Prague - Day 1

We eventually got up and got going today around noon, as the jet lag had set in a little. However, it was nice to do things on our own schedule! We started the day off with a walk over the Charles Bridge, which links the city across the River Vitava. The bridge has witnessed more than 600 years of processions, battles, executions, and even film shoots. The most distinguishing feature of the bridge is its gallery of 30 statues. These statues range from saints and other religious figures and were installed form 1683 onwards to guide the people of Prague to mass. From Old Town Bridge Tower you can see the S-curve that was built to obstruct invaders, as well as an amazing panorama of the city.










Once we crossed the bridge, we headed for St Vitus's Cathedral. This is a Gothic cathedral that is an unmissable sight, as it sits in a dominant position on the Hradcany hill. Work began on the cathedral in 1344 when Prague was named an archbishopric. Work however stopped on the cathedral during the Hissite Wars, but was finally completed in 1929. If you look at the picture below of the South Tower, you can see at exactly which point the Hussite civil wars put a stop to contruction on this tower. By the time work resumed, architectural style had moved into the Renaissance, hence the rounded cap on a Gothic base.












Also, check out the picture below of St John of Nepomuk's Tomb. The silver for this 3700 lb coffin came from the Bohemian mining town of Kutna Hora, symbolized by the statues of miners to the left of the tomb. We also were told that the Crown Jewels are housed in the cathedral. You would think there would be safer places for the crown and sceptre of Bohemia, but the coronation chamber above Wenceslas Chapel is said to be guarded by the spirit of the saint.









We also found it interesting that what appears to be stained glass was actually painted! Tom we were going to see if you could recreat this in your stained glass class!











Coming down from the fortress you can capture some beautiful sights of the city. As you can see, the roofs are all red, which makes for a great picture of Prague.