Jewels of Bohemia: Prague to Budapest and lots in between Day 2 Morning

August 25 - September 8 Dave and I went on a tour of Bohemia

-- Prague to Budapest -- and much in between.

 

August 27, Morning

After breakfast, we set off on a guided walking tour of Prague, a magical city nestled in a bend of the Vltava River whose spires have endured to create one of Europe’s most romantic skylines. The local guide was Martina, whose English was excellent. While other European capitals were leveled during World War II, Prague survived virtually intact. Among the structures to remain remarkably undamaged was Prague’s great landmark, Prague Castle—the world’s largest ancient castle complex and still the seat of political power. Originally built during the ninth century, Prague Castle has evolved over the centuries, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and even Spanish architectural styles.  Roughly the size of seven football fields, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. It was built and renovated during 13 centuries.  Today, it is a sprawling complex of breathtaking enormity and a symbol of Czech unity. 


We explored the vaulted halls, cathedrals, flagstone courtyards, and sprawling gardens of the castle area, which includes a number of historic buildings.

 

St. Vitus Cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is the biggest and most important church in the country. Located within Prague Castle, it contain the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.

 The clock tower, the tallest of the cathedral's towers, can be seen from all over Prague. The tower's spire reaches a height of 317 ft. The most remarkable about the tower is its top; while most of the tower - and the rest of the cathedral - is of Gothic design, the upper part is in Renaissance style and topped with a Baroque dome.

The stained glass window below is in art nouveau style by Alfons Mucha.