Prague - Growing in Popularity as a Tourist Destination
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Major Attractions
With more than fifty major attractions the city is a sightseer’s delight. The city with its concentration of baroque and art nouveau buildings gives a tourist much to see, explore and revel in.
Prague Castle, Hradcany
The oldest medieval castle in the world is a must see for any tourists It rises above the city and affords beautiful views of the city. It has within its folds the St. Vitus Cathedral, the Castle Picture Gallery, Palaces and the Royal Garden. Like the changing of the guards at London’s Buckingham Palace one can see the changing of the Guards every hour at this castle too.
Charles Bridge
This is one of the several bridges over the Vtlava River. It dates back to the fourteenth century and is a center of much activity during the day.
Old Town and Astronomical Clock (Staré Mesto)
The old town is the historic center of the city and crowds gather to watch the glockenspiel spectacle that occurs on the hour from 8am to 8pm. One is unable to set one’s watch by the astronomical clock which was built in 1410. The clock is meant to mark phases of the moon, the equinoxes, the seasons etc. Here at the Old Town is also the Estates Theater where Mozart’s Don Giovanni was first preformed. The Old Town has many historic churches as well such as St James Church and Church of our Lady before Term.
National Theater, Národni triad 2
Exponent of the Italian Renaissance style the gold domed national theater is one of Prague’s prominent landmarks. It was built in 1881 and it overlooks the Vltava River. It was built to encourage the Czech Revival Movement. It doesn’t have a daily tour but tickets are available for performances.
Old-New Jewish Synagogue, Cervená
It is the oldest Jewish house of worship in Europe. It was built in 1270 and it is an exponent of the Gothic style. It is not a part of the Jewish museum and one can visit the synagogue separately.
Old Jewish Cemetery
Located one block away from the Old-New Jewish Synagogue is the Old Jewish Cemetery. It dates back to the mid – 15 century and is one of the oldest Jewish burial grounds. The local government didn’t allow the Jews to bury their dead elsewhere so the graves here were dug so as to hold 12 bodies vertically. It has almost 20,000 graves including the graves of prominent Jews such as Rabbi Loew who created the legend of Golem to protect the Jews of Prague.
Franz Kafka Museum, Hergetova Cihelna
This is a museum with a new exhibit devoted to the celebrated author Franz Kafka. This exhibit contains first editions, manuscripts and diaries of the author.
Prague Rooftops
The New Jewish Cemetery, Israelská
This ivy covered cemetery is not as famous as the Old Jewish Cemetery. Though it does contain the mortal remains of the celebrated author Franz Kafka. To visit the cemetery one has to hire a yarmulke (skull cap) from the man at the entrance.
Petrin Hill, Old Town
Petrin Hill is a romantic spot in the Old town popular since the days of Casanova it overlooks the roofs of the old town.
New Town( Nové Mesto)
This is the extension of the Old Town and was built in the 14th century. Wenceslas Square is the major attraction here with its shops and restaurants. The National Museum located here looks like a government building and contains exhibits depicting scenes from ancient Czech history. There are zoological and pale ontological displays as well including a model of a mammoth in one of the other exhibits of the museum.
The Lesser Town ( Malá strana)
The lesser town is located across the Vlatava River and consists of beautiful buildings including the renowned church of St Nicholas .It is a baroque church with a magnificent interior adorned with gold and marble and giant statue of St Nicholas at the alter.
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