Prague Off the Beaten Path Tips by Zvrlj

Back Garden of Sternberg Palace is peaceful oasis in the very centre of Prague area overcrowded with tourists. Although there are several works of Czech sculptors in it, it is often missed by National Gallery visitors. Maybe it should stay this way and its enchanting silence should be as it is.

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Villa Bilek was built in 1911. Its interior and exterior were designed by Frantisek Bilek, Czech sculptor and printmaker. It is not luxurious building, but it is very cosy, calm and pleasant – it is kind of perfect place for an artist to live and work in. Although it is not widely known, it is must-see place.

Exterior of Villa Bilek is hard to see because it is hidden by kind of park in its own front yard.

There is permanent exhibition of Bilek’s works (sculptures, prints, sketches, interior decorations…) in Villa.

Villa Bilek is in Mickiewiczova street No. 1, in Hradcany. It is just a couple of minutes walk far from Belvedere. The nearest Metro station is Hradcanska.

Open: May 15th – October 15th: Tue-Sun 10-18 / October 16th – May 14th: Sat-Sun 10-17

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Phone: +420-224 322 021
Website: http://www.ghmp.cz/a_vila.php

Every single tourist in visit of Prague see Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock, most of them see every-hour-"play" (which includes Procession of Apostles, Death ringing the bell…) and quite a lot enjoy a view of Old-Town Square (Staromestske namesti) from the top of the Old Town Hall Tower. Having that on mind, we were quite surprised starting a guided tour of Old Town Hall with just two more couples.

The tour starts just after the Procession of Apostles and it is opportunity to see it from the back side, which is amazing, especially because it is accompanied with the noise of the crowd watching it in "regular" way. Than it continues with visit to the oldest parts of the building – the tower and the gothic chapel of St Lawrence, built in 1381 (chapel faces Old-Town Square). It is followed by the visit to the ancient council chamber from the late 15th and early 16th century – the time of reign of King Vladislav – Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary, and the modern hall that is now used for the meetings of the town council and which is decorated with two paintings made by the Bohemian artist Wenceslaus Brozik – "Jan Hus Before the Council of Constance", and "The Election of George of Podebrad as King of Bohemia". The longest, but very interesting part of the tour is walk through romanesque and gothic cellars, and the tour ends in entrance hall decorated by two early 20th century mosaics presenting the scenes from the life of Libuse, mythical ancestor of the Premyslid dynasty and the Czech people as whole.

The guide, young man, was excellent – he made a kind of journey through Czech history while explaining what we had seen during the tour. It was very nice of him to try to learn a few words of Italian, Hungarian and Serbian language. In general – the tour was the great experience.

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Gothic cellar, underground space of the Baroque citadel with fragments of masonry of mediaeval palace buildings, houses permanent exposition Historic Forms of Vysehrad. This exposition offers the great overview of Vysehrad fortress history and mythology.

Gothic cellar is on Vysehrad hill, near Church of St Peter and St Paul.

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Vysehrad is the place of the venues of many legends about Libuse, mythical ancestor of the Premyslid dynasty and the Czech people as whole. Libuse and her husband, prince Premysl, ruled peacefully over the Czech lands from the hill of Vysehrad. The most famous legend is one about Libuse's prediction – she stood on a cliff overlooking the Vltava, pointed to a forested hill across the river, and proclaimed: "I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars".

So called Libuse's Bath is, actually, ruin of a 14th century watchtower, an outpost on Vysehrad rock guarding approach to Prague by water. It was supposedly from there that the princess cast her lovers down into the river.

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One of the finest examples of Czech cubism in architecture is corner house at crossing of Premyslova and Neklanova streets. It was projected by architect Josef Chochol. It can be easily reached on a way down from Vysehrad hill.

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Equestrian sculpture of St Vaclav (St Wenceslas) created in the second half of 17th century by the first important Bohemian Baroque sculptor Jan Jiri Bendl had been located on Wenceslas Square, but it had been transferred to Vysehrad in 1879. This sculpture is quite unusual comparing it to the equestrian sculpture of St Wenceslas by Josef Vaclav Myslbek – the most famous one (now on Wenceslas Square).

Bendl's sculpture can be seen in a distant northwest corner of Vysehrad hill.

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Karel Capek was the most famous Czech writer of the first half of the 20th century. His brother Josef Capek was very important painter, writer and poet.

There is modest but beautiful Josef Capek and Karel Capek monument on the square Namesti Miru. On each of two wider sides of roughly carved monument there is one name made of holes.

Namesti Miru can be reached by Metro – there is station Namesti Miru. Another Metro station – I.P.Pavlova is just nearby.

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Works of Chech artist David Cerny, who received his education in Czech Republic and in USA, could be seen all over Prague. Among the most interesting are "Hanging Out" on the building in Husova Street, "Horse" in passage way of the Lucerna Palace, "Pi*s" at Kampa island, "Babies"…

Enormously big, black, faceless babies crawling over TV tower Zizkov – it is "Babies". First "Baby" was presented in 1994, and this instalation is permanent on Zizkov tower since 2001.

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Website: http://www.davidcerny.cz

Works of Chech artist David Cerny, who received his education in Czech Republic and in USA, could be seen all over Prague. Among the most interesting are "Babies" on TV tower Zizkov, "Hanging Out" on the building in Husova Street, "Pi*s" at Kampa island, "Horse"…

"Horse", representing St Vaclav, riding horse in the very strange way, was created in 1999, and, after several ideas of its location, it was finally set in passage way of the Lucerna Palace in Vodickova Street, just a few metars from Vaclavske namesti.

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Website: http://www.davidcerny.cz