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Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country located in moderate geographical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere .The Czech Republic consists of the historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Comfortable climatic conditions , varied nature and cultural-historical monuments contribute to the country being a sought-after European tourist destination. The most fascinating place to visit is Prague

Why go to Prague? 
Prague is a mixture of modern shops and ancient architecture, Gothic spires and Baroque facades. Absolutely fantastic place for leisure, to explore architecture, go shopping, taste European cuisine, enjoy chilled Czech beer and see beautiful girls.
The climate of the Czech Republic is mild but variable locally and throughout the year.
Best season to visit during in the month of December, January and February are counted as the winter months. The coldest month is January, when even in the lowlands the average monthly temperature falls below 0 °C. If there is any precipitation in winter, it is usually snowfall in the mountains. In the lowlands, it can be alternately rain and snow.
During March, April and May, there is a sharp increase in temperatures. Snow coverage usually disappears in the mid-spring, even in the highest mountains of the Czech Republic, so even there is swift growth of vegetation and also typical for spring can occur. Czech rivers are at their fullest in spring as a result of the melting snow. There are many Czech folk traditions connected with this period.
If you love heat, the best time to visit the Czech Republic is July, when the average temperature is 20 °C warmer than in January. The hottest daily temperatures can be in excess of 30 °C.
The first autumn months starts in August, which is still relatively hot and markedly drier than the preceding month. The period of good weather that usually comes in August is known as Indian Summer. The average daily temperatures usually fall once again below 10 °C around the start of October, which is when the leaves on the trees begin to change into a multitude of colors and fall on to the ground: This is why the Czech word for November is derived from the words for falling leaves.

TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO IN PRAGUE

  • Prague Castle: The praque castle is the castle in Prague where the Czech kings; Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) had their offices. The crown jewels of the Bohemian Kingdom are kept here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world. According to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.
  • Bethlehem Chapel: Bethlehem Chapel (Betlemska Kaple) was founded in 1391, as a holy place where church services could be held in the Czech language. Jan Hus, the Czech national hero, preached here between 1402-1412. Bethlehem Chapel has a fairly torrid history, reflecting the various religious wars that had such an impact on Prague and the Czech Republic as a whole. In 1661 it was altered to a catholic church by the Jesuits. A major part of the chapel was then torn down in 1786.  In the years 1950-1952 a complete replica of the original was erected on the site under the instruction of the architect J. Fragner. Preserved fragments of the original walls were integrated into the structure.  Bethlehem Chapel holds religious services once more, and is also a fine and popular venue for Saturday night classical concerts (while not too cold inside, but it is advisable to wear warm clothing in the winter).Charles Bridge: Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) is a 14th century stone bridge linking the two sides of Prague. This magnificent structure is one of the city's finest attractions, and is the main pedestrian route connecting the Old Town with Mala Strana and Prague Castle.
    From Charles Bridge visitors enjoy fairytale views of the Prague skyline. The wide expanse of the river flows beneath it, flanked on both sides by elegant buildings. Prague Castle towers above in its eminent position. Here you are truly in the centre of the city.
    Charles Bridge throngs with people during the day. Street artists sketch and musicians play; look out for the jazz band, who are particularly entertaining. But for a truly romantic and less crowded stroll, try early morning or any time in the evening.
    King Charles IV commissioned the bridge. The foundation stone was laid in 1357. Charles IV's favourite architect and builder, Peter Parler, oversaw the majority of the work. The initial idea was to build a functional construction for knight tournaments, and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple crucifix. Later, the Catholic desire for ornamentation resulted in 30 statues being erected between 1600 and 1800.
    There are now 75 statues on Charles Bridge, but most are copies, as floods and catastrophes over the centuries damaged the originals. Perhaps the most interesting, as well as the oldest, is that of John of Nepomuk (8th from the right as you cross towards Prague Castle). The entrance to Charles Bridge is marked at both ends by towers: the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Mala Strana Bridge Tower.

 

  • Mala Strana: It’s also known as (the Lesser Town or Little Quarter) clusters around the foothills of Prague Castle, on the opposite side of the river to the Old Town.
    Almost too picturesque for its own good - with its ancient burgher houses, quaint side streets and St. Nicholas Church - Mala Strana is a favourite setting for films and commercials.
    Most tourists pass through Mala Strana as they cross from the Old Town over Charles Bridge and climb up Nerudova Street to reach Prague Castle.
    At the heart of Mala Strana is a baroque square, Malastranske Namesti. Here, and all around in the cobblestone side streets, there is plenty to explore in the small boutique shops, churches, traditional Czech pubs and restaurants, some located in ancient cellars, others offering fine views of the river.
    Mala Strana started life in the 8th century as a market settlement. In 1257 Premysl Otakar II granted it town status and in 1360-1362 fortifications were built by order of Charles IV. This has been known for centuries as the Hunger Wall, built, it is believed, to give employment to the poor during a period of famine.
    Mala Strana was almost has been destroyed twice: first during a battle between the Hussites and the Prague Castle garrison in 1419, and then in the Great Fire of Prague in 1514. Renaissance buildings and palaces replaced the destroyed houses.
    The baroque churches and palaces that give Mala Strana its charm date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Malostranske Namesti: It’s known as (Lesser Town Square) lies at the heart of Mala Strana and has been the hub of this side of Prague since the 10th century.
At the centre of the square is the magnificent St. Nicholas Church, Mala Strana’s primary landmark. All around are a mixture of restaurants, quaint old pubs, small shops and a host of international embassies housed in the wonderful old buildings.

Malostranske Namesti also serves as the main tram stop for Mala Strana. From here you can go in one direction to Wenceslas Square and in the other to Hradcany, at the back of Prague Castle.

Amongst the many impressive buildings around the square is the Old Town Hall, once a place of great importance. Here in 1575, non-Catholic nobles wrote the “Ceske Konfese” (Czech Confession), a pioneering demand for religious tolerance addressed to the Habsburg emperor and eventually passed into Czech law by Rudolf II in 1609. Another building of note is Smiricky Palace at No. 18. It was here that Czech nobles gathered on May 22, 1618. The next day they threw two Habsburg councillors out of a window in Prague Castle, setting off the Thirty Year’s War.

Old Town Square: Old town Square Steps into the Old Town Square in Prague and journey back in time around 600 or 700 years. As you stand in awe, the dramatic history of Prague permeates the air. The Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti) is one of two main squares in the city centre (the other is Wenceslas Square, 5 minutes walk away). With its ancient buildings and magnificent churches, this is one of the most beautiful historical sights in Europe.

Dating back to the late 12th century, the Old Town Square started life as the central marketplace for Prague. Over the next few centuries, many buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were erected around the market, each bringing with them stories of wealthy merchants and intrigue.

At the centre of the Old Town Square is the Jan Hus statue, erected on the 6th July 1915 to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformer’s death. The groundswell of supporters for his beliefs during the 14th and 15th centuries eventually led to the Hussite wars.

Sit back and soak up the atmosphere over a coffee at one of the many pavement cafés surrounding the square.

The Old Town Square's most notable sights are:

1: Church of Our Lady before Tyn
2: Old Town Hall Tower & Astronomical Clock
3: St. Nicholas Church.

 
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