The lure of Prague

An unequivocal temptation, the city of Prague demonstrates the spirit of Europe. Immortalised by the Czech expatriate author Milan Kundera in his writings, Prague is a vestibule to centuries of history. It also has a residue of Kafkaesque romance, being the birthplace of author Franz Kafka, and the poetic sensibilities of Prague born poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. Popularly known as ‘the City of Hindered Spires,’ it has visitors enamoured by its anachronistic spirit. The city’s Old Town Square hosts its many baroque buildings and gothic churches. Besides, Prague is also extremely popular for its beer, as it produces some of the finest brews in the world. Featuring dominantly in this magical landscape is the Vltava river, lazily drifting beneath the famous Charles Bridge of the city. In all its glory, Prague is an essential European retreat. Do not miss.

Often called the City of a Thousand Spires, Prague effortlessly meshes a myriad of cultures, leaving the traveller with a constant sense of intrigue at every turn. The best way to discover Prague is by wandering through its maze of cobbled streets, stumbling upon a church, a café or an art gallery from where you’d be hard-pressed to find your way back.

Commissioned by King Charles IV in 1357, the bridge is frequented by tourists, painters and vendors alike—all elbowing one another for the best views of the Vltava River. It looks especially remarkable at sunrise, when the silhouettes of the statues lining the 600-year-old bridge seem to hover like ghosts.

Looming above the Vltava’s left bank, Prague Castle dominates the city’s skyline almost like a fairy-tale fortress. Within its walls lies a fascinating collection of museums, galleries and historic buildings built in a jumble of styles and influences. The most famous among these is the St Vitus’s Cathedral, whose Gothic spires are visible from every corner in the town.

Prague’s dramatic history permeates the air at the Old Town Square—a neighbourhood that has remained virtually untouched since the 10th century. An ever changing line-up of musicians, dance troupes, tourists and vendors add as much charm to the square as the buildings that surround it.

Beer is an integral part of Prague’s nightlife and culinary scene. And the price at which you can score a half-litre glass makes Prague a beer drinker’s paradise. The city is bursting at the seams with pubs and bars serving the finest beer in Czech Republic.

As soon as Prague’s weather steers towards warmer evenings, the first instinct of the Czechs is to take their beer consumption outdoors, to one of Prague’s legendary beer gardens. There are plenty of beer gardens dotted throughout the suburbs, some little more than a shack with a few kegs, where beer is served with a bowl of nuts or potato chips.

One of Prague’s more unusual attractions is the Lennon Wall, an otherwise ordinary wall that was covered with graffiti inspired by John Lennon and The Beatles, after the singer’s death in 1981. Today, colourful images, pieces of found objects and messages in a multitude of languages have found their way to the wall.

A beautiful Baroque quarter, the Lesser Town (Mala Strana) is clustered around the foot of the Prague Castle. As you walk its narrow cobblestone streets, you will stumble upon ancient burgher houses, tiny boutiques, traditional Czech pubs, alfresco restaurants and intriguing buildings.

The Astronomical Clock in Prague has been ticking and pulling in the crowds since 1490 AD. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, wooden apostles emerge from the trap doors and a lesson in medieval mortality is enacted by figures representing Greed, Vanity, Death and Turk.

The curved lines of this narrow-waisted glass tower, clutched against its more upright and formal partner, led to it being christened the name ‘Dancing House’. Evocative and unique, the deconstructionist building stands in rich contrast to the cobblestone streets and traditional architecture around it.

You can see many of the most striking architectural landmarks of Prague from the low-angle vantage point of a rowboat idling in Vltava. The boat tide is made even more memorable by the reflection of Prague Castle in the river or the mellow night time glow of the surrounding lanterns.

A 30 minute train ride from Prague will bring you to the Czech Republic’s most visited landmark—the Karlstejn Castle. This Romanesque hilltop castle, built by Charles IV in the 14th century to protect the crown jewels, fits the image of the castles of medieval lore.

Prague has a romantic riverside location enhanced by graceful bridges and a magnificent skyline. Add to this extravagant, fairy-tale architecture, memorable classical music, good food and great drinks, and its easy to see why Prague charms everyone who visits.