St. Vitus Church at the Prague Castle. The tombs of the country’s patron saints as well as Czech noblemen are there. (Terri Hirsch)

Prague, the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, has an old-world flavor. It is surrounded by many charming streets, bridges, churches, and statues dating back to the 10th century.

Our nonstop flight on Delta Airlines took us to this enchanting city where we settled in for the night at the flathotel Sibelius. The Hotel Sibelius reflects the period during which the composer Jean Sibelius lived in Prague and composed his most famous symphony, “Finlandia.”

Choose Your Way to Stay

Prague, like other international cities, offers a wide range of accommodations from hotels, pensions, hostels, and private apartments. The Sibelius is located in a residential area within walking distance from the historical area. It houses 12 apartments and 10 studios, consisting of a one- or two-bedroom and kitchen-living room apartment.

Our breakfast room was at the flathotel Orion, conveniently located around the corner. Within this neighborhood, a sufficient number of gourmet restaurants are available as well as Czech beer pubs and shops.

Start With a Walk

Our morning walk started at the Old Town Square and the famous Astronomical Clock, with a show that consisted of three parts: the procession of statues of the Apostles, the clock itself, and the calendar. The main attraction was the hourly procession of the 12 Apostles. This historical center of Prague has been included as a UNESCO and World Heritage Site since 1992.

We continued walking from the Old Town Square to the Charles Bridge (1357), a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Mala Strana. It is flanked by statues on both sides and adorned with sculptures and coats of arms of the countries that belonged to the Czech Crown under the reign of Charles IV. Czech kings went this way to St. Vitus Cathedral on their coronation parades.

Castles and Cathedrals

The changing of the guard, a permanent exhibition, in the outer courtyard at Prague Castle. (Terri Hirsch) Arriving at the Prague Castle, the largest complex of historical and cultural monuments in Prague, we were in time to see the changing of the guard in the outer courtyard. Shortly after our tour of the castle grounds, we visited the world-famous Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral. The construction of this cathedral started in 1344, and it took almost six centuries to build this magnificent edifice. It holds the tombs of St. Wenceslas, St. Vitus, and St. Adabert, the country’s patron saints, as well as the many Czech kings, princes, and noblemen.

In the mid-afternoon, we walked down the old castle’s steps and followed the tram tracks to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which was built on the site of a former 14th century monastery. Located in the heart of Prague’s historical district Mala Strana, it is adjacent to the Czech Museum of Music and only a five-minute walk to the Charles Bridge.

The hotel offers 99 guest rooms, including 22 exclusive suites with magnificent views of the Old Town and Prague Castle.

A narrow stone staircase led us to the wine cellar used for wine tasting and private dining. Afterward, we entered the spa over a glass floor displaying the remains of a Gothic church uncovered during the hotel’s reconstruction. Located in a former Renaissance church, the spa is linked to the hotel by an underground passageway that allows guests to retreat to their rooms in complete privacy.

Exploring Czech History

The following day, our walking tour from the Sibelius took us to the top of Wenceslas Square and the oldest Czech museum, the National Museum, built in 1818. Permanent exhibitions included the primeval history of Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovaka, plus mineralogical and zoological collections. The Wildlife Photo Exhibit by Rostislav Stach of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles was exquisite.

Our next stop was the City of Prague Museum (1863), which exhibited an exposition of the history and development of Prague from its beginnings in the 9th century. This museum houses historical artifacts, documents, weapons, and maps documenting the history of Prague from its earliest archeological treasures to the 18th century.

Try the Monastery Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental-Prague for afternoon tea. (Terri Hirsch) One of the highlights is a huge detailed cardboard model of the city (1826–1854) by Antonín Langweil, who was a servant at the National Museum. At night, Wenceslas Square and its adjacent streets transform into a thoroughfare with excellent restaurants, pubs, and jazz and other music bars.

Prague is a not only a wealth of history but a wealth of music. If you walk north of the National Museum, next to the Parliament Building you will find the Prague State Opera, which resides in a building originally opened as the Prague German Stage. The first German performance was a Wagner opera.

Walking into the opera theater was like walking into a long-gone 19th century era. We saw Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera “II Trovatore” (“The Troubadour”) in Italian with Czech and English subtitles.

Many historic and musical delights await you on a visit to magnificent Prague.

Terri and Martin Hirsch travel extensively and are contributing travel writers.

 

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