One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Prague has been the heart of the Czech Republic for well over a millenium. As such, the pre-eminent city has built up quite a stash of landmarks, monuments, cathedrals, museums and palaces, most of which fall under the auspices of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
With a population of about 1.2 million, Prague is wonderfully manageable, amenable to pedestrians and incredibly scenic. For culture, sophistication and nightlife, the Czech capital has inordinate appeal. So why wait then? Head to the cradle of Bohemia and put these ten attractions at the top of your Prague list.
10. Astronomical Clock
One of the premier Old Town Square landmarks in Prague, the ornate and intricate Astronomical Clock is a marvel of medieval craftsmanship. A section of the creation dates back to the early 15th century and the clock contains enough animated figures, details and parts to keep you busy for quite some time.
9. The Lennon Wall
A once bland but historic wall in Prague underwent a monumental transformation in the 1980s when John Lennon and his music became a paramount symbol of protest by young people against the hardline Communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. The wall has been a continual work in progress ever since.
8. Wenceslas Square
A beautiful civic square in New Town and a nexus point of commerce and culture (and strip clubs), Wenceslas Square has been a de facto locale of peaceful demonstrations and violent protests for decades, from the Czech resistance of 1945 to the Velvet Revolution.
7. Vysehrad Castle
A 10th century castle complex that looms on a lovely perch over the Vltava River, Vysehrad is a vital link to the past. The complex contains a fortress castle, cathedral and burial ground of some of the most influential figures in Czech history.
6. The Dancing House
Frank Gehry has been so prolific in recent years that one wonders what the octogenarian architect eats. While the zany and graceful Dancing House in Prague was a collaborative effort, the Canadian’s unmistakable trademark fluidity is all over it. Head to the rooftop restaurant for a brilliant view of the city.
5. The Mucha Museum
Prague was once a hotbed of Art Nouveau and the design aesthetic is everywhere in the city, thanks in no small part to the late, great Czech artist Alphonse Maria Mucha. For a taste of pure Prague culture, visit the exquisite Mucha Museum.
4. Old New Synagogue
Prague’s Old New Synagogue has been active since 1270, a feat that makes it exceptional in Europe and indeed, the world. The genuine Gothic design is staid and austere but imparts a powerful impact. Remarkably, the synagogue made it through the Nazi occupation of Prague unscathed.
3. Petrin Hill
Petrin Hill offers magnificent views of Prague and is several attractions in one. From the 14th century Hunger Wall to the Strahov Monastery, Stefanik Observatory and a memorial to the victims of the totalitarian Communist regime, Petrin is wonderful. One piece of advice: take the funicular railway to the top.
2. The National Museum
The words “national museum” often imply a singular glance into the culture of a particular country. Well, with over 14 million Czech-centric items, the National Museum in Prague is no exception. In point of fact, the facility is one of the best in Europe and is impossible to miss from Wenceslas Square.
1. Prague Castle
Just because Prague Castle ranks number one in physical magnitude by the good people at the Guinness Book of Records does not mean a lick. What does rather, is the fact that the magnificent complex has roots as far back as 870. The castle has been a home to Holy Roman Emperors, kings, queens and Presidents. At least eighteen buildings, from palaces to churches, halls to towers, and eight gardens are contained within the complex borders. Try to block off some time when you visit, in other words.
A plush Baroque design built throughout the early 18th century for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Belvedere contains all the fine ornamental details you would expect from a palace so grand. Dramatic halls, works of art, gardens and even a museum are just some of the sights in store for visitors.
Open since 1365, the University of Vienna is to say the least, quite historic. With over 72,000 students, business is still good at the academic institution. The university’s botanical garden, while not as old, is one of the best in Europe.
The Museumsquartier of Vienna is superbly laid out for lovers of culture. Among the gems in store is the Leopold Museum, with a fabulous collection of Austrian art from the first half of the 20th century that features such native masters as Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka.
Over 600,000 people pass through the Kunsthistorisches Museum every year. The fine arts and decorative arts museum is world class, with iconic works by Raphael, Vermeer, Brueghel, Rubens and Vel?zquez, among others.
The MUMOK, or “Museum MOderner Kunst”, is a recent incarnation in a long-line of hyper-modern museums to hit towns all over Europe. The difference though is that this brilliant facility actually has brilliant art to look at on the inside. Over 7,000 works in the permanent collection to be semi-precise, from Warhol to Picasso, Jasper Johns to Lichtenstein.
Vienna’s cityscape is replete with eccelsiastical masterpieces but St. Stephen’s Cathedral may be the one real must-see of the bunch. The Gothic Romanesque cathedral sits on the traces of a church built in the early 12th century and in addition to peerless physical beauty, has been at the heart of some of the most important events in Austria’s history. As such, St. Stephen’s is one of the few landmarks in Vienna that one can characterize as a genuine symbol of the city and indeed, the nation.
The Rathaus is in effect, the city hall of Vienna. The Neo-Gothic wonder is no ordinary city hall however, not by most standards anyway. From the iconic tower to the Rathauspark, not to mention splendid interior, the landmark is terrific.
The indelible home of the Hapsburg dynasty, the Hofburg was for a time, the most formidable seat of power in the world. The Imperial Palace certainly bears all the trademarks of such a lofty title, with interior residences, museums, a grand library, chapels and a national theatre all available to see on tour. Most famously, the palace was the birthplace of Marie Antoinette.
Yet another remarkable palace in Vienna, the Schonbrunn is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and peerless cultural symbol of Austria. The international body’s justification to include the complex as a heritage site rests on the Schonbrunn’s value as a peerless Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art”. Indeed, as a “well preserved example of the Baroque princely residential ensemble”, as UNESCO puts it, you can’t get any better. The landmarks on site are ceaseless, from the world’s oldest zoo, the Tiergarten, to the vast sculpture garden.
Opera and Vienna go hand in hand and as a result, a trip to the city opera house is a must. The facility dates back to the mid-19th century and the opera company’s season is perenially sold out. All in all, performances embody the epitome of the genre and as such, a visit to Vienna would be totally incomplete without a night at the opera.
The official residence of the Queen is a veritable museum. Exclusive tours of the State Rooms, fine art collection and Garden, with a special palace guide, are available by reservation well in advance. The famous Guard Change takes place every day at 11:30 between May and July and every other day for the rest of the year.
The official name of the UNESCO World Heritage Tower of London is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress. The original White Tower was built in 1078 by King William I and the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom have been kept on site since 1303.
Since 1753, the British Museum has been the foremost institution in the world to document human culture. The breadth of the facility’s collection is too vast to comprehend, though more than 6 million visitors a year try.
Popular lore has it that the site of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster has been holy ground since the middle of the 7th century. Whatever the case, the familiar Gothic form of the UNESCO World Heritage Site originates with Henry III in 1245.
The official name of Parliament in the United Kingdom, the Palace of Westminster is home to the House of Lords and the House of Commons, though Big Ben is the most famous landmark on site. Tours of the interior are available for international visitors in summer only, when Parliament is not in session.
With a fabulous collection of well over 2,000 works of art from the 13th century to about 1900, the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square is a popular and worthwhile attraction in London.
One of the premier concert halls in the world, Royal Albert Hall has been a national treasure since Queen Victoria’s dedication in 1871. From The Proms orchestral music festival, held every summer since 1941, to Bob Dylan, the fabulous interior has seen a wide range of acts that span almost every musical genre.
The crown jewel in the gallery collection known simply as the Tate, one could well avow that the Modern is the best museum of international modern art in the world. Since May 2000, the museum has been one of the most popular attractions in London and sits conveniently across Millenium Bridge from St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Why is the Natural History Museum must-see? For over 70 million items that span the disciplines of botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology, that’s why. If you’re at all curious about the planet you inhabit, the museum is a boundless source of awe.
The present St. Paul’s Cathedral dates back to the 17th century, although all told, there have been at least four others in London since the year 604. Open to the public and recently restored, a superb view of the city is available to those who climb the 530 steps to St. Paul’s Golden Gallery.