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Top architectural sightseeing and landmarks of Prague - ideas on city exploration routes


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The cultural capital of Czech Republic - Prague – never ceases to attract travelers by dozens of iconic architectural and cultural landmarks. St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church, Loreta, and National Theatre is, by far, not the complete collection of objects of interest. In this review, we will try to include descriptions of the most important architectural landmarks of Prague. We accompany them with interesting facts, colorful photographs, and 3D virtual tours. These 3D tours allow you observing the landmarks from a bird’s eye view. Simply turn on the HD video and enjoy the flight!

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» St. Vitus Cathedral was the burial place for Czech kings and archbishops of Prague. The cathedral also houses medieval Czech Crown Jewels.
» The main tower of St. Vitus Cathedral is 96.5 meters high, so it can be seen from anywhere in Prague.
» That’s the largest church in Prague. It is so large that it can accommodate thousands of visitors.
» The largest in the Czech Republic Sigismund bell is kept in the tower of the cathedral.
» The most valuable among chapels of the temple is Vitus Chapel. It was erected on the site, where once stood the rotunda with the relics of St. Vitus, after whom the temple was named.

St. Nicholas Church, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» St. Nicholas Church is the temple on Old Town Square built in the first half of the 18th century by architect Dientzenhofer.
» It’s known that the building was reconstructed for several times; it stands on the site of the oldest religious building in Prague.
» St. Nicholas Church is famous for its large crystal crown-shaped chandelier given by Russian Tsar Nicholas II.
» On Orthodox Christmas and Easter a procession around the temple is held in Prague.
» The building is reasonably considered one of the most beautiful places in Prague because of its facade decorated with statues and stucco.

Loreta, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» Loreta is the short name of Prague Kostel of Narozeni Pane.
» The church includes a monastery, the Holy Hut of Our Lady of Loreto and Loreto treasury.
» There is a legend telling that there was a hut in the Italian town of Loreto, in which the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she will soon become a mother. The hut was moved to Prague Loreta from Nazareth by angels to protect the baby from pagans.
» The Treasury of Loreta contains a variety of liturgical objects, monstrance and art works of 16-18th centuries, donated by the church.
» Prague Loreta surpasses Italian one, as it turned to be a complex of buildings around Holy Hut. The complex has being expanded, remodeled and repaired for two centuries.

National Theatre, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» National Theatre is the main theater of Czech Republic. It hosts opera, ballet and drama performances.
» National Theatre helps to maintain and develop the most important features of the country, the Czech language, the essence of the Czech music and dramatic way of thinking.
» On August 12, 1881 there was a fire at the National Theatre, which destroyed the copper dome, the auditory and the stage of the theater. This event was treated by people as a national tragedy.
» Thanks to donations from people for the restoration of the theater it became possible to collect more than a million zlotys just in 47 days. After the restoration the famous inscription on the scene: ‘A nation - itself’ appeared at the scene.
»  The National Theatre is one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague. The main facade is decorated with statues of Apollo and Muses; winged bronze statues of Victory managing frantic horses are seen at both sides.

Dancing House, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Dancing House or Fred and Ginger is the nickname given to an office building in Prague.
» Dancing House consists of two cylindrical towers: normal and decostructivist; that’s an architectural metaphor of a dancing couple of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
» The cylindrical portion extending upward symbolizes the figure of a man, and the second part of the building is visually reminiscent of a female figure with a slim waist and a flowing skirt.
» The building was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunic in collaboration with renowned Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996.
» Dancing house is built on the site of a house destroyed by the American bombing of Prague in 1945.

Petrin Lookout Tower, Prague

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Petrin Lookout Tower is the observation tower in Prague that is 60 meters high. It’s located on the Petrin Hill.
» The Petrin Lookout Tower is the Czech prototype of the Eiffel Tower.
» Construction of the tower lasted only 4 months.
» Despite its 60-meter height, the Petrin Tower is yet higher than the Eiffel, as it’s built on a hill.
» There is a gift shop and a small cafe at the lower level of the Petrin Lookout Tower, and a small museum of the literary character of Jara Cimrman on the underground floor.

Lesser Town Bridge Tower, Prague

Location on the map:
Facts: » Lesser Town Bridge Tower is the complex of two towers on the western, Malá end of the Charles Bridge.
» Towers were built at different times. They differ from each other in height and architectural style, but are joined together by a double arch.
» The lower one is called the Judith Tower, as it once was part of the Judith Bridge, standing on the site of the current Charles Bridge. The tower was originally built in the Romanesque style, but later it was rebuilt in the spirit of Renaissance.
» The second tower owes its appearance to the King George Podebrady, who ordered the construction of the second, higher tower in 1464.
» A long time towers on both sides of the Charles bridge have been its main attractions, before sculptures appeared on the bridge.
CONTINUE - PART II »»
Prague - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Build your walking routes in Prague on the landmark map

More to see in Prague
Prague is home to numerous beautiful historic buildings, cathedrals and parks. Excursions to Cathedral of St. Vitus are very popular among travellers. The construction of the cathedral started in the middle of the 14th century. The relics of St. Vitus, which were brought to the church in 1355, are considered the main symbol of the church. The sanctuary is also a popular place of pilgrimage. According to a legend, St. Vith was a great healer and he could heal even epilepsy. Basilica of St. Jiri, which was built in the beginning of the 10th century, is another attraction that is worth your closest attention. The church houses numerous sarcophagi of the ancient patrons of the city, as well as holy martyrs. Wenceslas Square is also an important historical object. A hundred years ago all most important meetings and celebrations were conducted here. Nowadays there are many trendy shops and boutiques near the square, as well as several nightclubs and bars. Staroměstské náměstí is, without a doubt, a no less remarkable place of attraction. During medieval times the square was the location of either brutal executions or magnificent coronations. Schwarzenberg Palace is a prominent architectural landmark of the city. The palace, which was built in the 16th century, amazes travelers not only by its exceptionally beautiful appearance, but also by rich decoration of halls. Many furniture items and elements of decoration are truly valuable museum pieces. Continue your observation of … Read further

Architectural landmarks in the regions around Prague

Dresden
The Frauenkirche, which is translated from German as the Church of the Virgin Mary, is one of the most significant Lutheran churches in Dresden. The modern building was rebuilt at the site of an old sanctuary in 1995. When it was being reconstructed, 40% of old construction materials were used. The original 95-meter church was destroyed completely in the period of the Second World War when Dresden was bombed in 1945. The church is the third ... Open »
Leipzig
In 1897, town authorities intended to open the New Town Hall. The main requirement is that the new building must resemble the former one. So, it was built in eight years. Its form is complex. There are three indoor patios (courtyards). The complex occupies 10 thousand m2. The opening ceremony was visited by the Saxon King. External walls are decorated with sculptures and bas-relief pictures. There is a 114-meter tower in the center of the ... Open »
Nurnberg
St. Lawrence’s Church stands on the foundation of ancient St. Lawrence’s Chapel. It dates back to 1235. In 1350, the construction of a full-fledged church began. It was during these years that an openwork stone rosette with a diameter of 10 metres was created on the facade between the two towers. Later, people started to call it St. Lawrence’s star. The towers of the temple often caused fires started by lightning that struck ... Open »
Vienna
The Rathaus serves as the seat for both mayor and city council of Vienna. The town hall made in the Gothic Revival style was built in the late 19th century. The main hall of the Rathaus is of great interest for tourists, as its length reaches 71 m. This room is decorated with sculptures of famous Viennese. The hall is often used for exhibitions, concerts and balls. In total, the Rathaus hosts about 800 events per year. The central tower of ... Open »
Salzburg
The Hohensalzburg Castle is a medieval fortress located on a high mountain. It was built in 1077. Originally, the castle belonged to archbishop Gebhardt I. The foundation is all that remains of that building. The castle has been rebuilt and strengthened and finally become a mighty fortress. In 1500, the world’s first funicular was constructed. They delivered different goods to the fortress. Over the years of its existence, the ... Open »
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