Castles … Cathedrals … Synagogues … and Brewing Traditions …
Our cruise ended with a visit to Prague (Praha) … my first time in Prague.
A modern yet historical city; colourful, vibrant; filled with castles, cathedrals, synagogues; the Vltava river running through … city of a hundred towers …
Do you know that Prague comprises of 4-walled cities? Hradcany. (The Castle Quarter); Mala Strana, Stare Mesto,(The Old Town) and Nove Mesto, (The New Town). Parts of the walls still stand today …
Architectural brilliance of Prague Castle, Great Courtyard … in the Castle Quarter … magic of The Old City and Jewish Quarter, Josefov … cultural diversity steeped in history …
Formerly part of Soviet bloc … the ‘gentle revolution’ in 1989 ended the ‘iron curtain’; where in 1993 Czech Republic, with Prague as its capital and Slovakia with Bratislava as its capital were founded.
Visit Prague Castle
World largest fortresses built in 9th Century, listed in the Guinness Book of World Record … main gate crowned with a pair of Baroque fighting giants … hourly Changing of the Guards … home to the Castle Gallery … about 4000 paintings from post Renaissance (known as ‘Mannerism’) to Baroque Period – works by Veronese, Tintoretta, Rubens and Titian.
The Czech President’s working office currently resides on south side of complex …
See Chapel of St Wencelas, medieval frescoes … glided sarcophagus of local saint – John Nepomik, Patron Saint of Bridges … the Royal Crypt … with tombs of several Bohemian rulers.
Walk through the Royal Gardens; enjoy a scenic view of Prague city from elevated castle grounds…
Stroll through vineyards along slopes of the castle …
Attend a dinner and recital in adjacent Psalm Palace …
View the magic of Prague Castle at night …
See the Astronomical Clock –
Created in the 14th Century … housed in the Old City Hall … tells time, shows positions of moon and planets in the Zodiac …
Later additions included medallions for the twelve months; and watch the ‘procession of apostles’ … signalling each passing hour, on the hour …
‘Eat something to go down with the beer’
… small sausages or dumplings … with local light Prazanka beer for hot summer afternoons … stronger Braniker, dark or pale for its flavour … Velvet, a new comer for smoothness or Fleki … a dark brew since 1459 for the serious Prague beer lovers.
Do you know the average Czech consumes about 160 litres of beer each year?
And they have been brewing beer since 1082 … the largest beer drinking nation in the world.
Sample local ‘firewater’ – Slivovice, made from plums … Hanacka, from wheat … Menunkovic from apricots …
Or check out the ‘digestives’ – Becherovka and Prav Praded.
Personal preference is Becherovka – for health reasons of course!
Becherovka, created since 1807 … Natural herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary …
A secret recipe with herbs and exotic spices … Macerated weekly in jute bags … in the traditional way …
Unique and unmistakable taste … Unchanged for over 200 years …
Always a good nip after a hearty meal!
Wish I had more time; but I will just have to return … to sample more food, beers, ambience and the pulse that is Prague …
An in-depth study … accompanied by beer, small sausages and dumplings.
