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  At home in Prague

Introduction
In this homepage I describe my personal adventures during three visits to Prague. I don't intend to make a complete guide book. For extended background information of the buildings and places, mentioned  in this homepage I refer to the many books on Prague.

To my opinion the best way to explore Prague is by public transportation and by foot. The public tranportation IN Prague is good and cheap, especially when you choose for a ticket which is valid more days. Tram, metro and busses
ride frequently and throug entire Prague.

There are many restaurants where the food is cheap and good.
 

Prague: objects of interest

The castle


The castle is the most important object of interest of Prague. One can easily spent a day to have a look at all the
buildings of the castle and it's garden. One can visit four buildings;
 
  1. The Sint-Vituscathedral: the construction started in 1344, but had to be stopped because of war in 1431. The

    2. construction started again in 1967 and continued ill 1925. In 1929 the church was consecrated. In the church you can have look at, among other things, various chapels;
  2. Old royal palace: imposing is the is the Vladislavzaal; 62 metres long and 16 metres wide;
  3. The Mihulkatower: inside a view of the daily life during the government of Rudolf;
  4. Basilica of Sint-Joris:
Close to the Mihulkatower you can the find the entrance to the beautiful garden.

You can reach the castle by tram 12 and 22 and subway,station Malostranská. The writer Franz Kafka has lived for a while, and it is here were he got his inspiration for the book “das Schlob”.

If you have enough time after you visited the castle you can have walk along the following streets: Valdštenská ulice. At number 8/153 you find the Furstenbergpalace and at number 10/154 the Kolowratpalace. At Thunovská ulice 14/180 you see the Thunpalace and at the Nerudova ulice 20/214 you find the Thun-Hohensteinpalace. At the Hradcanské Nám?sti you can find at number 2/185 the Schwarzenbergpalace and at number 8/67 the martinicpalace. At the Loretánske  Námesti you find:
 

The Loreta-sanctuary

Loreta is famous because it is a place of pilgrimage and was built during the 17th century. The name Loreta is derived from the Italian town Loreto. According to the myth the archangel Gabriel manifested itself to Maria in this town to announce the birth of Jesus.

Loreta is also famous because of it's treasure-chamber with hundreds of artobjects.
 
 
 
 

Staromestské Námesti (Staromestské square)



Worthwhile seeing on this square:

Karluv most (Charles bridge)

For more then 6 centuries this bridge was the only possibility to cross the Moldau. The construction started in 1357 because it had to replace a collapsed bridge. On the bridge you find 30 statues, 15 on each side.
All kinds of artists (singers, painters) perform on the bridge. If you entered the bridge on the side of the tower of the old city and you leave the bridge on the other side, it's a good idea to take the street at the right called “Misenská” then turn left and follow the street called “ U luzickeho seminá” then left and follow ”Letenská” street and right into the street called “Thomašská”. Just around the corner the street is now called  “Valdštejnská” and then on the right hand side the:
 

Waldstein Palace

As far as I know this palace is not open to public, but is has a beautiful garden, so I thought it is worthwhile mentioning.

Just around the corner the street is now called  “Valdštejnská”

If you enjoy walking follow after visiting the Waldstein palace the “Valdštejnská” back in the direction where you came from  take the first treet to the right (Valdstejnske námesti) then left (Snemovni), second street left, immediately first turn right allong the Malonstranské namesti, first street right, again immediately left (Karmelitská Ujezd). Twice, the first street to the left, go right at the street called “Na kampa” and you end up in a beautiful park. Have a rest (if the weather allows you to) and if look at the river you see at the left the Charlsbridge and at your right “Legii Bridge”. If you still in the mood to walk somewhat further, start crossing this bridge and on the right side you will find a staircase leading to a small island, which is quite nice.

Another nice park to visit is the stromovka park.
 

Petrin hill

If your leave the Charles bridge in the way mentioned above you also can turn left at the street called Karmelitská Uljezd and shortly after the crossing with the street called “Hellichova” you can take a funicular railway up to the Petrin hill. On the hill a tower which seems to be a smaller duplicate of the Eiffeltower in Paris. The tower is open to public. On the top you have a beautiful view over Prague. I found my own way down, and discovered some beautiful places pathes like on the photo.

Vysehrad

This is the second castle of Prague. If you plenty of time while you visit Prague it worth while to spent several hours at vysehrad. You can expect so see several statues, chapel, cemetery and you can enjoy the view over the Moldau.
 

Josefov


Josefov is the part of Prague were since centuries the jewish are living.

You can visit some of the synagogues and the old cemetery. On the photo the old-new synagogue.

In the pinkassynagogue the names of 77.297 of czech jews who died during world war 2 are painted on the walls. I became silent when I saw that and believe me normaly  I only stop talking when I am asleep.

Zoo

Eventhough I am adult (in years at all events) I enjoyed the zoo of Prague. Opposite to the entrance of the zoo is:
 

The troja castle



This castle is built from 1685-1697.
 

In this castle you have to wear oversized shuffles, to prevent the parquet floor from damage. T
 

There are many (to my opinion beautiful) mural and ceiral paintings.
 
 

Cemeteries

At the Olšanky-cemetery Jan Palach is buried. On January 16.th Jan Palach set himself on fire on the Václavské námestí as a protest against the invasion of the Warschaupact-bodies. He died three days later. His funeral on January 25th on the Olšanky-cemetery ended in a huge protest against the presence of the Soviet-union. When his grave became a symbol of resistance, the communists digged him up secretly and re-buried him in Všetaty, his native village. In 1990 Jan Palach was digged up once again and re-buried at the Olšanky-cemetery.

Close to the Olšanky-cemetery you can find the Zidovské cemetery were Franz kafka is buried.
 

Museum

  • Villa Bertramka:

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    Not really exciting but nevertheless worthwhile visiting is Villa Betramka. This house was built in the 17.th century and Mozart stayed here several times during his stays in Prague. Several rooms are set up as Mozart museum.  On the photo the piano on which Mozart composed.... I don't know if this is really true. In the museum, several hairs of Mozart are exhibited.(?)
     

  • Policemuseum

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    In a former cloister at the Ke Karlov 453, the policemuseum is established. This cloister has a troubled history. The cloister was established in 1351 by Karel 4th. During the second world war,  the friars had already had left the cloister, the psychiatric ward of the karls university was established in the former cloister.
    Then the communist made it a museum of national security of it. Later it was changed into the policemuseum where you can have a look at photos of murders and weapons.
     

  • Villa Amerika

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    In Villa Amerika at Ke Karlova 10/462 the Antonín Dvorák museum is established. The house was built in 1717, and had many destinations since then: private house, eating-house, house for the poor and girls’ school. Antonín Dvorák himself never lived in this house. His huge correspondence and the original papers with his music are exhibited. There are several beautiful ceilings- and mural paintings.
     

  • National technical museum


    • At Kostelni 42 the national technical museum can be found. This museum was founded in 1908 and 35.000 items (!) are exhibited. There  is a  collection of conveyances; several locomotives, mopeds and cars. The development of photography is demonstrated by several apparatus and photos.  Furthermore attention is paid to:
    · Chronometer;
    · Radio and television;
    · Astronomy;
    · Heavy industry;
    · Mining
     

  • The toysmuseum


    • At the Jirská in the Romberský palace close to the castle the toys-museum is established. Nice museum with dolls, trains and other toys.
     
     
     

    Day trips

    Karlšteijn


    At the Prague railway-station Smíchov trains to Karlšteijn regulary. It is a nice journey along beautiful railwaystations. It is a 30 minute walk from the station along  the main-street of the town Budrany (were many souvenirs are sold)  to the castle of Karlšteijn. The building of the castle started in 1348 and lasted to 1365. Karl 4th was the first inhabitant of  the castle. You can visit the castle but only with a guide.

    Konopište

    The building of this castle started in the 14th century. The last occupant of the castle was archduke Frans Ferdinand d’Este. He married beneath with countess Žofie Chotková. They got sick of all the backbiters in Vienna, therefore they moved to the castle of  Konopište. He had huge fancy for hunting. Thousands of animals head decorate the walls of the castle. You can visit the castle with a guide.

    Terezin

    Something totally different is Terezin. In 1942 the town of Terezin started to function as a transit camp. Jews were accommodated en then send to destructioncamps. Al together 150.000 Jews from Germany, the Czech republik, Slovakia, Denmark and the Netherlands end up in Terezin. 33.000 people died in Terezin itself, 84.000 were deported to other camps mainly to Auswitz.

    Podebrady

    Podebrady is especially known as a place to cure. It’s a nice quite town, with is worthwhile visiting on a sunny day when you have plenty of time on your holiday.
     

    Prerov nab labem

    The open-air museum of Prerov nab labem is one of the oldest of the Czech republic. You can have a look of farmers and villages houses from the 18th and 19th century.
     

    Kolin


    Sorry for the inhabitants of this town, but this town is not worthwhile visiting.

    Links

    http://www.praguepost.cz
    (latest news, exchange rate, weather)

    http://www.prague.com
    (General information on Prague and it's inhabitants, accommodatins, restaurants, transport)

    http://www.andel3w.dk/prague/english/prag.htm
    (A surveyable homepage on many different subjects)

    http://ww.ini.cz/metro/framup.htm
    (Pictures made in the subway)

    Http://www.globecorner.com/g/i691.html
    (Books)