Prague has always attracted millions of tourists, who went there to feel the peculiar atmosphere of beauty and harmony. The tour of the streets of old Prague, as well as a party at some Czech pub, could give you a kind of mental satisfaction.
The main sights are quite compactly located on both sides of Vltava. Old Town Square is on one side of the river. It features the most beautiful architectural ensemble of cathedrals and towers with characteristic awkward roofs.
The Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tynska Church) dominates the square. The temple had acquired its today appearance after the last reconstruction in 1350. In front of the church there are buildings of late Middle Ages.
Opposite Tynska Church there located the Old Town Hall with the famous Astronomical Clock, sometimes called Prague Orloj, dating back to 1410. Hourly, tens of tourists wait for the puppet show starting when the clock begins to chime. You may climb the tower of Old Town Hall to see a wonderful panorama of old Prague.
A number of medieval alleys branch off from Old Town Square. You should wander along them. If you turn near the Prague Orloj (astronomical clock), you will go out to the famous Vaclav Square. The beautiful building of the National Museum of Prague is on the opposite side of the square.
If you go from Old Town Square towards the river, you may go out to the Charles or Karlov Bridge, which can be rightly considered one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe. The bridge itself and views of Prague on both sides of the river are very picturesque. There installed sculptures of saints all along the bridge. There are always a lot of artists and tourists on the bridge.
On the opposite side of the river Vltava, just beyond the bridge, you can walk around small towers, as well as the Church of St. Jacob. There is also an islet Kampa, also known as Certovka (Devil), formed by the arm of Vltava where there survived some old houses and a medieval mill. On the nearby embankment there are a lot of Czech restaurants where you can drink good Czech beer, as well as taste most of original dishes of Czech cuisine, for example, pork knee (koleno).
Then the road goes uphill to the Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad) – the main citadel of Prague now turned into the public residence of the President of Czech Republic. The entrance is under the arch of the Presidential Palace.
St. Vitus Cathedral is just beyond the arch. It is the biggest church in Czech Republic where there have been preserved ancient stained glass windows. The cathedral was laid down in 1344 and finished only 600 years later in XX century. In Middle Ages there was the cruelest prison in Daliborka Tower. Today it is the museum of tortures.
If you go a bit beyond the cathedral and turn to the right, you`ll see one of the most famous sights of Prague – the Golden Lane. It is built with small picturesque houses. It seems that they were inhabited by dwarves. However, there lived no dwarves but alchemists who wanted to discover the mystery of philosopher`s stone, which allegedly turned all metals into gold with the help of mercury and sulphur. At Number 22 Franz Kafka lived for several years. After 18, as well as on week-ends, you may walk along the lane for free. Alias, you`ll have to pay for it.
Apart from these main tourist attractions of Prague, you may go to the Belvedere Hotel, Jewish Quarter, Strahov Cloister, or Vysehrad and many other sights of Prague – one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
You should reserve a day for Karlstejn, a beautiful imperial castle located 30 km to the south-east of Prague. It was built in 1348 as the summer residence of Emperor Charles IV. During Hussite wars in XIV century there stored the treasures of Czech kings brought out from Prague.
