For more information on the top 10 tourism attractions in
Prague, read the description below.
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1. Connecting
Old Town and
Lesser Town over the
River Vltava is the 600 year-old
Charles Bridge, Prague’s most iconic landmark. Thirty
Baroque statues line the sides of the pedestrian bridge along with myriad vendor’s stalls, musicians, performance artists and beggars.
Prague Castle, looming above, is lit at night, and provides a dramatic vista that enchants all visitors. On each end of the Charles Bridge rests a tower that offers a great view of the bridge to those who climb the steps.
2. Located between
Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge, Prague’s
Old Town Square is often bursting with tourists and locals in
the summer. Czech’s long history is exemplified in the medley of architectural styles:
Romanesque, Baroque,
Rococo,
Gothic and
Renaissance are all represented in the superb buildings around the square.
Soaring Gothic towers that rise from Tyn
Cathedral contrasts with the
Baroque style of
St. Nicholas while
Old Town Hall consists of a collection of Gothic and Renaissance buildings.
3. Towering above the city is Prague Castle, more of a sprawling complex than a single defensive building.
The castle buildings span centuries and consists of a royal palace, a cathedral and three churches, a basilica, a monastery, defensive towers, royal stables, a tiny lane where craftsmen worked and magnificent gardens. The cathedral in the castle complex is a jewel in Prague’s crown, a superb example of
Gothic architecture.
Kings and emperors are buried here.
4. A highlight of Old Town Square is Prague’s astronomical clock, a complicated, ancient “orloj” that reveals Babylonian time, Old
Bohemian time,
German time and sidereal time, as well as sunrise and sunset, phases of the moon and the sun’s position in the zodiac. When the clock strikes the hour, bells ring, the
Walk of the
Apostles begins, the Gothic sculptures move, a cock crows and a trumpeter blast sets off a tourist-pleasing show, a sight everyone should see at least once.
5. One of Prague’s two main squares, Wenceslas Square is a shopper’s paradise and haven. Located in
New Town, the square is home to bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, shops and banks, making it the city’s entertainment, nightlife and commercial district. Wenceslas Square is home to the grand
National Museum and the
Prague State Opera.
6. On the other end of Charles Bridge from Old Town Square lies the
Malá Strana or Lesser Town district.
Baroque architecture is the rule in Malá Strana, although its history dates back to 1257 when it was founded as a royal town. The Baroque
St. Nicholas Church and the extensive
Wallenstein Palace dominate the area.
The district hosts palaces, churches, squares, parks, gardens and many other attractions. Surrounding Lesser Town
Square are pubs, shops, restaurants and international embassies, housed in grand old Baroque buildings.
7.
The Church of Our
Lady before Tyn graces the Old Town Square. Among the most well-known attractions in Prague, the church’s Gothic towers soar
80 meters (260 ft) into the sky and can be seen from all parts of the city.
Inside, Tyn
Church holds many works of art in Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles. Our Lady before Tyn’s architects were
Petr Parler and
Matthias of Arras, who created many of Prague’s Gothic buildings.
8. In
Josefov, Prague’s former
Jewish Quarter, is the oldest active synagogue in
Europe, the Old-New
Synagogue.
Legend tells that stones from the
Second Temple in
Jerusalem were brought to Prague by angels to build the walls of the synagogue.
9. Prague is known for its centuries-long span of architectural styles, with the end of the
20th century exemplified by the deconstructivist building
Dancing House, created by Czech architect Valdo Milunic and
Canadian Frank Gehry. This remarkable structure contains both dynamic and static elements, and resembles a female dancer swaying in the arms of her male partner, the
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the architectural world.
10. One of the original gates into
Old Town Prague, this tower was first built in the
11th century and rebuilt in the
15th century. During the
17th century, the tower was used for storing gunpowder, which is where it gets its name.
Powder Tower is connected by a covered bridge to what used to be the palace of
King Vladislav II who rebuilt the tower in 1475. The former palace is now the
Municipal House and remains connected to the tower. Inside the tower is a spiral staircase with 186 steps leading up to the gallery where visitors can get great view of Old Town.
- published: 07 Oct 2014
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