Put A Pin In It! Enchanting Prague and Beyond By Debbie Stone
N
o Czech city has been written and talked about as much as Prague, the country’s picturesque capital. It’s a magical place where history comes alive and the mysteries of the past are revealed through the town’s uniquely preserved historical center. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Prague boasts Romanesque chapels, Gothic cathedrals and Baroque palaces and gardens, making it a showcase of architectural masterpieces dating back centuries ago. Nicknamed “the city of a hundred spires” for its numerous towers, this European
122
capital is regarded as a medieval jewel. Prague is not merely a pretty face. It has the cred to back up its claim to fame. This is the city where the most influential men in Europe came together – rulers, generals, alchemists, Jewish scholars, writers, artists and musicians. It was here that Rabbi Loew is said to have brought the clay Golem to life; Giuseppe Arcimboldo created his unique portraits from fruit and vegetables; Franz Kafka put pen to paper and wrote his seminal works; Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler made
their astronomical discoveries; and the compositions of Mozart, Smetana, Liszt and Dvorak were met with thunderous acclaim. All of the major highlights of this fairy tale city can be explored on foot via ancient cobble-stoned streets. One of the must-see sights is Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle complex in the world. It’s home to the Old Royal Palace and nearby St. Vitus Cathedral and serves as the seat of the president of the Czech Republic and the burial place of the most important Czech rulers