Prague

 Prague

The capital and largest city in the Czech Republic.  It is also called "The City of One Hundred Spires".  This area has been occupied for over 1000 years.

Walking around the Old Town is really wonderful.  The cobbled streets and the building architecture really give it a medieval feel.  The streets are full of tourists during the day.  I saw many tour groups and and groups from the river boats walking around town with their guides.  At night the Old Town has a different feel.  There are fewer people on the streets but more people in the bars and streetside cafes.  

                      The famous St. Charles bridge with the Prague Castle in the background.

                                                                       Cafes at night

The Astronomical Clock.  On the hour, the two blue doors at the top of the clock open and a carousel of Apostles rotate through.  The skeleton at the top right of the clock rings a bell and represents death.  It was first installed in 1410.

                                     Walking across Charles Bridge toward the Castle District.

The Charles Bridge is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava River.  Construction started in 1357.  (It followed the example of the stone bridge in Regensburg, Germany.)  There ae 30 statues mounted to the balustrade mostly representing different saints.

                                 This is the gate and tower at the far end of Charles Bridge.

                 The castle district is very hilly including long staircases leading up the the castle.

This is one of the entrances of the castle.  The changing of the guard(s) was happening while I was there.

St. Vitus Cathedral inside the walls of Prague Castle.  It is the largest and most important church in the country.  It is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and contains the tombs of many Czech kings and Holy Roman Emperors.  Construction started in 1344

                        Some of the very interesting stained glass windows in the cathedral.

Prague Castle was built around year 870.  Considered the largest ancient castle in the world.  Within the castle walls is St. George's Basilica founded in 920.