Interesting Places in Prague
Old Town, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town
You’ll follow the famous Royal Route of the Middle Ages. A number
of Czech kings went by this route when travelling from the Royal Palace
(which stood near the Powder Tower) to Prague Castle. You’ll stop
to see the Old Town City Hall, with its historic Astronomical Clock,
the 13th century Týn Church, a panoramic view from Charles Bridge,
Kampa Island and finally the churches of Lesser Town, such as Our Lady
Victorious, with its miraculous wax statue of the Infant Jesus, or
St. Nicolas, the most beautiful baroque church in our country. The
tour lasts
3 hours, with some walking and by car.
Prague Art Nouveau
Around the turn of 19th century, a very pleasant and decorative style
originated; in English called Art Nouveau and Secese in Czech.
A large number of very remarkable houses, buildings and palaces were
designed
during that period in Prague. The most significant of them is perhaps
the Municipal House, or Paríská Street, within
the enclosed area of the Old Town. But this is just the beginning.
Many other
interesting structures are to be seen during our 4-hour trip. The
tour can be concluded at the Museum of Alfons Mucha, a world-renowned
artist
inseparably connected with this style. The duration of the tour
is 3-4hours.
Baroque Gardens in the Lesser Town
The garden tour is divided into three parts, the first of which
is the garden complex (Lederbur, Kollowrat, Pálffy and Fürstenberk)
on the southern slope of the hill that extends below Prague Castle. Then
you meander through Wallenstein Garden, with its statues of the Classical
deities (copies of statues of Dutch sculptor Adrian de Vries). Finally,
you will enjoy probably the most beautiful garden in Prague, called Vrtba.
All these gardens are now a kind of small museum of Baroque garden architecture,
with its typical "Sala terrena", sculptures and vases.
The tour takes about 3 hours.
Prague by Night
For a really unforgettable experience, you must see our city
illuminated at night. Most of the important structures are
tastefully lighted;
the Prague Castle, Rudolfinum, Old Town Square and Týn
Church, the Municipal House, the National Museum in Wenceslas
Square and many other
locations. The tour takes approximately 3 hours.
Vysehrad Castle Tour
Vyšehrad, situated on the rock outcropping overlooking the Vltava
River, is one of the most memorable places in Czech history.
According to old tales, it was the seat of the Czech Princess Libuse,
who
prophesied the glory of Prague from this spot and of the
first Premyslids. During this three hour tour you can walk around this
noteworthy place,
where the 11th century Romanesque Rotunda of St.Martin is
preserved. The 17th century Baroque Leopold Gate will enchant you, as
well as the
old fortification and 18th century Former Canon's House.
Dominating the Castle is the Neo-Gothic Church of Sts.Peter and Paul.
Certainly worthwhile
seeing is the Vyšehrad Cemetery, where many famous Czech
personalities are buried, such as composers Bedrich Smetana
and Antonin Dvorak,
painters such as Alfons Mucha and writers like Karel Capek.
Both driven and partly walking, it’s a 3-hour tour.
Troja Château
The first Baroque Summer palace in Prague, Trója Château
was built from 1679 to1685, by J.B.Mathey as a summer seat for V.V. Šternberk.
A remarkable supplement to its architecture is the grand outdoor staircase,
with a group of statues representing the victory of Olympian gods over
the Titans. The interiors of the Château are adorned
with wall paintings by F. and G. Marchetti. Since its general
reconstruction and
modernization from 1977 to 1988, exhibition halls of Prague
Municipal Gallery (including a permanent exhibition of
19th century Czech painting)
have been installed there. The tour takes three hours.
National Gallery Tour
The collections of National Gallery are found at at least
six locations, scattered through Prague; Šternberk Palace near Prague Castle houses
the Collections of European Art from Antique to the end of Baroque (El
Greco, Goya, Rubens, Rembrandt); the St. George Convent in Prague Castle
holds the art of mannerism and baroque in Bohemia; the 13th century St.
Agnes Convent displays collections of medieval art in Bohemia and Central
Europe and the Veletrní (Fair) Palace hosts
the collections of art from the 19th and 20th century.
The tour lasts at least three
hours.
Following Famous Composers Tour
You can choose any two of the three museums of world
famous composers. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent time
in Prague
during five periods
in the 1780s and had great success with his Don Giovanni.
The film Amadeus
was
shot in Prague. Bertramka Villa, where he stayed in
1787, houses his museum today. Bedrich Smetana is well known
for his symphonic
poem
named after the Vltava River and his Bartered Bride
Opera. Just near the Charles
Bridge and above the river is his museum. Finally another
genius of Czech classical music, Antonín Dvorák, composer of the New World
Symphony and Rusálka (Water Nymph) Opera. His Museum is located
in the 18th century Villa America. Duration of this music lover’s
tour is 3 hours.
Mozart in Prague Tour
During a three hour trip, you’ll visit the places in Prague connected
with this famous composer; his museum at Bertramka Villa, the place he
wrote Don Giovanni, as well as many other locations; the Estates Theatre,
the Church of the Assumption of our Lady or St. Nicolas Church in Malá Strana.
During Mozart’s first visit he spent two and half months in Prague,
to return again and again to compose away from the pressures of Vienna.
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