And it’s fun trying to figure out what they say. Today was a busy day after getting off to a bit of a late start, we took a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus and our first stop to hop off at was the famous Prague Castle. A large hilltop fortress, (like all the others of course.) We didn’t get much information on the castle without the audio guide, and the lines were just massivelt and walking through the whole complex was very very slow going. But the sites and rooms were absolutely fascinating.
-Halls of Prague Castle: A walk through halls and chambers of the castle including the room and window of the famous event known as The Second Defenestration of Prague. To put it simply: It’s a small room where a discussion between some Protestant Representatives and Catholic lords turned hostile and the two Catholics and their scribe were literally thrown out of the window, and fell down a 70 foot drop. All 3 survived, but the reasons for their survival aren’t known for sure. (I’ve posted a picture from the castle with a better description.)
-St. Vitus Cathedral: A massive and amazingly decorated and detailed cathedral. (Didn’t get much information on it without a tour/audio guide.
-St. George’s Baslica: Didn’t get much information on it, but a basilica with some bones on display.
-The Golden Lane: A neat old timey street built in 1600’s with guard homes along the walls. Up on top is a neat armory with dozens of suits of armor and weapons, including a torture chamber.
After the castle we took the hop on/off bus to nearby Strahov Monastery built in 1143. We didn’t get much info on the monastery either as it is pretty small and very little of it was open to be seen. After the monastery we went back into main old town and wandered around the market and did some more shopping.
The Prašná brána, near our hotel. A city gate built in the 15th century and restored after being damaged in the Battle of Prague.YARRRRGGHHHHHHH ME HEARTIES!!!Roasting meat on a spit at the market.St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle.One of the guards out front.We arrived just in time for the changing of the guard ceremony – done every hour.St. Vitus CathedralA neat little side church, possibly dedicated to St. Ludmila? Not sure.A neat shrine with angels hovering above, holding a fancy cloth over it.The side of St. Vitus.Vladislav Hall. Main event and castle gathering hall.The window of the infamous defenestration in which the three were thrown out the window for a painful 70 foot fall.The main Czech crown jewels. The crown, scepter, and of course the Holy Hand Grenade.A neat series of rooms, perhaps offices above Vladislav Hall. The coats of arms here and in the neighboring rooms simply represent holders of important offices fom the 16th – 18th centuries.St. George’s Basilica.Pretty plain on the inside, but very old!Crypt underneath.A small side chapel, perhaps dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk. Notce the skull and bones near the bottom of the altar. Wasn’t able to determine whose bones. Possibly the saint, or some old monk. St. John of Nepomuk was thrown from the famous Charles Bridge, which will be seen in tomorrow’s post.Up on top of the wall in the armory.The iconic, and one of my favorite styles of helmets, the medieval Hounskull Helm.The actual prop armor from the movie “The Knight’s Tale”.Ingenious window design along the walls. The ‘stumps’ can to turned/rotated to allow the slat to be turned sideways and closed, or out and open so you can see through the slit.The torture chamber!Entrance to the Strahov Monastery.Neat view of the city, with castle/St. Vitus Cathedral on the left.Back of the monastery.Art on the wall at the monastery, by the bar.Cold beer from the monks, anyone?Prague’s largest hotel – The Hilton, with 800 rooms.Famed actor Jim Carrey in a window! Or at least, his likeness out front of a Madame Tussaud’s. Just inside also, was a Bruce Willis wax figure.
jonsjourneythroughgermany.com 