PRAGA- TRAVEL BOOKLET

Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fourteenth-largest city in the European Union. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million. Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was not only the capital of the Czech state, but also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. Prague’s rich history makes it a popular tourist destination and in 2011, it was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe

Prague Castle

Prague Castle (Czech: 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 within a hidden room inside it.

The Guinness Book of Records lists Prague Castle as the largest ancient castle in the world. [1] It occupies an area of almost 70 000 m², at about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres 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. The Summer Shakespeare Festival regularly takes place in the courtyard of Burgrave Palace.

Lobkowicz Palace At Prague Castle

The highly acclaimed Lobkowicz Palace is part of the Prague Castle complex. It was built in the mid-16th century by Czech nobleman Jaroslav of Pernštejn and was originally named the Pernštejn Palace. Over the centuries it has played a part in some of Bohemia’s most significant historical events.

After 40 years of Communist rule and a further 12 years seeking its restitution, the Lobkowicz family finally regained ownership of their palace in 2002. Restoration followed, and the palace is now open to the public as a museum, with one of the historic rooms also set aside to host classical concerts. The museum traces the history of the Czech lands and its people, displaying exhibits drawn from the extensive private collections of the Lobkowicz family.

Vysehrad Castle

Vyšehrad is a historical fort located in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River. Situated within the castle is the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, as well as the Vyšehrad Cemetery, containing the remains of many famous people from Czech history, among them Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Karel Čapek, and Alphonse Mucha. It also contains Prague's oldest surviving building, the Rotunda of St Martin from the 11th century.

The present form of Vyšehrad as a fortified residence, with powerful brick ramparts, bastions and the Tábor and Leopold gates, is a result of Baroque remodelling. The Cihelná brána (Brick gate) is an Empire-style structure, dating from 1841. The main part of the Špička Gate, parts of the Romanesque bridge, and the ruined Gothic lookout tower known as Libušina lázeň (Libuše's Bath) are the only fragments that have been preserved from the Middle Ages. Vyšehrad and the area around it became part of the capital city in 1883. The area is one of the cadastral districts of the city. Local legend holds that Vyšehrad was the location of the first settlement which later became Prague, though thus far this claim remains unsubstantiated.

Archbishop Palace in Prague

After what crowds of enraged Hussites burned the Bishop Palace in the Lesser Town in 1420, the Habsburg ruler Ferdinand I. decided to build a new imposing palace on Hradcanske square near Prague Castle. Even though the palace was first build in Renaissance style, it was rebuilt in Baroko and later on, in 18th century, in Rococo style.

Archbishop palace has served as a seat of the Prague’s archbishop and the archdiocese administration since 1562. It’s a large building with four wings and four courtyards. The front facade is beautifully decorated by Ignac Frantisek Platzer. The interior of the palace is mainly in Rococo style, the most valuable items inside the palace are a collection of nine French tapestries and a portrait gallery of Prague’s archbishops.

A legend says that the main altar in archbishop chapel inside the palace was decorated with a beautiful painting Crucifixion painted by an uknown Italian artist. The painter made every effort to create the painting perfectly as he got the commission from the archbishop himself. But the painter was not satisfied with the face of dying Christ which wasn’t, according to him, showing enough death anxiety. He asked a beggar from Charles Bridge to be his model. He tied the beggar to the cross so that the beggar would feel a lot of pain. But his face was still not full of suffering. The painter got angry and hit the beggar’s heart with a dagger. Finally the painter found the face twisted in pain. He quickly painted the face before the beggar died. The painting was beautiful, but it cost two lives – the painter got mad after his terrible deed and jumped off a mountain.

St. Nicholas Church

The Church of Saint Nicholas also called the Saint Nicholas Cathedral is the Baroquechurch in Lesser Town, Prague. It was built between 1704-1755 on the site where formerly stood a Gothic church from the 13th century also dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It has been described as "the most impressive example of Prague Baroque" and "without doubt the greatest Baroque church in Prague and the Dientzenhofers' supreme achievement".

It was built by Christoph Dientzenhofer, later by his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. The temple excels not only in the architecture, but also in the decoration, mainly by the Jan Lukas Kracker's frescos and inside the 70 m high dome by František Xaver Palko's. The interior is further decorated with sculptures of František Ignác Platzer. The Baroque organs has over 4,000 pipes up to six metres in length and were played by Mozart in 1787. The 79 m tall belfry is directly connected with the church’s massive dome. The belfry with great panoramic view, was unlike the church completed in Rococo forms in 1751-1756 by Anselmo Lurago.

 Loreta Church

The stunning church, Loreta, is set in a delightful courtyard surrounded by chapel-lined arcades, near to Prague Castle. It is an important pilgrimage site, commissioned by Baroness Beligna Katherina von Lobkowicz in 1626. The construction had started in 1626 and the Holy Hut was blessed on March 25, 1631. The architect was the Italian Giovanni Orsi. It was conceived to promote the legend of Santa Casa, a copy of the house believed to be the Virgin Mary's. After completion, Loreta was maintained by the Capuchins, an order connected with the Brotherhood of St. Francis of Assisi.

Loreta has original fresco pieces, and not to be missed is 'Prague Sun' and its 6000 plus diamonds located in the Treasury.

The chapel is most known for its peal, heard since August 15, 1695. It was constructed during 1694 by watchmaker Peter Neumann from thirty smaller and larger bells. A 27-bell carillon plays on the hour every hour, a beautiful sound ringing around the courtyard outside. Pause and listen, and admire the serenity of the situation.

The Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn

The Church of Mother of God in front of Týn, often translated as Church of Our Lady in front of Týn, is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. Construction of the present church began in 1365  in the late Gothic style under the influence of Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler. Its Gothic towers and steeples are the most distinctive landmark of the Old Town. The church's towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires. And take a close look at the two spires on the church. They are not symmetrical. They represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world. This is characteristic of Gothic architecture of the period.

The northern portal is a wonderful example of Gothic sculpture from the Parler workshop, with a relief depicting the Crucifixion. The main entrance is located on the church's western face, through a narrow passage between the houses in front of the church.

The early baroque altarpiece has paintings by Karel Škréta from around 1649. The oldest pipe organ in Prague stands inside this church. The organ was built in 1673 by Heinrich Mundt and is one of the most representative 17th-century organs in Europe.

 Old New Synagogue

The Old New Synagogue (Czech: Staronová synagoga; German: Altneu-Synagoge) situated in Josefov, Prague, is Europe's oldest active synagogue. (The Scolanova Synagogue in Italy, also 13th century, was converted to a church by 1380 but was restored to synagogue use in 2006.) It is also the oldest surviving medieval synagogue of twin-nave design.

Completed in 1270 in gothic style, it was one of Prague's first gothic buildings. A still older Prague synagogue, known as the Old Synagogue, was demolished in 1867 and replaced by the Spanish Synagogue.

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.

This cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is the biggest and most important church in the country. 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

Powder Tower

The Powder Tower or Powder Gate (Czech: Prašná brána) is a Gothic tower in Prague, Czech Republic. It is one of the original city gates, dating back to the 11th century. It is one of the symbols of Prague leading into the Old Town.

The Powder Tower is one of the original 13 city gates in Old Town, Prague. Construction began in 1475. The tower was intended on being an attractive entrance into the city, instead of a defensive tower. The foundation stone was placed by Vladislav II. The city council gave Vladislav II the tower as a coronation gift. While it was being built, it was called the New Tower. The look of the tower was inspired by the work of Peter Parler on the Charles Bridge.

Vladislav II had to relocate due to riots, so the tower building stopped. He returned in 1485 to live back in Prague Castle, where he lived for the rest of his life, along with the rest of the Kings of Bohemia who lived in Prague. Kings would not return to use the tower or Royal Court until using it for coronation ceremonies starting again in 1836, where they would pass through the tower to go to St. Vitus Cathedral.

The gate was used to store gunpowder in the 17th century, hence the name Powder Tower or Powder Gate. The gate suffered considerable damage during the Battle of Prague. The sculptures on the tower were replaced in 1876.

 Old Town Square

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, the square is an oasis for travelers wearied by Prague's narrow streets. square's center 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 (including Jan Jesenius and Maxmilián Hošťálek) 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.  

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague.  Many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. Wenceslas Square has been a de facto locale of peaceful demonstrations and violent protests for decades, from the Czech resistance of 1945 to the Velvet Revolution. 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.
Less a square than a boulevard, Wenceslas Square has the shape of a very long (750 m, 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.

 Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge (Karlův most) is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau) until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town and adjacent areas. This "solid-land" connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe.

The bridge is 621 m long and nearly 10 m wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas.

Prague astronomical clock(Prague Orloj)

The Prague astronomical clock, or Prague orloj is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. 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.

According to local legend the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy.

 The Dancing House

The Dancing House (Czech: Tančící dům) or Fred and Ginger is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building in Prague, Czech Republic, 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 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 center of cultural activity.

Gehry originally named the house Fred and Ginger (after the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – the house resembles a pair of dancers) but this nickname is now rarely used; moreover, Gehry himself was later "afraid to import American Hollywood kitsch to Prague", so refuted his own idea.

The Mucha Museum

This small museum features only the work of the great Czech Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. Mucha was famous for the posters he designed for theatre productions of the great fin-de-siècle actress, Sarah Bernhardt, and his work optimises the Art Nouveau movement. The collection includes phenomenal paintings, posters, sketches, statues and photographs by the artist, and also features Mucha's lesser known works celebrating pan-Slavism.

Petrin Hill

Petřín (327 m) is a hill in the center of Prague, Czech Republic. It rises some 130 m above the left bank of the Vltava River. The hill, almost entirely covered with parks, is a favorite recreational area for the inhabitants of Prague. The hill (in German known as Laurenziberg) is featured prominently in Franz Kafka's early short story "Description of a Struggle" and briefly in Milan Kundera's novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

The summit of the hill is linked to Prague's Malá Strana district by the Petřín funicular, a funicular railway that first operated in 1891.

Lennon Wall

The Lennon Wall or John Lennon Wall, is a wall in Prague, Czech Republic. Once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs.

In 1988, the wall was a source of irritation for the communist regime of Gustáv Husák. Young Czechs would write grievances on the wall and in a report of the time this led to a clash between hundreds of students and security police on the nearby Charles Bridge. The movement these students followed was described ironically as "Lennonism" and Czech authorities described these people variously as alcoholics, mentally deranged, sociopathic, and agents of Western capitalism.

The wall continuously undergoes change and the original portrait of Lennon is long lost under layers of new paint. Even when the wall was repainted by some authorities, on the second day it was again full of poems and flowers. Today, the wall represents a symbol of youth ideals such as love and peace.

The wall is owned by the Knights of Malta, who allowed the graffiti to continue on the wall, and is located at Velkopřevorské náměstí (Grand Priory Square), Malá Strana.