Excursions in Prague, Czech Republic
THE ROYAL CITY OF HRADCANY AND PRAGUE HOLD
According to FOODANDDRINKJOURNAL.COM, Prague arose at the end of the 9th century, when the first historically known Prague Castle (fortress) was founded by the Czech prince Bořív from the Přemyslid dynasty. From then until our time, Prague Castle has been the main place of the Czech Republic – its political, cultural and religious center.
Prague Castle has been rebuilt many times and changed its appearance. Today, in its architecture, you will find traces of various eras – Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The last major reconstruction in the 18th century, carried out in the Baroque style, turned the western part of the Castle into a majestic and austere imperial residence. The eastern part of Prague Castle has retained the features of a Gothic fortress. Today Prague Castle is the residence of the Czech presidents.
A tour of Prague Castle begins with a tour of its front courtyards, where you will get acquainted with the history of the Castle and its crowned owners. Then you will get acquainted with the black pearl of Prague – St. Vitus Cathedral and its thousand-year history. After that, through the majestic third courtyard you will proceed to the Old Royal Palace and the ancient church of St. George. The tour of Prague Castle will end at its eastern gate.
STRAGOV MONASTERY
The Strahov Premonstratensian Monastery is the very first male monastery in the Czech Republic. In addition to its rich history, the Strahov Monastery is famous for its valuable collection of old books and manuscripts.
The history of the monastery begins in the XII century, when the monastery was founded under the patronage of Prince Vladislav. The monastery was repeatedly rebuilt in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. The modern appearance of the monastery was given by the restructuring of the 17th century, carried out in the Baroque style. From the moment of its foundation to the present day, the monastery has never ceased its functioning.
During the tour you will be able to see the monastery buildings, the Church of St. Roch and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. On the territory of the Strahov Monastery there is a museum of folk literature, where the oldest handwritten Gospel of the Czech Republic is kept. Of particular interest is the famous library of the Strahov Monastery with its majestic Philosophical and Theological Halls, as well as the monastic cabinet of curiosities.
PRAGUE LORETA
Prague’s Loreta is the most visited pilgrimage site in Prague. In addition to its religious value, Loreta is the most remarkable baroque monument in modern Prague.
The appearance of Loreta in Prague is associated with the period of counter-reformation in Europe, when the Catholic Church fought for the expansion and strengthening of Catholicism. The founder of Loreta in the 17th century was the Prague aristocrat Katerina from Lobkowicz. The Prague Loreta was built intermittently until the middle of the 18th century.
Of particular interest in Loret is a copy of the holy hut, the church of the Virgin Mary and the chapel of the holy Starosta. Of great interest is the Loretto treasury, where, among other things, there is the famous monstrosity of the Prague Sun, decorated with 6,222 diamonds.
OLD TOWN AND JEWISH QUARTER
The old royal city was the most developed and influential Prague city. In this part of modern Prague, a particularly large number of cultural treasures, historical monuments and beautiful architectural ensembles are concentrated.
The first merchant and craft settlements on the territory of the Old City arose already in the 10th-11th centuries, but the starting point in its glorious history is considered to be the beginning of the 13th century, when scattered settlements turned into a single city surrounded by a powerful defensive wall. Already at the beginning of the XIV century, elected municipal bodies appeared in the Old Town, and the city hall arose. The next two centuries were the time of the highest prosperity of the Old Town, which was one of the leading political forces in the Czech Republic and played a huge role in its history. In 1784, as a result of the unification of the Prague cities, it lost its independence and became part of a single Prague.
The tour will begin with a tour of the ancient and mysterious Charles Bridge, where you will get acquainted with the mass of ancient legends and stories. Then you will visit Crusader Square and learn about Prague’s Clementinum. Winding and mysterious streets will finally lead you to the heart of the Old Town – Old Town Square, where you will see the famous chimes – Orloj, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn and the Old Town Hall.
One of the most mysterious and mysterious corners of Prague is the area of the former Jewish city. The history of the Jewish city is rooted deep into the centuries. The first Jewish settlement in the Old City appeared in the 12th century. In the 17th century, 7,000 people lived in the Jewish ghetto. Persecution and pogroms regularly made life difficult for the population of the Jewish city. As part of the sewage process in the 19th century, most of the ghetto buildings were demolished, and new quarters of the fashionable Josefov district were built in their place. Particularly valuable monuments are preserved to this day.
During the tour you will see six surviving synagogues. Of greatest interest is the Old New Synagogue of the 13th century, built in the early Gothic style. You will also see the Jewish town hall with a clock, the hands of which move in the opposite direction. The most impressive monument of the Jewish City is the Old Jewish Cemetery with 12,000 Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque headstones.
VISHEGRAD
The Vysehrad Fortress located in Prague is a Czech cultural monument. Vysehrad is considered the place where the statehood of the Czech Republic was born. Czech legends assign the role of the cradle of the Czech people to Vyšehrad. It was there, based on legends, that the first Czech grandparents lived. It was from the Vyshegrad rock that the legendary Princess Libuše predicted the appearance of Prague, whose fame would rise higher than the stars. Historical facts, however, date the appearance of the Vyshegrad fortress no earlier than the 10th century, that is, when Prague had already arisen and the Prague Castle was laid. Currently, Vyshegrad is a fortress with fortifications of the 17th-18th centuries.
The main attractions of Vysehrad are the pre-Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin, the mysterious devil’s stone, the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Also on Vysehrad is the pantheon of the Czech people – a cemetery where the remains of prominent figures of Czech culture are buried.
TOY MUSEUM
The famous Toy Museum is located on the territory of Prague Castle in the Burgrave Palace. It presents the second largest exposition in the world, covering toys from various eras – from ancient Greece to popular toys of our time. Toys are carefully collected from various countries, literally from all over the world.
The Toy Museum has a rich collection of puppets, wooden, paper and soft dolls. Of particular interest is the exhibition of Barbie dolls.
KRZYZIKOV SINGING FOUNTAIN
On the territory of the Prague Exhibition Complex, opened in 1891 for the Zemstvo exhibition, from April 01 to November 01, the famous Krzhizhikovy fountains, which are often called singing fountains, are open.
With the onset of dusk, a unique action begins every hour, when two raging elements merge in amazing harmony with the music – water and light.
ZOO
Of particular interest for children is a visit to the Prague Zoo. On the slopes of the picturesque hills in the northwestern part of Prague, there is a huge natural park, where a wide variety of animals and birds live in conditions close to natural. Numerous cafes and eateries are open to visitors on the territory of the zoo. The two different levels of the zoo are connected by a funicular. The zoo is open all year round.
A VISIT TO THE AQUAPARK BABYLON IN THE CITY OF LIBEREC
On the new and modern motorway, a comfortable bus will quickly take you to the North Bohemian city of Liberec, where you will have a rest in the modern entertainment complex Babylon.
This place is ideal for a family holiday – everyone can find entertainment to their liking here. On the territory of the complex under one roof there is a water park, bowling, amusement park, sauna, Internet cafe, shopping center and many other entertainments.
The water park of the entertainment center consists of several interconnected pools of different depths, underwater caves, an aquarium and a large number of attractions – slides, steep slopes and funny centrifuges. There are also French, Mexican and Czech restaurants located on the territory of the complex.
RIDE ON THE VLTAVA RIVER
A three-hour boat trip along the Vltava will allow you to see Prague differently – from the side of the river. During the walk, you are provided with rest and admiration of the beautiful Prague embankments, the illuminated Prague Castle, the legendary Vysehrad, you will swim under the most beautiful Prague bridges.
During the walk, you will have dinner (buffet) with pleasant melodies flowing from the accordion, and a gift from the captain – a portion of Becherovka.
