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European Vacations -
Czech Republic Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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Prague is the capital city of the
relatively small Czech Republic
which lies in the heart of Europe,
bordering Germany, Austria, Slovakia
and Poland.
Prague (Praha) has become one of the
most popular tourist destinations in
Europe. No other European capital
contains six hundred years of
architecture so completely untouched
by natural disaster or war. Prague's
rich collection of Gothic, baroque,
and Renaissance buildings has
emerged unscathed from centuries of
strife.
Prague has been called 'the Rome of
the North'. Rome was built on seven
hills, and Prague was built on nine
hills: Letna, Vitkov, Opys, Vetrov,
Skalka, Emauzy, Vysehrad, Karlov and
the highest of all, Petrin. The
mountains, forests and lakes
surrounding Prague are enchanting
and ideal for outdoor holidays as
well as winter sports.
Central Prague is made up of four
towns, joined together in 1784. The
River Vltava (Moldau in German)
divides the capital into two unequal
halves: on the steeply inclined left
bank, are Hradcany and Malá Strana
(the Lesser Quarter). The more
gentle, sprawling right bank
includes Staré Mesto, Josefov and
Nové Mesto.
Hradcany, on the hill, contains the
most sights: the castle itself, the
cathedral and the former palaces of
the aristocracy. Below Hradcany,
Malá Strana (Little Quarter), with
its narrow eighteenth-century
streets, is the city's ministerial
and diplomatic quarter, with
attractive Baroque gardens for all
to enjoy. Over the river, on the
right bank, Staré Mesto (Old Town)
is a web of alleys and passageways
centered on the city's most
beautiful square, Staromestské
námesti. Enclosed within the
boundaries of Staré Mesto is Josefov,
the old Jewish quarter, now
containing only a few synagogues and
a cemetery. Nové Mesto (New Town),
the focus of the modern city, covers
the largest area, laid out in long
wide boulevards, the most famous of
which is Wenceslas Square. These
boulevards stretch south and east of
the old town.
In the years since students took to
the streets and the communist regime
ended, Prague has enjoyed an
unparalleled cultural renaissance.
Amid Prague's cobblestone streets
and gold-tipped spires, new
galleries, cafés, and clubs serve
"expatriates." Prague has somehow
emerged as Eastern Europe's new Left
Bank
Prague Castle has stood on the hill
overlooking the Old Town since the
10th century. The city grew around
the castle over the centuries. A
good way to begin exploration of the
wonders of Prague is to take a ride
on tram #22 for a free sightseeing
tour of downtown Prague. From
Vinohrady in the west, it will
travel across the river, around
several hair-pin bends, finishing up
outside Prague Castle.
Then walk or ride the Royal Route
downhill from Prague Castle, through
Malá Strana (Lesser Town), and
across Charles Bridge to Old Town
Square. The crossing of the 1,700
foot span of the bridge is an
adventure in itself! The bridge is
lined with more than 30 sculptures
and serves as a venue for
performances of puppeteers and
musicians. The trip retraces the
route taken by the carriages of the
Bohemian kings, with the difference
that today the way is lined with
galleries, shops, and cafés. Be sure
to glance up on the hour as the
Astronomical Clock of the Old Town
Hall on Staromestské námestí comes
to life with its procession of
mechanical figures.
Take all the time you can to wander
through the narrow winding streets
of Staré Męsto (Old Town). This is
the moment to be wearing a
comfortable pair of broken - in
walking shoes. The cobblestones and
hills of Prague require that careful
attention be paid to preparing the
feet for the journey.
When it is time to rest, numerous
cafés offering food, coffee, tea,
and fine varieties of locally brewed
beer are readily available. Another
activity providing relaxation as
well as a fascinating afternoon or
evening, is a tourboat trip down the
Vltava past the castles and palaces
of the region. Some tours provide a
meal as well. For the more
adventurous, there is the
possibility of a "do it yourself "
boat tour via rowboat. Lanterns are
added at night to create an aura of
romance in and around the rented
dinghies. Visitors to Charles Bridge
after dark will encounter a lively
scene, as musicians and street
performers congregate to celebrate
the night.
An afternoon with the family in the
park at the site of the Citadel on
Vyserhad also provides a break from
the bustle of the city.
A 30-minute train ride south of
Prague leads to the most visited
Czech landmark in the area around
Prague, Karlstejn Castle built by
Charles IV in the 14th century to
protect the Holy Roman Empire's
crown jewels. This Romanesque
hilltop fortress is of interest to
adults and children alike.
Mozart experienced moderate success
in Vienna, but he triumphed in
Prague! Classical music still seems
to be everywhere in the city.
Tickets are reasonably priced, and
the musical performances are superb.
Food in Prague is often based on
Austro-Hungarian dishes. Specialties
include bramborak, a potato pancake
filled with garlic and herbs, and
Prague ham. However, a wide range of
culinary options exists. Among these
are American, Italian, Lebanese, and
Japanese cuisine.
Shopping is a favorite pastime also.
Arcades under the buildings of
Wenceslas Square, along the
pedestrian only street of Na Príkope
and also along Narodní tríada
shoppers discover a variety of
quality products ranging from books
to antiques, to crystal. There are
interesting craft shops on Karlova,
near the Charles Bridge. Puppets and
marionettes that are works of art
can also be discovered in these
areas.
The beauty and classical elegance of
the buildings, streets, passageways
and alleys of this "Golden City"
will provide a colorful mosaic of
memories that will remain long after
the visit has concluded.
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Facts |
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Population:
1,184,000
Area:
496 sq km
Elevation:
235 m (average)
Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour
(two hours in summer): Time in
Prague is 6 hours ahead of Eastern
Standard Time in New York. (7 hours
ahead of central time in Chicago,
etc.) Prague uses the 24 hour clock,
so the numeral 1 on a US watch would
be read as 1 in the early morning or
13 in the afternoon, etc.
Transportation timetables and
schedules will use this method of
representation of time.
(designations of AM and PM are
unnecessary)
Language:
Czech, a Slavic language closely
related to Slovak and Polish, is the
official language of the Czech
Republic. Learning English is
popular among young people, but
German is still the most useful
language for tourists. Don't be
surprised if you get a response in
German to a question asked in
English.
Telephones:
The country code for the Czech
Republic is 42.
The city code for Prague is 02.
Entertainment Listings:
To find out what's on for the month
and to get the latest tips for
shopping, dining, and entertainment,
consult Prague's weekly
English-language newspaper, The
Prague Post. It prints comprehensive
entertainment listings and can be
bought at most downtown newsstands
as well as in major North American
and European cities. The monthly
Prague Guide, available at
newsstands and tourist offices
provides an overview of major
cultural events and has listings of
restaurants, hotels, and
organizations offering traveler
assistance.
Emergency Numbers:
Police (158).
Ambulance (155).
Breakdowns (154 or 123).
Packing:
Take a pair of sturdy walking shoes
and be prepared to use them. Dress
shoes will present considerable
problems on the cobblestone streets
of Prague.
Many items that you take for granted
at home are occasionally unavailable
or of questionable quality. Take
your own toiletries and personal
hygiene products with you. Few
places provide sports equipment for
rent; an alternative to bringing
your own equipment would be to buy
what you need locally and take it
home with you. In general, sporting
goods are relatively cheap and of
good quality.
Bring an extra pair of eyeglasses or
contact lenses in your carry-on
luggage. Contact lens wearers should
bring enough saline and disinfecting
solution with them, as they are
expensive and in short supply
Average Temperatures (In
Fahrenheit):
High
Low
January - March
44F
23F
April - June
70F
38F
July - September
73F
55F
October - December
53F
27F
When to Go:
The tourist season runs from April
or May through October; spring and
fall combine good weather with a
more bearable level of tourism. Bear
in mind that many attractions are
closed November through March.
Prague is beautiful year-round, but
it might be wise to avoid midsummer
(especially July and August) and the
Christmas and Easter holidays, when
the city is crowded with visitors,
provided there is flexibility in the
travel schedule.
Czech Republic Holidays:
1 January - New Year, Independent
Czech State Renewal Day
March or April (varies) Easter
Monday
1 May - Labor Day
8 May - Liberation Day (1945)
5 July - Cyril and Methodius Day -
the Slavic Christianity Prophets
6 July - Master John Hus burning at
the stake (1415)
28 September - Czech Statehood Day
28 October - Independent
Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day
(1918)
17 November - Day of Fight for
Freedom and Democracy
24 December - Christmas Eve
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - St. Stephen's Day
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz Electrical
sockets take plugs with two round
prongs or sometimes three. American
appliances will need a plug adapter
and will require a transformer if
they do not have a dual voltage
capability. Most hotels will supply
guests with an ironing board and
iron if requested.
Money:
The unit of the Czech money is Ceska
Koruna, or Crown, abbreviated KCZ or
CZK (for Koruna Ceska). The crown is
divided into 100 Haler, or Heller
(h). Notes come in 5000, 2000, 1000,
500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 KCZ
denominations and coins in 50, 20,
10, 5, 2, and 1 KCZ and 50 h sizes.
All old notes from the days of the
united Czechoslovakia ceased to be a
legal tender in the Czech Republic
in October 1993, so beware of being
offered Czechoslovak currency. The
Czech crown is now freely
convertible on world currency
markets; exchange rates are fixed
daily on the Prague Stock market.
Changing Money:
The best place to exchange is at
bank counters, where the commissions
average 1%-3%, or at ATMs. The
koruna is fully convertible and can
be purchased outside the country and
exchanged into other currencies. Ask
about current regulations when you
change money, however, and keep your
receipts.
Between the airport and town by bus:
The Cedaz minibus shuttle links the
airport with Námestí Republiky (a
square just off the Old Town). It
runs hourly, more often at peak
periods, between 6 AM and 9:30 PM
daily and makes an intermediate stop
at the Dejvická metro station.
The Czech complex of regional bus
lines known collectively as CSAD
operates its dense network from the
sprawling main bus station on
Krizíkova (metro stop: Florenc,
lines B or C). For information about
routes and schedules call
02/2421-1060, consult the timetables
posted at the station, or visit the
information window, situated at the
bus unloading area (open weekdays 6
AM-7:45 PM, Sat. 6-4, Sun. 8-6). The
helpful private travel agency
Tourbus, in the pedestrian overpass
above the station, dispenses bus
information daily until 8 PM. If the
ticket windows are closed, you can
usually buy a ticket from the
driver.
Traveling by Train:
Because European countries are
compact, it often takes less time to
travel city-to-city by train than by
plane. Prague is about 5 hours by
train from Munich, Berlin, and
Vienna. The European East Pass is
good for first-class unlimited rail
access in Austria, the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Poland, and
Slovakia. Also available is the
Czech Flexipass, good for rail
travel within the Czech Republic for
5 days of travel within a 15-day
period.
Passengers traveling to Prague by
train typically pull into one of two
central stations: Hlavní nádrazí
(Main Station) or Nádrazí Holesovice
(Holesovice Station). Both are on
line C of the metro system and offer
a number of services, including
money exchange, a post office, and a
luggage-storage area.
Hlavní nádrazí
Wilsonova trída, Praha 2
02/2422 3887
Nádrazí Holesovice
Partyzánská at Vrbenského, Praha 7
02/2461 7265
Prague's second train station, is
usually the terminus for trains from
Berlin and other points north.
Although it's not as centrally
located as the main station, its
more manageable size and location at
the end of metro line C make it
almost as convenient.
Prague contains two smaller rail
stations.
Masaryk Station
Hybernská ulice at Havlíckova
02/2461 7260
Is primarily for travelers arriving
on trains originating from other
Bohemian cities or from Brno or
Bratislava. Situated about 10
minutes by foot from the main train
station, Masaryk is near Staré
Mesto, just a stone's throw from
Námestí Republiky metro station.
Smíchov Station
Nádrazní ulice at Rozkosného
02/2461 7686
Is the terminus for commuter trains
from western and southern Bohemia,
though an occasional international
train pulls in here. The station
contains a 24-hour baggage check and
is serviced by metro line B.
Getting Around:
Prague City Transport Fares
Traveling by city transport is only
possible with a valid ticket.
Passengers have to obtain their
tickets before boarding the vehicle
or entering the Metro system.
Tickets can be bought at selected
Metro stations or in Dopravni podnik
Information Centers, hotels, at news
stands, travel bureaus, department
stores, etc. Single tickets can also
be bought from the slot machines
located at Metro stations or near
some stops of surface transport. To
see Prague properly, there is no
alternative to walking, especially
since much of the city center is
off-limits to automobiles. And the
walking couldn't be more
pleasant-most of it along the
beautiful bridges and cobblestone
streets of the city's historic core.
Before venturing out, however, be
sure you have a good map.
By Bicycle
Prague is a particularly fun city to
bike in, when the crowds are thin.
Vehicular traffic is limited in the
center, where small, winding streets
seem especially suited to
two-wheeled vehicles. Surprisingly,
few people take advantage of this
opportunity; cyclists are largely
limited to the few foreigners who
have imported their own bikes. The
city's ubiquitous cobblestones make
mountain bikes the natural choice.
Check with your hotel about a
possible rental or try Cyklocentrum
at Karlovo nám. 29, New Town and fax
02/294 312 www.cyklocentrum.cz
By Public Transportation
Prague's public transportation
network is still remarkably
affordable. In central Prague, metro
(subway) stations abound. You can
buy tickets from yellow
coin-operated machines in metro
stations or at most newsstands
marked Tabák Or Trafika. Hold on to
your validated ticket throughout
your ride--you'll need to show it if
a plainclothes ticket collector asks
you.
By Bus \& Tram
The 24 electric tram (streetcar)
lines run practically everywhere,
and there's always another tram with
the same number traveling back. You
never have to hail trams, for they
make every stop. The most popular
trams, nos. 22 and 23 (the "tourist
trams" and the "pickpocket
express"), run past top sights like
the National Theater and Prague
Castle. Regular bus and tram service
stops at midnight, after which
selected routes run reduced
schedules, usually only once per
hour. Schedules are posted at stops.
If you miss a night connection,
expect a long wait for the next.
Buses tend to be used only outside
the older districts of Prague and
have three-digit numbers. Both the
buses and tram lines (which have two
digits) begin their morning runs
around 4:30am.
By Metro & Light Rail
Metro trains operate daily from 5am
to midnight and run every 2 to 6
minutes. On the three lettered lines
(A, B, and C, color coded green,
yellow, and red, respectively) the
most convenient central stations are
Mustek, at the foot of Václavské
námestí (Wenceslas Square);
Staromestska, for Old Town Square
and Charles Bridge; and
Malostranská, serving Malá Strana
and the Castle District. The Prague
Metro network consists of 3 lines
designated by letters and
differentiated in colour: green
colour (Skalka station - Dejvicka
station), yellow colour (Cerny most
station - Zlicin station), red
colour (Nadrazi Holesovice station -
Haje station), with transfers
possible at Museum station (lines A
and C), Mustek station (lines A and
B), Florenc station (lines B and C).
Metro operates daily from 5 a.m. to
12 a.m.. The time interval between
train departures is approximately 2
minutes during the rush hours and 4
to 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
By Taxi
AAA Taxi ( 02/3399) and Sedop (
02/6731-4184). Many firms have
English-speaking operators.
The Funicular
The Funicular onto Petrin Hill
operates along the route Ujezd -
Nebozizek - Petrin. The Funicular
operates daily from 9:15 a.m. to
8:45 p.m. with traffic intervals
from 10 to 15 minutes |
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Attractions |
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Areas of the historical center:
Hradcany, Mala Strana (Lesser Town)
Stare Mesto (Old Town) including
Josefov, Nove Mesto (New Town) and
Vysehrad
The main attraction for many is
simply walking along the winding
cobblestone streets and enjoying the
unique atmosphere. Exquisite
examples from the history of
European architecture--from
Romanesque to Renaissance, baroque
to art nouveau and cubist--are
crammed next to one another on
twisting narrow streets.
Alfons Mucha Museum (Muzeum A. Muchy):
Panská 7, Praha 1.
02/628 4162.
Daily 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Mustek.
This museum opened in early 1998
near Wenceslas Square to honor the
high priest of art nouveau, Alphonse
(Alfons in Czech) Mucha. The new
museum, around the corner from the
Palace Hotel, combines examples of
his graphic works, posters, and
paintings as well as shows his
influence in jewelry, fashion, and
advertising.
Bedr[av]ich Smetana Museum (Muzeum
B. Smetany):
Novotného lávka 1, Praha 1.
02/2422 9075.
Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Starome[av]stská; tram 17 or
18.
Concerts are held here, and you can
buy tickets on site or at Prague
Information Service, Na
Pr[av]íkope[av] 20, Praha 1 (187 in
Prague or 02/264 022 outside
Prague). This museum, opened in 1936
(in what was the former Old Town
waterworks) jutting out into the
Vltava next to Charles Bridge, pays
tribute to the deepest traditions of
Czech classical music and its most
patriotic composer, Bedr[av]ich
Smetana.
Bertramka (W. A. Mozart Museum):
Mozartova 169, Praha 5.
02/543 893
Daily 9:30am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 2, 6, 7, 9, 14, or 16 from
Ande[av]l metro station.
Chamber concerts are often held
here, usually starting at 5pm.
Tickets are available on site or at
Prague Information Service, Na
Pr[av]íkope[av] 20, Praha 1. Mozart
loved Prague, and when he visited,
the composer often stayed at this
villa owned by the Dus[av]ek family.
Now a museum, it contains displays
with his written work and his
harpsichord. There's also a lock of
Mozart's hair, encased in a cube of
glass. Much of the Bertramka villa
was destroyed by fire in the 1870s,
but Mozart's rooms, where he
finished composing the opera Don
Giovanni, have miraculously remained
untouched.
Bethlehem Chapel (Betlémská kaple):
Betlémské nám. 4,
Praha 1. (Praha 1).
Apr-Oct, daily 9am-6pm; Nov-Mar,
daily 9am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line B to Národní trída.
This is the site where, in the early
15th century, the Czech Protestant
theologian Jan Hus angered the
Catholic hierarchy with sermons
critical of the establishment. He
was burned at the stake as a heretic
in 1415 at Konstanz in present-day
Germany and became a martyr for the
Czech Protestant and later
nationalist cause. A memorial to Hus
dominates the center of Old Town
Square. The chapel was completed in
1394 but reconstructed in the early
1950s. In the main hall you can
still see the original stone floors
and the pulpit from where Hus
preached; it's used as a ceremonial
hall for Czech national events.
Church of Our Lady Victorious--Holy
Child of Prague (Kláster Prazského):
Karmelitská 9, Praha 1.
Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 1-5:30pm.
Fee for occasional concerts.
Museum of the Infant Jesus:
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostranská.
This 1613 early baroque home of the
Carmelite order is famous throughout
Italy and Latino countries for the
wax statue of Jesus displayed on an
altar of the right wing of the
church. The Bambini di Praga (Baby
of Prague) was presented to the
Carmelites by the Habsburg patron
Polyxena of Lobkowicz in 1628 and is
revered as a valuable Catholic relic
from Spain. Copies of the Bambini
are sold frequently on the Lesser
Town streets outside the church,
angering some of the faithful.
Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv.
Mikulás[av]e):
Malostranské nám. 1,Praha 1.
Free admission.
Metro: Line A to Malostranská.
This church is one of the best
examples of high baroque
architecture north of the Alps.
However, K. I. Dienzenhofer's 1711
design didn't have the massive dome
that now dominates the Lesser Town
skyline below Prague Castle.
Dienzenhofer's son, Krys[av]tof,
added the 260-foot-high dome during
additional work completed in 1752.
The gilded interior is stunning.
Gold-capped marble-veneered columns
frame altars packed with statuary
and frescoes added through the
centuries. A giant statue of the
church's namesake looks down from
the high altar, as the midday sun
strains through the domes, lighting
it and the frescoes.
Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv.
Mikuláse):
Old Town Square at Parízská, Praha
1.
Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Free admission, except for
occasional concerts.
Metro: Line A to Staromestská.
At the site of a former Gothic
church begun by German merchants,
this St. Nicholas church was
designed in 1735 by the principal
architect of Czech baroque, K. I.
Dienzenhofer. He's the same
Dienzenhofer who designed Prague's
other St. Nicholas Church, in Lesser
Town (see above). This church isn't
as ornate as the other but has a
more tumultuous history. The
Catholic monastery was closed in
1787, and the church was handed over
for use as a concert hall in 1865.
The city's Russian Orthodox
community began using it in 1871,
but in 1920 management was handed to
the Protestant Hussites. One notable
piece inside is the 19th-century
crystal chandelier with glass
brought from the town of Harrachov.
Concerts are still held here.
Dvor[av]ák Museum (Muzeum A.
Dvor[av]áka):
Ke Karlovu 20, Praha 2.
02/298 214
Tues-Sun 10-5.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line C to I. P. Pavlova.
Built in 1712, the two-story rococo
building, tucked away on a Nové
Me[av]sto side street, was
Dvor[av]ák's home for 24 years until
his death in 1901. In the 18th
century when the building was
erected, this part of Prague was
frontier land. Czechs willing to
open businesses so far from the
center were called "Americans" for
their pioneer spirit. This building
came to be known as America. Opened
in 1932, the museum shows an
extensive collection, including the
composer's piano, spectacles,
Cambridge cap and gown, photographs,
and sculptures. Several rooms are
furnished as they were around 1900.
Kinsk‡ Palace (Palác Kinsk‡ch):
Staromestské námestí, Praha 1.
02/2481 0758.
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Staromestská.
The rococo Kinsk‡ Palace houses
graphic works from the National
Gallery collection, including pieces
by Georges Braque, André Derain, and
other modern masters. Pablo
Picasso's 1907 Self-Portrait is here
and has virtually been adopted as
the National Gallery's logo.
Good-quality international exhibits
have included Max Ernst and
Rembrandt retrospectives, as well as
shows on functional arts and crafts.
Loreto Palace (Loreta):
Loretánské nám. 7, Praha 1.
02/2051-6740
Tues-Sun 9am-12:15pm and 1-4:30pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 22 from Malostranská.
Loreto Palace was named after the
town of Loreto, Italy, where the
dwelling of the Virgin Mary was said
to have been brought by angels from
Palestine in the 13th century. After
the Roman Catholics defeated the
Protestant Bohemians in 1620, the
Loreto cult was chosen as the device
for a re-Catholicization of Bohemia.
The Loreto legend holds that a
cottage in which the Virgin Mary
lived had been miraculously
transferred from Nazareth to Loreto,
an Italian city near Ancona. The
Loreto Palace is thought to be an
imitation of this cottage, and more
than 50 copies have been constructed
throughout the Czech lands. The
Loreto's facade is decorated with
18th-century statues of the four
writers of the Gospel--Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John--along with a
lone female, St. Anne, mother of the
Virgin Mary.
Mu[ao]stek Metro Station:
The street follows the line of the
old fortifications all the way down
to the Gothic Powder Tower at
náme[av]stí Republiky.
Václavské náme[av]stí, Praha 1.
Metro: Line A or B.
It's not the metro station itself,
which is hardly 20 years old, that
warrants an entry here. Descending
Mu[ao]stek's lower escalators, the
illuminated stone remains of what
was once a bridge that connected the
fortifications of Prague's Old and
New Towns can be seen.
Museum of the City of Prague (Muzeum
hlavního me[av]sta Prahy):
The museum is 1 block north of the
Florenc metro station.
Na por[av]íc[av]í 52, Praha 8.
02/2481 6772
Tues-Sun 9am-6pm, Thurs 9am-8pm.
Admission Charged
This delightfully upbeat museum
encompasses Prague's illustrious
past.
Permanent exhibition: Ancient Prague
- the history of the city and its
inhabitants from prehistoric times
to 1620. Prague between the Middle
and New Ages. Langweil´s model of
Prague created during 1826 - 1837 -
a unique three dimensional
representation of the city made of
paper and wood.
Alfons Mucha Museum (Muzeum A.
Muchy):
Panská 7, Praha 1. Phone 02/628 4162
E-mail museum@mucha.cz.
Daily 10am-6pm
Metro: Mustek
Admission charged.
This museum opened in early 1998
near Wenceslas Square to honor the
art nouveau master, Alphonse (Alfons
in Czech) Mucha. Though the Moravian
born turn of the 20th century master
spent most of his creative years in
Paris drawing luminaries like
actress Sarah Bernhardt, Mucha's
influence can still be seen
throughout his home country. The new
museum, around the corner from the
Palace Hotel, combines examples of
his graphic works, posters, and
paintings and highlights his
influence in jewelry, fashion, and
advertising.
Petr[av]ín Tower (Rozhledna):
Atop Petr[av]ín Hill, Praha 1.
Apr-Oct, daily 9:30am-8pm; Nov-Mar,
Sat-Sun only 9:30am-5pm.
Admission charged.
Tram: 12 or 22 to Újezd, then ride
the funicular to the top.
A one-fifth scale copy of Paris's
Eiffel Tower, Prague's Petr[av]ín
Tower was constructed out of
recycled railway track for the 1891
Prague Exhibition. It functioned as
the city's primary
telecommunications tower until the
Emir Hoffman tower opened. Today the
Eiffel replica exists solely as a
tourist attraction. Those who climb
the 195 feet to the top are treated
to striking views, particularly at
night.
Powder Tower (Pras[av]ná brána,
literally Powder Gate):
Náme[av]stí Republiky, Praha 1.
Metro: Line B to Náme[av]stí
Republiky
Once part of Staré Me[av]sto's
system of fortifications, the Old
Town Powder Tower (as opposed to the
Powder Tower in Prague Castle) was
built in 1475 as one of the walled
city's major gateways. The
140-foot-tall tower marks the
beginning of the Royal Route, the
traditional 3/4-mile-long route
along which medieval Bohemian
monarchs paraded on their way to
being crowned in Prague Castle's St.
Vitus Cathedral. It also was the
east gate to the Old Town on the
road to Kutná Hora. The tower was
acutely damaged during the Prussian
invasion of Prague in 1737. The
present-day name derived from the
18th century, when the development
of Nové Me[av]sto rendered this
protective tower obsolete; it was
then used as a gunpowder storehouse.
Old Town Hall (Starome[av]stská
radnice) and Astronomical Clock
(orloj):
Starome[av]stské náme[av]stí, Praha
1.
02/2422 8456
May-Oct, Mon 11am-6pm, Tues-Sun
9am-6pm; Nov-Apr, Mon 11am-5pm,
Tues-Sun 9am-5pm.
Admission charged to Town Hall
tower.
Metro: Line A to Starome[av]stská.
Crowds congregate in front of Old
Town Hall's Astronomical Clock
(orloj) to watch the glockenspiel
spectacle that occurs hourly from
8am to 8pm. Built in 1410, the clock
has long been an important symbol of
Prague. According to legend, after
the timepiece was remodeled at the
end of the 15th century, clock
artist Master Hanus[av] was blinded
by the Municipal Council so that he
couldn't repeat his fine work
elsewhere. In retribution, Hanus[av]
threw himself into the clock
mechanism and promptly died.
S[av]ternberk Palace Art Museum (of
the National Gallery)
(S[av]ternbersk‡ palác):
Hradc[av]anské nám. 15, Praha 1.
02/2051 4599
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostranská or
Hradc[av]anská.
The jewel in the National Gallery
crown (also known as the European
Art Museum), the gallery at
S[av]ternberk Palace, adjacent to
the main gate of Prague Castle,
displays a wide menu of European art
throughout the ages. It features six
centuries of everything from oils to
sculptures. The permanent collection
is divided chronologically into
pre-19th-century art, 19th- and
20th-century art, and 20th-century
French painting and sculpture. Also
included is a good selection of
cubist paintings by Braque and
Picasso, among others. Temporary
exhibits, such as Italian
Renaissance bronzes, are always on
show. The Veletrz[av]ní Palace now
houses most of the National
Gallery's 20th-century art
collection. The rest of the national
collection is divided between Kinsk‡
Palace on Old Town Square and St.
Agnes Convent near the river.
St. Agnes Convent (Klás[av]ter sv.
Anez[av]ky C[av]eské):
The convent is at the end of
Anez[av]ka, off Has[av]talské
náme[av]stí.
U milosrdn‡ch 17, Praha 1.
02/2481 0628
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Starome[av]stská.
A complex of early Gothic buildings
and churches dating from the 13th
century, the convent, tucked in a
corner of Staré Me[av]sto, was once
home to the Order of the Poor
Clares. It was established in 1234
by St. Agnes of Bohemia, sister of
Wenceslas I. The Blessed Agnes
became St. Agnes when Pope John Paul
II paid his first visit to Prague in
1990 for her canonization. The
convent is now home to the National
Gallery's collection of 19th- and
20th-century Czech art. In addition
to rooms of contemplative oils, the
museum contains many bronze studies
that preceded the casting of some of
the city's greatest public
monuments, including the equestrian
statue of St. Wenceslas atop the
National Theater. Downstairs, a
Children's Workshop offers hands-on
art activities, most of which
incorporate religious themes. The
grounds surrounding the convent are
inviting.
St. George's Convent at Prague
Castle (Kláster sv. Jirího na
Prazském hrade):
Jirské nám. 33.
02/5732 0536
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm.
Admission charged.
Metro: Line A to Malostranská or
Hradcanská
Dedicated to displaying old Czech
art, the castle convent is
especially packed with Gothic and
baroque Bohemian iconography as well
as portraits of patron saints. The
most famous among the unique
collection of Czech Gothic panel
paintings are those by the Master of
the Hohenfurth Altarpiece and the
Master Theodoricus. The collections
are arranged into special exhibits
usually revolving around a specific
place, person, or time in history.
Strahov Monastery and Library
(Strahovsk‡ kláster):
Strahovské nádvorí, Praha 1.
02/2051 6671
Tues-Sun 9am-noon and 1-5pm.
Admission 40Kc adults, 20Kc
students.
Tram: 22 from Malostranská metro
station.
The second oldest monastery in
Prague, Strahov was founded high
above Malá Strana in 1143 by
Vladislav II. It's still home to
Premonstratensian monks, a scholarly
order closely related to the
Jesuits, and their dormitories and
refectory are off-limits. What draws
visitors are the monastery's ornate
libraries, holding more than 125,000
volumes. Over the centuries, the
monks have assembled one of the
world's best collections of
philosophical and theological texts,
including illuminated manuscripts
and first editions.
T‡n Church or the Church of Our Lady
Before T‡n (Kostel paní Marie pred
T‡nem):
Staromestské námestí, Praha 1,
entrance from Stupartská.
Metro: Line A to Staromestská.
Huge double square towers with
multiple black steeples make this
church the most distinctive standout
of Old Town Square. The "T‡n" was
the fence marking the border of the
central marketplace in the 13th
century. The church's present
configuration was completed mostly
in the 1380s, and it became the main
church of the Protestant Hussite
movement in the 15th century (though
the small Bethlehem Chapel in Old
Town where Hus preached is the
cradle of the Czech Protestant
reformation.
Veletrzní Palace (National Gallery):
Veletrzní at Dukelsk‡ch hrdinu 47,
Praha 7.
02/2430 1111
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (Thurs to 9pm)
Admission charged.
Metro: Line C to Vltavská or tram
17.
This 1925 constructionist palace,
built for trade fairs, was remodeled
and reopened in December 1995 to
hold the bulk of the National
Gallery's collection of 20th-century
works by Czech and other European
artists. .
Nightlife:
Akropolis
Doors open 7.30am. Tram #5, #9 or
#26.
Kubelíkova 27, Zízkov.
Decent live arts/gig venue in the
backstreets of seedy Zízkov
Agharta, Jazz Centrum,
Krakovská 5, Nové Mesto.
Open until 1am.
Metro Muzeum
jazz club with a good mix of
foreigners and locals.
Radost FX
Belehradská 120, Vinohrady.
Open until 6am. Metro I.P. Pavlova.
Known as the best dance club in
Prague, with a great veggie café
attached
Reduta
Národní 20, Nové Mesto
Open Mon-Fri until 2am, though the
music stops at midnight.
Prague's oldest-established jazz
club, serving up anything from
traditional to modern
James Joyce Pub
Liliová 10
02/2424-8793
is authentically Irish (it has Irish
owners), with Guinness on tap and
excellent fish-and-chips.
Jo's Bar
Malostranské nám. 7
no phone
is a haven for younger expats,
serving bottled beer, mixed drinks,
and good Mexican food. |
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