Prague, A Unique Destination For All
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | By Ros Bulat |
Prague is a living fairy tale
Cobbled streets, amongst its ornate buildings and shop windows aglow with glistening crystals.
It's amazing what just a couple of decades of freedom can do. Prague has always been beautiful and historic. Now it's fun, too. No other place in Europe has become so popular, so quickly. And for good reason: Prague has something on offer for everyone!
For the Family
Prague ZOO is said to be one of the best in Europe and could easily keep your kids busy for one entire day. One of the most appreciated pavilions is the Indonesian Jungle and the Monkey Island where you can gaze on the jungle flora and fauna and practically play with the cute Lemurs. Another place that your kids will love is the Children’s ZOO, a specially built farm where the kids can enter some enclosures and play with many of the animals.
While in Australia we do have an amazing, natural water wonderland, at Prague’s Seaworld they have done a wonderful job in combining nature with man’s amazing technological feets. The 1,000 square meters and 75 tonnes of specially adjusted ocean water, in which live a huge number of coloured sea and ocean fish and corals, will wow any water lover.
Situated in the Old Count’s Chambers of Prague Castle, the Prague Toy Museum is said to be the second largest museum of its kind in the world. In the seven exhibition rooms are toys collected from all over the world, starting from the ancient Greek times through to the modern phenomenon that is “Barbie!”
Spekbl and his son Hurvinek are two Czech legendary marionettes that have been amusing children in over 30 countries since the 1920s. Performances are available at the Marionette Theatre for children to enjoy.
For the Shakers and Movers
Prague's is filled with a lively music scene and back street surprises, such as the Lennon Wall on Kampa Island, splashed with "all you need is love" and "imagine" graffiti, honour the beloved singer-songwriter. This is matched with an abundant restaurant choice, including the only Michelin Star Restaurant in Eastern Europe, Allegro.
For the Rest of Us
Prague was the only Central European capital to escape the bombs of the last century's wars — it is one of Europe's best-preserved cities. It's filled with sumptuous Art Nouveau facades, offers tons of Mozart and Vivaldi performances and very reasonable prices and brews the best beer in Europe.
Prague Castle is certainly a special attraction. Set like a small town within its own city walls, it is the largest ancient castle in the world (570m long and on average 128m wide). Prague Castle has been the ruling seat of many Czech Kings, Holy Roman Emperors and of more recent times, Presidents of the Czech Republic. No wonder it is the most visited site in Prague.
Wenceslas Square, named for the "good king" of Christmas-carol fame, is the lively heart of modern Prague. St. Wenceslas, who was the wise and benevolent 10th-century duke of Bohemia, presides over the square on horseback. The square (actually more of a broad boulevard) is a stage for modern Czech history: The Czechoslovak state was proclaimed here in 1918. In 1968, the Soviets put down huge popular demonstrations here (you can still see patches covering bullet holes on the columns of the National Museum). And 20 years later, in November 1989, hundreds of thousands of ecstatic Czechs gathered here to celebrate the imminent freedom of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. Not far from the square is the Museum of Communism, ironically nestled between a McDonald's and casino. The museum is a hodgepodge of artifacts from the Czech Republic's 40-year stint with Soviet economics.
Prague's focal point is the Old Town Square, a market square since the 11th century. Today the old-time market stalls have been replaced by cafés, touristy horse buggies and souvenir hawkers, but the square is still beautiful. Facing the square is the towering 14th-century Tyn Church, with its fanciful spires flanking a solid gold effigy of the Virgin Mary. The pointed 250-foot spire rising from the square marks the 14th-century Old Town Hall, famous for its astronomical clock.
Karlova Street, winds through medieval old Prague to the much-loved Charles Bridge. The glorious, statue-bedecked bridge, commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357, is lined with market stalls and street musicians, offering a pleasant and entertaining stroll.
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