Sights to See
The following is a curated list of sights that all travellers should have the chance to visit while in Prague…
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is the name given to an enormous complex of historic royal and religious buildings, acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest coherent castle complex in the world! Sitting high atop Hradcany (Castle Hill) above the Mala Strana neighbourhood and overlooking the “City of 100 Spires”, Prague Castle is one of the most important and fascinating sights to see in Prague.
The Prague Castle complex was founded in 880 with the building of a Royal Palace. Over the following centuries various kings and leaders have added churches, palaces, halls, towers, courtyards and gardens. The seat of power for the Kings of Bohemia for centuries and today home to the President of Czechia, Prague Castle is the most important political and religious site in the Czech Republic.
Highlights of any visit include the Old Royal Palace and Vladislav Hall, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Georges Basilica, the Golden Lane and the Great South Tower of the Cathedral.
The Old Royal Palace was originally built in the late 9th century but what we see today is a 14th century Gothic palace. Inside, the stunning Vladislav Hall which combines Gothic and Renaissance features is an important audience chamber where Kings and the modern president are sworn in and where ceremonial events take place.
St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and most important religious building in Prague. Construction originally began in 1344 but the Cathedral was not completed until the early 20th century in a Neo-Gothic style. The spectacular Cathedral features soaring vaulted ceilings and stunning stained glass windows. Inside you can find the richly decorated St. Wenceslas Chapel, dedicated to the country’s patron saint, which is covered with precious stones and frescoes.
St. George’s Basilica is the oldest Romanesque structure in the city, dating to the 10th century. The ancient, monumental stone building features tombs of the Premyslid dynasty and is now used for exhibitions from the National Gallery.
The cobblestoned Golden Lane runs along the fortifications and features a series of small cottages. Originally built for defenders of the castle and servants, the lane became home to the city’s goldsmiths, leading to the Golden Lane name. Today, the pretty, colourful cottages offer a striking juxtaposition to the monumental structures nearby. Look out for number 17 where the writer Franz Kafka lived for a time in the early 20th century.
Construction of the Great South Tower of the Cathedral began in the late 14th century but was not competed until the 16th century. Today you can climb the 287 steps to the viewing gallery at the top and enjoy spectacular views across the beautiful city of Prague. Along the way you can see the largest bell in the country, the 16th century Zikmund, which features gilded relief engravings.
You can enter the Prague Castle complex for free but you must pay to enter the buildings. Tickets for the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, the Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral are CZK 250. Tickets to the Great South Tower of the Cathedral are CZK 150.
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is the oldest bridge in Prague, crossing the Vltava River and connecting the Old Town and Mala Strana (Lesser Town). Commissioned in 1357 to replace the Judith Bridge that had been destroyed by floods, work continued until 1402. The bridge is 516 metres long and built from sandstone blocks, with 16 arches and fortified towers at each end. It is adorned with 30 statues of saints, that were progressively added from 1683 to 1928. Since WWII the bridge has been pedestrianised and today is bustling with tourists and touts at all times of day. For the best experience, visit early morning when you can take your time strolling along the bridge at your own pace, marvelling at the stonework and glorious views. Tradition states that if you rub the bronze plaque of the statue of St John of Nepomuk you will return to Prague one day!
Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock
The Old Town Square, in the heart of the Old Town is the geographical and cultural heart of Prague. Originally a 10th century marketplace, it has been a public square since the 12th century. The Square has been home to many significant events in the history of Prague, from victorious celebrations to tragic massacres. In the 14th century The Old Town Hall was built bordering the square firmly establishing it as the centre of Prague life. Visit the square today and marvel at the immense size of the space and the architecturally diverse buildings that border it including the St. Nicholas Church, Church of Out Lady before Tyn, and many houses and palaces from the baroque, gothic and renaissance periods. The square features a memorial statue dedicated to Jan Hus, a martyred religious leader, and look out for the Prague Meridian which is marked in the stonework.
The Old Town Square’s most famous attraction is the incredible Astronomical Clock, attached to the Old Town Hall. Installed in 1410, the remarkable clock does so much more than tell the time! The clock displays Babylonian time, Old Bohemian time, German time and sidereal time (used by astronomers to locate celestial objects). The clock also shows the day of the week and month, the phase of the moon, the sun’s position in the zodiac circle and sign of the zodiac. Four figures surround the clock representing vanity, greed, death and invasion – the four greatest worries of the Prague people at the time of construction. On the hour the real show begins! ‘Death’, represented by a skeleton, rings a bell, the four statues jump into action and 12 statues representing the 12 Apostles appear in the doorways above the clock. A technological marvel in its time, the clock is still a magnificent work of engineering and an incredibly popular sight to see in Prague!
National Theatre
The National Theatre in Prague is a spectacular Neo-Renaissance building that sits majestically on the banks of the Vltava River in the heart of Old Town Prague. The story of how the Theatre came into being is quite remarkable. The Theatre was built in the second half of the 19th century using funds raised entirely by public donations. It opened to great fanfare in 1881 with a concert attended by Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and then just two months later the theatre was devastated by fire. Undeterred, the Czech people began fundraising again and remarkably, within two years the theatre was rebuilt and reopened as a cultural symbol of the nation. Today the theatre is home to the national drama, opera and ballet performances. There are performances all year round so pop on your best dress clothes and relax into one of the elegant theatre boxes for a night of culture and class in this beautiful city.
Church of Our Lady before Tyn
The Church of Our Lady before Tyn is the most important church in the Old Town of Prague. Standing prominently in the Old Town Square, the church was built in the 13th century, with considerable expansion and alterations in the following centuries. Today the church has a magnificent Gothic exterior, with twin Gothic spires rising 80 metres above the grand entrance. However, from the Old Town Square you do not get to see the full splendour of the front façade as bizarrely the Habsburgs built the Tyn School directly in front of the church. Inside, the interior is decked out in Baroque glory with soaring vaulted ceilings, ornate gilded alters and a glorious main alter painted by Karel Skreta. The church is also home to the tomb of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and a magnificent organ dating to 1673, the oldest in Prague.
