Tourist Attractions And Must Visit In Prague, Czech Republic

Known as the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’, Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. With a history stretching back to the 12th century, Prague is home to a number of Gothic and Baroque churches and buildings. The most famous of these is Prague Castle, which offers several interesting features including a museum.

The Prague National Museum is a must-see in the city. The museum boasts a trove of Roman artefacts and 5 million specimens of insects. You can also see an exhibition of Asian art and a collection of ancient world artefacts.

The Prague Tower is a landmark in the city and has been measuring the weather since 1775. The building is also the oldest weather station in the world. The clock itself is one of the city’s main attractions.

The kinetic sculpture in the city is an art work designed to represent surveillance and privacy. It was created by artist David Cerny.

The Prague National Library is a stunning building, with a Baroque Library Hall, Astronomical Tower and Mirror Chapel. The museum is free to enter, and you can get a guided tour if you want.

The Prague Museum of Modern Art is also worth visiting. The museum contains a modern art gallery, European art gallery and cafe. The museum also has a park.

The Prague astronomical clock is also a must-see. The clock itself is the oldest of its kind in the world and gives an animated hourly show.

The Cathedral of St Vitus #1

Originally, the Cathedral of St Vitus, Vaclav and Vojtech was under construction, but the Hussite Wars interrupted the project. Various attempts were made to complete the church, but each failed. The church remains unfinished to this day.

The Cathedral is located in the third courtyard of Prague Castle. It is a treasure-filled sight. There are several tombs of past emperors, as well as the tomb of St. Wenceslas. There are also several Gothic chapels, where the Czech sovereigns and patron saints are buried.

In the northern part of the cathedral, there are stained glass windows displaying portraits of the saints. These windows may also depict episodes from their lives. Some chapels are adorned with gilded altars.

The Rose Window, on the west wall of the nave, depicts the Biblical story of Creation. The rosette window is ten meters wide and was designed by Frantisek Kysela.

The Great South Tower is the tallest of the three large towers of the Cathedral. It is almost 100 meters high. It is also home to the Zikmund bell. The tower observation gallery is a spectacular place to take photos. It has 287 steps that offer a stunning view of the city.

The Cathedral’s last architect was Camille Hilbert. He worked on the cathedral between 1929 and 1929. He removed the unnecessary Baroque decorations and restored the interior.

The cathedral’s Great South Tower observation gallery offers an unparalleled view of the city. The two large towers on the west front are complemented by two slender towers on the north.

Prague Castle #2

Located in Castle District Hradcany, Prague Castle is a historical complex. It is the largest ancient castle complex in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has undergone several reconstructions and alterations, and is currently undergoing extensive restoration work.

The Castle is located at the northern edge of Prague’s city centre. It is easy to find. It is accessible by foot from four main entrances. It is also one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It features many historical buildings and gardens.

The gardens include the Royal Garden, the South Garden, the Terrace of the Riding School, and the Stag Moat. The Castle is also home to greenhouses, where visitors can enjoy the sights of Mediterranean and tropical plants.

The most important historical parts of Prague Castle include the Old Royal Palace, which is a large gothic vaulted hall. The royal palace has been rebuilt in different periods over the centuries. It has a large collection of art and sculptures.

Another important area is the Palace of the Holy Cross. This beautiful Italian style building has fresco paintings. It was built in the 16th century. It was owned by the Lobkowicz family until 1939. It was confiscated by the Nazis, but was later returned to the Lobkowicz family.

The Prague Castle complex has undergone four reconstructions. It was rebuilt after the Velvet Revolution. It has also undergone archaeological research since the beginning of the 20th century.

Prague’s Charles Bridge #3

Located in the Mala Strana neighbourhood, the Charles Bridge is one of the best landmarks in Prague. The bridge is a stone arch bridge that connects Mala Strana to the Old Town. The bridge is a masterpiece of mediaeval architecture. Its construction began in the thirteenth century and was finished in the fifteenth century.

Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, ordered the construction of the bridge. He laid the first stone at 5:31am on 9 July 1357. The bridge was completed in the early fifteenth century.

Charles Bridge was the only way to cross the Vltava River in Prague until the mid-19th century. A series of devastating floods destroyed the bridge. Two of the pillars collapsed due to the undermining of the water. The remaining three arches were severely damaged.

Charles Bridge is a great place to visit at night. At night, the castle towers light up, providing the perfect backdrop. There are musicians playing to give you a great soundtrack. It is also a fun place to visit during the day. It is also easy to get to and there are no admission fees.

One of the most popular statues on the bridge is the St John of Nepomuk statue. This statue was placed on the bridge in the early 18th century. The statue depicts the Czech saint who was thrown into the river by king Wenceslas IV. It is the most famous statue in Prague. It is a symbol of loyalty and a place of memory for the Czechs.

Hluboka Castle #4

Located in the Czech Republic, Hluboka Castle was originally built in Gothic style in the 13th century. Over the years, the castle has been updated in Baroque, Romantic, and Neo Gothic styles. Today, it is a National Monument.

The castle is also famous for its beautiful park and gardens. It is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic. There are many places to stay near Hluboka Castle. You can even take a private tour of the castle. However, most tours are in Czech. For this reason, you need to book a tour in advance.

The castle museum contains a large collection of paintings and numismatics. The interiors are exquisitely decorated with rich tapestries, 16th-century paintings, and portraits of the Schwarzenberg family.

The castle’s grounds are beautiful all year round. The park is also free to visit. The grounds are also home to the Ales South Bohemian Gallery. You can also enjoy the scenic greenhouse area.

Hluboka Castle was briefly seized by French forces during the Thirty Years’ War. It was reconstructed in the late sixteenth century in Renaissance style, and then rebuilt in Romantic style in the nineteenth century. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic.

The castle’s most recent renovation took place in 1879 after a fire. Many structural architectural elements were rescued during the reconstruction. It now contains the largest private collection of hunting rifles in the Czech Republic.

Karlstejn Castle #5

Located in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, Karlstejn Castle was built in the 14th century as a place to store royal treasures and relics. It was originally built in Gothic style, but was later restored in Renaissance style.

The most impressive chapel at Karlstejn Castle is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which was formerly the repository for the crown jewels of the Bohemian kings. The interiors are filled with exquisite craftsmanship and artistically done frescoes. The upper parts of the chapel are decorated with 130-panel paintings.

The chapel’s vault is covered with rounded glass insets, and the remains of saints lie within the chapel. The first building at Karlstejn was a square, two-storey tower. It stood above a moat, and was separated from the town’s Knezi Hora hill by a narrow sag.

The rampart traverse was divided by a covered bastion in the middle. The tower’s core is behind a large inner wall, but it was protected by a fortification wall. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is located on the southern side of the Great Tower.

The interiors are filled with artistically done frescoes, gold relief work, and vaulted rib vaulting. There is also a precious stone inset. Karlstejn Castle is a great venue for medieval fantasy weddings. There are several rooms on the grounds that are open to the public, and visitors can take a guided tour of the castle.

There is also an exhibition about Josef Mocker, who reconstructed the Imperial Residence of Charles IV. Visitors can also visit the Karlstejn Wax Museum, which features photographs of Czech figures from history.

Pruhonice Park #6

Located in the suburb of Prague, the Pruhonice Park is a wonderful destination for nature lovers. The park is home to thousands of plants and animals. It is also a great place to enjoy the beauty of the Czech landscape in all seasons.

The park is open seven days a week. The best time to visit the park is in spring. You can expect to see thousands of rhododendrons in bloom. In addition, you can enjoy the beauty of exotic trees and irises.

The park has a great diversity of plants, including introduced and native species. It also has a number of paths. It is ideal for a stroll or a romantic visit. In addition, the park also features waterfalls, soft rolling meadows and ponds.

The park is managed by the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The park is open seven days a week from 7 am to 7 pm. The entry fee is 30 CZK for students and 50 CZK for everyone else.

The park is also accessible by public transportation. The Opatov station is just a few minutes away. Two buses run from the station to Pruhonice. Tickets are sold from the driver or at the ticket machines.

The Park and the Castle have been awarded with the title of Masterpiece of Nature. They are also listed on the Cultural Heritage List of the first category. The park is the crown jewel of the Czech national historical parks.

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square #7

Located near the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square is one of the main tourist attractions in Prague. Besides historical sights, the square also offers many things to do. It is a popular location for shopping, restaurants, night clubs, and many more.

The National Museum is located on Wenceslas Square. This museum is one of the most famous in the Czech Republic and it will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2018. The building is a Neo-Renaissance structure that is currently being renovated.

The museum is beautifully lit at night. It is also home to the Prague Astronomical Clock. The square was initially used for a horse market. Later, it became a place for celebrations for national sporting events. There are also a number of hotels and restaurants on the square.

This place is also home to the Prague State Opera. The square is also known for its role in the Velvet Revolution. During the revolution, many public speeches took place in Wenceslas Square. It was also the venue for the announcement of the end of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

The square also witnessed numerous fights during the Prague uprising. Old Town Square is also home to a memorial to 27 martyrs. These 27 crosses mark the pavement in honour of the victims.

There is also a plaque listing the names of the victims, which dates from 1911. Old Town Square is also the location of many magnificent churches and interesting historical buildings.

Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul #8

During the 1880s, the cathedral underwent an extensive renovation. The original Baroque facade was replaced with Neo-Gothic features. Some of the interiors were also restored between 1879 and 1891.

The narthex is decorated with ornate stucco and is illuminated by small windows. The interior of the main portal is richly decorated with secession wall paintings. The facade of the southern portal has the Door of the Dead, a sculptural ensemble created by 20th-century sculptor Giacomo Manzu.

The facade of the cathedral’s western side features two towers, a triangular gable, and three vestibules. The cathedral’s spires are topped with finials that resemble chestnut flowers.

The main altar is carved by Josef Hrubes. The pediment features statues of St. Paul and St. Peter.

The baldachin over the papal altar was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It features 95 bronze lamps. The altar also features the desk painting of the Virgin Mary of Rain.

The tombs of famous people are located in the interior. Six tombstones were carved from white marble. The upper parts of these tombstones had inscriptions, but they were illegible. They were covered in black crusts and showed signs of pollution damage.

There are many sculptures in the interior of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. The “Navicella” mosaic is one of the basilica’s most important treasures. The mosaic is based on the original design by Giotto, but is mostly a 17th-century copy.

The nave is divided into three bays. The nave’s sides are framed by wide aisles. There are chapels off the aisles. The base of the nave extends from southwest to northeast.

Source