Golden Prague: Czech cocktail for Russian blues. Golden Lane Video about Golden Lane in Prague
In the very center of Prague Castle there is a picturesque street called Zlata Ulitschka (Czech. Zlatá ulička). Along the cobblestone street there are small multi-colored “gingerbread” houses built into the arches of the former fortress wall.
According to legend, Zlata Street got its name because jewelers, alchemists and gold minters settled on it in the Middle Ages. The archers of Prague Castle also lived here.
Golden Street appeared at the end of the 16th century, and until the Second World War people lived here. Archaeologists found out that before the street was even narrower - the houses stood in two rows, and the distance between them was about a meter. Nowadays, the dwarf houses house museums of everyday life and crafts, where ancient interiors and furnishings have been recreated. Several houses have been turned into shops for traditional Czech souvenirs.
What kind of houses are there on Golden Street?
At the very beginning there is the entrance to the museum of knightly armor. The gallery stretches along the top along all the houses. All kinds of armor, helmets, chain mail, swords and battle axes, coats of arms, as well as dresses are exhibited here. Each product belongs to one of the regions of the Czech Republic and has distinctive features. In a separate room, various torture devices are displayed.
House No. 27 is the home of a healer. Here are hung medicinal herbs and jars of ointments and potions are placed. The exhibition is fenced off with glass, but it does not interfere with the feeling of this special smell.
The next house belonged to a seamstress: there are fabrics, sewing supplies, and mannequins everywhere. In house number 25 there is an exhibition of photographs about the life of the street in the middle of the last century.
Mrs. Magdalena lived in the neighboring house, and she was the first to suggest painting the houses in bright colors, which turned the street into a tourist attraction. The everyday environment has been recreated here.
After that comes a small " shopping row" First the bookstore. It is natural that it is located in the house where the famous writer lived; read about this below. Next to the bookstore there is a natural cosmetics store of the famous Czech chain Manufaktura. Next are several shops selling traditional Czech souvenirs.
House No. 16 is an old tavern with a rough wooden table, long benches, barrels and bottles, earthenware and pewter. The next house is finally here! - an old jeweler's workshop.
House No. 14 belonged to the famous seer Matilda Pruszova, also known as Madame de Phebe, who lived here during the Second World War. According to legend, her gift of clairvoyance opened after the news of the death of her son in the First World War. People came to her from everywhere for a prediction, and her life ended tragically. She predicted the fall of the Third Reich, the death of Hitler and the end of the war, for which she was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo.
The next house belongs to the Prague archer: uniforms, armor, and weapons are displayed here.
The street ends with house number 12, where the historian-enthusiast Josef Kadza lived. During World War II, he hid thousands of tapes of American and Czechoslovak films and rescued them. There are vintage movie star posters everywhere, stacks of film boxes, and you can watch a movie right in your room.
Which writer lived on Golden Street in Prague
The writer worked in house number 22 from 1916 to 1917 Franz Kafka. The house was rented by his younger sister Ottla, who allowed her brother to create in her home. Here Kafka wrote most of the stories from the collection “The Country Doctor”.
This is reported by the laconic Memorial plaque: inscription in Czech “Franz Kafka lived here.” Now the house houses a bookstore.
Ticket price for Golden Street
Golden Lane is one of the landmarks of Prague Castle. Although you can walk around the old town of Prague for free, you still need a ticket to visit the monuments. For Golden Lane, a general ticket for District A applies:
- The price of a regular ticket is 350 CZK.
- Preferential - 175 CZK: children from 6 to 16 years old, students up to 26 years old, people over 65 years old.
- Family ticket to District A - 700 CZK: 1-5 children under 16 years old and no more than two adults.
Golden Lane is also part of District B:
- Regular ticket - 250 CZK.
- Discount ticket - 125 CZK.
- Family - 500 CZK.
After 17:00 in the evening, most houses close, but you can visit the Museum of Knight's Armor for free or just wander along the street and look into the souvenir shops.
Panorama of Golden Lane on Google
How to get to Golden Street
The simplest and affordable way— take the metro to the Malostranská station on the green line (line A), from there walk to the Golden Street, the walk will take 10-15 minutes.
You can also take tram number 22 to the stops “Pražský hrad”, “Královský letohrádek”, “Pohořelec” - from each of them it takes 5-10 minutes to walk to Golden Street.
You can also catch a regular taxi or call it through the Uber app and similar ones and simply ask the driver to take you to Zlata Ulitsa.
Video about Golden Lane in Prague
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is one of the most interesting cities in the world to visit. Prague has many historical attractions - Gothic castles, palaces, temples, cathedrals, squares, interesting and unique museums, and extraordinary modern wonders, such as the Dancing House or Singing Fountains. This city really is gold among the cities of our planet, and maybe that is why the inhabitants of the Czech Republic themselves often call it “Zlata Prague,” which can be understood without translation into Russian.
First of all, it is worth visiting Prague Castle. It is here that the magnificent and impressive St. Vitus Cathedral with graceful towers is located, which was built over almost five hundred years and is an amazing combination of three styles: Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance. Also here are the St. George's Monastery, the Strahov Monastery, the Old Royal Palace, the Royal Garden and the famous Prague Golden Street. Also located in Prague Castle National Gallery, Art Gallery Prague Castle, Exhibition “History of Prague Castle”. It is in Prague Castle that kings and queens have long lived here, and now the residence of the president is located here Czech Republic. By the way, Prague Castle is the most visited place among tourists. At the same time, entrance to Prague Castle is free, and only some places of visit will require you to pay.
In Prague, you should definitely visit the famous Charles Bridge, which has been the hallmark of the city for many years. This big bridge(more than half a kilometer long and ten meters wide) is interesting in itself and there are also three dozen statues and sculptures on this bridge (and each sculpture has its own history and legend, like the Charles Bridge itself).
The Old Town Square is also interesting in Prague, where there are very famous and significant architectural monuments: the Old Town Hall with its chimes (which, in addition to the time, will also show the position of the sun, moon and constellations), where there is an observation deck where you can climb, Tyn Church, Golc Palace -Kinsky. Here, by the way, it’s worth seeing the unique Museum of Czech Glass “Mozer”.
It is also worth visiting Wenceslas Square, where the monument to St. Wenceslas and the interesting Czech National Museum are located, as well as shops, souvenir shops, and hotels. The House of Faust and the fantastic Dancing House are also located here, which are also worth paying attention to (especially the latter). Many Prague festive events are now held on Wenceslas Square itself.
Of the museums in Prague (except for those already mentioned above), it is worth visiting the Prague City Museum, the Museum of Czech Music, the Museum of Czech Literature, the People's Technical Museum and other museums in the city.
Also in Prague, you can admire Troy Castle, Vrtbova Palace, Wallenstein Palace, the Church of the Sacred Heart in Vinohrady, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Prague Old Jewish Cemetery (some of the tombstones of which have been standing since the fifteenth century). And to look at Prague from a bird's eye view, you can go to Petrin Hill, where the Petrin Tower is located (a copy of the Parisian Eiffel Tower), with observation deck which is opened beautiful view to Prague.
And for those who are tired of antiquity and historical monuments, you can go to the famous Prague Zoo and watch the unusual Singing Fountains show - a kaleidoscope of water, light and stage performances.
Golden Prague – beautiful and interesting city, rich in architectural monuments and ancient Gothic buildings, museums and galleries, cobbled squares, winding streets and other attractions. Impressions from visiting this amazing city will be remembered for a long time.
The appearance of the small street was caused by massive development of the Prague Castle area. Its first name was “Jewelers Street”, in connection with the work and residence of coin masters here.
The year 1597 was marked in the history of the street by the fact that King Rudolf II, by his order, allowed the use of premises in the arches of the Vladislav fortress wall to the guards of Prague Castle, who became the first owners of houses on Golden Lane. Twenty-four guards guarded the gates and guarded criminals. Here they began to build their homes, living in them with their families. Due to the small size of the arches, the houses built in them were not large and wide. At that time, they were located on both sides of the street with a distance not exceeding one meter.
Soon the need for guards began to dry up, turning the street into a place of work for artisans and a stronghold for the poor caste of the population. The jewelry makers who settled in the houses occupied a convenient position - given their occupation, housing on the territory under guard was very profitable. Golden Street began to be called at a time when the only market for jewelry goods was Prague Castle.
Despite the sonorous name of the street, the buildings located on it were poor and did not have any amenities. Only one bathroom was suitable for the residents, and they went to collect water from the nearest source - a fountain. Water supply was installed here only at the end of the nineteenth century.
The living quarters of the jewelers were also not very well equipped. As a result of jewelry activity, the room became hot and stuffy. To determine the level of harmful fumes, birds whose condition showed the onset of a critical limit were kept in workshops.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the number of tourists in Prague began to increase wanting to visit this extraordinary street, which was already known at that time for many legends. The owners of the houses on Zlataya Street at that time already lived in apartments in the city, but from time to time they visited their houses, maintaining their colorful condition. By allowing tourists into their property, the owners charged them an inspection fee.
Description of Golden Street
On this moment The street contains 16 buildings, 9 of which house museum exhibitions dedicated to the former residents. The rest are souvenir shops. Golden Lane itself is one extravagant museum. In 1953, all buildings were purchased by the Office of the President, ensuring the flow of funds from tourist visits to the state budget.
Local Attractions
- House 22. At the beginning of the 20th century, the philosopher Franz Kafka lived here, while working on his work “The Village Doctor”. It should be noted that the owners of the houses often offered their property for rent to writers and creative people who believed in the predisposition of this place to the coming of the Muse. Today this building houses a bookstore. The sixth house on this street was the abode of the poet J. Seifert.
- Alchemical laboratory in the White Tower. House 14 was the property of Madame de Feb. The sign on this house depicts a cat, an owl and a crystal ball. The owner was known as a seer and was executed by the Nazis for repeatedly predicting the death of the Third Reich.
- Defense corridor. It can be accessed through house 24. The corridor is an exhibition of weapons and equipment used by the guards of Prague Castle. It leads to the White Tower and Daliborka Tower, which were used as prisons in old times.
- The house at number 27 belonged to a local healer, as evidenced by the sign on the house. In it you can see a wide variety of herbs and potions, comparable to the pharmacies of the Middle Ages.
- The sewing room in house 26 belonged to a seamstress who made clothes for all residents of Prague Castle.
- House 16 was famous for the tavern located there. Once upon a time food was prepared here for prisoners. In the sixteenth century, the establishment was full of musicians, artists and card cheats who lured visitors into gambling. Today's ambiance of the tavern replicates the atmosphere and spirit of ancient taverns.
The exit from the street, which ends in a dead end, is possible through the stairs. It passes through house 24 and leads to the Daliborka tower.
Legends and interesting facts of Golden Street
The Prague landmark is known for many legends and related secrets.
The first evidence of this is the House near the last lantern. According to legend, those who are lucky will be able to see it, but only in a foggy haze. Visit this mysterious place in the light of day it will allow you to see a huge stone of gray color, under which, according to legend, unimaginable wealth lurks.
Another legend associated with the House says that the destruction of the world will follow the settlement of a hermaphrodite in the house with a hare on the coat of arms. The result of laying the Devil with the Stone will be a son with an extraordinary appearance - hands to heels, sickle-shaped eyes, double head. To protect the world from such incidents, the area is guarded by Methuselah, the hero of myths and legends.
There is a belief that some of the ancient inhabitants of the street were alchemists who worked for the benefit of the emperor to supply him with gold, the elixir of youth and the philosopher's stone.
Daliborke Tower is named after a man who became famous for the tragedy that ruined his fate. Legends say that Daliborke sacrificed himself by taking the rebellious inhabitants of a nearby village under his guardianship. As punishment, he was doomed to starvation and locked in a tower. Death by starvation did not immediately find him, as local peasants supplied him with food, thanking him for the music that he gave them with his violin playing. From this legend comes the famous Czech proverb: “Trouble allowed Daliborka to learn to play the violin.”
Location of Golden Lane
The street is located in the north-eastern part of Prague Castle. You can get there by using the metro. In addition, a tram is suitable for the trip, since almost all of its routes pass by Golden Street. The schedule eliminates the possibility of long waits. The necessary stop in both cases is Malostranska station.
You can also get to the street on foot. You need to go from the Charles Bridge, passing through Nerudova Street and Hradcanska Square along the way.
Opening hours provide the opportunity to conduct excursions with full access to the inspection of buildings and historical monuments every day. Opening hours – from 9:00 to 17:00.
Tickets cost 250 CZK. It is included in the total price of the entire Prague Castle excursion package.
At the end of the working day, starting from 18:00, entry to Golden Street is free. But please note that almost all souvenir shops and some attractions will no longer be open at this time. You can find out the address, route on the map, ticket price, and also see photos on the official website.
Golden Lane has long been a subject of interest for many tourists who want to experience the long-standing Prague traditions and the atmosphere of the ancient Czech Republic.
You will remain in my soul forever,
City of songs and chestnut leaves,
Moscow's golden friend!
Older readers may remember the song about Prague, sung so soulfully by Mark Bernes. And most young people have most likely already visited the capital of the Czech Republic - one of the most beautiful cities Europe, and also not so far from Russia: the Moscow-Prague plane covers 1,670 km in less than two and a half hours.
After getting off the ramp at Václav Havel Airport, you can get to the city center by regular buses - the distance is about 20 km (in fact, the airport is on the outskirts of Prague), the price of a limited ticket valid for 30 minutes is 24 CZK. Yes, in the Czech Republic it is not the euro that is in circulation, but its own currency, and a small amount of it will need to be purchased in exchange office airport (given the not the best course).
By the way, it makes sense to inquire about changes in the krona exchange rate at home if you are planning a trip in advance - and if the ratio to the ruble is favorable, buy it from one of the banks. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer of them in Moscow, but such points of sale still exist.
The routes of buses from the airport differ only in their final destinations - for bus number 100 it is the Zličín metro station (yellow line B), and for bus number 119 it is at the Nádraží Veleslavín station (green line A).
In addition, there is a more comfortable option in the form of the Airport Express bus - it runs from Terminal 1 to the main railway station Prague hl. nádraží (metro line C), and a ticket costs 60 CZK.
Well, if you are vacationing in Karlovy Vary and want to go to Prague on the weekend (which we strongly advise you to do), you can get to the capital by bus from the Student company - it goes to the Florenc bus station in the very center of the city, time in The journey takes two hours, the ticket costs 160 CZK.
So, you are in Prague... How to build optimal route- depends on where you arrived and what time you have. There is an extensive network here public transport(bus, tram), three metro lines - for example, the already mentioned Florenc bus station is combined with stations of two lines (red and yellow). But the best way to explore this beautiful city is on foot.
By the way, why is the city called that? Some scholars associate the toponym Praha with the Czech word prah (threshold), which in ancient times was also the name of the river bank. Others believe that it comes from the word pražení (hardening, roasting), since a lot of bread was produced in this region. But most agree that the most significant thing for the city was not the roasting and not just the river bank, but the crossings across the Vltava, on which it stands - that is, the rapids.
Today's Prague consists of areas that have long been considered separate cities (Stare Mesto, Nove Mesto, Hradcany, Lesser Town, Vysehrad). In the past, they not only had different statuses, systems of subordination, management, finances, etc., but sometimes they even fought, and sometimes it came to real hostilities. The first (but not final) attempt to reconcile the Prague cities dates back to 1518, when the townspeople of the Old Town united with the New Town. It was finally possible to unite individual cities on the territory of Prague only in 1784 during the reign of Emperor Joseph II.
Wenceslas Square starts from National Museum
Let's start our walk from Wenceslas Square, located in the very center of the so-called New Town (Nove Mesto) - an area whose founder and creator is considered to be the Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles IV of the Czech Republic (yes, the same one after whom Charles Island is named Vary). Under him, Prague became one of the largest metropolises in Europe in the 14th century, the third largest city in the empire.
To prevent construction from being delayed, the emperor issued a decree canceling the payment of taxes for 12 years for anyone who built a house on this territory within 18 months. And many actually met this deadline.
On Christmas Eve, stalls selling souvenirs and treats are set up here.
As for Wenceslas Square (Prague residents call it Wenceslas), it is essentially a boulevard 60 m wide and 750 m long, running downhill from the National Museum and the Equestrian Monument of St. Wenceslas to the Old Town. The square appeared in the 14th century as a horse market, and modern look started taking in late XIX century, when the fortress walls of the New Town were demolished, and the National Museum was built on the site of the Horse Gate.
The blacksmith works right on the square
Tourists are greeted by funny characters
A monument to Saint Wenceslas, the country's patron saint, was erected in front of the museum in 1912, and six years later, on October 28, 1918, a proclamation proclaiming the democratic republic Czechoslovakia. The most significant events in the life of the country take place here, meetings are made “under the tail” here, large hotels, shops and cafes are also located here.
At the end of the square, perpendicular to it, there is a pedestrian street Na Přikop (that is, “on the moat” that separated Old city from new). Today it is the main shopping street of the Czech capital, one of the most best places for shopping. And also, according to the Cushman & Wakefield rating, Na Příkopě street took 27th place in terms of cost rent in the world (1980 euros per sq. m) - this is the most expensive street in Prague, the Czech Republic and all of Central Europe.
Public house
Starting from Wenceslas Square, Na Příkope Street will lead you to Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky). Sometimes they say that if you don’t visit here, you won’t know the real Prague. It was here, in the building of the current Public House, that the independence of Czechoslovakia was declared in 1918 (hence the name of the square).
The public house was built on the site of the old royal palace, which served as the residence of Czech kings in the 14th - 15th centuries. This is the pearl of Prague architecture, spiritual and Cultural Center life of the city. The dome of the building is decorated with mosaics; there are concert halls with interiors of amazing beauty, the main one of which is named after the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana and is one of the main venues of the International music festival"Prague Spring".
Powder Gate
The public house is connected by a covered bridge to the powerful Powder Gate (Prašná brána), a 65 m high Gothic tower that replaced the destroyed Upper Gate in the 15th century. And in general, these are the only surviving of the 13 gates of the Old City. A spiral staircase with about 200 steps leads to the top of the tower. In the 18th century, the tower was used as a gunpowder warehouse, which is why it received its current name.
Celetná Street, coming from the Powder Gate, is the beginning of the Royal Road. Along this route Czech rulers We drove to the coronation, and it passes through the most interesting sights of the city - Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Hradcany Square, to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. Let us also follow this path.
In the Old Town, meat is fried right on the street
This is how trdlo is made - a traditional pastry made from yeast dough, wound in a spiral on a skewer made of wood or metal.
Souvenir kiosk
Showcase with Czech garnet
Along the way we will come across numerous restaurants where you can taste dishes local cuisine, and shops offering various souvenirs and the famous Czech pomegranate. This a transparent mineral of rich red color, belonging to the pyrope group, have long been found in river sand Vltava, and the best is considered to be the garnet from Turnov, a city in the north of the Czech Republic, where cutting workshops have been operating since the 16th century.
Old Town Square
Narrow streets lead us to Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí), located in the very center of the Old Town. Known since the 12th century, it was a city market, a place of executions and ceremonies. The square is surrounded by city houses with facades of various architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo.
Tyn Temple
The dominant feature of the square is the Temple of the Virgin Mary before Tyn (or simply Tyn Temple). Its sharp Gothic spiers pierce the sky, and the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1564 - 1601), who in the last years of his life served as court mathematician and astrologer to Emperor Rudolf II, is buried at the altar.
Church of St. Nicholas
Another monumental religious building on the square is the Church of St. Nicholas, currently the main temple of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. One of the main attractions here is the crystal chandelier, donated by the Russian Emperor Alexander II, since in 1870 - 1914. The temple was rented by the Russian Orthodox Church.
City Hall
Hundreds of people come to the town hall to look at the Prague Astronomical Clock
The clock on the tower strikes noon...
...and in the windows above the clock the figures of the apostles are shown
But the most famous building on the square is built in the 14th century city hall. Every day, hundreds of tourists gather at the foot of its tower to see the famous astronomical clock - the Prague Astronomical Clock or, as they are also called, the eagle (from the Latin. horologium- watch). Installed in 1410, it is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still in operation.
Orloj consists of three main components, located vertically on the tower: in the center there is an astronomical dial, which shows Old Bohemian, Babylonian, Central European (modern) and sidereal time, the time of sunrise and sunset, the position of the Sun and Moon among the zodiacal constellations, as well as the phases Moons. On the sides of the dial there are figures that move every hour, among which the figure of Death in the form of a human skeleton stands out. At the top, on either side of the stone sculpture of an angel, there are two windows in which the figures of the 12 apostles are shown every hour when the clock strikes. Above the angel is a figure of a golden rooster, which crows at the end of the procession.
In the center of Prague they often offer a city tour in a vintage car
After admiring the chimes, we again plunge into the labyrinth of narrow streets of the Old Town, heading towards the Charles Bridge. Along the way, you will probably come across exotic retro cars of various stripes, offering to take a stroll.
And, looking up, you will see very interesting house signs on the second or third floors of ancient buildings. They once served as landmarks in big city, reflected the individuality of the owner of the house - his profession, artistic tastes, political preferences, name or nickname. In total, there are more than 300 such signs in Prague, and no one knows their exact number.
House sign "At the carp"
Mystical stories are associated with some of the signs. For example, they say that in the house “U Karp” she lived beautiful girl and one day, after the Vltava flooded, she found three carps on the floor. Just as she was about to give the fish to the cats, one of the carps moved in her hand and said in a human voice: “Don’t do this, don’t harm us. If you put us under the blanket at night, we will thank you generously.” The girl got scared, dropped the carp on the floor, ran after her two sisters and told them everything. At first they laughed, and then advised her to do as the carp asked. The girl put three carps under the blanket, and she went to sleep in the closet. When she looked into the room in the morning, her blood froze with fear: there were fish scales everywhere on the floor, the carps had disappeared, and three young men were sleeping in her bed, one more beautiful than the other. It couldn’t have been any other way - they played a triple wedding, and the best of the sisters got the most handsome of the three guys.
Old Town Bridge Tower. It is located on an intermediate, not an end support, that is, directly above the water
And here we are going out onto the Charles Bridge - business card Prague. Its length is 520 m, width - 9.5 m, it rests on 16 powerful arches lined with hewn sandstone blocks and connects the historical districts of Stare Mesto and Mala Strana.
In ancient times, there was a crossing of the river along tied logs (the so-called rapids - weren't they the ones from which the city got its name?). Previous bridges were demolished by floods until Charles IV ordered the construction of a new one. a stone bridge- and this was done in 1357 on July 9 at 5:31 am. The moment was chosen on the recommendation of astrologers and was considered favorable due to the mirror sequence of numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1.
Forged lattice at the place where Saint John of Nepomuk was thrown into the river from the bridge
It is believed that touching the bas-reliefs on the pedestal of the monument to John of Nepomuk brings good luck
Saints Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth
Blessed Augustine is depicted in a bishop's robe with a flaming heart in his hand, stepping on heretical books with his right foot.
The Charles Bridge is decorated with thirty sculptures, mostly of religious content. Numerous tourists do not even realize that these are not originals: most of the statues were made of soft and short-lived sandstone, so in order to protect them from damage and destruction they were replaced with copies (the originals are stored in the Lapidary of the National Museum in the Holesovice district of Prague).
According to legend, it was from the Charles Bridge that Saint John of Nepomuk, revered in the Czech Republic, was thrown in a sack - the place where this happened can be seen on the right hand on the way towards Mala Strana.
The statue of the knight Bruncvik does not stand on the bridge, but on its support
Musicians on the Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge offers a magnificent view of Prague Castle
The only statue that stands not on the bridge, but on its support is the legendary knight Bruncvik. According to Czech legends, he went to travel around the world, experienced many dangerous adventures, and a lion became his friend, who helped him get a magic sword. Returning home, Bruntsvik took the throne, on which he ruled for 40 years, guarded by a faithful lion and a magic sword. It is believed that this lion is depicted on the coat of arms of the Czech Republic, and the sword is hidden in the base of the Charles Bridge, and will lie there as long as nothing threatens Prague.
Lesser Town Bridge Tower
Steep street of Malaya Strana
Having crossed the Vltava over the Charles Bridge, we find ourselves in Lesser Town - the historical district of Prague, lying at the foot of two hills: the hill on which Prague Castle is located borders it from the north, and the tree-covered Petrin - from the south.
Like the Moscow Kremlin, Prague Castle, where the residence of the President of the Czech Republic is located, is surrounded by a fortress wall with loopholes and towers. It is considered the largest residence and at the same time the largest castle in the world.
The fence itself big castle in the world
Guard at the gates of Prague Castle
The city has long dominated the entire valley, in which the most important approaches to the fords across the Vltava lay. Its development was especially rapid during the reign of Rudolf II, who in 1583 turned Prague into the metropolis of the Holy Roman Empire.
St. Vitus Cathedral
The architectural dominant of the Castle is the Cathedral of St. Vitus - a pearl of European Gothic architecture, an artistic and national historical shrine of the Czech Republic.
Its full name is “The Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert.” The first rotunda church on this site is believed to have been built by Saint Wenceslas in 925, and the construction of the temple was finally completed only in the 20th century.
The length of the main nave of the cathedral is 124 m, the height is Great south tower- 96.5 m. On the western side there are two neo-Gothic stone towers 82 m high with a 10 meter round rosette window between them. Three portals cathedral richly decorated with sculptures, stone and bronze reliefs.
Architectural details of the cathedral
Inside the cathedral
Sarcophagus of Saint Adalbert
In the royal crypt under the cathedral are the graves of Charles IV, his four wives, Wenceslas IV, Rudolf II and the daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, Marie-Amalia of Austria.
St. George's Basilica is the oldest surviving church in Prague Castle
On Golden Street
In addition to the Cathedral of St. Vitus, other attractions can be seen on the territory of the Castle, including the Basilica of St. George, founded in 920, as well as Golden Street with dwarf two-story houses built into the arches of the former fortress wall. Initially it was called Jewelry Street (Zlatnitska), which is associated with the gold minters who worked and lived here. Alchemists also lived here (this is a legend) and the writer Franz Kafka (this is a fact, in house No. 22). Now the houses have been converted into souvenir shops, and entrance to the street has been paid (250 CZK, as part of a comprehensive ticket to Prague Castle).
View of the city from the observation deck of Prague Castle
Swans on the banks of the Vltava
After leaving the territory of the City, do not rush to go down to the river - first admire the view of the city that opens from the observation deck. And after descending, go right to the shore - here you will see white swans, which are not at all afraid of numerous tourists. Swans are migratory birds, but they are in no hurry to fly away from Prague: there are almost no frosty winters here, there is a lot of light food and human attention.
Vinarna Certovka - the narrowest street in Prague
Following further on Small country towards Charles Bridge, pay attention to the street called Vinarna Čertovka, which is only 70 cm wide. This is the narrowest street in Prague, and to prevent two people from colliding on it, special pedestrian traffic lights are installed at each end.
Devil's mill on the Chertovka river
Near Charles Bridge you will find the Velkoprzhevorskaya (Devil's) Mill, built on the Chertovka River - now calm, but once quite stormy. If you look closely, next to the mill wheel you can see a sculpture of the local water Kaburek by the famous sculptor Josef Nalepa.
Water level mark during the 2002 flood
The area of the Chertovka River is often called the Venice of Prague, since all the houses here seem to “grow” out of the surface of the water. Although, as for a calm river, that’s how to say... In the summer of 2002, heavy rains caused a sharp rise in the level of the Vltava. The flood turned out to be the largest in the last 500 years, the river rose by 6-7 meters, and in some places houses were flooded up to the second floors. On one of the walls there is a mark for the water level.
We have closed the circle by returning to the Charles Bridge. Of course, there are many more in Prague interesting places, which we have not talked about. This includes Josefov - the old Jewish quarter between the right bank of the Vltava and the Old Town Square, and Vysehrad - ancient fortress on a hill south of the city center. The extravagant “dancing house”, the Petřín tower, very similar to the Eiffel tower, but five times smaller - to see them and many other attractions, you need to come to this beautiful city again.
