Prague Blog

When Charles IV. started to build the New Town in Prague in 1348, he wanted to create a square that would be a dignified equivalent to the Old Town Square – the Charles Square (Karlovo namesti). This place was supposed to be the central place of the New Town. The Charles Square used to be the biggest square in Europe at that time, and it is still the largest square (4.63 ha) in Prague now.

The square got its present name at the 19th century, before that it was called the Cattle Market for large markets selling not only cattle, but also firewood, coal or pickled herrings. In the middle of the square used to stand a wooden tower in which coronation jewels were displayed once a year. In 1393 the tower was replaced by a chapel with a small cemetery. However, the chapel was destroyed in 1784… (read more).

Ok, you can’t miss this! Make sure you are free on June 16. Oh, and make sure you are not tired on this day! I mean at night. You will not regret it. It is a great fun! I am talking here about the traditional Prague Museum Night. What is it? Well, I would call it a museum marathon where you can visit up to 21 institutions in 45 buildings all during one night and all for free or for symbolic fee up to 10 CZK!!!

It is not only fun because it is for free. The fun is that you can visit all those museums in attractive night time!! Museums usually don’t stay open much longer than till 7 pm. Well, this time, all museums will be open from 7 pm to 1 am!!!

And that is not all. You can choose not only from museums but also from galleries, cultural monuments and other sites!!! For those, who are still not convinced I have another information – permanent and short-term exhibitions will be accompanied with additional programs, such as concerts, film presentations, workshops, guided tours, displays of unique exhibits and curiosities, theater performances, etc.

There is really a lot to do and lot to see. Of course it is impossible to visit everything during one night. To make it a bit more possible, there will be special shuttle busses linking attractions near each other. The central transfer point will be at Namesti Jana Palacha, near Staromestska subway station (green line A), trams 17 and 18. And those busses are also free of charge! Cool, right?

So, the most difficult question is: What do you want to see? Good planning is the most important thing here. My friend visited 5 museums last year during one night!! But I don’t think it is about the quantity but quality. At night such as this you realize how many museums and galleries are in Prague in a close proximity.

Last year Prague Museum Night attracted 160 000 visitors!! It should be one those unforgettable evenings under the stars…

First mention about the New Town Hall in Charles Square dates to 1377, but not much was left from the building from that time. Several parts were added at the beginning of the 15th century, the most noticeable one is the high tower with a big bell and a chapel inside. The wing facing the Charles Square used to contain conference rooms, the wing to the Vodickova street offices and a prison.

The New Town Hall served its original purpose as a seat of the municipal administration until 1784 when the Emperor Josef II. decided to connect the four Prague towns – Old Town, the Lesser Town, Hradcany and the New Town – into one with one town council. After that the New Town Hall was adjusted into a criminal courthouse and a prison with a torture chamber. Many people, especially revolutionaries, were kept here… (read more)

Nerudova street (Nerudova ulice) is a picturesque street leading up to Prague Castle. In this steep street you can find many restaurants, souvenir shops, embassies, but what’s most remarkable about this street are the house signs and the people that lived in that houses. Why house signs? The house numbers were introduced in Prague in 1770. Before that the houses were recognized by their signs and Nerudova street has a vast collection of them.

Nerudova street got its name after a famous Czech poet and journalist Jan Neruda who wrote many short stories about this Prague district. By the way, Pablo Neruda’s name was delivered from the name of this writer. Jan Neruda used to lived in this street between 1849 and 1857. He lived in the house At the Two Suns (no. 47) at the upper part of the street. The house sign belongs among the most beautiful ones… (read more)

This attraction, about which I am going to write, doesn’t actually take place every full hour, but only at noon!! Make sure you don’t miss it while in Prague, because it is a real fun. And what is it? The Changing of the Guards, of course!

Around noon, it is probably the best time for lunch, you may say. And you are right. But once you are in Prague, I think it is much better to wait few more minutes, so you don’t miss all the fun! It is worth it to be hungry for a while, trust me.

So what can be better than eating at noon? Definitely the Changing of the Guards at Prague Castle. Yes, the Guards do change every hour, but only at noon there is this big ceremony.

It is done in a very formal manner. There is a marching band as well! If you want to watch the midday show, make sure you start to take up a position at least ten minutes earlier if you want to have a good view, because it can get really crowded. The best position is by the main entrance to the Castle. But you will find the guards at every entrance to the Castle.

They are supposed to stand still. But as you can imagine, it can be a real burden when everybody watches you and take pictures of you all the time. Some tourists also try to make them laugh. It must be difficult to remain calm. Poor guys! But if you touch them, they can defend themselves, so be careful not to be too rude. Rain or shine they are standing there…

The guards are of course much more than just a tourist attraction. They hold a real machine-guns, and guard the president who has an office in the Castle. But don’t worry, they will let all tourists pass by and even accept all that photo-shooting with them. (See also Part One)

While in Prague, you should pay attention to the time. Good timing is really crucial here. Every full hour something interesting is going on. There are special attractions that charm not only tourists but locals too. Among the best known are Astronomical Clock and Loretta. But there is more than that.

Every full hour, the Astronomical clock, which dates from the beginning of the 15th century, offers a little show. Parts of the Astronomical clock are set in motion – Twelve Apostles salute the viewers in a procession at the doorway above the clock, while other four figures, which are a bit harder to detect, move too.

They are below the Apostles, two on each corner. They represent Death, Turk, Miser and Vanity. The Death is ringing the bell, the Turk is shaking his head, the Miser shaking his bag and Vanity looking at the mirror. At the end, a golden rooster situated almost at the top crows. The show ends with the sounds of chimes. It is really incredible if you consider how old the clock is!

Another great place where you should be at full hour is Loretta, located in Letenske namesti 7 not far from Prague Castle. Loretta is famous for its beautiful carillon melody that is played daily every full hour from 9 am to 6 pm. 27 bells are used. It is like from a fairytale! So when you are in the castle district, don’t forget to stop by. It is best reached from tram station Pohorelec (22, 23). But the bells are not the most valuable things there. It is the liturgical treasury, so-called Prague Sun, which is embellished with 6,222 diamonds!!! If you want to see it you must pay a fee. Open is daily, except for Mondays.

As the beginning of another month is approaching, all museum-lovers in Prague can be more than content since it means they will save money. The first week of every month brings many special offers to the visitors of the main museums in Prague. I think this is good news for everybody, not only for museum-lovers.

Don’t you want to give it a try and visit some of those museums when the entrance is free? You have nothing to lose.

So how does it work? Every first Monday of a new month you will have a free access to the National Museum (green and red subway station Muzeum, lines A or C). Isn’t it great?

On first Wednesday of every month you don’t have to pay to see the Lobkowitz Palace in Jirská 3/1, not far from Prague Castle, featuring exhibits on Czech history. On this day from 3 pm to 8 pm you can also visit the National Gallery for free. It is located in Dukelskych Hrdinu 47, Prague 7. You can reach it by trams 1, 5, 8, 12, 14, 17, 25, 26 – station Strossmayerovo namesti.

On first Thursday of every month you can visit the Museum of the City of Prague or the Museum of Music, both free of charge of course. The Museum of the City of Prague is situated in Na Porici 52, accessible from subway station Florenc (yellow B or red line C). The Museum of Music is in Karmelitska street in the centre of Prague, on the trams 12, 20, 22, 23, station Helichova.

Every first Friday of the month, it is the best time to visit the Naprstkovo Museum, since you don’t pay a thing to get in. Naprstkovo Museum, which presents the old Asian, African and American culture, is in Betlemske namesti 1, not too far from the Old Town Square.

So save your money for something else and enjoy museums for free!

White Tower at Prague Castle, sometimes called New White Tower to be distinguishable from the White Tower between the II and III courtyard, is situated at the west end of the Golden Lane. This tower was used as a prison for noblemen since 1584, the last prisoner left the tower in 1743. Most of the prisoners were debtors and rioters. Even though the tower is not open to the public, it has a very interesting but also frightening history… (read more)

Do you wonder what people did in the past to enjoy themselves? This question can be also partly answered by visiting the Ball Game Hall located near Prague Castle and founded in 1569 by Bonifaz Wohlmut. This hall has a vivid history.

All those who like sport, especially tennis, might be interested that Ball Game Hall used to serve as a place for many games. Noblemen and noblewomen used to throw here leather balls or used a feather ball and a racket in the game very similar to the present badminton… (read more)

Behind the statue of Jan Zizka on Vitkov Hill you can see a massive building of National Monument that was built in the years 1927 – 32 in honour of Czech legionary and foundation of the former Czechoslovakia. Vitkov Hill in Prague was a good place for the monument. Not only was there the battle of Hussites against Crusaders, but also 15 000 people demonstrated here in 1868 to support Czech national revival. One of the founder stone for the National Theatre was broken off there at the same year.

Inside the National Monument you can find a memorial hall which contains the largest organs in the Czech Republic. Later the monument was used as a mausoleum for the remains of Klement Gottwald and other Communist leaders… (read more)