Sitting right slap-bang in the centre of mainland Europe (meaning it’s hot, hot, hot in summer & downright freezing in winter), Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, has a unique charm that draws tons and tons of tourists each year. Guidebooks wax lyrical about its magic. They have done so for decades but especially since January 1st, 1993, when the old Czechoslovakia ceased to exist and it split into present day Slovakia (to the east) and the Czech Republic. And for good reason. Prague, a city that mercifully escaped World War II destruction, is easily one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, a golden, mystical place full of cobbled streets, riverside parks, & a smorgasbord of stunningly wonderful architecture of all types.
Prague’s medieval castle district and the Charles Bridge spanning the Vltava River as seen from the Old Town Tower of Charles Bridge in Prague (
), Czech Republic. March 8, 2006 || From a March 2006 visit to Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s two best know areas are the medieval castle district (in the distance) and the Old Town area. They are separated by the Vltava River which is crossed by Karluv most (Charles Bridge). The bridge was built in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV & was, until 1841, the city’s only bridge. This solid-land connection made Prague important as a trade route between east and western Europe. In a city of numerous sights, the Charles Bridge, alive most times of day with painters, kiosks and buskers of all kind, is probably its most famous and everyone eventually gravitates towards it.
Karluv most (Charles Bridge), Prague, Czech Republic. March 30th, 2014 || From a March 2014 visit to Prague, Czech Republic
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