Weekends Away - History and Beer in Bustling Prague

Old Town Square in Prague with a lager in hand and the horse drawn carriages awaiting fares is a bustling but wonderful place to be. The 15^th Century Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall Tower offers a trap door opening hourly and Christ marching out ahead of his 12 Apostles, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell.

One of two main city centre squares, the other being Wenceslas Square, you can sit and stare with your over-sized glass of highly filtered lager in hand. No need to go up to a bar, just pull out a chair and the lager will soon arrive.  Apparently, putting your beer mat over the glass in café or bar signals “stop bringing the beer!”  A signal many never learn, especially the stag parties.

Prague is a combination of the old and the new, cobbled streets and tiny shops up dark alleys and modern shopping malls.

For some sightseeing and gentle exercise make for Charles Bridge linking the two sides of Prague, where you can look at the artists’ sketches and listen to musicians playing to the tourists and statues atop this amazing stone bridge..

Then visit Prague’s Jewish Quarter, which dates back to the 13th century, when the Jewish community was ordered to leave their homes and live there. You can take a walking tour and most of the area comes under the Jewish Museum and is accessible via a single ticket.  The exception is the Old-New Synagogue.

To get a picture of the true horror of the holocaust years go to the Pinkas Synagogue, a memorial to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia murdered by the Nazis. Around its walls are inscribed 80,000 names of the Jewish victims.  This is a true lest we forget experience.

Then back over Charles Bridge and a walk up to Prague Castle, which dominates the skyline, or simply watch the sun go down over the river.  Better still take in Prague at night, from the deck of a river cruise passing through the city centre, buffet dinner, bar and often music are provided.

If it’s clubbing that takes your fancy there’s Karlovy Lazne, billed as the biggest club in Central Europe, but operating as five clubs on five levels so you could be forgiven for thinking that’s it’s really not so big. Each floor has its own style and its own crush! With it hotting up after 10pm it’s worth arriving early to avoid the queue to get in.

If you want to shop for something as a souvenir, Czech crystal and glass is world-renowned and there are many shops around Old Town and Wenceslas Square selling everything from wine glasses to chandeliers. Or you could opt for a half day Prague Experience tour to a glass factory in the countryside where you can see craftsmen at work and buy from the factory shop as good prices.

We stayed at the 4* Amedia Hotel Theatrino a lovely former Art Nouveau theatre in the city’s art district.  Although only four tram stops from Wenceslas Square we did manage to get lost at first and despite the excellent tram and modern metro service I might opt to stay in the centre of the city next time, or even on one of the boat hotels on the river.  Most of the latter are within 1 km of Charles Bridge but bedrooms are likely to be pretty small. Overlooking the Vitava River is the InterContinental Prague just a few minutes' walk from the Old Town Square. The roof top restaurant offers food with a view and the hotel has a Health Club and Spa with a heated swimming pool. 

Luxury at luxury prices.

All in all I loved Prague.  For a long weekend it’s difficult to beat.

Patricia McLoughlin

Posted Thu, 10/13/2011 - 22:57 by Tricia