Prague, the enchanting capital of Czech Republic, lies in the very heart of Europe. With a population of merely around 1 million people out of 10 million in the whole country, Prague is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cites not only in Europe but also in the world. The Germans name Praag Die Mutter der Stadten or mother of all cities, Czechs call their capital PRAHA and often nicknamed the city of 100 spires. Walking down the streets of Prague is like traveling through a time machine that went back more than a millennium. Her rich architectural treasures represented by endless exhibition of building, castles, cathedrals, museum, synagogues, and other historical monuments. The official brochures from Czech Republic tourism office says that the magic of Prague does not emanate only from the vast numbers of historical monuments, but rather from the fact that the city as a whole has its own unique appearance and atmosphere. No wonder, million of visitors have been mesmerized by her beauty and will unanimously agree to the statement that the whole city is a actually a virtual living museum. Though Czech Republic - a landlocked country surrounded by Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. - has joined the European Union on 1st May 2004, the currency of Czech Crown (CZK) is still being used. The country is still considered not as expensive as other European countries where Euro has been used. In 1992, the historical domain of the city of Prague covering more than 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register. Thus our previous notion of a living museum for almost the entire city will be an undisputed term. This historical area is situated on both banks of the Vltava River where several beautiful bridges are located and connecting both parts of the city.
Walking: The best way to enjoy Prague Prague has a very efficient and affordable transportation system comparable to other European cities. The Dopravni podnik hl. M. Prahy (The Capital city of Prague Transportation Company) provides an integrated public transport system consist of underground Metro, trams and buses. For only 20 Kc, passengers can travel and make transfer between metro, trams, and buses within 75 minutes and 90 minutes during peak and off peak hours respectively. Even traveling from the Letiste Ruzyne (Prague Airport) to the city centre is possible using Bus and Metro or tram. Most historical monuments and buildings of Prague are concentrated on the Praha 1 area, which comprises of six area namely: Hradcany (Arean of Prague Castle), Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the former Jewish Town of Prague), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), and Vysehrad. With that in mind we can visit most part with a short metro and tram ride, and after that walking is the best. To enjoy the atmosphere Prague has to offer, both joining one of a walking tours or taking a personal route for free will invigorate our body, souls and, mind. The charming gothic, baroque, renaissance, Romanesque, and even newer Art-Nouveau architectural style will make our eyes kept on entertained by endless striking beauty of these edifications To join the tour is also very easy, no phone, no reservations, just be there in the appointed gathering points, register to the guide and pay. One of the meeting point is in front of the bronze equestrian statue of Prince Wenceslas just above the Muzeum Metro Station. The guide will be identified by a yellow umbrella bearing the logo of the tour operator. The walks will give us the sights and sound of Prague, the people, the culture, and Prague's everyday life is always available there to be enjoyed. In the midst of the walks we can have our own break of either having a refreshing drink or a complete three course Czech meal in a 17th century restaurant where famous Czech writer Franz Kafka used to wander. For those having pristine universal taste, several fast food outlets of Mc Donald and KFC are also there. Some thing unique to Prague, the toilets in these facilities will charge 5 Kc fee and the coupon can later be used for discount when making purchases. Male sure you go to the toilet first!!
Charles Bridges: The center point between Prasna Brana and Prazky Hrad. Once we are in the center of Prague, we can go any where we like even without map. The tourist signage is excellent, omnipotent, and will lead you everywhere you want. All we need is just a starting point. To reach Charles Bridge, we can start either from Starometska Metro Station and than take a little walk following Alfoso Nabrezi will lead to the gate of Charles Bridge from the Old Town (Staro Metska). This gate is the Old Town Bridge Tower or Starometska Mosteka veze. This tower is one of the most beautiful gate of the Gothic Europe . The tower preceded the Charles Bridge and was completed around 1380. It was richly adorned with sculpture of coat of arms of region and countries under the reign of Charles IV as well statue of Czechs Saints. Just on the right hand side of the gate, a statue of Charles IV was proudly standing in front of a cathedral building offering a lot of concerts. Two black men in sailor uniform continuously offering a boat trip on the Vltava . Strolling through the 10 meters wide Karluv Mostu (Charles bridge) , is where the orchestrated magic of Prague commenced: the scatter disharmony of tourists and souvenir vendors, the 30 sculpture and sculptural groups of saints on both side of the bridge piers, street artists painting caricatures of Asian tourist ready in 7 minutes just for 100 Kc , a pair of blind opera singer and pianist performing Verdi's Aida, and an incessantly kneeling beggar spreading his hat for coins and covering his head with his Jacket. This composition is always there on the 510 meters length bridge. However every time we cross the bridge the realm of magic will always in the air. As if we can see all indispensable views of Prague from the very focal point of this Bridge. The Prasky Hrad (Prague Castle ), with the silhouette of the pointed tower of St. Vitus Cathedral will always dominate the view from this bridge, St. Nicholas Cathedral and Lesser Town Bridge Tower is on the near part of the westward direction. Manesuv Mostu (Manesuv Bridge) with trams traveling on it and Legii Bridge on the respective northward and southward direction. At the same time the sights of sailing boats and an old house with a black wooden windmill by the bank of the Vltava is always there to enrich our eyes and heart. The water-color paintings sold by the street vendor seem extrovertly show the grandeur of Prague in one single place called Charles Bridge. This is the place not to be missed, and this is the place where time is stand still, The second access to Charles Bridge is from Malostranska Metro station, where we can transfer to tram no 22 or 23 to Malostarnska Namesti . From this square, just follow the Mostecka to the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, which is the west end gate to the Charles Bridge. Along this Mostecka, we can find sops and restaurant including Chinese Restaurant and the Mc Donald.
Climbing the Nerudova to the Castle From Malostanska Square, we can take the thirty to forty degrees inclination road which will lead us to the Prague Castle. This is the Nerudova, named after the famous Jan Neruda. Along this cobble stoned road, restaurants, cafes, hotel, shops,residential houses, as well embassies and offices are facing each other in ultimate harmony. One of the oldest hotel called The Neruda is still there . estb 1356 .. The house of Jan Neruda with his statue is still can be sighted on this street. From Nerudova, we have to take the upward U turn to the right. This 45 degrees upward road will take us right to the Prague Castle. Prasky Hrad is not only a national cultural monument, but also the very heart of Prague as well as the nucleus of the Republic and the former kingdoms and empires. The eleven hundred years history is represented within the complex of palaces, cathedral, basilicas, and gardens. Originally built as residential palaces of princes and kings of Bohemia in the last quarter of the 9th century, history has transformed the place to the seat of Czechoslovakian President in 1918. From this Castle, all part of Prague can be sighted. This is the place where the ambient wind and the sun light of early summer can mesmerize the people. Here, the magic of Prague has transformed into virtual experience of trance.
The Ghost of Prague and the Old Jewish Cemetry. From the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Karlova (Charles Street) will lead us to the Old Town Square. This is where the air still smell part of the air breathed by the spirits of the middle ages. The square just looks like other European square. With a statue in the centre, on the eastern part of the square, a gorgeous looking gothic church with twin towers an a clock in between strikingly attract everybodies' attention. This is the Church of our Lady Before Tyn (Chram Matky Bozi pred Tynem). Just opposite the church, another important building of Prague is located. The Staromestska Radnice s Orlogem (Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock). The astronomical clock is always crowded with tourist and guides explaining the story of the complex in many different languages. The upper part of the clock has 12 apostles of Jesus which appears in turn every hour between 9am and 9 pm. The lower part is equipped with a circular calendarium including the 12 signs of the Zodiacs. Mozart's Don Giovanni in Puppet's Show Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's works were so popular in Prague and we can see until today's numerous classical music performances are held in churches and historical places of Prague. In 1787, Don Giovanni, Mozart's most famous opera, had its word premiere in Prague. Today we also can see the opera performed in puppet's show theatre near the old tow square (starometska Namesti). The performance is conducted twice daily at 5 and 8 pm for a ticket of 450 CZK. Walking trhough this city is truly a journey into mesmerizing Prague
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