Czech Republic

Prague

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It is very hard to imagine Prague without Franz Kafka: the plot lines of his works are closely connected with this town. Kafka was born in Prague and lived here all his life: all the chronology of his life is presented in details in this museum. Franz Kafka Museum will be interesting and useful for not only the admirers of his talent, but also for everyone who would like to know about separate, private life and fate in mystical Prague.

Franz Kafka Muzeum

Barrandov is a vast south faubourg of Prague which became the part of the city only in 1930s. Here you can find a famous film studio - “Barrandov studio” - where many Hollywood movies were shot – Mission Impossible in 1996, Casino Royale in 2006, The Chronicles of Narnia in 2005 and 2006. Barrandov Terraces (Czech: Barrandovské terasy), also situated in that area, are numerous buildings in art deco style, designed by Max Urban as homage to Hollywood of 1920s. The area is sapid and is worth visiting at least once.

BARRANDOV

One of the oldest coffee houses in Prague is open from 8 am and welcomes all early birds for breakfast. Occupy the table at the big window with a view on the Vltava embankment and the National Theatre, order a cup of strong coffee and spend your time reading a book or visitors watching. The guests of “Slavia” are quite various – tourists, who have this place as a must visit of their Czech capital trip, because cult writers and actors of the previous century used to meet there; nearby theatre goers; creative young; and romantic couples. In the evenings you can listen to the live piano music while the pianist’s family will be having dinner at the next to yours table.

CAFÉ SLAVIA

It is a tradition to make wishes at the Charles Bridge. It is the most beautiful bridge in Prague and is a walking area in any season and any time of day and night. You have to cross the Charles Bridge to start the visit to Mala Strana – wonderful and picturesque part of the town. On the way from one bank of the Vltava river to the other one you can buy souvenirs for yourself, relatives and friends, as well as make several photos of amazing views of Prague.

KARLUV MOST

In a small town of Sedlec, not far from Prague, the most scary and strange place of visit is situated - The Sedlec Ossuary (Czech: Kostnice v Sedlci). It is not an ordinary church, it is a medieval ossuary. 200 years ago, when there was no space left for new burials on the nearby cemetery, human bones were raked out of the ground and brought to this church. Here they were stored in heaps until Prince Schwarzenberg ordered his carpenter to make something out of them. The altars, chandeliers, decorative garlands - all these ornaments are made of human bones and skulls. Bones of 40 thousand of people were used to decorate the church. Worth mentioning is the fact that for decorating the giant chandelier all the bones that exist in human body were used. Special attention should also be given to the family coat of arms, which is laid out of

KOSTNICE

It is worth watching the town from above: the view on the heart of historic Prague – Old Town Square (Staromestska square) and tile roofs of ancient blocks is really astonishing. Being back on the ground, have a look at the gothic tower of the Town Hall and Astronomical Clock – one of the main local places of interest.

U PRINCE Hotel Terrace

«A Boscolo» is a net of luxurious hotels, that started its history in Venice in 1970s and specializes on VIP service. Monumental building of its hotel in Prague is inspired by the history of the town and its mystical color. Here you will see high ceilings with paintings, spacious rooms, solid windows and doors – everything you can expect from the building that breathes with the history and the past.

A Boscolo Prague

Prague is a wonderful city and you will hardly find there any street with no magic having happened on it. In one place a buried treasure was once found, in another everybody still remembers the sorcerer who used to live there, in another you can still meet the Hairy Ghost. On the Square the most curious travelers can book an excursion which will be conducted by a person dressed in skeleton or any other evil spirit costume and who will share all the town secrets. This is not a bad idea at all if you would like to feel the mystical atmosphere of Prague. Keeping in mind all that scary stories, don’t forget the main one – legend about Golem. 300 years ago, the chief rabbi in Prague (and a practitioner of black magic as well) Judah Loew ben Bezalel brought to life a clay figure. At first the creature helped its master about the house, but soon the rabbi started using Golem for his discreditable practice. It is considered that Golem is still alive and dwells at Old New Synagogue (Staronova synagoga): the Prague Jewish community covered this story with mystery not letting anybody access the attic of the synagogue, and even having dismantled the ladder to the attic several decades ago.

The Old Town Square

This is the most fairy street in Prague. To enter the street during the day time, you will have to buy tickets (the price is around 50 crones), but in the evening, starting from 5 pm, the entrance is free of charge. The Golden Lane is famous for goldsmiths living there. In the old times they all were considered to be alchemists who can make gold out of any metal. This is where the etymology of the street name has its roots. People used to think that to know the secret and become an alchemist you had to make a deal with devil. All the houses here seem to be toy ones and you have a feeling that not people live on this street but some fantastic creatures.

Golden Lane (Zlata Ulicka)

Natalia Fuchs chose the intellectuals’ favorite cinema hall, coffee house with piano, Alfons Mucha’s museum and two other places that one can’t miss being in the capital city of Czech Republic.

Plans for the day: Prague

The ideal route to fall in love with the cozy city with narrow streets and amazing viewpoints.

The first day in Prague: walk along historical places

Street wear, Czech designers, branch of the English bookstore – Czech capital city can offer something more significant than souvenirs.

New shops of the old Prague

From the traditionally visited by everyone Kafka’s Museum to the most progressive art space in the city.

Prague

Routes

Places of Prague