague presents itself to you as a changeable city, which likes to alternate styles, it is romantic and successful, ancient and modern, but above all it is a city that is cosmopolitan. In human times the Celtic tribes came to reside here, leaving remains dating back to the 4th Century B.C. Their tribal name, Boii, gives the root of the word "Bohemia". The three separate territories of Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia now make up the modern Czech Republic, which split from Slovakia in the 1993 "Velvet Divorce." Prague was founded in the later 9th century, and soon became the seat of Bohemian kings, some of whom ruled as emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The Charles IV (1346-1378) was the king of Bohemia and first of the Holy Roman Emperors here; he ruled during the height of Prague's elegance and splendour. He sponsored the construction of such landmarks as the Charles Bridge, the Hunger Wall and St. Vitus' Cathedral, as well as personally designing the neighbourhood called New Town (Nove Mesto) which has for its centre Karlovo Namesti or Charles Square. The city also went under Habsburg rule and became the capital of a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1918, after World War I, the city became the capital of Czechoslovakia. After 1989 many foreigners, especially young people, moved to Prague. In 1992, its historic centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two countries and Prague became capital city of the new Czech Republic.
GEOGRAPHY-Prague is situated on the Vltava River, in the centre of the Bohemian Basin.
AREA-525.2Km2 (city)
POPULATION-17, 40,100(city)
CO-ORDINATES-47°29′33″N 19°03′05″E
TIME ZONE -UTC +1 Summer UTC+2
CLIMATE-The temperature around the year is as follows-
POPULATION-17, 40,100(city)
CO-ORDINATES-47°29′33″N 19°03′05″E
TIME ZONE -UTC +1 Summer UTC+2
CLIMATE-The temperature around the year is as follows-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 0.4 3 8 13 18 21 23 23 19 13 6 2
LOW -5 -4 -1 3 7 10 12 12 9 4 0.2 -3
HIGH 0.4 3 8 13 18 21 23 23 19 13 6 2
LOW -5 -4 -1 3 7 10 12 12 9 4 0.2 -3
AIRPORT-Prague is served by Václav Havel Airport, the biggest airport in the Czech Republic and one of the busiest in Europe. It is the hub of the flag carrier, Czech Airlines. Located 20 km northwest of the city centre, it generally takes about 30 min to reach the city centre by car. There are three terminals; Terminal 1 for non-Schengen flights and Terminal 2 for Schengen flights are connected whilst Terminal 3 for private jets is two stops away by bus.
OTHER INFORMATION
BOHEMIA-Bohemia is a historical country of Central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague. In a broader meaning, it often refers to the entire Czech territory, including Moravia and Czech Silesia , especially in historical contexts, such as the Kingdom of Bohemia. Bohemia was a kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire and subsequently a province in the Habsburgs’ Austrian Empire. From 1918 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1992 it was part of Czechoslovakia, and since 1993 it has formed much of the Czech Republic. Bohemia has an area of 52,065 km2 (20,102 sq. miles).
BOHEMIA CRYSTAL-Bohemia was a part of the Austro/Hungarian Empire now part of the Czech Republic, and was famous for its beautiful and colourful glass. The history of Bohemian glass started with the abundant natural resources found in the countryside. Bohemian glass, or Bohemia crystal, is a decorative glass produced in regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now in the current state of the Czech Republic, since the 13th century. Oldest archaeology excavations of glass-making sites date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia. In the 17th century, Caspar Lehmann, gem cutter to Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, adapted to glass the technique of gem engraving with copper and bronze wheels. It was at that time when the term Bohemian crystal emerged for the first time in history to distinguish its qualities from the glass coming from other places. As opposed to usual perception this was non-lead. This Czech glass could be cut with a wheel. In addition, resources such as wood for firing the kilns and for burning down to ashes were used to create potash. There were also copious amounts of limestone and silica. Bohemia turned out expert craftsmen who artfully worked with crystal.
PRAGUE ATTRACTONS & SIGHTS-
001-PRAGUE CASTLE (Prazsky Hrad)-Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Located in the district of Hradčany (the Castle Quarter), overlooking Malá Strana, this sprawling series of connected palaces, courtyards and gardens covers almost 70,000 square meters. The present castle was built in 9th century and was subsequently expanded in 12th and 13th century and fortified .Lesser Town is a town developed around the castle. King Charles IV renovated and expanded the castle in 14th century. Presently the President of Czech Republic lives here since 1918. The castle is very big like a small city, there are three court yards and several streets. The entrance gate is from Castle Square which leads to the first court yard, watch the Castle Guard changing ceremony at a full hour, best at noon. The entrance gate is decorated with large sculptures of fighting giants and putti, some of which crown a lion and an eagle. In the second court yard connected by Matthias Gate to the first court yard, there is a Chapel of the Holy Cross and Central Fountain .In the palace on the left wing there is a museum and in other wing it houses offices of President of Czech Republic .In the third courtyard there is a St. Vitus Cathedral. It has the replica of 14th century statue of St. George and 17 meters tall granite obelisk .The third courtyard opens up in St. George Square where St. George’s Basilica and Royal Palace are. Further ahead there is Lobkowicz Palace and Golden Lane
i -Old Royal Palace (Starý královský palace)-The original seat of Czech rulers. After the castle was upgraded to a fortress in 1100AD the Bohemia Princes moved into the Royal Palace known as Old Palace .In the palace there is a Vladislav Hall 16mx14m (52ft x 46feet) the largest high-Gothic vaulted space in Central Europe. , built in 1493-1502, it is on six piers. Other rooms include the Palace Chapel and throne room. At the end of the exhibit is "The Story of Prague Castle" exhibit, which features artefacts from the castle's past
ii- St. Vitus Cathedral-Saint Vitus Cathedral (Czech: Katedrála svatého Víta) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prague and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. The full name of the cathedral is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. It is in the centre of Prague Castle and the most important cathedral in all of the Czech Republic. St. Vitus a popular fourth century martyr and his bone were brought by Charles IV. The Building of Church was started in 1344AD and was completed in 1929AD .Located within Prague Castle and containing the tombs of many Bohemian Kings and Holy Roman Emperors, the cathedral is under the ownership of the Czech government as part of the Prague Castle complex. Cathedral dimensions are 124 x 60 meters; the main tower is 96.5 meters high, front towers 82 m, arch height 33.2 m. The present day Gothic Cathedral was founded on 21 November 1344, when the Prague bishopric was raised to an archbishopric. Its patrons were the chapter of cathedral (led by a Dean), the Archbishop Arnost of Pardubice and above all Charles IV, King of Bohemia and a soon-to-be Holy Roman Emperor, who intended the new cathedral to be a coronation church, family crypt, treasury for the most precious relics of the kingdom and the last resting place cum pilgrimage site of patron saint Wenceslaus. St. Vitus Cathedral was the place of royal coronations and also the location of the remains of several famous Czech Kings (notably Charles IV, of Charles Bridge fame).The main entrance is called Golden Portal with a colourful mosaic. Until the 19th century the Golden Gate (Porta Aurea) was the main gate of St. Vitus. It was used as the doorway by which kings entered on coronation day. Just above the entrance is a large mosaic of the Last Judgment. Around the cathedral and see the Western portal with the large Rose window above the main entrance and beautiful gargoyles, also the original medieval Golden Portal in the south and the stunning Flying Buttresses in the east. See inside the cathedral include the stained glass Rose Window in the west portal, the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk made of pure silver, the Royal Crypt underneath the cathedral (with the graves of Charles IV, his four wives, Wenceslas IV, Ladislas the Posthumous, George of Podebrady, Rudolf II, and Marie Amalie of Austria, the daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria) and the stunning St. Wenceslas Chapel is the most outstanding place in the cathedral is the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, where the relics of the saint are kept. The room was built between 1344 and 1364 and has a ribbed vault. The lower part of the walls are wonderfully decorated with over 1300 semi-precious stones and paintings about the Passion of Christ dating from the original decoration of the chapel in 1372–1373. The upper part of the walls have paintings about the life of St Wenceslas, created between 1506 and 1509. In the middle of the wall there is a Gothic statue of St. Wenceslas in 1373. The Chapel is not able to be accessed by members of the public, but it can be viewed from the doorways. The Czech Coronation Jewels are kept behind the door with the seven locks (seven important people including the Czech President and the Czech Prime Minister keep the keys) in the St. Wenceslas Chapel. A small door with seven locks, in the south-western corner of the chapel, leads to the Crown Chamber containing the Czech Crown Jewels, which are displayed to the public only once every (circa) eight years. If one is willing to climb the 287 stairs to the top of the Bell Tower (the one with Baroque roof) for excellent views of the castle and the surrounding area. The Bell Tower holds Zikmund, the biggest bell in the Czech Republic. The clock tower 317 feet high can be seen all over the Prague.
iii- St. George's Basilica-The 2nd oldest church in the castle and features a colourful Baroque facade. The interior is visibly older and is the burial place of the Premyslid family and the first Czech saint, Princess Ludmila.
iv-St. George's Convent-One of several branches of the National Gallery is located inside this, the first convent in Bohemia. Today it houses the collection of Czech Mannerist and Baroque art.
iv-St. George's Convent-One of several branches of the National Gallery is located inside this, the first convent in Bohemia. Today it houses the collection of Czech Mannerist and Baroque art.
v-TheGolden Lane(Zlata ulicka)-During the reign of Rudolf II in 17th century AD, goldsmiths lived in a lively alleyway filled with tiny workshops, which were also their residence, hence its name. Tiny, cobblestoned walkway filled with brightly-painted little houses, where modern man has a hard time standing with the low ceiling. Franz Kafka occupied one of the houses for a short time and this is why most people visit the Golden Lane.
vi- Towers-Several round towers were built along the walled castle. The most notorious of these is the Daliborka Tower, built in the 15th century as part of the fortifications that were constructed during the reign of King Vladislav II the Jagiellonian .The tower was used as a dungeon and is named after its first inmate, Dalibor of Kozojedy, a Bohemian knight. According to a local legend he learned to play violin while he was imprisoned and people handed food to him. The grim tower is accessible to visitors and can be reached via the Golden Lane. Another famous tower is the Powder Tower (not to be confused with the Powder Tower in the Old Town), originally built in 1496 but later rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire in 1541. The tower was the workshop of Tomáš Jaroš, who cast a large bell for the St. Vitus Cathedral while working here. Later the tower became the workshop of the alchemists.
vii- Royal Garden-The site of the royal garden was a vineyard when Emperor Ferdinand I purchased it to create a garden exclusively for the Royal Garden .The Royal Garden was not just used by the royal court for relaxation, they also cultivated exotic plants here and there is a lion courtyard housing exotic animals. One of the exotic plants cultivated here were the first tulips in Europe, imported from Turkey in 1554. The garden was closed to the public for centuries until 2002.The royal garden houses a number of important buildings. The most significant one is the Belvedere, also known as the Queen Anne's Residence or Royal Summer Residence (Královsky letohrádek).The beautiful Renaissance style structure was built as an entertainment hall for Queen Anne, the spouse of Ferdinand I. In front of the building is an Italianate Garden with a fountain at its centre. The fountain, built in 1568, is known as the singing fountain as the falling drops seem to make a 'singing sound .Another interesting building in the Royal Garden is the Ball Game Hall (Míčovna).Ball Game Hall was originally built to hold indoor sports events but during the 18th century it was used as a stable and later as an army depot. Some other notable buildings in the Royal Garden are the orangery and the former Presidential Residence, built in the mid-20th century.
002-CHARLES BRIDGE (Karlu most )-It is a Prague’s oldest and most famous bridge over Vltava River and most iconic structures, it connects Lesser Town on the left bank(castle side) and Old Town on the right bank of the river .The bridge is very beautiful and many statues along the length . Here are many souvenir vendors and flocked with tourist .The construction was started in 1357 and completed in 1402. Dating to 1357, it was originally called the Stone Bridge, or Prague Bridge, before being named Charles Bridge in 1870, after its founder King Charles IV. This is a1600 feet long on 16 arches and wide enough for four lanes. Now it is a pedestrian bridge since 1950. It is the avenue of 30 mostly baroque statues on gothic bridge. Most sculptures were erected between 1683 and 1714. They depict various saints and patron saints venerated at that time. The most prominent Bohemian sculptors of the time took part in decorating the bridge, such as Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff, and his sons Michael Joseph and Ferdinand Maxmilian .Among the most notable sculptures; one can find the statuaries of St. Luthgard, the Holy Crucifix and Calvary, and St. John of Nepomuk. Well-known also is the statue of the knight Bruncvík, although it was erected some 200 years later and does not belong to the main avenue. Beginning in 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas and the originals have been exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum. Originally the Charles Bridge was devoid of any ornamentation, except for a wooden cross that was placed at its centre. In the 17th century the cross was replaced by a bronze crucifix. The first statue - of St. John of Nepomuk - was added in 1683.The statue became popular and as a result more than 20 more statues were added in the early 18th century. Even more statues were added over time, the most recent one was created in 1938. On Lesser Town end (castle side) of the Charles Bridge there are two bridges towers, the towers were built about 200 years apart and they served quite different purposes. Today, both are accessible to the public and their uppermost levels offer good views of Charles Bridge and Malá Strana, similarly on the other side of the bridge at Old Town side are one tower .The entrance of the bridge is from the Old town river right bank, the most beautiful gate of the Gothic style, it is richly adorned with sculptures-coat of arm, the height is 210feet.The three statues are St. Vitus in the centre, King Charles IV to his left, King Wenceslas IV to his right. Above the top there are two more statues of saints.
003- THE CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS (LESSER TOWN/Mala Strana-castle side)- The Church of St Nicholas, the most famous Baroque church in Prague, stands along with the former Jesuit College in the centre of the Lesser Town Square. A Gothic parish church consecrated by Prague Bishop Tobiáš in 1283 stood at the site until 1743, nearby was the Romanesque Rotunda of St Wenceslas, which had been built in memory of the miracle that occurred during the transfer of Wenceslas’ body from Stará Boleslav to Prague Castle, as mentioned in medieval legends. Today’s Church of St. Nicholas is one of the most valuable Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Construction lasted approximately one hundred years, and three generations of great Baroque architects – father, son and son-in-law – worked on the church. The interior of the St. Nicholas Church is ornate, with many frescoes and sculptures created by the best artists of the time. The 70m (230 feet) high dome is decorated with the fresco 'The Holy Trinity', a work from Franz Palko. The four colossal statues below the dome of fighting giants at the entrance of the Prague Castle.
004-LESSER TOWN SQUARE (Malostranske nameti-castle side)-The Lesser Town square lies at the heart of the Lesser Town(Mala Strana) and has been the hub of this side of the river in Prague since10th century. It is also the main tram stop. The town square was laid out in 1257, it has been the heart of Lesser Town (Malá Strana), as it was situated at the foot of the Prague Castle. The square is dominated by the St. Nicholas Church, an impressive Baroque church that occupies the centre of the square. Magnificent houses with Renaissance and Baroque facades border Lesser Town Square on all sides. A fire that broke out at the square destroyed most of the houses and they were rebuilt in Renaissance and later Baroque style. The latter style now dominates since only a few of the original Renaissance facades kept their original appearance, including the U Mecenaše House (House at the Maecenas) and the Town Hall of Lesser Town. In 1673 the Jesuits built a college at the centre of the square. Twelve houses, a school and a 13th century church had to make way for the new building, which divides the square in two. Adjacent to the college, the Jesuits built one of Prague's most impressive ecclesiastic buildings, the 18th century St. Nicholas Church. The church was designed an ornately Baroque masterpiece crowned with a seventy meter (230 feet) high dome. The largest building at Lesser Town Square is the Liechtenstein Palace (Lichtenštejnský palác), which occupies the west side of the square. It was built in 1621 for Charles of Liechtenstein by reconstructing five existing houses. The largest palace on the north side of the square is the Smirický Palace. The palace, flanked by small towers, was originally built in Renaissance style at the turn of the 17th century. In 1763 it was renovated in a late Baroque style. Adjacent to the Smirický Palace stands the Sternberg Palace (Šternberský Palác). Nearby the Sternberg Palace, along the east side, is the former Town Hall of Lesser Town, built in the early 17th century in a high-Renaissance style and crowned with several decorative onion domes .The column, which is also known as the Holy Trinity Column, was designed by Giovanni Batista Alliprandi which was built in 1715, the monument consists of a small fountain surrounded by putti. A large pedestal supports a soaring obelisk, which reaches a height of about 20 meters (66ft). The pedestal is decorated with statues. They depict patron saints including St. Wenceslas and St. John Nepomuk.
005-OLD TOWN (Staré Město-right bank of river)-Old Town is a medieval settlement of Prague. It was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava at both of its ends. The moat is now covered up by the streets (from north to south-west) Revolučni, Na Příkopě and Národni—which remain the official boundary of the cadastral district of Old Town, it is now in Praha 1. From its existence, around 9th century, Staré Město was laid out of settlements which appeared from the spacious marketplace on the bank of Vltava. Records dating back to 1100AD indicate that every Saturday a market was held on the marketplace and large military gatherings also took place there. Thanks to the trade the nearby area merchants became rich and when the King Václav I gave them the privileges of township, the town of Město Pražské (the town of Prague) was formed. According to ancient records, the city had around 13 gates and a huge moat, providing strong defenses. Soon after the city was expanded in the 14th century by Charles IV with the founding of the New Town, the moat and wall were dismantled. Notable places in the Old Town include the Old New Synagogue, Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock. Across the river Vltava connected by the Charles Bridge is Malá Strana ("Lesser Quarter").
006- OLD TOWN SQUARE ( StaroměstSKE NAMESTI)-Old Town Square is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague .Located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge, Prague's Old Town Square is often bursting at the seams with tourists in the summer. Featuring various architectural styles including the gothic Týn Church and baroque St. Nicholas Church. Among many churches, tourists may find the Astronomical Clock on this square, while the tower at the Old Town Hall offers a panoramic view of Old Town shop. The square's centre is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who for his beliefs was burned at the stake in Constance. The statue known as the Jan Hus Memorial was erected on July 6, 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of his death. The square is also home to a memorial to martyrs beheaded on that spot after the Battle of White Mountain. Twenty-seven crosses mark the pavement in their honour. While the installation date of these crosses is uncertain, a nearby plaque which lists the names of all 27 victims dates from 1911.
007-OLD TOWN HALL CLOCK-The Old town hall clock is famous for its beautiful façade clock. The clock dates back to 1490, the clock maker Hanus, who perfected the construction made blind by the city council to prevent him from making a more beautiful clock elsewhere. The Prague astronomical clock, is a medieval astronomical clock located in Old Town Square. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components- the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. The oldest part of the Orloj, is the mechanical clock and astronomical dial and dates back to 1410 when it was made by clockmaker and a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Charles University. Later around 1490, the calendar dial was added and clock facade decorated with gothic sculptures. In the 17th century moving statues were added and figures of the Apostles were added after major repair in 1865-1866. On October 9, 2010, the Clock's 600th anniversary was celebrated with a light show on the face of the clock tower. The astronomical dial has a background that represents the standing Earth and Sky and surrounding it operates four main moving components: the zodiacal ring, an outer rotating ring, an icon representing the Sun, and an icon representing the Moon. The background represents the Earth and the local view of the sky. The blue circle directly in the centre represents the Earth and the upper blue is the portion of the sky which is above the horizon. The red and black zikimsonik areas indicate portions of the sky below the horizon. During the daytime, the Sun sits over the blue part of the background and at night it sits over the black. During dawn or dusk, the mechanical sun is positioned over the red part of the background. Golden Roman numbers at the outer edge of blue circle are the timescale of a normal 24 hour day and indicate time in local Prague time, or Central European Time. Curved golden lines dividing the blue part of dial into 12 parts are marks for unequal "hours". These hours are defined as 1/12 of the time between sunrise and sunset, and vary as the days grow longer or shorter during the year. Inside the large black outer circle lies another movable circle marked with the signs of the zodiac which indicates the location of the Sun on the ecliptic. The signs are shown in anticlockwise order, the Sun is currently moving anticlockwise from Aquarius into Pisces. The small golden star shows the position of the vernal equinox and sidereal time can be read on the scale with golden Roman with numerals. Zodiac is on the 366 teeth gear inside the machine. At the hour from 8am to 8pm, the wooden twelve apostle march past from the doors. The skeleton on the right, depicting Death, starts the show by pulling on a string .Then two opens, from where the apostles march. After the ritual, a clock crows. Other figures symbolize Vanity, Heathenism and Parsimony.
008-TOWN HALL-Originally the building was made in 1338 and a 230 feet high tower was made and completed in 1364.Now it has more building due to expansions. Due to continuous expansions, the town hall now consists of a colourful collection of Gothic and Renaissance-style buildings. A magnificent late Gothic door in the house adjacent to the tower serves as the main entrance to the Old Town Hall. The pink coloured Renaissance style house next door features a richly decorated window with the city's coat of arms. It currently houses the tourist information office. From here you can get access to the tower. Another interesting building that is now incorporated in the Old Town Hall is the so-called Dům U Minuty, a 15th century house embellished with beautiful 17th century sgraffito .
009-TYN CHURCH (The Church of Mother of God in front of Týn)-The Church of Mother of God in front of Týn is 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. Tyn Church or The Church of Our Lady, dominates the Old Town Square. The two 80meters high and topped by four smaller spires of the church can be observed from all over the Prague. It is an inspiring sight in day and night when lit. The two spires represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world. The church is entered from the Old Town square via the arcade of the Týn School. The most remarkable aspect of this building, which was used as a school from the 14th to the 19th century, is its Gothic vaulting. The early baroque altarpiece has paintings by Karel Škréta from around 1649. The oldest pipe organ in Prague stands inside this church.
010-ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH IN THE OLD TOWN-A Romanesque church was built at this site around the turn of the 13th century. The church served as the parish church of Prague's Old Town until the completion of the nearby Týn church. The defeat of the Bohemian army at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 ended the religious freedom in the city and the St. Nicholas Church was handed over to the Benedictine order. From 1870 to 1914, the St. Nicholas Church was used by the Russian orthodox congregation. Later it was in use as a warehouse and it even housed a garrison. Today the church is owned and managed by the Hussite Church. At the time of construction the St. Nicholas church stood hidden behind Krenn House. It was only after the Krenn House was demolished in 1902 that the church's Baroque front façade became visible from the Old Town Square. The church's white façade is decorated with plenty of statues, the work of Antonín Braun, brother of the more famous Matthias Braun. The church has two steeples and a large octagonal dome. The marvellous interior of the St. Nicholas Church was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-invalids in Paris. The interior is nonetheless magnificent with delicate stucco decoration and dazzling ceiling frescoes, painted by the Bavarian artist Cosmas Damian Asam. The frescoes depict scenes in the lives of the saints Nicholas and Benedict.
011-MUNICIPAL HOUSE-The Municipal House (Czech: Obecní dům) is a civic building and concert hall located on Náměstí Republiky 5 next to the Powder Gate. The Royal Court palace used to be located on the site of the Municipal House. From 1383 until 1485 the King of Bohemia lived on the property. After 1485, it was abandoned. It was demolished in the early 20th century. Construction of the current building started in 1905. It opened in 1912.The Municipal House was the location of the Czechoslovak declaration of independence. The building is of the Art Nouveau architecture style. The building exterior has allegorical art and stucco. There is a mosaic called Homage to Prague over the entrance. On either side are allegorical sculpture groups representing, the Degradation of the People and The Resurrection of the People by Ladislav Šaloun. Smetana Hall serves as a concert hall and ballroom. It has a glass dome. Presently, the building is used as concert hall, ballroom, civic building, and as the location of cafes and restaurants.
012-NATIONAL THEATRE (NarodnI DIVADLO)-The construction was started in 1865 and completed in 1881.This building was constructed by people by donation of money. The National Theatre in Prague is known as the alma mater of Czech opera and as the national monument of Czech history and art. Today the National Theatre consists of three artistic ensembles–opera, ballet and drama–which alternate in their performances in the historic building of the National Theatre, in the Theatre of the Estates and in the Kolowrat Theatre. The theatre includes a triga (a three-horse quadriga) and 10 exterior allegorical sculptures, 10 more exterior pieces .The National Theatre was opened for the first time on 11 June 1881, to honour the visit of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. Nowadays this historic and extremely prestigious and beautiful building, together with the annex of a modern office building that also includes the main box office, represents the main stage of the three artistic ensembles of the National Theatre.
013-DANCING HOUSE-The Dancing House or Fred and Ginger is the nickname, at Rašínovo nábřeží (Rašín's riverbank). It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with the renowned Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot. The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996. The building portrays two people dancing .The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time because the house stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous and in the opinion of some it does not accord well with these architectural styles. The then Czech president, Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had avidly supported this project, hoping that the building would become a centre of cultural activity. The “Dancing House” is set on a property of great historical significance. Its site was the location of a house destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Prague in 1945. The plot and structure lay decrepit until 1960 when the area was cleared. The style is known as deconstructivist (“new-baroque” to the designers) architecture due to its unusual shape. The “dancing” shape is supported by 99 concrete panels, each a different shape and dimension. On the top of the building is a large twisted structure of metal nicknamed Medusa.
014 - THE POWDER TOWER-The Powder Tower is a one of the 13 original medieval gates to the Old Town built in the Gothic style in 1475. In the 18th century, it served as a gunpowder depot, giving it its current name. Royal coronation processions used to commence here at the Powder Tower, a route that can be recreated by following the Royal Way, which starts on Náměstí Republiky just beyond the tower gate and goes all the way to the castle. After King Charles IV established the New Town district in 1348, the fortification around Old Town was no longer of importance. Originally, the Mountain Tower (Horská brána) stood on the site of what is now the Powder Tower and was part of the walled fortifications .The Powder Tower gained its current appearance during renovation in the 1880s. Above the gateway, in the direction of Celetná Street, stands a statue of George of Poděbrady together with the Jagiellon monarch Vladislav II, who were kings of Bohemia during the relevant era .In the 1990s the Powder Tower, was beautifully renovated. The tower is adorned with reliefs of coats of arms and several statues embellish the east and west façades. The Powder Tower (Prašná brána) is located at the edge of Old Town (Staré Město). A covered bridge connects the tower to the adjoining Municipal House (Obecní dům).
015-WENCESLAS SQUARE (in new town)-Wenceslas Square(Václavské náměstí) is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town which was founded by Bohemian King Charles IV in 1348. Many historical events occurred there and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. The square is named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. It is part of the historic centre of Prague, a World Heritage Site. Formerly known as Koňský trh (Horse Market), for its periodic accommodation of horse markets during the Middle Ages, it was renamed Svatováclavské náměstí (Saint Wenceslas Square) in 1848. It is less a square than a boulevard, Wenceslas Square has the shape of a very long (750 m long &, total area 45,000 m²) rectangle, in a northwest–southeast direction. The street slopes upward to the southeast side. At that end, the street is dominated by the grand neoclassical Czech National Museum. The northwest end runs up against the border between the New Town and the Old Town. During the Czech national revival movement in the 19th century, a nobler name for the street was requested. At this time the statue was built. Wenceslas Square is lined by hotels, offices, retail stores, currency exchange booths and fast-food joints. To the dismay of locals and city officials, the street is also a popular location for prostitutes to ply their trade late at night. Many strip clubs exist on and around Wenceslas Square, making Prague a popular location for stag parties. The two obvious landmarks of Wenceslas Square are at the southeast, uphill end, the 1885–1891 National Museum Building and the statue of Wenceslas. The mounted saint was sculpted in 1887–1924, and the image of Wenceslas is accompanied by other Czech patron saints carved into the ornate statue base, Saint Ludmila, Saint Agnes of Bohemia, Saint Prokop, and Saint Adalbert of Prague. The statue base, includes the inscription: "Svatý Václave, vévodo české země, kníže náš, nedej zahynouti nám ni budoucím" ("Saint Wenceslas, duke of the Czech land, prince of ours, do not let perish us nor our descendants"). Other significant buildings on the square include: Antonin Pfeiffer and Matěj Blecha's Palác Koruna office building and shopping centre. Ludvík Kysela's Lindt Building, No 4. The BAŤA shoe store, No. 6. Matěj Blecha and Emil, Králíček's Adam Pharmacy, No 8. Jan Kotěra's Peterka Building, No 12, Pavel Janák's Hotel Juliš, No 22, Alois Dryák's Hotel Evropa, #25–27,Antonin Wiehl's Wiehl House, No 34. The Prague Metro's line A runs underneath Wenceslas Square and the Metro's two busiest stations, Muzeum (lines A and C) and Můstek (lines A and B), have entrances on the street.
016-NATIONAL MUSEUM(Czech: Narodni Museum)-It is the largest and oldest museum in the Czech Republic .This is a neo-classical building on Wenceslas Square and behind the statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse. The main museum building is located on the upper end of Wenceslas Square and was built from 1885 – 1891, before this the museum had been temporarily based at several noblemen’s palaces. The National Museum is a Czech museum institution intended to systematically establish, prepare and publicly exhibit natural scientific and historical collections. It was founded in1818.At present the National Museum houses almost 14 million items from the area of natural history, history, arts, music and librarianship, located in tens of buildings. The founding of the National Museum should be seen in the context of the times, where after the French Revolution, royal and private collections of art, science, and culture were being made available to the public. The National Museum at present contains several million items of material concerning the areas of mineralogy, paleontology, mycology, botany, entomology, zoology, anthropology; and also archeology which is mostly concerned with the period from Neolithic times to the 10th century CE. Entry Ticket =100Czk
017- STIASSNY’S JUBILLE SYNAGOGUE-Jubilee Synagogue (Czech: Jubilejní synagoga), it is also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue because of its location on Jerusalem Street. It was built in 1906 and named in honour of the silver Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The synagogue is designed in Moorish Revival form with Art Nouveau decoration, especially in the interior. It was lately renovated and still serves religious purposes. After the Czech Republic became independent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it became more usual to call the synagogue the Jerusalem Street Synagogue. The facade and form of the synagogue are a hybridized blend of Moorish Revival and art nouveau, with Horseshoe arches on the facade and on the interior columns supporting the women's galleries in a three-bay building. The Mudéjar red-and-white coursing of the stone facade is particularly striking. After a century of being open to the public as a house of worship, on 1 April 2008 the Jubilee Synagogue began opening its doors on a regular basis to tourists and aficionados of historic architecture.
018-JAN HUS MONUMENT-Jan Hus, born in 1369, was a protestant reformer who condemned the indulgence and corruption of the Catholic Church and the Vatican in particular. When the popularity of Hus gained strength, the Catholic Church excommunicated him. Hus wanted to defend his position at the Council of Constance but despite a letter of safe conduct from the emperor, he was imprisoned and declared a heretic. The following year, in 1415, he was burned at the stake. Once news of his death reached Prague, people were indignated by the execution and considered it an attack on the nation. The followers of Jan Hus - known as Hussites - started to revolt and destroyed monasteries and churches. Pope Martin V called on the Catholics in other countries to wage a war against the Hussites, starting a long war between protestant Hussites and catholic crusaders. A tall statue, rising high above a massive platform, shows the authoritative figure of Jan Hus. To his left are victorious Hussite troops, to his right are the oppressed protestants who were banished two hundred years later. The figure of a young mother symbolizes the resurgence of Czech nationalism. An inscription on the base quotes the will of one of the followers of Hus and contains a famous quote from Hus: 'Pravda Vitězí', meaning Truth Prevails. It is now an official motto, written on the banner of the President of the Czech Republic. The quote from Hus is even recognized as an official national symbol.
019- THE CRUSADERS' SQUARE (Křizovnicke Namesti)-The Crusaders' Square is located on way to the famous Charles Bridge to Old Town Square. In the middle of the square stands a large bronze statue of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The statue was created in 1848 on the occasion of the 500 year anniversary of the founding of the Carolinum (Charles University) by Charles IV. The monarch is shown holding the deed of foundation of the university in his right hand.
020- ST. SALVATOR CHURCH-To the east, opposite Charles Bridge, and at Crusaders' Square is bounded by the St. Salvator Church, built between 1572 and 1602 by the Italian architects. The Salvator Church was the first Jesuit Church in the city and it was part of the Clementinum, a large Jesuit College. The church was designed in Renaissance style with Rococo decorations and a large Baroque portal
021-PRAGUE GIANT METRONOME-It is a functional metronome located overlooking the Valtava River and the city centre of Prague. It was erected in 1991 and stands on the plinth left vacant by the destruction of an enormous monument of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1962.The Metronome is 75 foot tall is a scenic vista and a meeting place for young people. The area behind is for skatbording.
022- MARIONETTE THEATRE (PUPPET THEATRE)-Marionette Theatre (puppet theatre) enjoys a long tradition in popular entertainment in Prague and around the Czech Republic. The master puppeteers' creations are true gems of artistic craftsmanship. The National Marionette Theatre presents the finest puppet shows in Prague. Other theatres have sprung up, but to experience the original. Performances include puppet versions of Mozart's famous "opera of operas", Don Giovanni and the enchanting story of the Magic Flute. Both are extraordinary productions, employing very tall puppets clothed in period costumes, set against 18th century stage sets. Another notable performance is the Puppet Gala Performance, a lively mix of the puppeteers' finest works. In Marionette Theatre the story is recounted visually, with little or no spoken words. This makes the shows ideal for an international audience, of both adults and children. The National Marionette Theatre is located one minute walk from the Old Town Square.
023- BLACK LIGHT THEATRE-Black light theatre is a world of illusory creations and hidden secrets. The story is related visually, through a highly charged mix of different theatrical elements. Shows will include some or all of the following: dynamic dance routines, ballet, colourfully dressed mime artists, singers, puppets, animated film, state-of-the-art visual effects and dramatic sounds. There is often also an emotional edge to performances .As the shows are so visual, there are no language barriers, meaning they appeal to adults and children of all ages and nationalities. The best black light theatres in Prague are- Image Theatre - Ta Fantastika - All Colours Theatre - Metro Theatre - Laterna Magika.
024 -PRAGUE NIGHT LIFE/ADULTENTERTAINMENT-Prague is as famous for its sex clubs as it is for its beer. Stag nights take advantage of the price and availability of both and on the whole these clubs are well organized and clean. Bouncers and/ managers will explain the rules and methods of each place on arrival. Generally, one has to pay an entrance fee (around 500Kč) to sit at the bar; this fee is waived if you are there to pay for other services immediately. The famous ones are- i-Darling Cabaret-It is the Prague biggest and most expensive club entertainment .There are four stages and shows different types of show. ii- Goldfinger’s -It is under the Ambassador Hotel and shows are most upscale strip venues in Prague. And others are-Ashly Escort, AAA Exclusive, Extasy Cabaret, K% Relax Club, Escade Cabaret, Sweet Paradise.
025-GREAT MARKET HALL BUDAPEST-The Great Market Hall at the Pest end of Liberty Bridge to combine shopping with sightseeing. A great place to stroll even in cold and rainy weather. The three-storey hall offers you plenty to do and see at least for 1-2 hours. The Great Market Hall's sheer size and splendour makes it one of Budapest's top attractions. At the turn of the 19th-20th century, after Budapest was formed by unifying Buda, Pest and Óbuda, the city begun flourishing and expanding. The chaotic outdoor markets could no longer adequately supply the growing number of inhabitants with fresh produce. The city leaders decided to build covered market halls similar to those in Paris and other Western European cities .Construction of the Great Market Hall started in 1894, the market opened on 15th March 1897 together with the other four Budapest Markets, built at the same time. Budapest's Great Market Hall belonged to the most modern indoor markets at that time, with up-to-date lightning and refrigeration. Originally the vendors shipped their products into the hall through a network of indoor channels. They aren't in use anymore. Beautiful Zsolnay tiles cover the enormous roof structure, that make it the most spectacular element of the building from outside. Among the three levels the ground floor is the busiest. To the right of the main entrance you'll find exotic fruits and vegetables from around the world. Hungarian paprika powder in attractive packaging .You can get saffron here at reasonable price. Hungarian paprika powder, Pick salami, dried fruits, tokaji aszú are the other temptations. Take the escalator to go down the basement where you'll find a supermarket, fishmongers, game and pickles.
026-VÁCI utca-Váci utca became a fashionable shopping street at the end of the 18th century. In the Middle Ages, the length of this street (1300 metres, just under a mile) equalled the length of the city of Pest. The two separate parts of Váci utca, to the north and the south of Elizabeth Bridge, are totally different. The northern part is overcrowded with tourists and shop windows in every building while the southern part which is also pedestrianised has a quieter and more historical atmosphere. Váci utca is bordered by Vörösmarty tér from the North. Major retailers, including Benetton, C&A and H&M all have shops here. Bigger folk art and food shops can be found both in the adjacent side streets, as well as the main street.
026-FASHION STREET-Fashion Street was created very recently, in 2007, from the total reconstruction of Deák Ferenc utca, which links Vörösmarty tér with Deák tér. The 150-meter long street has been inlaid with fine ornamental cobblestones. It profits greatly from being an actual modern-time extension of the main pedestrian street Váci utca. The first retailers to rent space here were Hugo Boss and Max Mara, followed by Benetton, Sisley, s. Oliver, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Mexx, Cream, Lloyd and Byblos. The latest addition is the Valpiano restaurant, a German caterer offering very fine Italian cuisine, and Longbar, a trendy bar and restaurant.
027-GRAND BOULEVARD-The Grand Boulevard (Nagykörút) is a giant circular road - the longest road in Budapest, with its length of 4.11Kms and constant width of 45 meters. Running through five districts of the city, it bears five different names (Margit, Szt. István, Teréz, Erzsébet, and József), named after Habsburg Queens and Kings, with the exception of Szt. István. Today, the most important tram line of Budapest (4/6) runs in the middle of the road on its entire length. Two of Budapest's deluxe hotels are located along the road, the Corinthia Royal and the Boscolo New York Palace, both on Erzsébet körút. Most shops on the Grand Boulevard are individual units, with small to mid-sized floor space, but in the neighbourhood of the two luxury hotels, new vendors have opened shop, catering to the higher quality needs of tourists.