Discover the Golden City on the Vltava River with its atmosphere and numerous sights such as the famous Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral or Charles Bridge.
PRAGUE CASTLE
The largest castle complex not only in the Czech Republic but also in the world occupies an area of 45 hectares and forms an unmistakable panorama of Prague. Prague Castle is the most important Czech national cultural and historical monument, a symbol of more than a thousand years of the Czech state’s development. It is a monumental complex of palace, religious, fortress, official, and residential buildings, which are rare monuments of all styles. It used to be the seat of Czech dukes, kings, and emperors and, since the establishment of the Republic in 1918, it has become the seat of presidents.
The St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and most important church in Prague. The Czech kings and queens used to be crowned there and it is still an important place of culture and worship. It is the place where the relics of the patron saints of the country, rulers, nobles, and archbishops are kept alongside the Bohemian crown jewels. The church is the third church of the same consecration on the same site. Around 925, Prince Wenceslas founded a pre-Romanesque rotunda there, which was replaced after 1060 by a three-aisled basilica with two towers. The importance of the church grew especially in 973 after the establishment of the Prague bishopric.
In 1344, Charles IV started the construction of the Gothic cathedral. The first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Petr Parléř, built the choir with a wreath of chapels, the St. Wenceslas Chapel, the Golden Gate and the lower part of the Great South Tower. Petr Parléř started to build it, but did not finish it. It was completed to the originally intended height with a Renaissance gallery and a 16th century helmet, which was replaced by the present dome in the 18th century. However, the construction of the cathedral was interrupted by the Hussite wars in 1419 and the church remained unfinished for centuries, although some rulers tried to continue the construction. Among other things, a music chancel was built. The front of the church was temporarily closed. It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the Unity for the Completion of St. Vitus Cathedral began the repair of the original part and the completion of the cathedral in the Neo-Gothic style. In 1929 the church was consecrated.
CHARLES BRIDGE
The Charles Bridge (Stone bridge) is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava River and the second oldest preserved bridge in the Czech Republic. Charles Bridge replaced the previous Judith Bridge, which was torn down in 1342 during the spring flood. Construction of the new bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV and was completed in 1402. Thanks to the stone bridge, Prague became an important stop on European trade routes.
Since the end of the 17th century, 30 mostly Baroque statues and sculptures were gradually placed on the bridge. Originally it was called just “stone” or “Prague”. It was not until around 1870 that the name “Charles Bridge” was adopted; the first to use this name was the Prague publisher, writer and copper engraver Joseph Rudl in his monograph “Die Berühmte Karls-Brücke und ihre Statuen, mit einem kurzen Anhange: Die Franzens-Ketten-Brücke”.
The historic Royal Route – the former coronation route of the Czech kings – leads across the bridge.
You will have the opportunity to experience and enrich the magical atmosphere with your musical performances during the Praga Cantat Festival in front of a picturesque backdrop.