THIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL CAPITAL IS THE
LARGEST CITY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND
BOASTS COUNTLESS CHURCHES, MUSEUMS,
THEATRES, CINEMAS AND OTHER HISTORIC
EXHIBITS. ONCE THE PERMANENT SEAT OF
TWO HOLY ROMAN EMPERORS, AND THUS
THE CAPITAL OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
DURINGTHE GOTHIC AND RENAISSANCE ERA,
PRAGUE IS A CITY WORTH VISITING FOR ITS
HISTORICAL VALUES.
BRADDA UNSWORTH
GIVES US AN ACCOUNT OF HER VISIT TO THE
CZECH REPUBLIC CAPITAL.
P
rague, being the capital of the Czech
Republic, is the most stunning city for
architecture in all of Europe. I decided
as soon as I checked into the hotel, that
I would head straight back into the
heart of Prague to investigate the many
different types of historical beauty on show. But I
must advise female visitors to Prague; before
you leave the hotel, change into flat shoes! Those
cobbled streets are no friend to a woman’s stilettos.
OLDTOWN SQUARE
Old Town Square is the city’s historic heart and its
lifeblood seems to be an attraction to the many
tourists that gather to sample the various Czech
delights.They will not be disappointed in this part of
Prague, as there is the Church of Our Lady before
Tyn, the Old Town Hall Tower, the Astronomical
Clock on the OldTown HallTower, Storch House, St.
Nicholas Church, and at the centre of Old Town
Square is a statue erected in honour of the 14
th
cen-
tury reformist, Jan Hus. There’s so much history to
soak up that I didn’t know where to begin! After a
quick glance around, I noticed the gothic spires
shooting out from the 80m high towers on the
Church of Our Lady before Tyn demanded my
attention. Built as the main church for the OldTown
in the 14th century, the church symbolises a time of
great trouble between the Hussites and the Roman
Catholics, as battles between them were engulfing
the society at the time of its construction. Above
the entrance to the church, scenes of Christ’s pas-
sion are carved into the stone, slightly set in from the
protective weathered bricks around it. Although you
would expect the church to look more eerie at
night, it actually looks beautiful as it is lit up with
white and gold lights. Whether it’s in the day or at
night, this gothic style building dominates Old Town
Square.
OLD TOWN HALL TOWER/ ASTRONOMICAL
CLOCK
The clock dial shows six astronomical events: the
movement of the sun, phases of the moon, the
equinoxes, the seasons, the days and the zodiac. It
was fascinating to see the pictures, figures and
symbols here and around the clock; the main one of
which seemed to be the procession of the 12
apostles at the astronomical clock that happens
every hour on the hour. You can also climb (or get
the lift) to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower and
see a magnificent view of the Old Town.
Many little coffee shops and restaurants line the
pavements here, so you can refuel before your next
historical landmark.
CHARLES BRIDGE
Strolling along Charles Bridge, it was clear to see that
Prague does not have a shortage of artists! Many
painters gather on the romantic pedestal to exhibit
and sell their paintings. As well as artists and many
other people bustling backwards and forwards on
BITE
TRAVEL
PHOTOGRAPHY:
IAN GILLETT