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THE city is known by many names. Some call it the city of a hundred spires, others as the Paris of the East, yet others know it as the Gothic City. Call it by any name, Prague is undeniably the most beautiful capital of Europe. Built on seven hills, the city is a fascinating maze of beautiful structures with spires that soar proudly towards the sky.
Right inside the expansive Prague Castle is a tiny township with its royal residences, St Vitus Cathedral and many interesting tales. Built in the ninth century, this castle even has Golden Lane (Zlata Ulicka) that has miniature houses which were built for the castle’s guards. It is in one of the houses here that Franz Kafka spent a few years. St Vitus Cathedral has been an important structure since its construction. With royal tombs underneath and beautiful arches overhead, it is an exciting place to explore. Also, the ornate Golden Gate of St Vitus Cathedral has a beautiful mosaic depicting the Last Judgment. The Castle is the centre point of Prague just like the legendary Charles Bridge. The ancient Charles Bridge, crowded by artists, musicians, antique statues (30 of them) perhaps sees the maximum footfalls. Overlooking the Vltava River, the Charles Bridge is a folklore that draws people to it, especially at sunset. A flock of tourists crowded around the statue of John Nepomuk, a priest, who was thrown from the bridge on the orders of the King. A tiny crucifix marks the spot from where he was tossed to death. It is said that if you touch the crucifix, your wish will come true. The gleaming crucifix in the midst of the dirt layered statue is a testimony to the thousands of hands touching it each day. Right between Vltava and the Old Town Square lies the Jewish Quarter. Within these lanes stand several synagogues. There is the Spanish Synagogue, so named because of its Moorish architectural elements, the Maisel Synagogue, the High Synagogue, the Baroque Klausen Synagogue and the Pinkas Synagogue. The walls of some synagogues are inscribed with the 7,7297 names of the Jews who died in the holocaust following the Nazi invasion. As you amble down the pavement along the Jewish Town, you can spot the Golem, embedded in the midst of the footpath, the talisman created by a 16th century rabbi to protect the Jews from the being annihilated.
Inside the Old Town is an interesting street known as Celetna Street that leads from the Powder Tower to the Old Town Square. Sometime during the Middle Ages, plaited bread rolls were baked here and the street got named after those rolls. The Powder Tower, a tall gateway stands on the medieval Royal route linking the Old Town and the Prague Castle was taken by the Bohemian rulers for their coronation at St Vitus Cathedral located in the Prague Castle. Centuries fall away as you stroll through the Old Town Square with its crowd of tourists, gaping at the magnificent amalgamation of Cubist, Gothic and Baroque constructions while horse carriages rolled against the picture perfect backdrop. With its cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and galleries, The Old Town Square is a favourite haunt of the tourists looking for a bit of local flavour. The Astronomical Clock is the focus of much attention. It shows time with the hourly march of the Apostles. The New Town with its splendid Gothic and Baroque churches, gardens and the Wenceslas Square is an interesting place. The Wenceslas Square is where the historic Velvet Revolution that led to the end of communism began. Interestingly, Wenceslaus, the Good King, was slain by his evil brother, Boleslav. It is at this square that Jan Palach burnt himself to death in 1969 to protest against the Communist rule. Prague has a remarkable number of museums — right from the Museum of Military History to the Museum of Communism, National Museum, Kafla Museum, Lapidarium and the Jewish Museum as well as the Museum of Decorative Arts. One can’t leave Prague without a visit to the Rudolfinum, the seat of Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The brain child of Josef Schultz and Josef Zitek, it is every musician’s delight. The grandeur of its interiors notwithstanding the Rudolfinum is an interesting piece of architecture. It is also the venue for the famous Prague Spring International Music Festival. Gorging on some exotic pork stuff and delicious dumplings downed with tankards of local Bohemian beer, I mulled about Prague – the city that has seen Bohemian kings, Nazis, communism, Velvet Revolution and yet retained it beautiful innocence. Quick facts Reaching there International airlines like Emirates, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa have flights between India and Prague. I took Emirates which has a halt at Dubai. Staying Right from the Best Western Hotel Meteor Plaza and Hilton Prague to the more affordable Pensions and backpackers’ hostels, there many staying options at Prague. Food Traditional Czech food includes knedliky (dumplings) made of potato and wheat flour with meat fillings. Also try the naakladanee hermeleen (pickled ermine), which has a special soft cheese as filling. Beer is an obsession with the Czech and a must-try. Shopping Crystal, china, Bohemian glass, wooden artefacts and dolls are worth splurging your money on. Currency Euro is the currency of use. 1 Euro = 64.50 INR
Globetrotting (1) A gem-studded golden crucifix dated 11th century that belongs to the so-called Guelph Treasure or "Welfenschatz", a vast medieval church art collection that was sold by their Jewish former owners in a deal with the Prussian state during the Nazi era. A German mediation panel started hearing a dispute between a Berlin Museum and the heirs of the art dealers, claiming that the art dealers had no choice but to sell it to the Nazi state below value. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Berlin museum now holding the treasure, says they received "a fair and appropriate price". Photos: AFP (2) A guillotine believed to be used to execute Nazi resistance student siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl in 1943 that has been found in Munich, southern Germany after being thought lost for decades. The blood-stained device with a 15-kilo blade was identified after 18 months of research at the Bavarian National Museum where it had actually been for around 40 years without anyone realising it. (3)
An old manuscript on display at the Gazi Husrev-bey library in Sarajevo. This Bosnian library houses its ancient Islamic manuscripts, which were saved from destruction during the 1992-1995 war by residents who hid them. Sarajevo recently re-opened the 477-year old library, containing the largest collection of oriental books and manuscripts in South-Eastern Europe, after it was rebuilt with the financial help from Qatar.
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The picture-postcard city wraps itself skilfully around the indolent Vltava River. The Charles Bridge spans River Vltava dividing the city into two distinct halves. On the left bank of the Vltava River are the Prague Castle and the Lesser Town and on the right bank are the Jewish Quarter, the Old Town and the New Town.
