From Vienna we drove to through the Czech Republic to Prague. The Republic is an EU member with its own currency, the Czech koruna - the NZ dollar is better against this than the Euro! For the first time we were stopped at the border, particularly to check our car insurance papers.
Some towns show their Soviet heritage
In contrast Cesky Krumlov is a well preserved medieval town popular with tourists.
Matthias Gate
And changing the guard hourly.
Our pension (B & B) was within walking distance of the old town & castle. The owner was particularly friendly & helpful. (Our car is the bright blue Puegeot parked nearby.) Prague is a very popular tourist destination & so we had our first lengthy ticket queues.
Our first view of Prague Castle (the cathedral towers). This complex of buildings was developed over 11 centuries, making it one of the biggest castles in the world. It has been the seat of Bohemian kings and now the Czech President. From the 1500s until 1918 the Habsburgs ruled & this area was part of the Austrian empire. It was easy to spend a day here seeing the sights, including museums & galleries.
The centre piece - St Vitus Cathedral
A ramp took the horses into a huge hall for jousting.
Our first view of Prague Castle (the cathedral towers). This complex of buildings was developed over 11 centuries, making it one of the biggest castles in the world. It has been the seat of Bohemian kings and now the Czech President. From the 1500s until 1918 the Habsburgs ruled & this area was part of the Austrian empire. It was easy to spend a day here seeing the sights, including museums & galleries.
The centre piece - St Vitus Cathedral
A ramp took the horses into a huge hall for jousting.
Matthias Gate
And changing the guard hourly.
A small patch of the Castle gardens.
A view from the top.
Surprise decoration in an alley. Here we had a delicious traditional lunch of rabbit & sparrow with dumplings.
The next day was spent walking around the Old Town - a view of the city & bridges across the Vltava River.
The 14th century Charles Bridge is the oldest & most famous. It has 3 towers and, around the 1700s, 30 statutes of saints were built along its balustrades. These days it has foot traffic only & is being reconstructed. It was packed with tourists when we were there.
Some statues are still venerated as can be seen by this spot, rubbed regularly, amongst the pollution.
The Old Town Square with the spires of the Church of our Lady before Tyn
Some statues are still venerated as can be seen by this spot, rubbed regularly, amongst the pollution.
The Old Town Square with the spires of the Church of our Lady before Tyn
15th century astronomical clock. We joined the crowd watching the different parts move as it chimed on the hour.
15th century Powder Gate
Guarding the city
15th century Powder Gate
A view from the top.
Surprise decoration in an alley. Here we had a delicious traditional lunch of rabbit & sparrow with dumplings.
Loretto of Prague - its treasury has a monstrance containing 6222 diamonds - what a beauty (no photos allowed, of course)!
Dancing House (1996). Originally named Fred & Ginger, after Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.
The museum ticket for the Jewish Quarter included visits to the Old Jewish Cemetery, and synagogues which told the story of the Jewish p
eople in Prague. They were often treated badly & from the 12 - 1600s lived in the same ghetto as they were not allowed to live beside Christians. When the ghetto graveyard became too small they added another layer of soil to bury the next lot of people. The tombstones were always lifted & reset. 12,000 accumulated between the 1500s & 1787 (photo above). More than 2/3 of the 92,000 adults & almost all the 8000 Jewish children from Prague died during WW2.
The museum ticket for the Jewish Quarter included visits to the Old Jewish Cemetery, and synagogues which told the story of the Jewish p
eople in Prague. They were often treated badly & from the 12 - 1600s lived in the same ghetto as they were not allowed to live beside Christians. When the ghetto graveyard became too small they added another layer of soil to bury the next lot of people. The tombstones were always lifted & reset. 12,000 accumulated between the 1500s & 1787 (photo above). More than 2/3 of the 92,000 adults & almost all the 8000 Jewish children from Prague died during WW2.Maisel Synagogue
Prague was a very special place to visit. There was plenty more to see & enjoy, but our home exchange in Freiburg, in the southeastern corner of Germany, was beckoning.