The Czech Republic is a beautiful and landlocked country in central Europe. It was Czechoslovakia earlier when Czechs and neighboring Slovaks joined together in 1918 formed the independent republic. In World War II the Germans occupied Czechoslovakia, then after World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful revolution and became two separate sovereign states, Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 1999 the Czech Republic became a member of the NATO and in 2004 a member of the European Union.
Prague, the Capital city is one of the most beautiful places right in the heart of Europe. The Historic Centre of the city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1992, for it has preserved heritage dating back to the medieval era and beyond. The most famous tourists attractions in and around Prague, the antiquated city start with the Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Royal Palace, Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock and many more major attractions.
The major places I visited are :-
Prague Castle
Originally built as a walled fortress around AD 870, the castle has changed dramatically over the years and contains examples of most of the leading architectural styles of the last millennium.
Prague Castle is built in the 9th century. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, occupying an area of almost 70,000 square metres, at about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres wide. The castle is among the most visited tourist attractions in Prague attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually. Today the Castle is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge
One of the most recognizable old bridges in Europe, magnificent Charles Bridge is a historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge but has been “Charles Bridge” since 1870. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava until 1841, Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town and adjacent areas. This “solid-land” connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. The bridge is 516 metres long and nearly 10 metres wide, following the example of the Stone Bridge in Regensburg, it was built as a bow bridge with 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two on the Lesser Quarter side and one on the Old Town side, the Old Town Bridge Tower. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style.It’s spectacular views over the River Vltava and the structure’s superb Gothic gates and viewing Charles Bridge at night is stunning and amazingly wonderful.
The Old Town Hall/Square and the Astronomical Clock
The most significant square of historical Prague, it was founded in the 12th century and has been witness to many historical events. The Old Town Hall was established in 1338 as the seat of the Old Town administration.The oldest part of the complex consists of a beautiful Gothic tower with a bay chapel and a unique astronomicalclock – known as the Orloj – When the clock strikes each hour (from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.), the procession of the Twelve Apostles sets in motion. The Prague Astronomical Clock was first installed in 1410. This makes it the world’s third-oldest astronomical clock and the oldest still in operation today, 610 years!
St. Vitus Cathedral
Situated within the grounds of Prague Castle, the Roman Catholic St. Vitus Cathedral is the Czech Republic’s largest and most important Christian church. Seat of the Archbishop of Prague, it’s also home to the tombs of numerous saints and three Bohemian kings. Founded on the site of a Romanesque rotunda built in AD 925, the cathedral was started in 1344 and took more than 525 years to complete, resulting in a mix of modern Neo-Gothic and 14th-century Gothic styles, along with Baroque and Renaissance influences.
The Church of Our Lady before Tyn
One of Prague’s most recognizable buildings is the Church of Our Lady before Tyn often abbreviated to simply Tyn Church. Unmistakable for its twin 80-meter-tall spires flanking each side of the building (each supporting four smaller spires), its main entrance is through a narrow passage past the houses obscuring its façade. Although completed in the 15th century, the church was altered numerous times through the centuries as the city’s allegiances changed, and while interior renovations are ongoing, there’s still much worth seeing, including numerous fine tombs, the superb Gothic northern portal with its Crucifixion sculpture, early Baroque altarpiece paintings dating from 1649, and one of Europe’s finest 17th-century pipe organs.
The Municipal House
The Prague Municipal House (Obecní dum) is widely considered one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in the city. Built in 1912, this splendid civic building is also home to one of Prague’s most important and largest concert venues, Smetana Hall, from its sumptuous facade with a large mural on the arch above the second floor balcony, to the large dome that rests behind and above the arch.
St. Nicholas Church
On picturesque Little Quarter Square in the Old Town area stands St. Nicholas Church one of Prague’s newer churches. Built by Jesuits in the 18th century, it’s a fine example of High Baroque and is notable for its splendid interior with its unique 19th-century chandelier, as well as the large Baroque paintings by Czech artist Karel Skreta that adorn the huge cupola. Of particular note are the church’s two historic organs, the oldest of which was built in 1745.
