Top Reasons To Visit Prague

Europe, as we know it, is filled with ancient history and modern art. For the most part, people come to Europe to experience the different kind of fun that they are seeking, and where best to enjoy it than Europe’s most fun city – Prague.

Prague is the capital and also the largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million. Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Here are some of the reasons to visit Prague.

Prague Castle

Like the famous castles in Ireland, Prague has its very own castle – Prague Castle. This is an ancient symbol of the Czech lands, is the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. Simply put – Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the whole world.

Built in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj, the castle has gone from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks – to the imposing stone fortress it is today. With each ruler extending the castle during their reign, the castle contains a great mix of styles on show. The breathtaking St. Vitus Cathedral could be found inside the castle.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. This amazing bridge over the river Vltava between the Old Town with the Lesser Quarter is named after King Charles IV, who started building it in the 14th century. Charles Bridge is always buzzing with painters, market stalls and travelers making it popular to Czech artists, musicians and souvenir vendors whose stands line both sides of the bridge year-round. A great time of day to come to the bridge is at sunset when one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the fully lit Prague Castle against the evening sky. It’s also made a fair few TV appearances and you might recognize it for The Brothers Bloom, Mission Impossible, the INXS’ video for Never Tear Us Apart and Kanye West’s – Diamonds from Sierra Leone.

Old Town Square

The Old Town Square is the oldest and most important square of the historical Prague. It started out as the central marketplace for Prague but over the following centuries, many buildings went up around the market in Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles. The most memorable sights in the square include the Old Town Hall Tower (with the Astronomical Clock – Orloj) and the stunning St Nicholas Church. There’s also a Jan Hus statue in the centre which is a popular meeting point for locals.

Lennon Wall

Also known as the Memorial of the Silent Rebellion, the Lennon Wall was a space for anti-government slogans during the Communist years. Today, however, it’s the famed home of graffiti from all over world. It is an evolving work of art which has been in existence for almost 30 years. One can find the Lennon Wall on Velkoprevoske namesti in the Lesser Quarter, just across from French Embassy.