ABC for tourists

Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle which towers high above the city. It is a specimen of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava river and consists of 6 parts - formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century. They are as followed: Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town - today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad. Naturally, most of the historical monuments, museums and galleries are concentrated right there.

Prague Castle, river Vltava and Charles Bridge (Prazsky hrad, Vltava, Karluv most):

Places of the Prague Castle accessible to the public:
The Royal Palace (Vladislav Hall, Old Parliament, equestrian statues, Czech and Court Chancellery, Theresian Wing)
St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedral with its St Wenceslas Chapel and the tomb of Czech Kings
St George Basilica, St George Monastery
Prague Castle Gallery
Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower
Powder Tower called Mihulka
Lobkovic Palace
Queen Anna´s Summerhouse
Royal Garden with Ball Games House
Prague Castle Riding Hall
Prague Castle Gardens

Don’t forget to visit monuments run by the Prague Information Service:
Lesser Town Bridge Towers, Old Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Hall and Tower,  Tower of the St Nicolas' Church, Powder Tower, Petrin View Tower,  the Maze and the Ctenice Castle. They are ancient, unique monuments, mainly towers and from their galleries you get the best view and hence the best photographs of the city. The Prague Information Service guides are ready to give you a lot of interesting information.

Charles Bridge
The oldest Prague bridge was founded by Charles IV in the year 1357. Both ends of the bridge are fortified by towers. From 1683 to 1928 thirty sculptures and sculptural groups of the saints were gradually set on the bridge piers (M. Braun, F. M. Brokof, etc.) The bridge is 515 meters long and 10 meters wide.

Lesser Town Bridge Towers on the Charles Bridge. The smaller, Romanesque one dates back to the 12th century, the taller, Gothic one is 200 years younger. From its gallery you get a beautiful view over another historical part of Prague - the Lesser Town. Inside the tower you can find the exhibition concerning the building of the Charles Bridge. The tower also holds the office of the Prague Information Service.

On the other side of the Charles Bridge you will find the Old Town Bridge Tower - the most beautiful Gothic tower in Central Europe, built in 1357 together with the Charles Bridge as the fortification tower as well as the arch of triumph at the Coronation Path of Czech kings. The rich sculpture decoration at the East facade of the tower corresponds with its aims. Inside the tower there are precious exhibits from the Prague Metropolitan Museum collection called the Music of Tower Galleries.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

Prague Jewish Town - Prague Ghetto (Zidovske mesto)
It dates back to the 13th century but its present appearance is mainly the result of a vast redevelopment action undertaken between 1893 - 1913. Only a few most significant buildings were saved, the living testimony of the history of Prague Jews which lasted for many centuries. Yet these buildings form the best present complex of Jewish historical monuments in the whole Europe.Six synagogues remain from this old settlement which includes the Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery - the most remarkable in Europe.

The Old Town Square
The most significant square of historical Prague. It originated in the 12th century and since then witnessed many events. Beside the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Tyn the square has several other dominants, the baroque St. Nicholas church, the Stone Bell house - a gothic city palace from the 14th century, and the Memorial to Master Jan Hus. The very place where the 27 Czech gentlemen were executed on 21 June, 1621, is marked in the square pavement. The Prague merdidian can be seen not far from there.

The Old Town Hall - since the 14th century the seat of the Old Town administration. The oldest part of the building with historical halls, a tower, a bay chapel and a rich coat-of-arms decoration dates back to the Gothic period.
The tower bears a unique astronomical clock from 1410 which shows the statues of 12 apostles at every hour between 9 a. m. and 9 p. m.. Other figures of the Vain Person, the Miser, the Death and the Turk move too. There is a Tourist Center and the Center of Foreign Language Guides in the building, run by Prague Information Service . Access for the disabled.

The monumental, richly decorated Gothic Powder Tower dating back to the 15th century was built as a part of the city fortification. Coronation processions of Czech kings were passing through the gate heading towards the Prague Castle. Later on the tower was turned into a warehouse of gunpowder. Visitors may admire an interesting exhibition of the Prague Towers concerning the origins and purpose of the towers.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

St Nicolas' Church (Chram Sv. Mikulase) on Malostranske namesti
This church, built in the period 1704-55, is the most significant historical structure of the so-called Prague Baroque.
The slim tower of the St Nicolas' Church offers, besides a beautiful view over the Lesser Town, a permanent exhibition called the Music of Prague Choirs commemorating an important musical tradition of the city and its churches.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

The Petrin Maze, originally a pavilion of the Czech Tourist Club at the 1891 Universal Exhibition, transferred later to the Petrin Hill and turned into a mirror maze, is a favorite spot of all children. Access for the disabled.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

The Petrin Tower is a 60m iron tower built for the 1891 Universal Exhibition as a smaller version of the Paris Eiffel Tower. There are 299 steps leading to the top. Remarkable view from this unique Look-out tower. Access for the disabled.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

Church of Our Lady of Victory - the Prague Bambino
An early baroque building from the year 1611, 1634 - 1669 rebuilt by the Carmelite Order. The church is world-famous thanks to the Prague Bambino - Infant Jesus wax figure (of the Spanish origin), which was presented to the church by Polyxena of Lobkowicz (1628).

Loreta
A Marian pilgrimage place with a copy of the Italian Santa Casa including also the baroque Church of the Nativity of Our Lord.  The ground is encircled by a cloister and chapels. The spire houses a carillon which consist of 27 Loreta bells which tune a Marian song We Greet You a Thousand Times (every hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). The most valuable item of the liturgical treasury is the so-called Loreta Treasure.

Vysehrad
Ancient legends situate the original seat of the Czech princes - the legendary Princess Libuse and the first Przemyslides - on the hill. Among noteworthy sight there are the precious romanesque rotunda of St. Martin, the gothic church of St. Peter and Paul, the Vysehrad cemetery used as a burial site of the Czech outstanding personalilties.

The Ctenice Castle is a unique monument in the belt of Gothic forts around Prague. First museum of carriages was open here holding a permanent exhibition of ancient equipages, flies, stage-coaches and other historical carriages.
(run by the Prague Information Service)

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