SPIRES, SQUARES AND SAUSAGES

Charles Bridge - before the hordes descended

Prague is known as the City of a hundred spires. The view from our bedroom window accompanied by the melodic sounds from the many church bells attested to that.

We had arranged to meet Alzbeta on the Charles Bridge early for a walking tour of the Old and New Towns.  

The sandstone bridge designed in 1357 for King Charles IV links the Old Town with the Little Quarter.  Thirty sculptures adorn the bridge and Good King Wenceslas features a number of times. These sentinels look down silently on the buskers and street traders that set up shop on the bridge to cater to the hordes of tourists that congregate on the bridge.  Best to get there early.

Wenceslas Square

Prague’s most famous Square is actually a boulevard. The buildings lining Wenceslas Square are a mix of architectural styles with the National Museum dominating one end of the Square.  The Museum staircase became a scene in the James Bond movie “Casino Royale” where it served as the impressive entrance to a Venice hotel.

Plaque commemorating
the 1989 Velvet Revolution

More importantly, Wenceslas Square was the scene of political demonstrations when the Soviets occupied Prague in 1968. It was also the site for the National celebration of the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989.  In an arcade tucked between Wenceslas Square and the National Theatre there is a small plaque commemorating the incident which sparked the 1989 Velvet Revolution.

All that walking made us hungry!

We were amazed at the size of the Old Town Square which began life in the 12^th Century as a thriving market place.  It also served as the site for executions.  The buildings surrounding the square are stylish and impressive. Today the Square is full of outdoor cafes, vendors and street performers. The square also serves as the location for Easter and Christmas markets. 

A stall selling ham and sausages cooking tantalisingly over a spit beckoned. That along with the hot potato, cabbage and bacon salad kept us going. 

The Astronomical Clock

The Old Town Hall houses the Square’s most famous attraction - the Astronomical Clock.  The clock gives the time of day, the months and seasons of the year, the signs of the zodiac, the course of the sun and the holidays of the Christian calendar. Hugely popular, visitors wait patiently for the clock to go through its motions.

Serenity cruising the canal

Returning over the Charles Bridge, now packed, we were fortunate to be the only participants on a boat ride from the Muzeum Karla Zemana that took us along a secluded canal into the Vltava River passing under the Charles Bridge where we saw the extraordinarily high water mark from the 2002 floods.

View from the highest terrace of the Vrtba Gardens

Our feet were now barking after hours of walking but we made one last stop at the Vrtba Gardens, an Italian terraced garden created in 1715.  The gardens were immaculate and the views from the top of the terrace stunning.

After a short reprieve we made one last visit to Prague Castle followed by dinner at our favourite haunt across from St. Nicolas Church before turning our thoughts to our trip to Budapest the next morning. 

A little bonus!

We pretended it was for us

That night the sky lit up with bright light and loud bangs as a spectacular fireworks display erupted over the Old Town.  

A lovely coincidence - celebration of a wonderful stay in Prague we supposed.