%cbCharles Bridge%c* and other Prague, Czech Republic Things to Do Tips

The Charles Bridge, or Karluv most, was built over the Vltava River, in 1357, although there was an earlier bridge which collapsed during a flood. Considering the weight of tourists it has to bear, it's surprising this one hasn't collapsed too! Part of it did fall into the river in 1890, but the basic structure is built of solid stone.

The bridge, which is 520m long and 9m wide, was named after the Czech king, Charles IV.

At the entrance to it is the impressive Old Town Bridge Tower, which was added in 1373. The thirty statues which line the sides of the bridge were added much later, in the seventeenth century.

Even more recent additions are the vendors, artists and buskers who make their living off the thousands of tourists wending there way from the Old Town to the Castle and back.

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Address: Karluv most, Krisovnicke namesti, Stare Mesto
Directions: Connecting the Old Town and Lesser Town. Just follow the crowds.

At the eastern end of the Charles Bridge is the Gothic, Old Town Bridge Tower, or Staromestska mostecka vez, built in 1373. It was designed by Peter Parler, but badly damaged by Swedish soldiers in 1648. It has since been restored and you can pay to climb the steps inside the tower for some good views.

Open daily: 10am-7pm (Apr-Oct);
10am-5pm (Nov-Mar)

Admission: 40 Kc

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Address: Krisovnicke namesti, Stare Mesto, Prague 1
Directions: As you approach the Charles Bridge from the Old Town Square, you have to pass under it.

Matro: Starometska
Tram: 17, 18

The colourful, little houses in Golden Lane were built, in 1597, by order of Emperor Rudolph II, in order to house his top marksmen and their families, as these were the men who would protect him from his enemies, and he had a lot!

So, it might have been called Sniper Alley, but later it housed alchemists and goldsmiths. Hence the name, Golden Lane.

The most interesting twentieth century resident was Franz Kafka's sister, Otla, who lived at No. 22. It was while Kafka was staying there, in 1917, that he got the inspiration to write, "The Castle". As you try to find your way out through the narrow streets and dead-ends, you can see why.

Today, the tiny houses are used as gift shops and Golden Lane is possibly the most crowded street in Prague. As I was taking this picture, I could hear Italian, French, German, Japanese, Cantonese and even English being spoken by the jostling crowd of tourists all around me.

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Address: Zlata ulicka
Directions: As you enter Prague Castle through the Eastern Gate, Golden Lane is on your right, running alongside the castle wall. You have to turn right, right and left to reach it!

The Cathedral of St. Vitus, the massive building, which dominates the Prague skyline, is what many people actually think is Prague Castle, because although it is very much a cathedral, it is at the heart of the castle complex.

The building has been developed, over the centuries, around the tomb of St. Wenceslas. St. Vitus's Cathedral was founded, by order of the Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles IV, the same man responsible for the construction of Charles Bridge, in 1344, on the site of an earlier church. There has been a religious building here ever since St. Wenceslas was buried on the hill, more than a thousand years ago.

Even earlier than that, this was an important pagan site, where Svatovit, the Slavic God of Fertility was worshipped. When the Slavs converted to Christianity, the name Svatovit was changed to the nearest-sounding saint's name, which happened to be svaty Vita, or St. Vitus in English.

Amazingly, construction was not finally completed until 1929, although, even when I was there, in 2001, there was still scaffolding and a lot of maintenance building work taking place.

The architect who designed the fourteenth century, Gothic structure, was the Frenchman, Matthew of Arras. When he died, his work was taken up by Peter Parler.

Inside there is a sombre, vaulted nave, illuminated by Venetian, stained glass windows, most of which are fairly recent additions.

The Chapel of St Wenceslas was built over his tenth century tomb, in the fourteenth century. It's decorated with more than 1,300 semi-precious stones. The Czech crown jewels are stored in a locked chamber to one side of the chapel.

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Address: Katedrala sv. Vita, Vaclava a Vojtecha
Directions: The middle of Prague Castle

The unusual clock on the wall of the Old Town Hall has been working since 1490. It shows the movement of the sun and the moon through the signs of the zodiac.

Every hour, from 8am to 8pm, it chimes and a row of wooden saints emerges from a door in the wall above the clock, before disappearing back into the wall again.

This event draws huge crowds of tourists in the summer. This is the favourite meeting place in Prague and most of the walking tours start here.

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Address: Starometska radnice, Starometske namesti
Directions: Old Town Square

The beautiful twin towers of this fourteenth century, Gothic church dominate the Old Town Square. It was the main church used by the Hussites in the 15th century and then, in complete contrast, the Jesuits in the 17th century.

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Phone: 232 2801
Address: Starometske namesti 14, Prague 1
Directions: In the Old Town Square.

Metro: Namesti Republiky
Tram no. 18

The Old Town Square, or Starometske namesti, is a place you'll find yourself returning to again and again, as you wander around the old town of Prague. It was the market place of the medieval town.

The Old Town Hall on one side of the square faces the Church of Our Lady before Tyn on the other.

In summer, the square is packed with jostling throngs of tourists.

Something that is not well publicised is, that at the end of the Second World War, before they surrendered, German tanks trundled into the square and, in a malicious act of vandalism, blasted all of the buildings, destroying most of the original frontage. The buildings have all since been restored.

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Address: Staromestske namesti
Directions: The centre of the Old Town

Prague is famous for its architecture, and the House of the Black Madonna is a landmark building. It is the first and finest example of Cubist architecture in the city and a unique early twentieth century contribution to the architectural heritage of Prague.

Built in 1913 by Cubist architect, Josef Gocar, the House of the Black Madonna now houses the Czech Museum of Fine Modern Arts.

The exhibits are all from the twentieth century and very avant garde. Even at the height of the summer season, not many people ever visit this art gallery, so if you want to take time out from the crowds, this is the place.

Open: 10am-6pm, Tues-Sun. Closed Mon.
Admission:35Kc

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Phone: 2421 1732
Address: Celetna 34, Stare Mesto, Prague 1
Directions: Metro: Namesti Rebubliky
Tram: 17, 18

The Minute House, or Dum u Minuty, was the childhood home of Franz Kafka. It was built in 1611 and has Renaissance, black and white, sgraffito walls. Kafka lived here from 1889 to 1896.

The name comes from the time when the house was used as a tobacconist's shop and you could try a small cigarette, which lasted one minute.

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Address: 3 Starometske Namesti, Prague 1
Directions: Next to the Old Town Hall, just to the left of the Astronomical Clock.

Metro: Starometska
Tram: 17, 18

The Old Jewish Cemetery, or Stary Zidovsky Hrbitov, has been in use since the early fifteenth century. It is the second oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe.

Inside there are 12,000 headstones crammed into a tiny area, and it is estimated that more than 100,000 people have been buried here, in places 12 deep, as the Jews of Prague were not allowed to bury their dead ouside of the Jewish ghetto. The tombs include those of Mordecai Maisel and David Oppenheimer.

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Address: Siroka 3, Prague 1
Directions: In Josefov, near the Old-New Synagogue.

Metro: Starmometska
Tram: 17, 18