Four years back my friend K, came back from Europe and described Prague as “land of fairytales”. Immediately, a small desire silently crawled into a corner of my heart to visit Prague one day. At that point, I was not sure ‘how or when’, but the desire silently just stayed. In 2017 when I got an opportunity to visit Budapest, I immediately grabbed it and added Prague to my itinerary. Glad that I did!
On a cold windy dawn, I disembarked from Eurorail and got ‘lost in translation’ in Prague station. Everything was written in Czech and not a single soul nearby understood English. It took us more than 45 minutes just to figure out the exit from the railway platform to the bus stop. The First Morning in Prague was a memorable experience.
I stayed near the Náměstí Republiky subway station, bang opposite to the Palladium Mall (yes, Like Mumbai, Prague also has Palladium Mall). My hostel was quite near to the main attractions of Prague. I could walk down to the Old Town Square or Staroměstské náměstí, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Even the Prague castle was not very far.
Old Town Square in Prague is a place full of life. I used to spend a long time observing people and the amazing gothic architecture that adorn the Old Town Square. If you are also fond of medieval history and architecture then Prague’s Old Town Square is the place to be.
Church of Our Lady before Tyn
This is the Church of Our Lady before Tyn. This Gothic structure is the most prominent structure of Old Town Square. It is popularly believed that the logo of Disney was inspired by this structure.
The Old Town Square is a place throbbing with people and energy. It is usually crowded throughout the day and night. Numerous street performances can be seen here. The periphery of the square is full of nice and cosy cafeterias where you can sit for long hours and just chill.
Prague astronomical clock or Prague orloj is a medieval astronomical clock
During my visit, Prague Orloj was undergoing renovation and was thus deactivated. It was unfortunate that I couldn’t see it in its full glory.
Legend has it that the clockmaker Hanuš was blinded on the order of the Prague Councillors so that he could not repeat his work; in turn, he disabled the clock, and no one was able to repair it for the next hundred years.
The Church of Saint Nicholas (Czech: Kostel svatého Mikuláše) is a Late-Gothic and Baroque church in the Old Town of Prague
Each time I look at the images of St. Nicholas Church I am tempted to compare it with the castle where Cinderella went dancing. The horse carriage outside the church is as if waiting for her to come out of the castle. I realised why my friend K had compared Prague to fairyland.What do you think??
Martyr’s Memorial
The square’s centre is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who for his beliefs was burned at the stake in Constance. This led to the Hussite Wars. The statue known as the Jan Hus Memorial was erected on July 6, 1915, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death. In front of the Old Town Hall is also a memorial to martyrs beheaded on that spot during the Old Town Square execution.
My hostel overlooked a beautiful flea market selling all kinds of local stuff. We tasted local wine and candies in that market. Czech people are not as friendly as the Hungarians yet they are cordial.
Local Candies
Museum
Here are few more photos from the periphery of Old Town Square
The Powder Tower or Powder Gate (Czech: Prašná brána) is a Gothic tower in Prague, It is one of the original city gates. It separates the Old Town from the New Town.
The gate was used to store gunpowder in the 17th century, hence the name Powder Tower or Powder Gate.
This hotel in Náměstí Republiky is right next to the Powder Tower. This is also the meeting point for the walking tour of Old Town Square
Narrow Lanes leading to the Old Town Square. The lanes of Prague are similar to Benaras and there is a high possibility of getting lost.
Modern architecture amidst the Gothic ones.
Old Town Square Skyline
This post is part of ‘Wanderful Wednesday Travelogues’. If you have a travel story to share do link up. Link your post to this post and just leave a comment with your post link and I will get back to you.
Trina Looks Back 
Over the last few years Prague has become popular among Indians. For years Switzerland was preferred choice for Indians as they were fed with visual imagery by Yash Raj films. many movies have been shot in Prague too. Would love to visit someday
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Switzerland is beautiful but Prague is ethnic…I loved the old world charm of Prague…you almost get transferred to a different Era once you land in Prague.
Thanks for reading and commenting😊
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Balaka, I feel the fascination of Switzerland in India is partly because of YR films. Personally, I will choose East bloc countries for they “hide” many interesting places. Do you know Prague is considered as one of the top party places in Europe? and foremost in E. Europe?
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I agree with you…i personally felt Switzerland as over hyped… probably as you said due to YR movies… East Europe is unexplored… I personally wanted to visit Romania and Croatia but couldn’t due to time constraints… Prague has a great night life..and the Christmas market is the best in Europe.. above all I felt East Europe is safer than their western counterpart.
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On my list is Geogia, Estonia, Poland and Croatia. Well, the problem is that our countrymen always fall for trap. First it was YR and then ZNMD did it with Spain! 😉
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I recently read a blog where they said that visa for Georgia is problematic… Poland is in my list as well..my cousin lives in Warsaw… He infact wanted him to visit this time..but Prague was priority so I skipped… Spain I want to visit for a different reason…I had learnt Spanish and ever since it is there…
Hindi movies always work as tourism ambassador…after dil chahta hai…Goa became a craze..znmd did that for Spain…YRF for Switzerland…Dil dhadakne do for Turkey…the list is endless…
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Prague captured my imagination when I saw the movie Rockstar and then I had a friend from Czech when I previously lived in the UK. The city is beautiful. The photographs are the evidence. In one of the photos, I wonder if the guy in the blue outfit is the real Jeanie? I know, of course not but then howcome his feet are not touching the ground but looks like he is emanating from the chirag, the magic lamp.
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Till date even I wonder the same thing. he really tricked or eyes to make it look so real. Was Rockstar shot in Prague?? I had no clue..will watch it then..Thanks Anamika for reading and commenting. Hugs
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Alladin ke chirag ka rahasya kya tha? 😀
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Pata nahi kar payii..dubara jana padega rahasya malum karne 😀
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Prague is amazing. It looks like a fairy tale come to life. I would love to visit and to paint street scenes. Thank you for the virtual tour.
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I would love to see those paintings..wish you visit soon. Thanks for reading and commenting Alice.
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Beautiful, for sure. It’s too bad you didn’t see the clock but there is also a certain beauty in seeing something under renovation, and you were fortunate to see the renovation of the clock. I have never been to Europe. I hope to, one day, after I retire.
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Yes…do visit Europe in leisure…spend time… Europe unlike the US is very relaxed…you should savour it slowly.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
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