Beautiful Prague: what to see and where to go in the capital of the Czech Republic
“Prague will not let you go,” said Kafka, and he was damn right. Millions of tourists who have visited the capital of the Czech Republic, plan to repeat visits. They stock up on comfortable shoes and again go to the old, but always young city above the Vltava.
An experienced guide and informational support are simply necessary for the first time in Prague. If you want to spend time with benefit and pleasure, come with us on excursions! The company “Sputnik8” offers more than 65 excursions in Prague: thematic, overview, road, pedestrian, with a trip to nature or with immersion into its nightlife. For beginners, we recommend a daily sightseeing tour for 4 hours. And for tourists who are not visiting the Czech capital for the first time, we advise you to take a popular excursion to Vinohrady or a river cruise with lunch.
Old city
Tourists, who come to the capital of the Czech Republic for the first time, focus their attention on the historical center. It is called the Old Place. In fact, Vyshegrad is much older, but the baroque beauty of the Town Hall, the gothic charm of the two towers on the Old Town Square, the magnificence of the Public House and other architectural monuments invariably attract crowds of tourists.
The old town is more than 11 centuries old. Under its modern buildings, according to historiographers, there is a whole floor of ancient buildings from Gothic times: streets, basements, cellars. In the magnificent Cathedral of St. James, built in 1232, you can see and hear the oldest and largest organ in the Czech Republic.
A little standing at the southern wall of the town hall, you can admire the figures of the apostles, coming out of the clock Orloy.
Figures of the apostles, coming out of the clock Orloj
There are small streets only 70 cm wide, and there are some traffic lights for adjusting pedestrian traffic. The Gothic temple complex of the Virgin Mary before Tyn is visible from afar thanks to its pointed towers. It was built for almost two centuries (until 1511) and was painted inside by the founder of the Czech Baroque, Karel Škreta.
Gothic temple complex of the Virgin Mary before Tyn
From the Old Town Square along the winding Karlovaya Street, go to the Charles Bridge.
The Charles Bridge
This half-kilometer building across the Vltava and Chertovka rivers with 30 stone statues was discovered in the 80s of the 15th century. Its importance was so great that two large knight orders, the Maltese and the Red Star, divided the bridge between them to collect the duty.
Charles Bridge over the Vltava and Chertovka Rivers with 30 stone sculptures
Charles Bridge is always crowded with people. If you want to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages in silence, visit the Charles Bridge at dawn or at night. In a safe and never sleeping Prague metropolis it is easy to do.
Small Party
Passing along the Charles Bridge to the right bank, you will come to Mala Strana, a real architectural reserve in the Baroque style.
Here are located 55 palaces of the nobility and many churches, built between the XV and XVII centuries.
Mala Strana
In the small part of the city you can see:
The Church of St. Thomas with copies of Rubens as altar paintings,
Catholic church of St. Thomas
And if you are tired of watching the palaces and just want to take a walk, then visit the island of Kampa.
Kampa Island
There are only eight islands on the Vltava near Prague. From the Small Party you can get to one of them by the bridge. Here you will see the ruins of medieval watermills and magnificent old buildings.
On Petrin Hill on Mala Strana there is a tower, very reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower.
Tower, reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower
From there you can look down and then visit the Stefanik Observatory and look at the stars through a telescope.
Stefanic Observatory
Petrshin Hill is famous for its intricate maze with curved mirrors.
Intricate Maze with Curved Mirrors
You can get to the top by cable car or on foot.
Mount Petrshin, line of funicular
Want to see more? Use the Prague Card. This tourist subscription allows you to visit 50 tourist locations. It also gives the right to discounts in some food service points and is a single ticket for all types of urban transport. The cost is about 4.5 thousand rubles. for 4 days.
Hradchany
On the right bank of the Vltava is the largest in the world (according to the Guinness Book of Records) castle complex Prague Castle.
Castle complex Prague Castle
Once it was the castle of princes and kings of Bohemia, then – the palace of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. Now it is the residence of the Czech presidents and the symbol of the country. Prague Castle is a mixture of architectural trends from the Romanesque to the Czech Baroque and Classicism.
