Prague, Czech Republic

Day 6: Prague, Czech Republic | Travel by Train
Historic Centre of Prague is on the Unesco World Heritage List.

We departed by express train early this morning for the 4 hour ride to Prague. Police squads came on board the train at the Hungary/Czech border to inspect for Syrian refugees. They have closed their borders to the refugees due to concerns about infiltration by terrorists and lack of resources for supporting them.

Vladimir, our local guide, met us at the train station upon our arrival. Definitely a LOT more crowded here than Budapest or Vienna. We checked into our hotel, the Four Seasons, which is near the Vltava River just yards from the Charles Bridge. Great location to Old Town.

We settled our luggage and then went on a walking tour of the Old Town Square. Huge crowds of tourists in this area….makes taking scenic photos a challenge. We enjoyed lovely views of the Vltava River as we walked through the dense crowds across the Charles Bridge. Due to the weather and crowds on the bridge, photography was almost impossible which is such a shame as the statues of saints located all along the bridge are incredible. At the end of the Bridge we crossed down onto a tiny road hugging along the riverfront. We imbibed in a few drinks at Kampa Park Restaurant (Hergetova Cihelna). Jim decided to partake of the local version of B52 shots–Kahlua, Baileys and Absinthe. Yuk! He even got poor Joe to do an Absinthe shot. There’s a good reason why this stuff is banned in the US….it’s deadly and tastes terrible! Poor Joe could barely feel his legs as we walked back to the hotel to change for dinner. Outside the restaurant stands the most unique monument….the ******* Fountains! Had to take a video of that one!

For dinner our group enjoyed a 3 course meal at Bellevue restaurant. Lovely restaurant and absolutely delicious meal. We enjoyed the majestic night view of Prague Castle across the river as we walked back to the hotel.

I’m missing the Hotel Sacher Wien tonight…..no chocolates, Sacher Torte, slippers my the bed….. 😦 Oh poor me!

Czech Currency is the Koruna (CZK), conversion $1 USD=23.87 CZK
Four Seasons Hotel Prague | Meals: B L D

CHARLES BRIDGE, PRAGUE
The Charles Bridge is famous for the many statues of saints that embellish the bridge along its length. There is a large statue of John the Baptiste about midway across the bridge.
For centuries, this bridge was the only link between Lesser Town on the left bank of the Vltava river and Old Town on the opposite side. From the bridge you have amazing views over Prague’s many medieval towers, churches and palaces. The view towards Lesser Town, dominated by the Prague castle complex, is particularly picturesque.
Due to its prominent position, the Charles Bridge has played an important part in Prague’s history. In 1648, at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, the invading Swedes were halted on this bridge and in 1744 the Prussians were defeated here. The bridge is quite overrun now with tourists and souvenir vendors.

OLD TOWN SQUARE
Despite a number of foreign invaders, Prague’s Old Town Square has remained virtually untouched since the 10th century. It started life as a market place at the crossing of European merchants´ roads where various goods from faraway countries were sold. It is the oldest and most important square of the historical Prague. Coronation parades used to go through the Old Town Square to the Prague Castle since 1311. Tragic events, such as executions, took place there as well. Leader of poor Prague citizens Jan Zelivsky was executed there in 1422, which caused stormy protests. One of the turning-points of Czech history, the execution of 27 leaders of the rebellion against Emperor Matthias, took place there in 1621. You can see 27 crosses in the pavement by the Old Town City Hall, as well as symbols of swords and a thorn crown, commemorating the sad event. A legend says, that the ghosts of the executed noblemen return to the square every year on 21 st of June, the day of the execution.

Today’s marauders consist largely of tourists who congregate to eat while admiring a hodgepodge of architecture — including the Rococo Kinsky Palace, the Gothic Tyn Cathedral and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church, to name a few. An ever-changing cast of musicians, protesters, dance troupes, punks and vendors make the square as colorful as the buildings that surround it. The square and surrounding streets are pedestrian zones now. The whole square is bordered by a large number of colorful houses, palaces and churches. Some of the most prominent buildings around the square are the Old Town City Hall (famous for its astronomical clock), the Týn Church, the Kinský Palace and the imposing St. Nicholas Church.
Jan Hus monument
At the centre of the Old Town Square is the Jan Hus statue, erected on the 6th July 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer’s death. The Protestant reformer Was burnt as a heretic in 1415.
Old Town Hall
The most famous building on the Old Town Square is the fourteenth-century Old Town Hall. Its Gothic tower, built in 1364, is one of the most recognizable buildings in Prague. The tower is famous for its magnificent astronomical clock, built in 1410. It is the oldest such clock in Europe. Every hour you can view the procession of miniature figures.
St. Nicholas Church
To the north the square is bordered by the eighteenth-century St. Nicholas Church. It is one of the most beautiful of all Baroque churches in Prague, and its interior is especially impressive.
Týn Church
The Týn Church is probably the most recognizable church in Prague thanks to its many spires. Construction of the Gothic church started in the fourteenth century, but the spires were only finished in 1511. In front of the church is the historic Týn School, an arcaded Gothic building that gives access to the church.
Kinský Palace
To the left of the House at the Stone Clock is the Goltz-Kinský Palace, a beautiful building with a delicate Rococo facade. Originally built by the Goltz family, the building was later purchased by Kinský, a diplomat of the emperor. In February 1948 Klement Gottwald, the communist leader, held a speech from the balcony of this palace which would eventually lead to the proclamation of a communist state.
South Side of Old Town Square
The south side of the square is composed of a series of beautiful buildings with colorful Renaissance and Baroque facades. Some of the most notable buildings include the Štorch House, a Renaissance building with a painting of St. Wenceslas and ‘At the Stone Table’, a nice example of Baroque architecture.
Other buildings bear names such as ‘At the Golden Unicorn’, ‘At the Stone Ram’, ‘At the Red Fox’ and ‘At the Blue Star’. The names of the buildings were often derived from signs or plaques. The house ‘At the Stone Ram’ for instance is named after a stone relief on the facade that depicts a young virgin with a ram. These names had a practical purpose: in the past houses were not numbered so they were identified by their name.