text and photos by Nina Sarmiento
In my previous post on Prague, I talked about Old Town and the many beautiful churches and clocks 🙂 that you can see there. For this week's post, I'll give you a brief tour of the New Town.
The New Town
The New Town was established in the 14th century by Charles IV, second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and Holy Roman Emperor. Located just outside the city walls to the east and south of the Old Town, this quarter of Prague is home to magnificent gothic and baroque churches.
*Prague Castle (Czech:Prazky Hrad)
The romantic structure of the castle is omnipresent in the Prague skyline. Monarchs were crowned and Presidents were sworn here.
The Prague Castle was built in around 88) by Prince Borivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 square meters.
Flanking the main entrance are sculptures of conquering giants, as if ready to pounce on any naughty tourist.
For the guard fanatics, yes there's a changing of guard rite happening in this castle. The entrance fee to the castle is steep (about $20/person) although wandering around the grounds is free.
*Golden Lane (Czech: Zlata Ulicka)
Take a stroll in this centuries-old street, part of the Prague Castle complex and was once home to alchemists, archers, paupers and poets.
The place is best visited on dusk, with the lamp lights dimly lit and shadows forming in every corner. In one of the houses that lined this street, Franz Kafka wrote six of his finest short stories.
The street is now filled with dainty souvenir shops which reminds me of Diagon Alley.
*St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral (St. Vitus Cathedral)
Another outstanding landmark located in the Prague Castle complex is a majestic church with Gothic edifice, giving the profile of the Prague Castle a dramatic touch.
You have to marvel at the diamond-patterned roof surrounded by flying buttresses. Inside, there is a lofty space in the nave, illuminated by the stained windows.
St. Vitus is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Prague, and is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. It also contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.
Dancing Building (Czech:Tancici Dum)
You either hate it or you love it,it is also known as the "drunk" house, as it looks like very wasted and ready to fall any minute. The restaurant on top is also perfect for viewing the city skyline.
Vysehad Castle and Cubist building
The castle is built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River. Walk your way towards this clifftop, the castle rock sitting romanticaly on top is bathed with mysticism as with reality.
Inside is a medieval cementery containing the remains of famous Czech artists like composer Antonín Dvořák, writer Karel Čapek, and painter Alphonse Mucha.
Have you been to Prague? What are the places you visited there? Please share your thoughts on Prague in the comments section.
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I also traveled to Prague and other Eastern European cities on my own. Every woman should do it at least once! Old Town certainly has its charms, although the tourist crowd can’t be avoided. I liked walking along the Vltava River. If you haven’t been to Cracow, go and visit it too! 😉
Hi Mari:
Di pa ako nakakapunta ng Europe. My lil sis is based there though so sya nagsulat nito. at sabi ko nga we should go to Poland din one day