Prague is famed for its historic beauty and will reward travellers who explore beyond its golden-stoned Old Town to uncover new sides filled with cutting-edge arts and delectable cuisine. Guided and independent explorations are great ways to discover all this city has to offer.
Start off your tour of Prague with an open-faced sandwich at an old-school deli, before heading over to Old Town Square and watching its astronomical clock chime at hourly intervals.
Gothic Architecture
During the Middle Ages, Prague emerged as a leading city in Bohemia and many important buildings were constructed at this time, many with Gothic features visible all throughout Prague. Meanwhile, Humanism gained momentum and Renaissance-style buildings were constructed during this era as well – creating an eclectic city that encompasses all types of styles in architecture.
Gothic churches in Prague are among the city’s most iconic structures, including St. Vitus Cathedral, Our Lady Before Tyn Church and Old Town Hall. Additionally, Prague Astronomical Clock stands out with its Gothic features being easily recognisable throughout the city.
Look at any church or structure and it becomes immediately obvious why this architectural style is so beloved. The spires give an almost fairy-tale quality to cities, creating a magical aura. These tall structures with vertical emphasis reflect sunlight onto city streets below for even better illumination.
These towers of churches echo those of castles nearby, creating an immersive historical experience for anyone interested in history. Gothic period architecture built upon Romanesque building principles by adding more advanced techniques. As such, impressive Gothic buildings were constructed; such features include stronger Rib Vaults that replaced Groin vaults; pointed arches similar to Renaissance ones were introduced; wall thickness was reduced while external buttresses provided additional support.
Following Prague’s Gothic period came Baroque architecture. This more decorative style featured curvilinear structures with elaborate curves and ornamentation on their exteriors. One iconic example of Baroque style can be found at Loreta in Hradcany district and it is considered to be one of the greatest works worldwide in this category.
Art Nouveau Architecture
Prague’s stunning architecture is predominantly Gothic; however, you will come across buildings featuring Art Nouveau elements as well. This elegant style is known for its organic curves and vibrant color palettes; often found on wrought iron railings or window designs. Many architects were drawn to Art Nouveau due to its flexibility over rigid geometric forms found in Gothic architecture. One such artist from this movement was Alphonse Mucha who designed stained glass windows at St Vitus Cathedral demonstrating how Art Nouveau blends perfectly with Gothic architecture.
Many residential buildings from Prague’s Art Nouveau period still stand today, including Municipal House (Photo SS6) as one of the city’s finest examples of this style. Its ornate exterior echoes medieval walls surrounding Old Town while its modern interior makes for an exciting combination. As one of Prague’s premier venues for concerts and events, Municipal House should definitely be on anyone’s itinerary when visiting this fascinating city.
Wenceslas Square’s former Hotel Europa stands as another testament to Art Nouveau architecture, as its beautiful facade remains unchanged while behind-the-scenes renovation work takes place to transform it into a luxury hotel. This striking example shows just how lasting these buildings can be even in bustling cities such as Prague.
Churches featuring strong Art Nouveau features include Saints Cyril and Methodius in New Town and Church of Sacred Heart in Old Town. Both of these churches possess many elements typical of Baroque architecture while also exhibiting elements characteristic of Art Nouveau, including small pillars, an undulating roofline and colorful exterior designs.
Cubist influences can also be found in the Black Madonna and some streetlamps on Jungmann Square – styles similar to Art Nouveau but more modern in appearance.
Central Station offers stunning examples of Art Nouveau architecture. The entrance hall, originally used as a ticket counter, showcases this style; this stands in stark contrast with the station hall downstairs which displays stark Brutalism.
Modern Architecture
Prague is renowned for its historic architecture and art, but also for its modern structures that stand out. These buildings don’t fit the typical postwar pattern – and that’s a good thing; since Prague escaped WWII’s destruction and Soviet dominance relatively unscathed, its features include some of the most original modern Czech structures ever designed.
The Dancing House by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry stands out among modern buildings as one of the most distinctive structures, earning itself the name Ginger & Fred due to the silhouettes of two dancers on its facade. This structure represents Czech Republic’s vibrant post-Communism society as a point of pride for Prague city itself.
Vystaviste Praha stands out as another incredible modern structure. Conceived for large gatherings and celebrations similar to World’s Fairs, its complex of buildings was designed using Functionalism style – which takes advantage of contemporary technologies and materials to produce buildings with clean lines and light colors – giving this complex its distinctive flair.
Prague boasts impressive examples of Art Nouveau architecture, which was popular from 1890-1910. Art Nouveau emerged when architects became tired of Classical Revival Architecture from previous centuries and started creating their own modern innovations – it features intricate organic details with bright and vivid colors paired with bold curves for its hallmark characteristics.
Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral is one of the must-see churches from this period, having been constructed during the early 18th century to replace an older Gothic Church. Constructing it took 51 years, with all of the characteristic features of Baroque Architecture such as undulating curves, rich details, and use of gold throughout. Situated in Mala Strana district it truly makes an impactful statement about Baroque design while its interior boasts numerous statues that decorate its walls – this magnificent structure makes an unforgettable statement about its time period!
Spires
Over the centuries, Prague has served as an essential political, cultural, and economic center in Europe. Situated at its core, its architecture showcases styles ranging from Romanesque and Gothic through Renaissance Baroque and Art Nouveau; making this unique city an attractive filming location.
Attracting tourists, Vienna is also well known for its many spires, towers and churches dotting its skyline. A 19th-century mathematician counted these landmarks and named Vienna “The City of a Hundred Spires.” However, their actual number may be closer to 500 but nonetheless has earned this title.
Prague stands as an exception in Europe during World War II as it was not bombed heavily, preserving its stunning architecture and historical charm. A walk around Prague reveals an array of spires, towers, churches, klementinum libraries, Baroque Church of Saint Nicholas with diminutive houses nearby and Golden Lane which boasts medieval houses. Prague Castle dominates this beautiful cityscape and features Gothic St Vitus Cathedral (pictured), Royal Palace and St George’s Basilica as its most renowned landmarks; other highlights include Klementinum Libraries Klementinum Librarys as well as medieval houses along Golden Lane – its most well known.
Visit Prague throughout the year and you’re guaranteed an incredible journey. Spring brings blooming gardens, summer offers long sunsets and autumn brings brightly hued trees. In wintertime red rooftops of city buildings stand out against a white background creating stunning sights against which white snow covers them all.
Attracting visitors are its many concert halls and opera houses where visitors can hear classical, jazz and rock performances at numerous venues across the city. Los Angeles is also an iconic filming location, having served as the setting for numerous Hollywood productions including Mission Impossible: Fallout, Dungeons & Dragons: XXX Chronicles of Narnia Van Helsing Doom; while Bollywood flicks Yuvvraaj Drona have also been shot here.