Sightseeing

The lovely Neo-Classical building of the State Opera cannot go unnoticed. The style is recognizable thanks to the frieze decorating the triangular pediment above the loggia with characteristic columns. Dionysus, a promoter of theatre, and a muse of comedy Thalia sit majestically on the very top of the opera and overlook the busy street underneath.

The “occupations” of the mythological figures bring us to a rather surprising fact that opera has been opera only for less than a half of its over hundred years long history – to be more precise since the end of the Second World War. If you are asking about its former destiny, we have to travel into the past… (read more)

This is no joke – John Lennon is in Prague – well, to be precise, his wall is in Prague although John Lennon himself never visited Prague in his short life. Are you confused? Let me explain it to you then.

In Mala Strana, near the French Embassy, you’ll see the John Lennon Wall. The wall that was formerly an ordinary wall in Prague has been called Lennon´s since the 1980s, when people have filled it with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs. Why? (read more)

It may sound crazy to you – a house that dances? Impossible! But it is real! Located on the corner of Rasinovo Nabrezi and Resslova street, alongside the Vltava River.

The Dancing House is the nickname given to a building designed by Croatian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunic in a co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Built between 1994-1996, Dancing House is a strikingly modern contrast to Prague’s historic attractions… (read more)

Langweil’s model of Prague is one of the most extraordinary and most admired exhibit in the Museum of the City of Prague. What is it so special about it? Many things! Langweil’s model of Prague is a paper and wood model that shows Prague what it looked like about 150 years ago. Many buildings in the model cannot be found in present Prague any more. It’s especially in the Jewish quarter and Old Town where many building were demolished. Langweil’s model is in many cases the only witness of these buildings and it serves as a study material for many Prague’s historians and lovers of art… (read more)

W. A. Mozart and Prague – those are two words that just belong together. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited Prague three times in his short life, and it was in Prague where Mozart and his music found inspirational acceptance, friendship and admiration.

Of the thousands of musicians only few reach such fame as Mozart. He showed musical gift at a very early age, composing when he was only five! His music is played for centuries around the world. Even those who are not classical music lovers know who W. A. Mozart was. That is why in 2006 the whole cultural world remembered 250 years from the birth of W. A. Mozart (January 27,1756) and at the same time 215 years from his death (December 5,1791). Prague joined the other European cities that commemorate the anniversary of Mozart’s birth and his musical legacy by concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions recollecting the genius composer.

When you are in Prague, you have a great opportunity to get acquainted with the places that are connected with Mozart’s life and work. Among other places such as the Estates Theatre or Lichtenstein Palace, villa Bertramka is special.

During his stays in Prague Mozart spent a lot of time at the villa Bertramka. This house from the turn of the 17th century used to be a summer house of the outstanding Czech singer Josepha Duschek and her husband, piano player, teacher and composer Franz Xaver Duschek. The Duscheks are credited with inviting Mozart to Prague. Duscheks and Mozart were close friends.
Here Mozart found a second home. In the idyllic environment of Bertramka he finished his masterpiece Don Giovanni just before its memorable Prague premiere on October 29, 1787.

Today, the house serves as the W. A. Mozart’s museum. The villa has kept the atmosphere of the times when the brilliant composer lived and worked there. It is definitely worth seeing. The exhibition shows all memorabilities of Mozart and the Duscheks, such as personal belongings, letters, pictures, musical instruments, above all the piano, which Mozart played in 1787, and others. It is like going back in time!

Regular chamber concerts are held at Bertramka as well. Either in the authentic music salon or in the romantic garden during the summer season.

The villa Bertramka is next to the Mövenpick hotel, near the subway station Andel (yellow line B). You can reach it by trams 4, 7, 9 and 10, station Bertramka. The museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The entrance fee for an adult is 110 CZK, students pay 50 CZK. Special discounts for group over 10 people is offered. Indoor concerts are for 390 CZK, garden concerts for 450 CZK. Students again can join the show for special price of 250 CZK.

You don’t need to go inside the museum. Just the villa from outside and the garden, which is open to public, itself is a magic place. You can just visit the Café place there, drinking coffee just like Mozart did at this spot years ago. And you can say: „I was there where the great Mozart stayed 215 years ago! Pity, I just missed him!“

From the end of November until Christmas, the city of Prague comes alive with beautiful decorations, the sounds of traditional music, and the mouth-watering aromas of hot wine (svarak) and delicious local food!

The most impressive Christmas atmosphere is without any doubt on the Old Town Square! The square is dominated by a beautiful Christmas tree (of course it is real) jeweled with hundreds of lights that are lit every evening at dusk, which is usually about 5pm. As it is set against a gothic skyline, it is a spectacular sight!

On the Old Town Square there is also the most beautiful Christmas market in Prague. Hand-made gifts and traditional Czech food and warm drinks are sold there. The whole atmosphere is accompanied by live Christmas concerts since a stage is erected on the Old Town Square every year. You may hear local or international choirs along with musical ensembles singing Christmas carols on open air. Wait till you see it! Now that is a holiday spirit!

In Prague’s Old Town Square there is also a mini zoo. Children can enjoy pony rides and pat sheep, goats and even a lama! Next to this is a Bethlehem manger scene – a large wooden stable with a straw floor shows Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the three kings.

Christmas in Prague is simply wonderful

Now it is the perfect time of the year to visit the Museum of Communism! For Czechs, November and December are months when they remember their Velvet Revolution from 1989, which brought back democracy into this country after many years.

Especially now around November 17, which is the day commemorating the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy, in this museum you will feel like you went back in time. After a tour, you will be more than happy to walk out from this museum into a democratic world!

This museum focuses on the totalitarian regime in the former Czechoslovakia, especially Prague, from the communist coup in February in 1948 to its rapid collapse in November 1989. It presents the original items and meticulous installations containing authentic artifacts.

A variety of fields are represented, including daily life, education, arts, media propaganda, secret police and other. You get to see the historical classroom, the grocery store or even the interrogation room. There is also a room where you can watch a documentary film about the time period from the Soviet occupation in 1968 till the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

Museum is divided into three main rooms, representing the communist dream, reality and nightmare. There are historical explanations in Czech, English and German to every main event in communist Czechoslovakia, giving quick overview about the situation. You will be shocked after seeing the numbers of people, who were held in prison for political reasons, sentenced to work in uranious mine, or even to death!

It would be a great tragedy if Communism disappeared from the earth without leaving behind an indelible memory of its horrors. Public should be educated about the human rights violations of communist regimes, otherwise the future generations may experience it again.

The purpose of the Museum of Communism is therefore clear – to disseminate the awareness of people about those crimes committed by communist regimes on the example of Czechoslovakia.

The museum is located just a stone’s throw from Wenceslas Square, on Na Prikope 10, in the same building as McDonalds, a branch of that ultimate symbol of capitalism, how ironic! It is not far from the subway station Mustek (line A and B), or Namesti Republiky (line B). Entrance fee for Adult is 180 CZK, students pay 140 CZK. Museum is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

Yes, I am going to write about the National Museum since it is the oldest museum and at the same time the most distinguished and largest museum in the Czech Republic. Plus there are some interesting things you may not know.

So, the National Museum is dominating the top of Wenceslas Square. You can’t possibly miss it. It is a monumental Neo-Renaissance building, built in 1885 and 1890. It is a great symbol of the climax of the Czech national revival, a celebrated monument to Czech science and culture.

Many distinguished figures from the cultural and scientific life of the day took part in the founding of the museum. One of the most important of which was historian and Czech political leader Frantisek Palacky, who is now on the 1000 CZK banknote.

At present the National Museum shelters almost 14 million of items from the area of natural history, history, arts, music and librarianship, located in tens of buildings. Throughout the entire year, visitors may view the permanent exhibits of the National Museum as well as a number of temporary exhibits.

In the permanent exhibition you may wonder at collections such as palaeontological, mineralogical, zoological, which is most adored by kids, and other.

What you may not know is that this great symbol of Prague has been damaged twice already in its history. First time in 1945, during World War II, by a bomb. Second time it was damaged in 1968 Warsaw Pact intervention. The main façade was severely damaged by strong Soviet machine-gun and automatic submachine-gun fire. The bullet holes in sandstone pillars can still be seen because lighter sandstone was used during repair.

The beautiful interior of the National Museum is often used for movie shooting. To name some, for example many scenes of the Mission: Impossible movie with Tom Cruise, or the comedy Euro Trip, or lastly the new James Bond: Casino Royale with Daniel Craig, whose World premiere is scheduled for 14 November 2006.

The National Museum is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. Only be careful about first Tuesdays of every month – that is when the museum is closed. You can reach it by subway A or C (green and red line), station Museum. Adults pay 110 CZK, student 50 CZK. Children under 6 have free entrance.

Charles Bridge is, without any doubt, on the top of every Prague visitor’s must-see list. And I bet you have already seen it. But I believe there are things about the Charles Bridge you don’t know yet – things that will make you love this place even more.

You have probably read somewhere that the construction of the most famous bridge of all across the Vltava River, the Charles Bridge, was commissioned by the Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357. What you may not know is that this was not the first bridge that connected the Prague banks of the Vltava. Another bridge used to stand in the same place – the Judith Bridge, which was the first stone bridge over the river. It was built in 1172, but collapsed after being badly damaged by a flood in 1342.

In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parler whose other works include the St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.

Another interesting thing about the Charles Bridge is how it was built. The bridge was built from Bohemian sandstone. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge – just like adding egg yolks when baking to make the dough hold together better. There is no evidence if this is true or just a legend, however, how else can you explain that the Charles Bridge has survived many floods, most recently in August 2002 when the whole country experienced the worst flood in the past 500 years? The egg yolks might have helped, who knows?

And did you know that Charles Bridge has been the “Charles Bridge” since 1870? For centuries it was actually called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge! Surprised?

The bridge is 515 meters long and 10 meters wide, decorated by a continuous alley of 30 baroque statues and statuary, erected around 1700. However, beginning in 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas and the originals have been exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum. What you see now on the Charles Bridge are thus only copies. But that doesn’t mean they are less impressive!

Can you imagine both tram and car traffic on the Charles Bridge? Well, as bizarre as it sounds, they were allowed there in the past. It was not until 1965 that all traffic has been excluded from the Charles Bridge since then, making it accessible by pedestrians only. That was definitely a good choice!

The best time to visit Charles Bridge is early at the morning or at night when it is not crowded. There are towers standing on both ends of the bridge and both can be climbed for a magnificent view of Prague and the bridge from above. I am recommending it to all my friends!

You can get to the Charles Bridge when taking the tram number 12, 20, 22 or 23, getting off at station Malostranse Namesti. Or you can go there from the other side of the river when taking the green subway (A), station Staromestska. Or just follow the crowds.

Charles Bridge is not just a tourist attraction. It dates back to medieval times and the whole time it has been the main pedestrian route linking the Old Town with Mala Strana, and then onto Prague Castle itself. But there is another thing that the Charles Bridge is famous for. You can make a wish there that will certainly come true if you do it the right way! It is not complicated, don’t worry. I will help you.

An alley of 30 baroque statues and statuaries erected during the late 17th and the early 18th centuries decorates Charles Bridge. These statues and statuarities depicting saints is the key point here. They do not only form a unique connection of artistic styles – Gothic and Baroque. Touching one of them will ensure you good luck, guarantee your return to Prague and you can make a wish as well. Are you keen on which one is it?

You have to find a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. It is the 8th statue on the right hand if you are heading from Old Town Square towards the Prague Castle. If you don’t want to count, it may be easier for you to look for the shiny-like-gold spot on the bottom of one of these statues.

John of Nepomuk was a priest in Prague under King Wenceslas IV (son of Charles IV). The priest received the confessions of the Queen. Unfortunately for John of Nepomuk the King was a very suspicious man. He wanted to know the Queen’s confessions which Nepomuk would not reveal, not even to the King, because it would be against his commitment of confidentiality. Nepomuk was therefore executed by being thrown into the Vltava River from the bridge and drown.

The plaque on the statue of John of Nepomuk has been polished to a shine by countless people having touched it over the centuries. Touching the falling priest on the plaque is supposed to bring good luck and ensure your return to Prague. However, don’t get confused by the shiny dog and woman (the Queen)! Not everybody knows the legend and therefore is not sure what to touch! It became shiny only by chance. It doesn’t mean anything special.

Some meters before the actual statue (going back to Old Town Square) on the same side is a small golden cross marking the spot where the saint’s body was thrown into the Vltava river. You have to look for it carefully for the cross is not sticking out – it rests on the bridge. Touch the cross and make a wish! It is said it will come true within a year and one day!

Try to visit the Charles Bridge early at the morning for a less crowded walk, or go at night for a truly romantic stroll, with fairytale views of the Prague skyline, dominated by the magnificent Prague Castle.

St. John of Nepomuk is Czech martyr saint whose tomb is in St. Vitus Catedral on the Prague Castle.