Prague in a nutshell Day I - Royal Route

Prague Castle has been the seat of Czech princes, kings, and also presidents in the modern history of the state, since the end of the 9th century. The long tour of Prague’s most significant monument will present to visitors not only the history and structural development of Prague Castle, but also the personalities connected with the castle, and other interesting things. The tour comprises all courtyards, leads around the St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedrals and the Old Royal Palace to Jiřské Square, from where it continues to the Golden Lane and to Opyš. It is also possible to see some of the buildings’ interiors (St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedrals, St George’s Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and others).

Charles Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world and the oldest bridge in Prague. It is almost 10m wide, 516m long and rests on 16 arches.
Towers guard both ends of the bridge – the Old Town Bridge Tower and two Malá Strana Bridge Tower.
The bridge is embellished with 30 Baroque statues and sculptural groups from the early 18th century depicting saints, and historical and biblical figures.
Charles Bridge is a popular place among street performers and artists - painters, musicians, dancers, mime artists who have established their own association called the Association of Charles Bridge Artists.

The Old Town Square is the oldest and most important square in Prague’s historical centre.
Old Town City Hall, the Church of Our Lady before Týn, House at the Stone Bell, Kinský Palace, St Nicholas Church the Jan Hus Memorial can all be found on the square.

The Old Town City Hall offers two tours. You can climb up the stairs to the Town Hall Tower and enjoy a beautiful view of Prague’s historical centre from a height of almost 70 metres. The second tour will take you through the city hall’s interior (a chapel with apostles, historical halls and a Romanesque-Gothic underground). No less interesting is the city hall’s exterior, dominated by the remarkable Old Town Astronomical Clock.

A monumental gate leading into the Old Town. The Gothic building dating from 1475 was designed by Matěj Rejsek. It was used as a gunpowder storage facility. At the end of the nineteenth century it was rebuilt into its present form by J. Mocker.