St Martin's Rotunda (I&V) and other Prague, Czech Republic Things to Do Tips

St Martin's Rotunda is probably the oldest surviving rotunda in Prague. It was built in Romanesque style around 1100. During Hussite Wars, in 1420 the rotunda was damaged and looted, and in 1523 suffered a fire. During Thirty Years' War it was used as gunpowder store. In early 18th century it was repaired, but only to be severely damaged by the Prussian bombardment of Prague in 1757. In 1780s rotunda was closed by Joseph II, serving until 1850 as a storeroom and later a house for the needy. Its present appearance is result of restorations undertaken from 1878 to 1880 to plans by the architect Antonin Baum. Pseudo-Romanesque portal on the south side of rotunda dates to these restorations. The last major repairs of rotunda were made in 1991.

St Martin's Rotunda is occasionally used as burial chapel nowadays.

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Directions: St Martin's Rotunda is located in Vysehrad hill, near the Leopold Gate.

St George's Basilica is the oldest preserved church building of the Prague Castle. Only the foundations of the building, founded about 920 by Prince Vratislav I, have been preserved. In 973 the basilica was reconstructed and enlarged with the building of St George's Benedictine Convent.

The present Romanesque appearance of the church is from the 12th century and the reconstruction carried out after the fire which occurred in 1142. In the first half of the 13th century a chapel consecrated to St Ludmila and a portico on its western side were added. In the Early Baroque period, from 1671 to 1691, the present facade was created and the the whole convent was reconstructed. In the early 18th century the architect Frantisek Maxmilian Kanka added the Baroque Chapel of St John Nepomuk. After the devastating occupation of the convent by troops in the late 18th century the church was renewed in the years from 1887 to 1908 and its Romanesque appearance was restored.

The interior of the basilica is austere and monumental. The altar painting and frescos in the dome are the work of Vaclav Vavrinec Reiner. The tombs of members of the Premyslid dynasty of princes Vratislav I and Boleslav II are in the main nave.

St George's Basilica now serves as a concert hall, a delightful setting for early evening classical concerts. It is highly recommended to wear fairly warm clothing in the winter if attending concert in St George's Basilica.

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Phone: +420 224 373 368
Address: Namesti U Svateho Jiri
Directions: St. George's Basilica is at St. George Square, opposite of Cathedral of St. Vitus apse.
Website: http://old.hrad.cz/

The Saint Ludmila Church is a Neo-Gothic church built in the period from 1888 to 1893. It dominates the Namesti Miru Square. Its interior and exterior were decorated by many famous artists of that time, including sculptor Josef Vaclav Myslbek, author of the statue of St Wenceslas on Wenceslas Square.

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Address: Namesti Miru
Directions: The Saint Ludmila Church is at the Namesti Miru, at the part of Prague called Vinohrady. The nearest Metro station is Namesti Miru, and station I.P.Pavlova is just nearby.

There is amazingly beautiful and very unique church at the Jiriho z Podebrad Square – Church of the Most Sacred Heart of our Lord. This monumental church was built in the period from 1928 to 1932, and it is artwork of Slovenian architect Josip Plecnik.

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Address: Jiriho z Podebrad Square
Directions: Church of the Most Sacred Heart of our Lord is at the Jiriho z Podebrad Square, at the part of Prague called Vinohrady. There is Metro station Jiriho z Podebrad.

Emauzy Monastery with the Church of Our Lady and Slavic Patron Saints was founded by Charles IV in 1347 for Slavonic Benedictines. It was the only Slavonic monastery in the west Christianity of the Charles's empire, centre of scholarship and arts. Such personalities as Jan Hus, Jerome of Prague… were among the students.

On February 14th 1945, during an American air-raid in Prague, the Church was destroyed. Later on, in 1967, a modern structure by the project of architect F. M. Cerny was realized – an asymmetric 32 m high shell structure with a 40 cm thick construction of white concrete.

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Phone: 221 979 211
Address: Vysehradska 49/320
Directions: The nearest Metro station is Karlovo namesti, and two asymmetrical spires of Church can be seen as soon as street level is reached.
Website: http://www.emauzy.cz/

Collection of European Art from Antiquity to the End of the Baroque of National Gallery in Prague is housed in Sternberg Palace. It is neither huge castle nor huge collection, but it contains significant works of some of the greatest artists.

Among the masterpieces of this collection are "Adoration of the Magi" by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Albrecht Durer's "Feast of the Rose Garlands", El Greco's "Praying Christ", "Portrait of Jasper Schade" by Frans Hals, but also works of Hans Baldung Grien, Lucas Cranach, Francesco Melzi, Agnolo Bronzino, Francisco Goya, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn…

This short preview could not be complete without mentioning two beautiful Faiyum Portraits.

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Address: Hradcanske namesti 15, Prague 1
Directions: Sternberg Palace is just by the west entrance to the Prague Castle. The nearest Metro station is Malostranska.
Website: http://www.ngprague.cz/2/detail/sternberg-palace/

"'The Mucha Museum' offers you a unique view into the world of Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), one of the most celebrated artists of the Art Nouveau period."

There is no much to add to this official info leaflet text. Located on the ground floor of Baroque Kaunicky Palace, the Mucha Museum exhibits the most famous artworks of Alphonse Mucha, including his lithograph-posters with Sarah Bernhardt, but also his charcoal drawings, pastels, oil paintings, his applied arts works… Very interesting is the drawing Mucha made at the age of 8. Exhibition in the Mucha Museum includes Mucha photographs, memorabilia and excellent movie about Mucha, his life and art, which can be seen in a tiny Museum cinema.

There is very nice shop in the Mucha Museum offering books about Alphonse Mucha and posters, postcards, photos, calendars, glass, jewellery, hand painted silk scarves… with Alphonse Mucha and Art Nouveau motifs.

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Phone: +420-221 45 1333
Address: Panska 7
Directions: The Mucha Museum can be reached from Vaclavske namesti via Na Prikope or Jindrisska. The nearest Metro station is Mustek.
Website: http://www.mucha.cz/

Museum Kampa, housed in very unique historical Sovas Mills complex, was open in 2003. It owes its existence to Czech-American Mrs. Meda Mladek whose idea was to renew this previously neglected and ruined buildings, and to use them as the space where artworks she and her late husband Jan had collected would be exhibited.

There are two permanent exhibitions in Museum Kampa: one presents works of two famous Czech artists – painter Frantisek Kupka and sculptor Otto Gutfreund; the other is Collection of Central European Modern Art which includes works of Czech Jiri Kolar, Magdalena Abakanowicz from Poland, Serbian Mica Popovic…

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Phone: 420 257 286 147
Address: U Sovovoych mlynu 2, Prague 1
Directions: Museum Kampa is on Mala Strana (Lesser Town), just by Vltava, south of Charles Bridge.
Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: http://www.museumkampa.cz

Golden Ring House (Dum U Zlateho prstenu) is mediaeval town house located by Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Kostel Matky Bozi Pred Tynem). At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries a major modification of the whole structure was undertaken including the frontage with golden ring house sign.

Permanent exhibition in Golden Ring House presents Czech Art of the 20th Century (works of Jiri Kolar, Jaroslav Rona, Karel Teige, Jan Zrzavy, Karel Malich… can be seen). The exhibitions of The contemporary Czech art are taking place in the basement rooms.

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Phone: +420 224 827 022
Address: Tynska 6, Prague 1
Directions: Golden Ring House can be reached from Old-Town Square (Staromestske namesti) by entring the street between Church of Our Lady before Tyn and Stone Bell House (Dum U Kamenneho zvonu).

Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Website: http://www.citygalleryprague.cz/

Stone Bell House (Dum U Kamenneho zvonu) is located in the heart of the city – at the Old-Town Square (Staromestske namesti), in front of Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Kostel Matky Bozi Pred Tynem). It owes its name to the facade decoration – the bell appearing from the corner of the building. Stone Bell House dates back to second half the 13th century, but it was rebuilt in the 14th century as a gothic palace, and many architectural elements from that period, including two chapels with sculptures and painted decoration, were preserved.

Nowadays Stone Bell House is one of the most attractive spaces used for exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

Open: Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Phone: +420 224 827 526
Address: Staromestske namesti 13, Prague 1
Website: http://www.citygalleryprague.cz/