Curious things to do in Prague
Author: Jools Stone
The Czech capital, Prague, offers much to delight travellers with its cityscape of fairytale spires, imposing castle and historic sites, plus the chance to sip on a refreshing pilsner or two. Dig a little deeper though and you can uncover a tranche of curious finds, from striking buildings and pleasant parks to thought-provoking sculptures and spooky cemeteries. Let’s dive in and explore this scintillating city.
1. Architecture
If you love modern architecture, you’ll love the ‘Dancing House’
One of the city’s most arresting buildings is the Dancing House. The wonky Neo Baroque structure was designed by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry on the site of a World War II bombing on the Rasin Embankment. The house was conceived by Milunic in league with the then dissident leader Vaclav Havel, whose family owned the neighbouring plot in the 1980s before he was elected president of Czechoslovakia. Today it’s home to a hotel, a bar, an art gallery and various offices. You can take an hour-long tour of the building including views from the roof terrace.
Top tip: The restaurant on the seventh floor of the building is named Ginger & Fred, after Gehry’s original name for the building which was said to resemble Hollywood dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
2. Charles Bridge
If you like the Charles Bridge, you’ll love seeing this fascinating timepiece in action
The Astronomical Clock is one of Prague Old Town’s key attractions, taking pride of place in the Old Town Square. The intricate clock was built by master clockmaker Mikulas in 1410 and inspired various myths, including one in which the clockmaker was blinded, driven mad and then cursed anyone who sought to repair or copy the clock to go insane or die.
The clock makes a strong impression with its four moving automatons (including a skeleton ringing a death knell every hour), and 12 rotating statues of the apostles. The clock not only tells the time, but also gives many astronomical details such as sunrise and sunset times, and positions of the sun, moon and constellations of the zodiac.
Top tip: Take a tour of the inner workings of the clock to fully appreciate the mind-blowing craftsmanship behind it.
3. History
If you like digging deep into history, you’ll also dig this vast cemetery
Olsany Cemetery, Prague’s largest, opened in 1680 outside of the city limits to accommodate a surge of plague victims. Today it is a tourist attraction largely due to its collection of elaborate art nouveau monuments done out with filigree. Thought to be home to over 230,000 people across 60,000 graves, Olsany is divided into 12 sections, including an expansive Jewish cemetery. Notable figures buried here include Czechoslovakia's first communist president, Klement Gottwald, celebrity ice skater Pavel Roman and Jan Palach, the student who famously immolated himself in 1969 in protest against the Soviet-led invasion of the country. One of the most striking mausoleums is that of the Hrdlickova family. The tomb features a dead soldier, his mother and Emperor Franz Josef I.
Top Tip: Pick up or download the Learning Trail for some historical context on the graves. This guide walks you through the cemetery from the 17th Century graves in the north to the more recent, elaborate examples in the centre.
5. Artwork
If you enjoyed the upside-down sculpture of Saint Wenceslas on his horse, try this contentious sculpture for size
You can find the often-provocative public artworks of ‘bad boy’ sculptor David Cerny across the city, but there is one which surely stands out most. ‘Proudy’ sits in a courtyard outside the Franz Kafka Museum and features a pair of verdigrised bronze statues with their mechanical members urinating into a pool in the shape of a map of the Czech Republic.
Top Tip: Look more closely and you can see that the figures are spelling out words from literary quotes in the pool. But the statue gets more interactive. You can submit your own words by sending a text message to a number displayed on a nearby plaque.
6. Petrin Hill
If you liked the Old Town Square you’ll love discovering these great outdoor spaces
Prague is a remarkably green city with many spots to enjoy the great outdoors. There are two parks with a special appeal. Petrin Hill rises 318 metres above the city. The greenest of Prague’s seven hills, with its vineyards and sweet-scented fruit trees rewards strollers ambling along winding paths to take in the view of Vltava River and its bridges. Climb up the Eiffel Tower lookalike for an even better view.
Alternatively, check out Letna Park, which also overlooks the Vltava as well as the Old Town and its many spires. Come summer, it’s home to one of Prague’s best beer gardens while the leafy environs attract walkers, cyclists, joggers and skaters. Visit in spring when the daffodils and tulips are in full bloom.
Top Tip: If you’re not feeling too energetic, you can reach the top of Petrin Hill by taking a short funicular ride.
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