Prague Travel Guide
The Czech Republic’s capital and international showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched by war. The centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.
In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere.
The historical centre of the city is compact and its attractions are all within easy reach. The core comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Staré Mesto and Nové Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions, including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old Town Square, Staromestské Námestí. Josefov Ghetto, the old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of the grand National Gallery.
The city’s cultural scene also features high on the list of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts, opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries around the city. It is constantly adding small new museums to its summertime list, often strange but curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a ‘symphony in stone’, built along the river and on the surrounding hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and poets.
Getting Around
Prague has a cheap and efficient public transport system consisting of an integrated network of buses, trams, metro and a funicular on Petrin Hill. The historic centre is compact and pedestrian-only, but trams offer an inexpensive way of seeing the rest of the city and there are plenty of metro stations in the centre. Tram lines criss-cross the centre and are the best way to get around, after the metro. Buses need rarely be used, as they tend to operate outside the centre and are more irregular. After midnight night trams and buses offer a limited service, usually every hour. Tickets are valid on all modes of public transport, but must be bought in advance and validated before each journey. A number of travel passes are also available; these are the best way to avoid the hassle of different single tickets and need only be stamped once at the start. Prague is inundated with dishonest, unregistered taxi drivers who attempt to rip off tourists. It’s best to book taxis over the phone and demand a receipt for the fare before setting out. ProfiTaxi or AAA Taxi are the most reputable companies. A car is unnecessary since much of the city is pedestrianised, parking is a major problem and vehicle crime is rife. Car rental is also expensive.
Attractions
Charles Bridge (Karluv Most):
The pedestrian Charles Bridge serves as the focal point for tourists and is the most photographed feature of the city. Construction began in 1357 replacing the earlier Judith Bridge of which the only remaining part is one of the towers at the Malá Strana gate that can be climbed for a view of the city. Up until 1841 this was the only bridge in the city. Throngs of people pick their way through the happy congestion caused by buskers, artists and musicians lining the bridge, positioned between the saintly sandstone statues that make this the most picturesque and lively of attractions.
Transport: Metro to Staromestská or tram 17, 18, 51 or 54
Old Town Square (Staromĕstske Namestí):
The heart of the old city and the market place since the 11th century, the Old Town Square is Prague’s prettiest and most lively square with historical facades and a cobbled surface. It still hosts a variety of markets, especially the yearly Christmas market which is enchanting. In the centre is the odd Art Nouveau monument to the religious reformer, Jan Hus, a national symbol for the Czech people. The Old Town Hall features an ornate Gothic Astronomical clock showing three different times, in front of which throngs of people gather on the hour to watch the brief mechanical performance of apostles, Christ, a skeleton and a rooster. Tourists can climb the tower for a behind the scenes look at the mechanics as well as a view from the top. On opposite sides of the square are two magnificent churches: Prague’s greatest Baroque building, St Nicholas, with its distinctly visible dome, and the more striking Týn Church, a fabulous Gothic structure with its twin spires a noticeable feature on the Prague skyline.
Address: Staré Mĕsto Transport: Metro to Staromestká Opening Time: Town Hall tower open Monday 11am to 6pm; Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm Admission: Town Hall Kc50, concessions available
St Vitus Cathedral:
Situated within the Castle Complex, the spires of St Vitus Cathedral, an elegant but domineering French Gothic structure, soar above the ramparts. It is the county’s largest church containing numerous side chapels, frescoes, tombstones and beautiful stained glass windows and it literally sparkles with all the finery inside. The most ornate chapel contains the tomb of St Wenceslas, the ‘Good King Wenceslas’ of the Christmas carol, which has become something of a pilgrimage site. The Coronation Chamber houses the Bohemian Crown Jewels and the Crypt is where most of the Kings and Queens of Bohemia have their final place of rest. The southern entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Gate, is decorated with a richly gilded coloured mosaic representing the Last Judgement, dated from 1370, and it is one of the artistic treasures found in the Castle District. It is possible to climb the 287 steps of the tower for magnificent views over the city.
Address: Castle District (Hradčany) Transport: Tram 22 or 23 to Prazsky Hrad Opening Time: Daily 9am to 5pm (April to October), 9am to 4pm (November to March) Admission: Kc220 (Kc200 in winter); part of a package that also includes the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, the Powder Tower and the Golden Land /Dalibor Tower
The Castle District (Hradčany):
The Castle District stretches across the top of the hill overlooking the city and incorporates the best churches and museums in Prague set around three courtyards, immaculate gardens, fortifications and state apartments. The dominant feature is St Vitus Cathedral occupying most of the third courtyard. The Castle was founded in the 9th century and is still the official residence of the president. The Old Royal Palace was home to the Kings of Bohemia from the 11th to the 17th centuries. The Royal Apartments and Vladislav Hall, where Bohemian knights once jousted, kings were throned and presidents are sworn into office, can be visited, as well as the little chapel next door. Next to the red façade of the Romanesque Basilica of St George, lies the Benedictine Convent, housing the National Gallery’s remarkable collection of old Bohemian art. Behind the gallery is the picturesque cobbled alley known as Golden Lane, a row of 16th-century tradesmen’s cottages, brightly coloured and built into the fortifications. Visitors can watch the Changing of the Guard on the hour every hour, with the fanfare and flag ceremony included at noon.
Website: old.hrad.cz/index_uk.html Transport: Tram 22, 23 or X-A to Prazsky hrad, or metro to Hradčany Opening Time: Interiors daily 9am to 5pm (4pm in winter). Castle grounds daily 5am to midnight (April to October) and 6am to 11pm (November to March). Gardens daily from 10am to 6pm, but are closed along with the tower of St Vitus Cathedral, in winter Admission: Kc220 (Kc200 in winter); includes St Vitus’s Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, the Powder Tower and the Golden Land /Dalibor Tower. Grounds are free
The Jewish Museum:
The Jewish Museum is the largest and most authentic of its kind in Central Europe with one of the most extensive collections of Judaic art in the world. Situated in the old Jewish Quarter it is spread over a variety of buildings and synagogues, including the Maisel, Spanish, Klausen and Pinkas Synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Robert Guttmann Gallery and the Education and Culture Centre. The origins of the collection are astonishing in their atrociousness. Objects from 153 Jewish communities throughout Bohemia and Moravia were brought to Prague by the Nazis in 1942, to be used in a planned ‘museum of an extinct people’ after their extermination programme was complete. The Pinkas Synagogue was turned into a Jewish memorial after the Second World War and its walls are covered with the names of the Czech victims, the communities they belonged to and the camps in which they perished. The Old Jewish Cemetery is a significant sight with over 12,000 tombstones visible, but the number of people buried here is much greater due to the earth layering system carried out to create space. The oldest tombstone dates back to 1439. Together with the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest surviving example of the medieval twin nave style, the cemetery is one of the most important historic sites in the Jewish Quarter.
Address: U Staré školy 1 Telephone: 221 711 511 Email: office@jewishmuseum.cz Website: www.jewishmuseum.cz Opening Time: Daily except Saturday from 9am to 6pm (April to October), 9am to 4.30pm (November to March). Jewish Cemetery open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm Admission: Kc300 for all sites. Robert Guttmann Gallery Kc30: Jewish cemetery Kc20
Vyšehrad:
Vyšehrad, a hill fort perched on a rock above the river, is an inseparable part of the city skyline. The twin spires of the Neo-Gothic Saints Peter and Paul Church are visible from afar and the façade has beautiful carvings. No other site has as much distinction attached to it. Behind the church is the Slavin Cemetery where many distinguished Czech artists, scientists and academics are buried. From the battlements the view of the Vltava valley is superb.
Address: V Pevnosti 159/5b, Prague 2 Telephone: (02) 4141 0348 or 4141 0247 Email: info@praha-vysehrad.cz Website: www.praha-vysehrad.cz Transport: Metro to Vyšehrad on the C line. Trams 7, 8 or 24 to Albertov or 3, 7, 16 or 17 to Výton Opening Time: Daily 9.30am to 6pm (April to October), 9.30am to 5pm (November to March) Admission: Vysehrad Gallery: 10Kc; the Brick Gate: 10Kc ; Casemate (including guide): 30Kc. Concessions available
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