Prague Monuments - Sightseeing in Prague

The Astronomical Clock - Prague

The astronomical clock was incorporated into the structure of the Old Town Hall in 1490. The clock must have been a fantastic technological achievement for the age. So much so that - as legend has it, the timepiece's maker, Master Hanus, was deliberately blinded by the local council in an attempt to stop him from building a similar clock elsewhere in Europe. By way of revenge, Hanus is said to have returned to the clock tower, whereupon he duly tossed a spanner in the works, damaging it so severely that it didn't work for over one hundred years.

A more likely (but less interesting) account is that the clock's creators were a Professor Sindel from the University of Prague and Mr. Mikoláš from Kada? - men who both specialised in the calculation of astronomical movements during the early 14th century. Their original plans, which are said to have included a far from perfect mechanism were only properly completed after being rectified by Jan Táborský some 140 years later.

Aside from showing the phases of the moon, the sun, planets and starsmoving around the earth, the clock's most famous element is the upper section, added in 1865. At the top of each hour, a unique ritual occurs in which decorative figures of the twelve apostles move from left to right below the clock face while a skeletal figure (Death) pulls a rope in time to the chimes. The spectacle ends - to much applause and laughter - as the mechanical cock crows.

Underneath, the clock's painted calendar - created by the revered Czech artist Joseph Manes in 1870 - shows the signs of the zodiac, saints' days and the monthly labours of peasant folk.

Charles Bridge is a major tourist attraction in Prague. It's the main pedestrian route linking the Old Town with Mala Strana, and then onto Prague Castle itself.
During the day, souvenir stands and street musicians line the bridge; look out for the jazz band, who can be particularly entertaining.

King Charles IV's favourite architect and builder, Peter Parler, built the present day Charles Bridge. The initial idea was to build a functional construction for knight tournaments, and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple crucifix. Later, the Catholic desire for ornamentation resulted in 30 statues being erected between 1600 and 1800.

Today, most of the statues are copies, as various floods and catastrophes over the centuries have damaged the originals. There are now 75 statues, and perhaps the most interesting, as well as the oldest, is that of John of Nepomuk (8th from the right as you cross towards Prague Castle).

There are towers at both ends of the bridge - the Old Town Bridge Tower on the Old Town side and the Lesser Town Bridge Towers on the Mala Strana side.

The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn dominates one side of the Old Town Square in Prague. This powerful looking, Gothic church with a baroque interior can be seen from all over Prague.
The church was founded in 1385 during the tumultuous period when the ‘heretic’ Hussites were slaughtered by the ruling Roman Catholics. The Catholic Jesuits then made the church their own by recasting the bell and replacing the Hussites symbolic chalice with a ten-foot figure of Mary nailed between the towers.

Impressive during the day, and striking at night lit up against the dark night sky, take a close look at the two spires. They are not symmetrical. This is characteristic of the gothic architecture of the time, which tried to represent both masculine and feminine sides of the world.

Prague Jewish Quarter - Prague Ghetto (Zidovske mesto)

Originally dating back to the 13th century, the Jewish Quarter present appearance is mainly the result of a vast redevelopment undertaken between 1893-1913. Only the few most significant buildings were saved, living testimony of the history of Prague Jews, spanning many centuries. Yet these buildings form the best present complex of Jewish historical monuments in the whole of Europe.
Six synagogues remain from this old settlement, which includes the Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery - the most remarkable in Europe, along with the Old-New Synagogue. They are all part of the Jewish Museum.

Loreta Church (Loreto)

An extraordinarily ornate church, the façade of the Loreta is best described as a "Baroque fantasy", being lavished with all manner of cherubs, ecclesiastical statues and fine plasterwork.

The beautiful Loreta is an important pilgrimage site commissioned by Baroness Beligna Katherina von Lobkowicz in 1626.
After completion, Loreta Church was maintained by the Capuchins, an order connected with the St. Francis of Assisi's Brotherhood.
This historical building was created to promote the legend of Santa Casa, a copy of the house believed to be the Virgin Mary's. This Santa Casa copy, complete with original fresco pieces and the statue of Our Lady of Loreta, sits in a lovely courtyard surrounded by chapel-lined arcades.

Not to be missed is the 'Prague Sun' and its 6000 plus diamonds in the Treasury, and the 27-bell carillon playing on the hour in the entrance.

Municipal House (Obecní Dum)

The finest example of Art Nouveau architecture in Prague, the Municipal House is also a triumph of artistic collaboration. Constructed between 1905 and 1911 the house, which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory, was built to the designs of Osvald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek (with the input of more than 30 other leading artists) and raised on what was once the court of the Bohemian Royal family.

The interior, which includes a number of impressive works by the world famous Czech artist Alfons Mucha, is surpassed only by the building's lavish entrance and exterior façade. Here, the central wrought iron gate and stained glass canopy are complimented by a truly delightful mosaic entitled 'Homage to Prague' which, in turn, is flanked on either side by sculptures depicting 'Humiliation and Rebirth of the Czech Nation'.

To our mind there's no better way of rounding off a visit here than by enjoying a coffee in the grand Kavárna Obecní d?m (Obecní d?m café) or a meal in either the Francouzská or Plze?ská restaurants. In addition, the Obecní D?m is built around Prague's biggest concert venue - Smetana Hall, thus providing a wonderful setting for the Prague Spring Festival as well as art exhibitions throughout the year.

The Old Jewish Cemetery (Stary zidovsky hrbitov)

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, was created in the 15th century when Jews were forbidden to bury their dead outside their own district. Space was scarce, so bodies were buried on top of each other in an estimated 12 layers. Over the centuries, lopsided tombstones formed unruly, poetic groupings.

The surrealist author Franz Kafka enjoyed moments of quiet reflection in the old cemetery. However, his own grave lies across town in the New Jewish Cemetery. That burial ground is half empty because the generation it was built for was transported to Nazi death camps.

The entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery is through the courtyard in front of the Pinkas Synagogue and the exit is near the door to the Klausen Synagogue. The cemetery opens at 9:00 a.m. and it is best to get there early since this is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Prague. Men are required to cover their heads before entering the cemetery. Any kind of head gear is fine, including baseball caps, and paper hats are provided for those with bare heads. If you want to visit the Old Cemetery, but not the synagogues, you can buy a single ticket, which is good only for admission to the cemetery, at any of the ticket booths located at the synagogues. No photography is allowed in any of the synagogues, but photographs of the cemetery are permitted.

The Old-New Synagogue - Prague (Staronová Synagóga)

The oldest synagogue in Europe also considered to be the most historic site in Josefov - and the spiritual centre for Prague's Jewish Community - the Old New Synagogue, which dates from the 13th century, is one the few remaining medieval buildings in the Quarter.
Still used for prayer today, the Gothic interior features an ornate barrel-vaulted vestibule, while the structure of the main hall - crowned by an impressive tympanum over the north portal - is influenced by the 12 tribes of Israel i.e. there are 12 carved vine leaves, 12 windows..

Note: when entering the hall, male visitors are asked to cover their heads - bandanas, baseball caps etc. are okay, but a yarmulka can also be purchased with your ticket.

Old Town Hall (Staromestska Radnice)

The Old Town Hall which is situated on the southwest corner of the Square, is actually a fusion of buildings, each with a slightly different architectural style. The earliest dates from the 14th century when blind King John of Luxembourg agreed to a modest dwelling for the town clerk.

The town hall's southern face ends at the Renaissance house At the Minute (Dum U minuty), which was built in 1610 and has a facade decorated with ornamental sgraffito. Franz Kafka lived on the second floor of this building from 1889 to 1896!!

As Prague developed into a wealthy trading city the Town Hall gradually expanded, incorporating Gothic and Renaissance elements over later centuries. Probably the most interesting feature of the building (and the one most mentioned by tourist books on Prague) is the astronomical clock, which was incorporated into the structure in 1490.

Old Town Square - Prague (Staromestske Namesti)

The Old Town Square is one of the most beautiful historical sights in Europe.
If you want to understand Prague you should first go there.
Dating back to the late 12th century, the Old Town Square started it's life as the central marketplace for Prague. Over the next few centuries, many buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were erected around the market, each bringing with them stories of wealthy merchants and intrigue.

The most notable sights in Prague's Old Town Square are the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Astronomical Clock & Old Town Hall Tower and the stunning St. Nicolas Church.

At the centre of the Old Town Square is the Jan Hus statue, erected on the 6th July 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer’s death. The groundswell of supporters for his beliefs during the 14th and 15th centuries eventually led to the famous Hussite wars.

The Powder Tower (Mihulka)

A passage-way running from Vikarska street afford access to the northern bailey of Prague Castle with the tower called Mihulka, built in the late 15th century as a part of the new bulwarks designed by Benedikt Ried. The name "Mihulka" evidently originated in the 19th century. Previously the structure has been successively called the New Tower, the Round Bastion, the Laboratory or the Swedish Laboratory, and the Powder Tower.

The Powder Tower was the largest of the cannon towers, but its defence qualities were never put to the test. In the 16th century it was inhabited by the bell-founder and metal-founder Tomas Jaros (the creator or the Singing Fountain in the Royal Garden). At the time of the Emperor Rudolph II an alchemist's workshop, later a gunpowder storehouse existed here. Up to the 20th century the dwelling quarters of the sacristans of St. Vitus Cathedral were situated in Mihulka.

Prague Castle (Císarská konírna - Prazský hrad)

A sightseeing tour for visitors to Prague Castle includes the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral - historical part (chancel, crypt and tower), St. George's Basilica, Powder Tower and Golden Lane).

Most of the historical monuments at Prague Castle have a barrier-free entrance. (The Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, The Royal Summer Palace, St. George's Basilica, Imperial Stables, Rudolf's Gallery and Spanish Hall from the Broad Corridor, Prague Castle Picture Gallery, Royal Garden, Southern Gardens, WCs near St. Vitus Cathedral.)

Tours for visitors (types of tickets)

Tour A:
St. Vitus Cathedral including the Tower, Old Royal Palace including the exhibition "The Story of Prague Castle", St. George's Basilica, Powder Tower, Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower
Tour B:
St. Vitus Cathedral including the Tower, Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower
Tour C:
Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower
Tour D:
St. George's Basilica
Tour E:
The Powder Tower
Tour F:
Saint George's Convent

The Riding School - Prague

The Baroque facade of the Prague Castle Riding School from the late 17th century forms nearly entire one side of the streed called U Prasneho mostu (By the Powder Bridge), which runs to Prague Castle from the northern side, via Deer Moat.
In the mid- 20th century the Riding School was converted into an exhibition hall.
At the same time garages were built on the area of the open summer riding school. A garden was laid out on their roofing which affords an interesting and unusual view of St. Vitus Cathedral and a part of the northern bulwarks of Prague Castle.

Royal Garden - Prague

In the Castle of Prague visit the Royal Garden.
The Royal Garden was laid out in 1534 on the orders of the Habsburg Ferdinand I. From the owners he gradually bought old vineyards beyond the valley of the Brusnice stream and had a Renaissance garden laid out here, which later became famous for its botanical rare specimens and the exotic plants gained from distant lands. From the very beginning the garden contained a number of buildings serving the entertainment of court society: the Ball Game Pavilion, the Royal Summer House, the Lion's Court. Currently the garden follows the tradition of an "English-style" park created in the mid 19th century, but it also contains elements of a Renaissance character (giardinetto near the Royal Summer House) as well as Baroque elements (ornamental flower beds). It can be approached via two entrances, the main (western) gate from the street U Prasneho mostu (By the Powder Bridge) and the east gate near the Royal Summer House. The northern gate from the street Marianske hradby (Marian Ramparts) is only open occasionally.

Rudolfinum is one of the Prague`s Neo-Renaissance jewels.
It was built in 1874 - 1885 by the architect Josef Zitek and Josef Schultz, originally designed for a picture gallery, collection of antiquites and concerts. In the years 1918 - 1938 and 1945 - 1946 Rudolfinum was the seat of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
The building has a great many rooms, which are used for concerts and exhibitions in present.