Prague is a city that will conquer your heart with its magical beauty. This city preserved its old historical architecture better than any other city in Europe, because it was not destroyed during the war. This walking tour will lead you through the most popular and fascinating sights of the Czech capital.
1) Petrin Tower
The Petřínská rozhledna (Petřín lookout tower) is a 60 metre high steel framework tower in Prague, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower. Although it is much shorter than the Eiffel Tower, it stands atop a sizable hill, Petřín, so the top is actually at a higher altitude than that of the Eiffel Tower. The Petřínská rozhledna was built in 1891 and was used as an observation tower as well as a transmission tower. Today the Petřínská rozhledna is a major tourist attraction. If you go up the hard way, the hill is roughly a half-hour walk up paths that get quite slippery when it snows, and the tower is a shorter but fairly tiring climb; however, the hill is served by a frequent funicular and the tower has an elevator for disabled persons.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and cs:ŠJů
Sight description based on wikipedia
2) Prague Castle
Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world (according to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle) at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide. The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. The Prague Castle includes Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers. Most of the castle areas are open to tourists. Nowadays, the castle houses several museums, including the National Gallery collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerism art, exhibition dedicated to Czech history, Toy Museum and the picture gallery of Prague Castle, based on the collection of Rudolph II.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and ceriess
Sight description based on wikipedia
3) Church of Our Lady Victorious - Holy Child of Prague
The Church of Our Lady Victorious (Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné) in Malá Strana, the "small side" of Prague is a Carmelite church and the home of the statue called the "Infant Jesus of Prague".
A chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built on this site in 1584. With the Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620, the Counter-Reformation signalled the re-Catholicisation of Prague. The church was given to the direction of the Carmelites in September 1624. The triumphalist altarpiece of Our Lady of Victory was sent from Rome by Pope Gregory XV. The Carmelites were ordered to hand over the church to Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, 3 June 1784. On 26 September 2009 Pope Benedict XVI declared the church and the Infant Jesus the first station on the Apostolic Road in the Czech Republic
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Matěj Baťha
Sight description based on wikipedia
4) Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge (Karlův most) is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge was the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841. This "solid-land" connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. The bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870. The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Hpschaefer
Sight description based on wikipedia
5) Lavka Club
Lavka Bar and Club is a very nice place to dance and and have a drink. It offers guests an incredible view of Charles Bridge. Due to its excellent location, Lavka club is visited by many tourists who are looking to have a great night out in Prague.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and Bogdan Migulski
6) Dancing House
The Dancing House (Tančící dům) is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague, at Rašínovo nábřeží 80. It was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with Canadian architectFrank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in 1945). The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996. The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time. Czech president Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site, had supported it, hoping that the building would become a center of cultural activity. Originally named Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - the house resembles a pair of dancers) the house stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings for which Prague is famous. Others have nicknamed it "Drunk House".
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Che
Sight description based on wikipedia
7) National Museum
The National museum (Národní muzeum) is a Czech museum institution intended to systematically establish, prepare and publicly exhibit natural scientific and historical collections. It was founded 1818 in Prague by Kašpar Maria Šternberg. Historian František Palacký was also strongly involved. 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.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and che
Sight description based on wikipedia
8) Moser Glass
Moser Glass is a luxury, high-quality glass manufacturer, previously Karlsbad in Bohemia. The company is known for manufacturing fine stemware, decorative glassware (such as vases, ashtray, candlestick), luxury glass gifts and various art engravings. Due to the quality, Moser is one of the most collected of 20th century decorative glass and have been used everywhere from palaces to local restaurants. From its beginnings in 1857, as a polishing and engraving workshop, it developed into a glass manufacturer lasting through the 20th century until the present time using a lead-free and acknowledged as manufacturer of high quality products.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Juan de Vojníkov
Sight description based on wikipedia
9) Erpet Crystal
Erpet Crystal megastore is located in front of the famous Astronomical Clock. It sells high quality Czech crystal and colorful objects made of crystal, including jewelry. There is a nice cafe inside the store, where visitors can have a cup of tea or coffee.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and nads0465
10) Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj (Pražský orloj) is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague. The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Squareand is a popular tourist attraction. The Orloj 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; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Maros M r a z (Maros)
Sight description based on wikipedia
11) Old Town Square
Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) 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 Cathedral and baroque St. Nicholas Church, the square is an oasis for travelers wearied by Prague's narrow streets. 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.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Estec Co.Ltd
Sight description based on wikipedia
12) Parizska Street
The most popular place for shopping in Prague is Parizka street with its most expensive brand shops housed in magnificent old buildings. Here you will also find many souvenir shops where you may purchase wooden and porcelain replicas of Prague's most famous attractions.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Juan de Vojníkov
13) Jewish Quarter
While on holiday in Prague you will almost certainly visit the Jewish Quarter to explore the fine synagogues and exhibition halls. You might find it a bit strange to see so many tourists visiting the Old Jewish Cemetery, but in truth this is a fascinating place.
The cemetery first came into use around the beginning of the 15th century and one tombstone, that of Avigdor Karo a poet and scholar, dates back to 1429. The cemetery was closed in 1787. It is the oldest surviving Jewish place of rest in Europe, because Hitler ordered it to be kept intact.
In the 13th century the Jews of Prague were ordered to live in one part of the town – the Jewish Quarter or Ghetto and they had to bury their dead within the Quarter. According to ancient Jewish Law neither graves, nor their tombstones must be removed; as lack of space was a real problem, earth was shifted into the cemetery, the old tombstones were placed on top of the fresh earth next to those of the more recently dead.
It is estimated that there are 12 layers of graves and over 100.000 people buried in the cemetery. Famous tombs include Rabbi Lowe (who created the Golem, according to legend) and Mordechai Maisel who commissioned several of the synagogues in the Quarter.
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Andreas Praefcke
Sight description based on wikipedia
14) Zlata Praha Restaurant
Zlata Praha Restaurant is a roof restaurant of the InterContinental Hotel. It is one of the nicest dining places to contemplate incredible views of Prague. The restaurant's menu includes both Czech and international cuisine.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and Matt Biddulph