Life

Winter in Europe — Destination Prague

January 19, 2018

Mariam Nihal



Saudi Gazette

Top 5 things to see in Prague

Charles Bridgeour Map

The iconic 14th-century structure crosses the Vltava river linking Prague's Old & New Towns.

The stone Gothic bridge is filled with Baroque statues, artists, souvenir vendors and entertainers. Its construction started in 1357 under the patronage of King Charles IV, and was completed in the 15th century.

Prague Astronomical Clock

Is a medieval astronomical clock is a must-see and happens to be one of Europe's best-known tourist attractions. It shows the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky with a mechanical clock in the center of it. The clock is made of the parts including the Astronomical Dial, the Walk of the Apostles Figurines and the Zodiac Dial on the bottom.

Great mystery has surrounded the clock since it was built in 1410. One narrative explained the operation of the astronomical clock is related to the wellbeing of the whole land. Once the clock stops working, the Czech land is rumored to suffer bad times or it will be affected by a war.

Prague Castleour Map

The majestic castle dating from the 9th century is a massive complex measuring almost 70,000 square metres. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle has immense history and was seized and plundered by the Saxon army in 1631 and then by the Swedes in 1648. The UNESCO monument with a tradition of more than 1000 years was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czech Republic. A Romanesque palace was constructed here during the 12th century. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.

Old Town Square

Is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague, located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge. It is a great place in winter for families who can indulge in street food, entertainment and shopping.

Don’t forget to explore the town hall cellars for a journey through the oldest history of Prague’s Old Town. The city level was then several meters lower than what it is today. Since the land was often flooded by the Vltava at that time, it had to be artificially raised. They were formerly at a level of 2–8 meters under today’s streets. During the 13th century, the original ground floors of the Romanesque houses became underground areas, which began to be used as cellars. 70 houses remain in the Old Town.

The Lennon Wall

Since the 1980s, the wall dedicated to John Lennon has been filled with Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles' songs. The wall, located at Velkoprevorske Namesti, Mala Strana, is owned by the Knights of the Maltese Cross and is visited by loyal Lennon fans and musicians in the city.


January 19, 2018
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