Prague sightseeing and suggested itineraries
On this page you can find brief descriptions and photographs of Prague's most well-known sites.
The city is divided into 4 main areas: The Castle, The Old Town, The New Town and The Lesser Town ( Mala Strana)
Our suggested sightseeing itinerary would be to see each area in one day.
PRAGUE CASTLE
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A castle was established on this site in the 9th century, and a Romanesque
palace was erected in the 12th. In the 14th century, under the reign of
Charles IV, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style. The final reconstruction
of the Royal palace took place under the Jagellons at the end of the 15th
century, and at that time the builder Benedikt Rejt added the now-famous
Vladislav Hall, also in Gothic style. The castle was enlarged in the 16th
century, especially after a big fire in 1541. The Spanish Hall, in a new
part of the castle, was added in the reign of Rudolf II, and it took its
final form in the time of Empress Maria Theresa, under the direction of
the architect M. Pacassi. After World War I the interior and gardens of
the castle were renovated by the architect J. Plecnik. Today the Castle
is the seat of the President of the Czech Republic, and it serves as the
historical and political center of both city and state. The changing of
the guard takes place every hour on the hour, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Each
day at noon there is also a solemn fanfare.
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St. George's MonasteryFounded in AD 973 by Prince Boleslav and his sister Mlada for the Benedictine Order. Dissolved in 1782, reconstructed and reopened in 1976 as part of the National Gallery, it contains collections of old Czech art.The Royal PalaceThe final reconstruction of the Royal palace took place under the Jagellons at the end of the 15th century, and at that time the builder Benedikt Rejt added the now-famous Vladislav Hall, also in Gothic style. |
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St. Vitus CathedralThe cathedral contains underground tombs of Czech kings. Parler also built St. Wenceslas Chapel, which is decorated with frescoes and semi-precious stones.St. Vitus Cathedral - South ViewThis Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to build. Begun in 1344 by Mathias Arras and Petr Parler upon the site of a 10th-century rotunda, the final phase of construction ended only in the period 1873-1929. |
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The Chapel of Saint WenceslasWas placed in the cathedral as a separate architectural formation on the site of the tomb in the old basilica. Its artistic value belongs to the most important monuments of Czech expressive arts. Unlike all other chapels it was built with closed walls. The walls are covered with big, gleaming gems. Between the stones of carnelian, amethyst, chalcedony and chrysoprase are paintings.Imperial StableLocated at ground level in the northern wing of the Castle, this area was recently opened to the public and contains an exhibition hall. |
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Basilica of St. GeorgeA Romanesque basilica founded in AD 920 near the Benedictine monastery and rebuilt in the 10th and the 12th centuries.The former Burgrave's HouseThis 16th century Renaissance building houses a museum of toys. |
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Lobkovic PalaceThe Pernstein family began construction of this palace in the mid-16th century. In 1627 it became the property of Polyxena of Lobkovic and was rebuilt in 1651-68 by Carlo Lurago in the form seen today. Since 1983 it has been a part of the National Museum, containing monuments of Czech history including copies of the coronation jewels. |
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The Royal Garden with Ball Hall (Micovna)The garden was set up in 1534 and embellished during the time of Rudolf II. The Ball Hall was used as a barracks at one time; now it is an exhibition and concert hall.Accessible to the public only in summer, as well as the other gardens: Rajska, Harigovska, Na Valech and Na Baste. |
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The Royal Summer Palace of Queen Anne or BelvederePerhaps the most remarkable Renaissance building in Prague, this palace was built from the plans of Paolo della Stella in 1535-1537 but not finished until 1557-63 under the direction of the architect B. Wohlmut. The famous Singing Fountain, whose drops of water make music, is in the Belvedere garden and was designed and cast by Tomas Jaros in 1564-68. Exhibitions are held in the palace. |
LESSER TOWN
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St. Nicolas' ChurchPrague 1, Malostranske nam.This church, built in the period 1704-55, is the most significant historical structure of the so-called Prague Baroque. The architects were G. Santini, K. I. Dienzenhofer, and A. Lurago. |
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Neruda StreetOnce the main road leading to the Castle, this street is now named after the Czech poet Jan Neruda who lived in the house called "At Two Suns". |
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Church of Our Lady Victorious - Prague Child JesusPrague 1, Karmelitska 13An early Baroque structure, built in 1611, and rebuilt in 1644, this church is famous for its wax effigy known as the Prague Child Jesus donated by Polyxena of Lobkovic and brought to Prague at the end of the 16th century. |
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Lesser-Town Bridge TowersOf the two towers, the lower one is in Romanesque style and dates from the 12th century. It is a remnant of the older Judith Bridge. The higher tower is 200 years younger and was erected in the 15th century; unlike the other, it is open to the public, except for the winter months. Prague Information Service has opened one of its centers here. |
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Ledebour GardenPrague 1, Valdstejske nam.A Baroque terraced garden dates from the first third of the 18th century. About 1787 it was modified most probably by I.J.Palliardi. Between the salla terrena and the opposite wall with a staircase and a fountain with a statue of the Giant, there is a parterre with a modern small basin. The adjoining Palffy garden was founded in the first half of the 18th century on terraces, and staircases were added. Both gardens were newly opened to the public after a renovation in June 1995. The entrance to the both gardens is from Valdstejnske namesti 3 through Ledebour Palace. |
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Petrin Look-out TowerReduced copy of the Eiffel Tower (60 m high) built in 1891 on the occasion of the Jubilee Exhibition. |
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Charles BridgeStarted in 1357 and completed by Petr Parler, this is the oldest bridge in Prague. The statues are mostly from Matthias Braun and Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff. |
OLD TOWN
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Old Town Bridge TowerThe entrance gate from the Old Town to the Charles Bridge, designed by Petr Parler. One of the most beautiful Gothic towers in Europe. The tower contains copies of the enthroned figures of Charles IV and Wenceslas IV. Over the archway is a row of carved emblems of territories belonging to Charles' Empire.
Clementinum |
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The Municipal HouseOne of the most precious treasures of "Art Noveau" style, containing rich decoration inside and out (Mucha, Myslbek, Saloun, Svabinsky, Ales, Zenisek), and housing the well known Smetana concert hall. Re-opened after renovation in May 1997. |
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St. Agnes the Czech ConventPrague 1, Anezska uliceAn ensemble of ecclesiastical and residential buildings founded by the King Wenceslas II in 1234. At present there is an exhibition from the National Gallery (Czech paintings and sculptures - 19. century), and a concert hall. |
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Powder TowerA Gothic building from 1475 constructed by Matthias Rejsek and once probably used to store gunpowder. Modified in 1875-86. Carolinum The original Charles University building, established in 1348. A Gothic bay chapel of 137O was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1718. At present, Charles University graduation ceremonies take place there. |
The Estates' TheatreOpened in 1783 as the Nostic Theatre. The premiere of Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was given here on October 29, 1787. |
Prague Jewish Ghetto
Seven synagogues remain from this old settlement which includes the
Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery - the most remarkable in Europe.
- Klaus Synagogue - from 1680, exhibiting Hebrew manuscripts and old prints
- The High Synagogue - mid-16th century, exhibiting synagogal textiles
- Pinkas Synagogue - established 1475, a memorial to victims of Nazism
- Maisel Synagogue - containing silver artifacts from various Czech synagogues
- Jewish Town Hall - mid-16th century
- Former Ceremonial Hall - children's drawings from the concentration camp at Terezin
- Old Jewish Cemetery - with the tomb of Rabbi Low
- Old-New Synagogue - an early Gothic building from the 13th century
OLD-TOWN SQUARE
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House At the Stone BellThe most precious "burgess house" from the Middle Ages. Originally Romanesque, later remodeled in Gothic style a two-storey facade dating from the 14th century, renovated in 1988. Currently it serves as an exhibition and concert hall. |
NEW TOWN
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Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)The shopping center of Prague. In the upper part of the square is the statue of St. Wenceslas with four patron saints of Bohemia (St. Prokop, St. Adalbert, St. Ludmila and St. Agnes) by Josef Vaclav Myslbek. |
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The National MuseumA neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Josef Schulz in 1885-90.
The National Theatre |
© Major part of this page was originally prepared by Prague Information Service.
Photos & page design by Jarmila Pánková, english text by Bill Parker.
© Page design modified by Alexandr Chvátal, text modified by James Dutt.
Further Prague tourist informat6ion can be found at http://www.sweb.cz/praguetour/
Generous permission for this information to appear was granted by Alexandr Chvátal
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