Did You Know?
The famous Prague astronomical clock is located in Old Town Square on the south wall of Old Town's City Hall. Parts of the clock date back to the year 1410. Tourists throng the plaza in front of the clock for the striking of each hour during the daytime. The clock took heavy damage during WWII but has now been restored.European News
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Day 3Tuesday, September 25: Prague of Prophets and Radicals The day at a glance: Prague's delightful Staré Město (Old Town)
was brought to life this morning as Katka described the
personalities and history of the area. Some of the sights we saw
included the astronomical clock, Bethlehem chapel, Charles
University and the many beautiful and historic buildings and statues
sprinkled throughout. We thoroughly enjoyed getting lost while
exploring the intriguing winding cobblestone streets in Old Town!
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Jan HusA large statue of Jan Hus takes center stage in the Old Town Square of Prague. Jan Hus is a national hero in the Czech Republic. He was a religious reformer and master at Charles University in Prague. His teachings were a key factor in the beginnings of the Protestant movement in Europe. Hus lived 100 years before Martin Luther and was a strong influence in Luther's teachings. Hus ended up being burned at the stake for his "heretical" beliefs. Note: the statue of Hus was under wraps for restoration when we were there. Completion date unknown. |
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Walking in to Old Town Square for the first time is like walking in to a fairy tale. There is enough history and romance here to satisfy even the most diehard Medievalist. We learned to find our way back to the hotel by looking for "the church with the golden bubbles on top", which is the Tyn Church, pictured below and to the left. St Nicholas Church is on the right, home to many concerts. |  |
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Video Clip (00:35)
The Astronomical Clock in Old Town |
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The Astronomical Clock to the left. The Pieta or "Commendator" statue (named for the character in Mozart's Don Giovanni) by Anna Chromy below. |
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There is a museum for every taste in and around the Old Town of Prague! In addition to the museums pictured here, other museums in Prague include the Dvorák museum, the Kafka museum, and the National Museum. |
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Eating & drinking was a favorite pasttime for all of us on the tour. Above, Monica, Amy & Susan have a snack.
To the right, Edie partakes of some traditional Czech food. Delicious! |
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