Three days in Prague

 
Prague, "the magical capital of Europe", has not only inspired André Breton and the Surrealists. Each year, the beautiful Czech captivated millions of fans around the world. Monuments, facades and statues tell a turbulent history in which the shadows of the Golem, Mucha or Kafka soar. Here are three ideas for walks in Prague to 3 (or 4) days with the Backpacker Express Prague



Stare Mesto and Josefov, Baroque churches and synagogues


Lesser Town and Hradcany: towards the castle


Stare Mesto and Nové Mesto: Art Nouveau and Modernity


Shopping and good beer


factsheet

:: Stare Mesto and Josefov, Baroque churches and synagogues

Walk # 1.

Start your walk by one of the beating hearts of Prague: the place of the Old City. Numerous monuments illustrate the turbulent past of Prague City Hall (XIV century) and surrounded by beautiful decorated with "sgraffito" palace Astronomical Clock dimmed as the House U Minuty, gothic like the House At the Stone Bell or Rococo like pink palace Golz-Kinsky.

In the center of the square, the monumental bronze group of Jan Hus, the first religious reformer of the country, inspired by Rodin's Burghers of Calais.

Near the tourist office, you enter the Josefov Jewish Quarter by the chic streets of Paris, marked the major European brands. The high facades of the buildings are all in detail: balconies, statues and gears rival the wild imagination of the specific Prague Art Nouveau.

Stroll through the narrow streets of the old ghetto, an overall pass is necessary to visit the synagogues and haunted by the legend of the Golem Jewish cemetery. The visit of the latter still fascinates as chiaroscuro trees ...

Slightly relocated, take the opportunity to visit the interesting museum of decorative arts with windows toilet plunge on the cemetery, in case you could not have enter ...


Lesser Town and Hradcany ::: towards the castle

Walk 2.

It was nice having often seen in photo, Charles Bridge (pictured), the emblem of the city, has an undeniable attractiveness. You can get there by taking the shopping streets and passages of the Karlova street.

Follow the flow of tourists, it will lead inevitably to the bridge that crosses the Vltava inspiring Smetana Czech musician in the nineteenth century. Just before the gallery opens Clementinum Chapel of Mirrors, a magnificent baroque library and astronomical tower.

Erected in honor of Charles IV, king maker and patron of Prague in the fourteenth century, the bridge connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. Towers and statues each have a story, like that of John of Nepomuk, drowned because he refused to repeat the king's secrets confession of his wife!

After Franz Kafka museum, Mala Strana side, go up the St. Nicolas church in baroque dementia and the Church of St. Thomas to the gardens of the castle. Maltézské the place was used by Milos Forman in the film Amadeus.

Palaces and museums will accompany you to the walls of the royal castle that less courageous reach by tram or cable car. A city within a city. Do not miss the St. Vitus Cathedral and his masterpiece, Wenceslas Chapel, dedicated to the patron of Bohemia.

After the St George's Basilica and Museum, take the Golden Lane lined with colorful houses that sheltered the alchemists of Rudolf II in the sixteenth century. Art museums will succeed the Lobkowicz Palace and Sternberg and Schwarzenberg outside the enclosure.

Descend by the baroque Church of Our Lady of Loreto and Strahov Abbey whose library and philosophical room to dream. If you have some time, take a stroll on Petrin Hill: beautiful view of Prague from the park.


:: Stare Mesto and Nové Mesto: Art Nouveau and Modernity

Walk 3.

Prague is a paradise for architects and designers. Train yourself to recognize the new Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, "secession" or Art, Art Deco, Cubism, Stalinist or modern! Along major thoroughfares and streets Národni Na prikope, head in the air, you'll have a preview.

Champs Elysees Prague, the vast Wenceslas Square dominated by the Prague State Opera, worth a detour, by passing Lucerna preferably at 36: his amazing equestrian statue hanging from the ceiling and Art Deco cinema are unique.

Nearby, the trip to Stare Mesto with the Mucha museum dedicated to one of the masters of Art Nouveau, Alfons Mucha (1860-1939). Do not miss the exciting Municipal House. This is a complete set of furniture, stained glass, ceramics and Art Nouveau facades, like the nearby Hotel de Paris. Do not forget to go down in the basement bar and browse the gallery that exhibits affordable Czech antiques and quality.

Taking the subway (exit Karlova Namesti) you will go toward modernism and the incredible dance barn with two towers of glass and concrete, designed by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry in 1996, evoke Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

For those with a little time, the Museum of Czech Cubism (in Stare Mesto) and the National Gallery of Modern Art (Kokoschka, Kupka, Munch, Klee ...) to Holešovice a little outside of the other side of the Vltava, worth a visit.


Shopping and good beers ::

Prague is a city with a thousand temptations where jewelers and glassmakers offer their glittering treasures! But do not rush: after a few hours you will see the differences between a dark garnet quality or not, or a crystal more or less cut and rather kitsch.

Get an idea of ​​the prices with the big shops on MELANTRICHOVA and do not hesitate to push the door of the small shops to find your happiness. All prices are discussed with a "discount", wait, wait!

Puppets and wooden toys, porcelain and decorated eggs supplement, if necessary, the shopping.

Along the way, take a Czech beer Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser (nothing to do with the American). Always good and cheap, they flow freely in bocks of 50 cl. Last visit: the Velvet, a creamy red brewed in Prague, which is aptly named.

It helps digest hearty local cuisine in restaurants (not cheap!) For most in vault. Attention to the tip and unexpected extras on the final note.

Taste the Berechkova, Czech herbal drink at 38 °. Na zdraví, to your health!