Jan Hus (1369-1415) was an influential religious reformer and philosopher who was a key predecessor…read moreto the Protestant movement of the 16th century. He was a loud critic of the moral decay of the Catholic Church, believing that mass should be delivered in the local language rather than Latin. Pope Alexander V didn't particularly care for this and first excommunicated Jan Hus. When that didn't take, he was burned at the stake in 1415. And after being burned at the stake, they ground up his burned bones and threw them in the river, apparently in an attempt to keep him from coming back. This kicked off the Hussite Wars of 1419-1434 which itself was notable for the extensive use of early hand-held firearms. The monument in the Old Town Square was laid down in 1903 and completed in 1915 on the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus's death. There are a number of inscriptions on the monument in Czech. Translated to English, "Love each other and wish the truth to everyone" and "Live, nation sacred in God, don´t die" are two. It is a perfect meeting spot as the monument dominates the large open square. There are some benches around it. [Review 12236 overall, 2020 of 2019.]

Adding a ticket to the Golden Lanes is worth your while when visiting the castle. We found the…read moreAlchemists room the most fascinating. It was also interesting to look at all of the rooms and their interpretive signets; however many of the artifacts are not original, especially in the armor rooms as all of those are modern reproductions - though they are beautiful.

Meh. While I appreciate the artistry (everything on display in the rooms upstairs were made by…read morelocal vendors, and the items show off the skill and labor that goes into making a suit of armor, for instance) and the history (the residents turned Golden Lane into a "museum", staging and opening their houses [for a fee] to tourists near and far before the government bought up the land) of this place, it still left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Of course, that may be due to the enormous crowds of people we were dealing with the day we went, as well. But, no. Maybe we'd seen one too many suits of armor in London, or maybe we'd seen one too many pointy weapons in Edinburgh, but by the time we got here, my eyes kind of flitted right over the displays. I stopped long enough to admire the handy work - there were some incredibly detailed pieces, after all - but room after room of armor did not appeal to me. There was one room towards the back of the building that housed pieces of torture equipment, which I found strangely fascinating. And there are dioramas along the lane itself that give a good glimpse into how people lived and worked in the area. Those were probably my favorite part of the lane itself. Otherwise, the hallways are too narrow, the lanes are too congested, and the doorways into the dioramas are too small to allow for proper viewing. Plus, there's only one exit, and if it gets backed up (as it did when we were trying to exit, all because someone thought it'd be a good idea to put one of those "penny press" machines at the bottom of the stairs), you're likely to get stuck forever. Okay, I'm being melodramatic. But it does bottleneck at the one and only exit (stairs down), and that can be quite frustrating when one just wants to leave the grounds.

Not open on a Saturday afternoon (duh, Sabbath), which was really the only free time I had to…read morevisit. But the outside? Stunning. And the history? Amazing! It is the oldest synagogue in all of Europe. The "Old New" Synagogue is neither old nor new, the name originates from a Hebre word "Al tnay" which means "on condition" and has to do with the stones that were imported from Jerusalem to build the temple in around 1270. The stones were to be used "on condition" that they were returned to Jerusalem when the Messiah comes so that the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt and the stones are needed. Interesting tidbit. It is said that the body of Golem (no, not Gollum) lies in the attic storage area. A Nazi officer attempted to access the attic but instead died. And so this synagogue was spared much of the destruction that was brought on others. This "golem" concept also brought the word "robot" into language. Robot is drawn fro the Czech/Slavic word "robota" for servitude or drudgery. The Karel Čapek story "R.U.R." tells the story of a company using the latest technology to build workers who "lack nothing but a soul." [Review 12244 overall, 2028 of 2019.]

Oldest Active Synagogue in Europe…read more Built around 1270 in the Gothic style, this is one of three active synagogue in Prague's Josefov Quarter. It is a miracle that it has survived pogroms, fires, floods and the Holocaust. Legend states that the synagogue is protected by angels who brought the stones from the ruins of King Solomon's Temple. These stones are being "saved" until the temple in Jerusalem can be rebuilt. Originally called the New Synagogue, when a newer synagogue was constructed, this became the Old-New Synagogue.

We actually didn't intend to stop here. We were disappointed that the Prague Castle closed so early…read moreand were following the crowds down the hill towards the old city. We stopped to check out the cafe by the same name (Lobkowicz Palace) that we noticed had a view of the city and were surprised to see the museum. What a treat! The museum is included with the city pass, so we took the opportunity to check out something new. This is a tale of a prince and his offspring who had all their belongings stolen not once but twice, and they were able to regain treasures and property both times. And who knew this family was so responsible for bringing such fabulous music to the Czech Republic. Beethoven visited often and enjoyed his time there, helping to establish a string quartet at the palace. He wrote music at the palace, and several original manuscripts are on display. The families' entire collection is cataloged and partially displayed beautifully in the old family palace. Free with admission is a wonderfully narrated audio guide in your language of choice. The English version done was by the owner, his wife, and his mother. I was in awe of the story, the outcome, and the ongoing preservation story. The palace is well worth the visit!

You are looking at the best known Prague statue. This statue has witnessed big days in today's…read moreBohemia and big days in old Czechoslovakia of the past. As you probably know, the Czech Republic is not formed from one land. Czech Republic is formed from Bohemia, Moravia and Slezia. Moravians have a statue of Jošt in Brno, but its not so beautiful and famous. St. Wenceslaus I. was the duke of Bohemia in 907-935. He was glorified for his heroic goodness. Some people think that he was too weak to be a great king. He was a good diplomat and very religious. His "goodness" cost him his crown. Anyway, what ever big event is going on in Prague (Bohemia), you can find people around this statue. Bohemians love their St. Wenceslaus I. Take it in consideration and be respectful around. PS: dont forget to try Czech Pilsner, Becherovka or Moravian Slivovice!

An emotional tribute to the children of Terezin and 78,000 victims of the Holocaust…read more The second oldest serving synagogue in Prague is another emotional stop on the Jewish Museum Tour. Built starting in 1535, it is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles. After the Holocaust, the walls were covered with the names of the 78,000 Czech and Moravian Jews that perished. It was closed during the Soviet occupation. It also has a collection of the artwork of the children of Terezin. Frederika Dicker-Brandeis and her husband were deported to Terezin in December 1942. She helped to organize secret art classes for the children in this concentration ghetto as a way for them to express their emotions. Before she was transported to Auschwitz in 1944, she managed to smuggle two suitcases filled with 4500 of the children's drawings to the chief tutor of Girls'Home L410. After the war, the director returned the suitcases with the children's drawings to the Jewish community in Prague where they are currently displayed in the Pinkas Synagogue. These pictures give an insight into their grim experiences, hopes and daily lives.

We visited while in Prague and it was a sad but memorable experience about the Holocaust. On the…read moreway out we passed through this cemetery which was very sad after seeing the kids' drawings and names of their victims on the walls. We all thought it was worthwhile to see and gain more insight and knowledge...we visited to learn and see more about the history. The kids' drawings/ paintings were also sad to see and they were preserved very well. It was also sad to see the pics of the trains - a journey with no return I think it was called. A must-see when in the Jewish quarter and we highly recommend it.

Late Gothic Landmark with Limited Hours…read more Peter Parler and Matthias of Arras designed and built this 14th century spired cathedral. It is so interesting how the "face" has been changed with the addition of a building directly in front of the church entry. Climb the Old Town Hall Towers for a better view. Note: There are limited hours for entry. Check the schedule, we were lucky to enter 5 minutes before they closed midday.

Church of Our Lady before Týn is the name of the ridiculously gorgeous Gothic church that stands in…read morePrague's Old Town Square. You've seen pictures before. Despite visiting years ago, it took living here for a month for me to learn its name or explore inside. It wasn't until one of my new friends invited me along for a classical music performance that I became acquainted with it. I heard that it's a rarity to be able to attend a concert in the church, but I also heard the opposite, so I'm not actually sure. Either way, if you have the extra funds and want to experience some local, albeit touristy, culture, be sure to book through Via Musica. The ticket cost me around $38 (935 crowns...NOT cheap!!) but I think it was worth it for a one-time visit. I spent most of the 65-minute concert mesmerized by the church itself. Faces everywhere. Gold everywhere. Intricate designs. Unreal beauty. It was such an amazing experience! It was also cold. Keep in mind it's a very old church. Even though it's indoors, it's not like they have central heating so you'll still feel the elements. Dress appropriately! And be sure to arrive early for a good seat. If you're visiting Prague, don't miss a trip inside this church. Classical concert or not!