Mustek Metro Station, our most often used drop off point for downtown
Last weekend, after either leaving town all the time or doing school related things all the time, I felt that it was about time for me to truly see everything this beautiful city has to offer site-wise. So, I made an honest effort to climb every tower, visit every cathedral, photograph every monument, and cross every bridge in downtown Prague and the surrounding area. I am proud to say that I was successful in visiting all the places in my guide book to Prague, and well as revisiting points of interest I had passed on the tram or on fieldtrips. There are way too many pictures to post, but below I will show nearly all the places I visited, in order, and attempt to briefly describe each place and its significance:
Starting Point: Astronomical Clock, at the entrance to the old town square.
Astronomical Clock Tower, I climbed this for some great views of Prague! Old Town Hall is connected on the right, the Nazis demolished most of it on their way out of Czech Republic, but since it was so ugly, many native Czechs were actually kind of glad.
View of Praha from atop the Clock Tower.
During this weekend, the Easter Market was set up, filling downtown with life and business.
Tyn Church, one of the few practicing Hussite Churches left in existence.
Interior of Tyn Church
St. Mikulas Cathedral, located right on town square, many concerts are held here.
Interior of St. Mikulas Cathedral
Jon Hus memorial. He was responsible for the beginning of the break down of the Catholic Church that eventually, a century later, led to Martin Luther’s successful Protestant Reformation. His group was known as the Hussites, and their biggest disagreement with the Catholic church was that all people, regardless of status, should be entitled to the body and blood of Christ. His memorial faces his Tyn Church, although if you look closely, he is actually facing a bit in the wrong direction, but the point is understood.
Twenty-seven crosses. At the base of Old Town Hall, this is where 27 innocent protestant figures were beheaded in 1621 after rebelling against the Catholic Hapsburgs. The beheading ended Czech independence for 300 years.
Church of St. James, where the Madonna Pietatis is housed.
Legend has it that once a thief tired to rob the Madonna Pietatis stuatue and his arm was frozen once he touched it. Apparently, the statue did not let go of his arm until a monk cut the theifs arm off at the shoulder. It is now hanging above the exit, as a warning to all future visitors (believe what you will, it does look like a shriveled up arm is you imagine)
Bethlehem Chapel, where Jan Hus preached to university students weekly.
The main square before you get to the Charles Bridge, back in the day people would say, “I’ll meet you under the golden star”,etc. based on the motifs above doorways in this area.
This is the young maiden, she was asked where a new great town would be, back when Prague was just a village, and apparently she went to this balcony, looked out, and said before me here, a great city will arise, and now present-day Prague lies all around.
I’ll meet you under the Blue Snake.
Charles Bridge of course, always full of vendors, tourists, many statues, lots of artwork, and great views.
Monument to Emperor Charles IV, he commissioned the current bridge which remains standing today. Until the 19th century, this bridge was the only bridge which crossed the Vltava River.
Far out view of Karluv Most.
Of course, I had to climb the bridge tower.
A terrible picture of me on top of the bridge tower, with Karluv Most in the background.
My second favorite entertainer on the bridge, next only to the far less picturesque Pearl Jam vocals sounding country band.
This is the spot on the bridge where St. Johannes was thrown off the bridge for not betraying his trust of the queens confidential information to King Wenceslas.
Further on down the bridge is the statue of St. Johannes
The Old Mill Water Wheel, the only one left on the entire canal after the flood of 2002.
Lennon Wall, during the communist reign of Lenin, the songs and messages of John Lennon inspired this nation to keep hope. Everynight this wall was painted with tributes to the great artist, and every night the communists painted over it, until finally Czechoslovakia gained its freedom in 1989, and now it has remained a tribute Lennon and the hope he brought to so many generations.
This is the interior of St. Mary the Victorious, where the Infant of Prague is housed.
Here, on the south end of the Cathedral, is the housing of the Infant of Prague (He is the little figure in the glass case, with the custom made robes, changed and newly made only twice a year), where I knelt and read the prayer of the infant.
The main church of St. Mikulas, located in lesser town, where also many concerts are held
Interior of St. Mikulas, way too much gold, but still worth seeing.
More interior of St. Mikulas
Monument to Victims of Communism, at the base of Petrin Hill
Praha’s Eiffel Tower, built two years after Paris’, atop Petrin Hill. Although only 1/5 the size of Paris’, it’s peak is at the exact elevation thanks to the hill below.
Monument to Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of a free Czechoslovakia, outside the entrance to Prague Castle.
Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral, of course. But again, its so beautiful, it had to be posted again.
This organ nave was completely broken down brick by brick and re-erected 20 meters to the west when the church was added on to.
The rose window of St. Vitus.
Exterior of St. Vitus.
The mosaic above the south entrance to St. Vitus, depicting Judgement Day. The king and queen kneel below Jesus and the six patron saints, reminding all of their subjects that even those holding great power are not above God’s Judgment.
Out of this window or the one next to it, of the Old Royal Palace, is where the great defenestration of two governors for the Hapsburgs occured. This act kicked off the huge and lengthy Thirty Years War.
Inside said Royal Palace (pictures weren’t allowed so please excuse the quality) Jousts were actually held indoors here, and even the staircases were made wide enough that noblemen could ride in on horseback.
St. George’s Basilica, I have yet to go inside due to the high entrance fee, but it is said to be Prague’s best-preserved Romanesque church.
Right down the lane from St. Vitus and St. George is the Museum of Czech Noblewomen. This building has been closed to tourists for more than a decade, but our history teacher has connections, so he brought us inside to see the renovation. This actually used to be three separate mansions of Prague noble men, but after the great Prague fire, someone bought up the remains, and now the museum will be housed here and open in the next year or two.
To be able to say I saw all the sights, I guess I had to go see Frank Gehry’s Dancing House. Inside is a restaurant and an elevator, both of which require a reservation, open to tourists. I didn’t go indoors, and wasn’t that impressed, but I did get some good photos of the first floor structure.
Under the second floor entrance overhang.
The interesting columns which support the entrance overhang.
A view of Praha from above Petrin Hill (a bit out of order, but oh well)
The metro at Staromestska, or Old Town. Each metro station has a very different look, although the two you have now seen are the most similar besides the color.
Powder Tower, I have never known the significance of this structure, but it is always referred to, it is a great landmark, and it simply houses a restaurant nowadays.
The Old-New Synagogue
The Jewish Cemetery. More than 6 centuries of Jews are buried here, and since the Jews were limited to their quarter of town, everytime the cemetary reached capacity, a new layer of ground was made above the old, because Jews believe that on Judgement Day, they will rise from the dead to go to the glory of heaven. So now, many many layers of cemetary are stacked behind huge walls when viewing from the street side. Every time a new layer was built, the tombstone was moved up to the current layer, which explains the very crowded, and often crooked, tombstone layer we see today.
On Easter Monday, my last free day, I visited Josefov, or ‘Jewish Quarter’, the largest and most well-preserved Jewish Ghetto in Europe. It is the only one not to suffer bombings or pillaging, so many important Jewish documents and holy items were sent here during WWII.
Monument to Franz Kafka, famous German and Jewish writer. (the “Metamorphosis”, etc.)
My favorite of the four synagogues, this is the Spanish Synagogue.
The interior of Spanish Synagogue.
More interior.
See picture below for appropriate description.
Hope you enjoyed the show / my journey, and I’ll get you guys back up to date later on my journeys to Budapest, Hungary. Take care everybody, and enjoy the beginnings of Spring!
