From Rome we grabbed a Czech Air flight to Prague. This would be the start of our Viking River Cruise that would take us from Prague to Paris. Viking bills it as the “Cities of Light”. The cruise includes two days in Prague and two days in Paris and you can extend either or both by another two days. We extended both, so four days in Prague and Paris.
There is so much to do and see in Prague. We fell in love. So much to tell and show, I’ll start with the Old Town Square.
The Old Town Square dating from the 13th Century –aka Staromestske Namesti in Czech- is the jewel in Prague’s crowning architectural glory, having been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. It’s a treasure trove for style and design aficionados and a Nirvana for medieval history and architecture buffs.
OLD TOWN SIGHTS include: OLD TOWN HALL, CLOCK TOWER, ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK, CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, TYN CHURCH, JAN HUS MONUMENT in the square’s center.
Charles bridge is one of the most beautiful bridge in Europe if not the most beautiful one. Don’t miss to rub the plaque showing John of Nepomuk martyrdom to get good luck and admire the scenic views. Charles Bridge boasts 32 unique Old statues along its 520-meter span, 9.5 meters wide, 13 meters high, and stands on 15 pillars.
Prague castle is the largest castle complex in the world covering 7 hectares of land It was built in its present state by the great king Charles 4 who lived here with his wife. Now it is the official residence of the President of Czech Republic and there is security check and an entry fee. Guards in highly ornate uniform stands on both sides of the main entrance and we witnessed the change of guards which was somewhat similar to that of Windsor Castle. The main attraction of the castle complex however is the magnificent St Vitova Cathedral and you have to stand in a long queue for entering the cathedral which however is worth waiting for as the interior is simply magnificent..There is metro station near the castle complex.
Waldstein Palace Gardens are located on the grounds of the magnificent Waldstein Palace, this elegant 17th-century garden is designed in the baroque style with classical bronze statues and gurgling fountains.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the Czech beer! Most people think of Pilsner Urquell, however, there’s more to Czech beers than Pilsner Urquell as beer brewing in the country dates back to 10th cent. Beer definitely has to be the republic’s most admired drink as the nation has topped the list of world’s highest per capita lager consumption for 23 successive years. The per capita consumption of beer in Czech Republic in 2016 was a whopping 156.9 liters!
Here are some images from around Prague.
