Prague Sightseeing Highlights

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The Charles Bridge is an icon of Prague, both beautiful and interesting.  Completed in 1402, construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parléř whose other works include the St.  Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge.  The bridge has its own legend.  It’s said that construction began on Charles Bridge at 5:31am on July, 9 1357 and the first stone was laid by Charles IV himself. This timing was important because the notoriously superstitious king was into numerology and astrology and this specific time formed a palindrome (1357 9, 7 5:31) and would transfer more strength to the bridge itself.  Make sure to touch the statue of St. John Nepomuk for good luck and make a wish to return to Prague.

Listen to music and get your caricature drawn. There’s never a bad time to be on Charles Bridge; but go in the early morning or evening to avoid crowds. It’s fun to get swept up in the magic of the darkened sculptures, the lovely architecture all around you, the hustle and bustle of people, and people selling their crafts.

 

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St. Wenceslas Square. There’s a gargantuan statue of King Wenceslas riding a horse. Wenceslas is venerated as being a good and just king. In 935 his own brother plotted to kill him, and now he’s considered to be a martyr, saint, and even has his own Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas.” This is also a great area for shopping.

Follow the narrow and windy cobble-stoned roads and step into the fairytale charm of Old Town Square. The Astronomical Clock is one of the most interesting sights in the square with hourly “performances” (daily 9am to 9pm).

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TheAstronomical Clock, constructed in 1410, has a unique history.  Legend says that the clock maker Hanuš was blinded on the order of the Prague Commissioners so that he could not repeat his work. 
So, he disabled the clock, and no one was able to repair it for the next hundred years. Finally, in 1552 it was repaired by Taborský and Klokotská. The mechanisms of the clock from over 600 years ago are still functional today. Every hour, on the hour you can watch to see the small wooden figures move.

The Prague Castle is the breathtaking focal point of the Czech capital towering above the Vltava River. It’s the ancient residence of Czech kings, the current seat of the Czech President and to no surprise, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Upon reaching the top you’ll gaze at the rows of windows of the palace and the spires that stretch toward the sky. Click here for tips for visiting Prague Castle.

It is recommended to take a guided walking tour here.  Some options are  St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golden Lane, St Wenceslas Chapel (the patron saint of Prague), and Basilica of St. George.

Don’t forget to stroll the Golden Lane and see the small streets, tiny doorways, and beautiful trinkets. The lane was constructed in the 15th century when emperor Rudolf II gave the space to the guards of the castle. But the space was small, so families used stone, mud, and wood to create small spaces to live and work. The name “Golden” comes from the myth that alchemists were trying to make an “elixir of youth” but it also transformed metals into gold.

Malá Strana (the Lesser Town) is the neighborhood tucked next to the Prague Castle which was once home to a number of noble palaces and today retains its beautiful and regal charm.  According to The Telegraph, “for a romantic walk straight out of a Fellini film, it’s hard to beat the twisty, cobbled lanes of Prague’s Malá Strana district, where sonatas spill out of palace windows and hushed baroque gardens appear behind great grandiose gates. The city’s centuries-old architecture, barely scratched during the Second World War, serves as a fitting backdrop to a lifestyle that gave us the word Bohemian.”  Grab a bite to eat at a traditional restaurant.  Walk the streets and be sure to look up at the ancient buildings and burger houses. Go into St. Nicholas Church for extravagant pink marble and a Baroque organ. This is the largest of Prague’s churches founded by the Jesuits. A few steps away is the Church of Our Lady Victorious and The Infant of Prague. Inside you’ll find “The Infant of Prague,” a small ornate statue that attracts visitors worldwide since it’s said that a monk had a vision of baby Jesus and then made a wood figure of a child.

The Jewish Quarter, one of the city’s most peaceful and elegant areas, dates back to the 13th century and is said to be the best preserved Jewish ghettos in all of Europe with six synagogues, the Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

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The John Lennon Wall is an interesting and significant piece of Prague’s history and not one to miss. Many might think of it as a simple graffiti wall, but it means much more than that.  Since the 1980s people have filled the all with art, names, and Beatles’ song lyrics. In 1988 the wall was used by the Czechs to display their anger against communism. Today it’s a symbol of love and peace.

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For something a bit more modern, walk over the bridge and go to the Dancing House, aka Fred and Ginger. A unique architectural style it was controversial at the time, since it’s a stark contrast to the beautiful Baroque buildings nearby.