Places You Cannot Miss in Prague
October 23, 2009 by Morten Elm
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If you want to visit a city in Europe with low prices and interesting sight, Prague should be your holiday destination. Here you can find great food, cheap rooms; and beer in large glasses.
The first historical building in Prague was the castle Prazsky Hrad. It was built in the 9th century. The castle sits on a hill high above the Vltava River.
Inside the castle area there are three churches, a monastery and a palace. The city Hradcany was founded around the year 1320 in a smaller part of the castle’s outer courtyard.
The president seat has been located in the castle since 1918. There is changing of the Guard every hour in front of the castle. At noon it even includes fanfare.
Stare Mesto can be described as the old part of Prague. Centrally located in this part of Prague is the square Staromestske namesti (translated: Old Town Square). From the square you can view a lot of historical building that easily can be compared to most other European cities.
In the 1000 century the first settlements started around the castle. From here the settlers spread to the right side of the Vltava River, where houses and churches where build around the square.
In 1338 the city hall was build (it is now being called the Old Town Hall). Today it is known for its astronomical clock from 1490. Every hour a large crowds flock to see the show, where an odd group of apostles, the Death, a rooster, a turkey, the Vanity and the Greed performs their own little show.
The 520 meter long Charles Bridge was built in 1357. And until 1741 it was the only way to cross the Vltava River. It is built of sandstone blocks; and it is said to have been reinforced with an odd combination of mortar and eggs.
Originally the bridge was only decorated with a simple cross, but in 1683 the first statue was set up. Since then a wide range of statues has been added, which gives the bridge its characteristic appearance.
Today the bridge is a tourist magnet, which for the same reason also attracts a large group of artists and merchants, who is offering their wares to tourists.
Even though Prague is more expensive than it used to be, it is still a great place for shopping. And it is not just wares from former East European countries that are for sale.
The Velvet Revolution in 1989 changed a lot in Prague. Today you can find both Czech products and the major American and Western European brands in the many department stores and specialty shops. So it is easy to spend a whole day shopping.
Morten Elm is writing about city breaks in Prage on Storbyrejser Prag. Read more about the sights in Sevaerdigheder Prag.
categories: Prague,Europe,history,old town,Charles Bridge,shopping,cheap,brands,travel,vacation,holiday
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