Prague Overview

Photo by Dmitry Goykolov on Unsplash

Prague, Praha in Czech!!  One of Prague’s nicknames is “City of a Hundred Spires”, reportedly given to Prague by Josef Hormayer, a Czech writer of the eighteenth century. Nobody really knows how many churches and spires there are in Prague, but at least 500 and likely more than a thousand.  Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.


Know a few Czech words before you go!

Here are a few Czech words and phrases to have in your back pocket:

Hello: “Dobrý den” / Hi: “Ahoj”

Please: “Prosím”

Thank you: “‘Děkuji”

Excuse me: “S dovolením” or “pardon”

Beer please: “pivo prosím”

I love the Czech Republic: “Miluji Českou Republiku”

Goodbye: “Na shledanou” / Bye: “Čau”

Courtesy Unsplash

Architecture:  Stroll the streets and admire the architecture.  From Gothic to Baroque to neoclassical, gaze upward with your camera ready.  Study the facades on aged buildings, discover ornate details and appreciate the charm of Prague.  Be sure to keep an eye out for the signs above the doors. Instead of numbers, buildings in Prague used to have plaques above the door identifying their house and occupation.

 

Beer!  The Czechs claim to have the best beer (pivo) in the world.  The plentiful pubs and bars in the city offer famous Czech lagers such as Budvar and Staropramen alongside craft beers from the top microbreweries in the country.  One way to explore the Prague beer scene is by joining in on a Prague beer tour; such as the tour offered by Eating Prague. Beer aficionados should also ensure a visit to the Prague Beer Museum which offers more than 31 quality beers on tap. It’s really a pub, not an actual museum!  (Note that there are mixed reviews on Tripadvisor).
Another place to enjoy beer (as well as Czech cuisine) is at Lokal, a chain of pubs that serves Pilsner Urquell straight from the tank.  It just may be freshest beer you’ll ever have and one of the most delicious.   Steps away from Prague Castle, you might want to consider a visit to Strahov Monastic Brewery.  You’ll find a brew pub, restaurant and beautiful courtyard where you can enjoy beer as well as traditional Czech food.  From my research, the brewery dates back to the 13^th century and still brews beer using traditional recipes.  You will notice, as you look at the beer menus, that you will see “slice”, “sweet”, and “crème.  These refer to the amount of head, or foam, on the top of the beer.  Crème is almost all head, sweet is a bit less, and slice is the least amount of head.

Czeck Cuisine!  There are lots of options for foodies to experience!

·         Trdelník (chimney cake) – You can’t go to Prague and not have a Trdelník. Dough is wrapped around a stick then grilled on an open flame and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. They are cheap and delicious.  You will see an insane amount of vendors selling Trdelník in the touristy areas but it is really not a local delicacy.  This sweet treat has sort of become one of the most popular Instagram accessories for photos in Prague, actually originated in Slovakia.

·         Chlebíčky –  You will see these Czech open-faced sandwiches everywhere, as they are a cornerstone of Czech cuisine. Check out  Sisters Bistro! This is a tasty little snack, which can feature anything from egg and potato salad to pickled herring.

Courtesy Eating Prague

·         Svíčková (pronounced sveech-covah) with dumplings is a classic Sunday family dinner in the Czech Republic. The dish consists of sirloin beef that has been marinated and braised a day in advance. The meat is then covered in a root vegetable cream sauce and served with bread dumplings, a slice of lemon, cranberry sauce, and a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.

·         Goulash! Goulash isn’t technically Czech, but don’t mention that to the Czechs. This ( Hungarian) meal has the same presentation as svickova; however, the sauce is made of tomato paste, caraway seeds, and, the not so secret ingredient, dark beer.

Courtesy Eating Prague

·         Knedliki: bread dumplings. Although the Czech’s do not categorize knedliki as bread, it very much is. They are typically made of a potato or flour dough steamed instead of baked. Knedliki is served with svickova and goulash.

·         Kolena (pork knuckle) This tender piece of meat is marinated in, you guessed it, beer! . It is served with pickles and mustard and either a side of dumplings and cabbage or roasted Hasselback potatoes and sauerkraut.

·         Pickled cheese:  It’s the perfect accompaniment to a cold glass of pivo (beer0 and is a Czech pub classic.  It’s basically a soft Camambert like cheese, with an edible rind, that has been pickled in oil, spices and garlic. 

Souvenirs and Shopping

Courtesy Prague Garnet Center

Jewelry: classic or contemporary. Classic Czech jewelry contains Bohemian garnet, a ruby red gem, “vltavín”, a forest green rock formed by a meteorite impact about 15 million years ago which can be found around the river Vltava or Bohemian crystal beads. All three can be seen in any jewelry store in the city center and bought as a beautiful souvenir in a form of a ring, bracelet or necklace.  Tip regarding Czech garnets:  always make sure the store shows you a certificate of authenticity before you buy anything, as there are plenty of fakes that will claim the jewelry is made of true garnet. 

Bohemian glass: If you’re looking for a souvenir that you can display in your home, Bohemian Crystal is a must!  Hand-cut, engraved, blown and painted decorative glassware ranging from champagne flutes to enormous chandeliers, ornaments, figurines and other glass items are among the best known Czech exports!   Some stores will ship it home for you.

Czech Koh-I-Noor colored pencils are another souvenir option. Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth, one of the world’s most respected names in art and drafting supplies, has been in existence since the Czech lands were firmly under control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

courtesy Rici Marionnettes

courtesy marrionettes puppets

Czech puppets or marionettes!  You will find an astonishing variety of marionette, from more traditional ones, to small kitchen witches to whopping winged three-headed dragons.  You will likely encounter a marionette of fictional character, the Good Soldier Svejk, especially in pubs! He’s the main character of a satirical novel about the First World War, has entered the Czech national consciousness, and is adorable.

Oplatky (spa wafers): These giant wafer cookies have been around since the 1800s.  They are very thin, circular wafers, often lined with a layer of cocoa, hazelnut or vanilla. These wafers are widely available in supermarkets and stores in Prague; a more charming place to pick them up is the outdoor Havelská Market in Old Town.   
 
These wafers are one of the few foods in the Czech Republic officially recognized as a protected regional specialty by the European Union. Large, light and sweet, the wafers were created around the 18th century as a crisp delicacy for spa patients. 

courtesy Manufaktura

Cosmetics:  Manufaktura makes distinctly Czech cosmetics of fantastic quality.  The most popular ones they have are made using beer and wine (which provides some awesome health benefits), but they also have some other, non-alcoholic (but still fantastic) soaps and lotions.