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The Mystic City of Towers, Spires & Squares
Ten
years ago, travellers who managed to slip behind the Iron Curtain and
visit Prague were privileged and few. These days, access is easy and the
secret is out. The 1989 Velvet Revolution did more than lift the veil of
Communism from Czech faces. It pulled back a blanket which had been hiding
one of the most majestic cities in Europe.
Prague,
thanks to its Austrian legacy, is a musical city. Smetana was a local;
Mozart made his home here. The city still has three opera houses, as well
as the National Theatre, which plays host to drama and ballet, in addition
to opera. Lighter entertainment is provided by puppetry. Another Prague
passion is Pivo - or beer. The first Pilsener lager was brewed not
far away, at Pilsen, and the quality of Czech lager has been renowned ever
since.
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Remember
that Prague winters can be extremely cold, so November to March is best
avoided if possible. Prague is a complex city, split into two by the river
Vitava and divided into several quarters. The easiest way to organise your
visit is to use these divides to break up your sightseeing.
What
you’ll discover is a stunning city of cobbled lanes and countless
soaring spires. West of the river, trams run up to the Hradcany
hilltop fortress, which dominates the city. It has stood there for
11 centuries. Below the castle is the picturesque Malá Strana
district of rambling streets and tiny squares. Here is the baroque
St Nicholas Church, with its boldly ornate façade,
looks as if it’s been transported from Rome. |
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Across
the broad, 14th-century Charles Bridge, bustling with buskers
and pavement artists, Prague stretches eastward into the Staré Mesto (Old
Town) and Nové (New Town) areas. At the heart of Staré Mesto is the 15th-century
Powder Tower, gateway to the time-trapped Old Town Square. The historical
hub of the city, this spectacular square is ringed with medieval and
baroque buildings and features many street cafés, where you can relax
after a morning’s sightseeing.
Regular
scheduled flights to Prague Ruzyne Airport are from Frankfurt, Paris,
Amsterdam and Heathrow. The airport is 16 kilometres west of Prague and
the 25-minute taxi journey to Prague city centre costs around CZK400.
Prague is easy to explore on foot but is well served by metro, trams and
buses.
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