Enchanting Prague: 3 Days of History and Culture
1 cities |
17 attraction(s) |
total distance 14
km
TIPS
Day1
Day2
Day3
Day1: Prague
3 attraction(s) ·
2 km
1
Old Town Square, also known as Hus Square, has a history of over 900 years. Located between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge, it is one of the most famous squares in Prague, attracting countless tourists and residents, especially crowded in the summer. The buildings around the square are of various styles, including the Gothic-style Tyn Church and the baroque-style St. Nicholas Church, as well as many cafes and restaurants. Many churches on the square and the famous astronomical clock on the exterior wall of the old town hall attract numerous tourists. In addition, the square also offers a panoramic view of the old town for tourists. A statue of Hus, the pioneer of the Reformation, stands in the square and has become a tourist landmark. Tourists sticking "wishing notes" on the pedestal of the Hus statue has also become a scene in the square. Although Jolin Tsai mistakenly referred to the pedestal of the Hus statue as Rome's wishing pool in her song "Prague Square," the song still attracts global attention to Old Town Square. In 2014, the Prague city government cleaned and maintained the Hus statue, and the "wishing wall" on the pedestal no longer exists, but the square is still an oasis in the hearts of tourists.
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The Charles Bridge, situated in the city center of Prague, Czech Republic, was constructed in the 14th century over the Vltava River. This 520-meter-long and 10-meter-wide stone bridge is a highly valuable and historically significant piece of architecture. Located next to the Prague Castle complex and the Old Town, it was the mandatory route for coronation processions of the monarchs in the past.
As you stroll across the bridge, you can witness street performances by artists and a variety of handicrafts. There are also plenty of artworks to be found, such as watercolor paintings depicting the Charles Bridge and puppets dressed in traditional Czech and court attire.
With a total of 30 statues of saints, this is the oldest and longest bridge in Europe, and has become renowned as an open-air baroque statue museum of Europe, thanks to the masterpieces of Czech baroque artists from the 17th and 18th centuries. While many of the statues have been replaced with replicas, there are still plenty of artworks and cultural heritage to appreciate for the visitors. Notably, the eighth statue on the right-hand side of the bridge is the guardian of the Charles Bridge, St. John. In the middle of the fence lies a golden cross indicating the spot where he was thrown off the bridge.
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Located on top of the Gothic tower of the Old Town City Hall, the Astronomical Clock (in Czech: Pražský orloj) is the pinnacle of Czech Gothic science and technology, with a magnificent artistic charm. The clock has two towers, and is an exquisite automaton designed according to the local ancient geocentric principle. The upper clock makes one revolution around the sun each year, while the lower clock makes one revolution per day. At each full hour, the skeleton pulls the time, the saints appear, and various timekeeping activities, such as the crowing of a rooster, take place, making it quite interesting. At noon every day, the twelve apostles appear in order on both sides of the clock, half turning left and half turning right, and after the window closes, the rooster crows and the clock chimes. Local ancient legends say that if the Astronomical Clock is not properly maintained, the city will face disaster. The clock was burned during World War II and was restored in 1948 and 1979 respectively. It's rumored that to ensure that there is no similar clock in the world, the craftsman who made the Astronomical Clock was blinded. After seeing the clock, you can go up to the tower in front of the Old Town City Hall to enjoy the view of the tourists and the entire square.
Day2: Prague
9 attraction(s) ·
3 km
1
Prague Castle was once the residence of the Czech royal family and is now the office location for the president and national government agencies. It is also a popular spot for viewing the beauty of the Old Town area. The castle houses the crown jewels of Bohemian Kingdom and is one of the largest ancient castles in the world, spanning 570 meters in length and around 130 meters in width. The three most important sights in the castle include St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and the Old Royal Palace. St. Vitus Cathedral is the oldest building in the city, with a history of over 1000 years. The highlights of this magnificent grey-black Gothic building include 20th-century stained glass windows, the tomb of St. John, and the St. Wenceslas Chapel. The large stained glass windows were created by the famous painter Mucha. Golden Lane is a small and delicate road with romantic colored small houses on either side. It used to be the residence of servants and craftsmen and got its name from the many alchemists who worked for the kings. In the late 19th century, it became a slum, but after a change in planning in the mid-20th century, the houses were converted into various souvenir and handicraft shops. The famous writer Kafka's old home is also located here. Every day at noon, the Old Royal Palace holds an impressive changing of the guard ceremony, attracting many tourists.
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The St. Vitus Cathedral located in Prague Castle is a precious example of Gothic architecture, with numerous Bohemian Kings' tombs inside. It is one of the largest and most important churches in the Czech Republic. As early as 925 AD, Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia built the first circular Romanesque church, which was later expanded in 1060 to become the Romanesque church seen today. Then in 1344, Charles IV ordered the construction of the Gothic cathedral on the original foundation, which was not completed until the early 20th century. Today, the replaced stained glass windows have become representative works of Alfons Mucha.
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The Old Royal Palace is a palace of the Bohemian kings in history. The palace has undergone constructions and expansions by many kings, adding Gothic and Renaissance styles. The entire building is divided into three floors, the entrance being the high-ceiling Vladislav Hall, which is also the center of the entire palace. The upper-level New Land Hall has many works by early painters and calligraphers, while the lower-level has the Gothic Charles IV Palace and the Romanesque-style hall. In the fire of 1541, most of the rooms were destroyed, and some were later rebuilt as remnants.
The palace is located at the entrance of Court No.3 of Prague Castle, and there is a unique changing of guards ceremony every hour.
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In Prague Castle, there is a small alley called Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička), a protected medieval-style street. It is named after the legend of alchemists in the 16th century who were said to attempt to turn lead into gold here. The street is very beautiful with a fairytale appearance and soft tones, impressive with its small doors, windows, low houses, and many chimneys. Entry to the street requires payment, but tourists still love it.
Golden Lane features galleries, shops, and exhibitions, where visitors can admire a 14th-century heraldic exhibition hall. In addition, the famous Czech Jewish writer Kafka lived in apartment 22 on this street for two years because it provided a quiet writing environment.
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The Lennon Wall, located in the Grand Priory Square of Prague, was originally a plain wall. However, in the 1980s, people began to paint John Lennon-style graffiti and fragments of lyrics from the Beatles on this wall. In 1988, the Lennon Wall became a place for the Czech people to vent their anger towards the Havel Communist regime. Today, the Lennon Wall is a symbolic symbol for young people to express their ideals of love and peace.
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7
Covered with parks, this historic, rocky hill in the city center is a popular recreational area.
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8
Petřín Lookout Tower is a 60-meter tall steel frame tower located in the Czech capital of Prague. The inspiration for creating this tower came from the Czech Tourist Club members visiting the Paris World's Fair in 1889 and being inspired by the Eiffel Tower. After collecting enough funds, they began building the tower in March 1891 and completed it four months later. Today, Petřín Lookout Tower is a major tourist attraction. On sunny days, the two observation platforms are the best places to enjoy the Prague skyline.
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Day3: Prague
7 attraction(s) ·
6 km
1
There is a spacious lawn next to the St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Hradec nad Moravicí. On it are four majestic sculptures, all of which are characters from Bohemian legends. These sculptures were created by the sculptor Josef Myslbek and were originally placed on the Palacký Bridge over the Vltava River. Unfortunately, they were damaged during the American air raids in World War II. They were later repaired and eventually moved to Hradec nad Moravicí. The four groups of sculptures are: Slavoj and Zaboj - representing ancient warriors leading the Czech people against foreign enemies; Ctirad and Šárka - the main characters in a gender war; Lumír & Písen - the Czech version of the music genius Orpheus and the Muse of Art; Libuše and Přemysl - the legendary chief's daughter Libuše and the farmer Přemysl. Three of these four groups of sculptures appear in the grand symphony "My Homeland" by Bedřich Smetana.
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Landmark neo-Gothic basilica featuring elaborate frescoes, carvings & mosaics inside.
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3
Graveyard with the 19th-century Slavin tomb, holding the remains of renowned artists & musicians.
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The National Museum in Czech Republic, the largest and oldest museum, presents a beautiful Renaissance-style main building. It brings together historical collections such as prehistoric archaeology and theater collections, as well as rich natural science collections, including mineral, geological, paleontological, and zoological treasures. The museum also regularly hosts symphony concerts that take you on a journey through the charm of history and art.
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The Charles Bridge, situated in the city center of Prague, Czech Republic, was constructed in the 14th century over the Vltava River. This 520-meter-long and 10-meter-wide stone bridge is a highly valuable and historically significant piece of architecture. Located next to the Prague Castle complex and the Old Town, it was the mandatory route for coronation processions of the monarchs in the past.
As you stroll across the bridge, you can witness street performances by artists and a variety of handicrafts. There are also plenty of artworks to be found, such as watercolor paintings depicting the Charles Bridge and puppets dressed in traditional Czech and court attire.
With a total of 30 statues of saints, this is the oldest and longest bridge in Europe, and has become renowned as an open-air baroque statue museum of Europe, thanks to the masterpieces of Czech baroque artists from the 17th and 18th centuries. While many of the statues have been replaced with replicas, there are still plenty of artworks and cultural heritage to appreciate for the visitors. Notably, the eighth statue on the right-hand side of the bridge is the guardian of the Charles Bridge, St. John. In the middle of the fence lies a golden cross indicating the spot where he was thrown off the bridge.
1
km
7
Prague Castle was once the residence of the Czech royal family and is now the office location for the president and national government agencies. It is also a popular spot for viewing the beauty of the Old Town area. The castle houses the crown jewels of Bohemian Kingdom and is one of the largest ancient castles in the world, spanning 570 meters in length and around 130 meters in width. The three most important sights in the castle include St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and the Old Royal Palace. St. Vitus Cathedral is the oldest building in the city, with a history of over 1000 years. The highlights of this magnificent grey-black Gothic building include 20th-century stained glass windows, the tomb of St. John, and the St. Wenceslas Chapel. The large stained glass windows were created by the famous painter Mucha. Golden Lane is a small and delicate road with romantic colored small houses on either side. It used to be the residence of servants and craftsmen and got its name from the many alchemists who worked for the kings. In the late 19th century, it became a slum, but after a change in planning in the mid-20th century, the houses were converted into various souvenir and handicraft shops. The famous writer Kafka's old home is also located here. Every day at noon, the Old Royal Palace holds an impressive changing of the guard ceremony, attracting many tourists.
