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!

This large cathedral inside Prague castle is celebrated for its Gothic architecture, historical…read moreimportance as a burial site for Bohemian kings, and its role in Czech coronations and housing the Crown Jewels. There's an entry fee to visit. Some free guided tours can get you in to see the organ, but that is under reconstruction at this moment, so it would not be ready until next year.

This is THE church in the castle area that is just simple amazing build. The structure is simple…read moredevine and magnificent and well build. Cozy and warm vibe but yet cold breeze throughout. Each section on the side of the church is offer something difference story telling and the middle is just beautiful glass window with grand ceiling. It is definitely a must visit and take you time to soak all in cause once upon a time, history start taken place here in Europe.

While walking over to Vyšehrad fortress, this interesting looking structure caught my eye, so a…read morequick detour it was! It's a short, slightly inclined walk from Rašinovo Nábřeží avenue to Emmaus Monastery. It's technically only a few blocks away though bc it's set on a small hill, the main entrance is in the east side and coming from the west you have to loop around which took an extra 10 minutes. Named after a town mentioned in the book of Luke (in the Bible), it was founded in 1347 by Charles IV, completed in 1372, and has the distinction of being the first Benedictine abbey in all of Eastern Europe. In the Middle Ages, it was a popular annual pilgrimage site around Easter when the congregants would commemorate the holiday and the anniversary of the church's consecration on Easter Monday. Over time multiple renovations incorporated different architectural styles into sections of the building, including Medieval, Gothic, and Baroque. In more recent history, the turbulence of WWII brought both the seizure of Emmaus' monks by the Gestapo, and their incarceration at Dachau concentration camp, and in 1945 an American bombing that destroyed a significant portion of the building, leaving it in a state of disrepair until its futuristic-looking roof was built overhead. It looks a bit mismatched, though I suppose that's what makes it unique too. I didn't go inside, but their website shows that it's possible to walk along the cloister, the Baroque refectory, the Imperial Chapel and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not clear if the ambulatory with 14th century murals is currently accessible. Tickets are 90 CZK regular adult, 60 reduced, 150 for families, with free entry to disabled, tour guides and teachers accompanying a group. Opening hours: May-Oct, Mon-Sat 11am-5pm Nov-Apr, Mon-Fri 11am-4pm

I had bookmarked this landmark and it did not disappoint. First, it is just beautiful on the…read moreoutside, the tile work and the combination of Moorish and Jewish touches make this a really striking building. Then on the inside the main area is expansive and it is full of historical information on the Jewish people in Czechia. Going upstairs, there's more information to read. The synagogue was built between 1905-1906. Initially it bore the name of the Jubilee Temple of Emperor Franz Joseph to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his reign, in 1898. After WWI, the present name, the Jerusalem Synagogue, based on the street name where it stands, slowly gained ground.

It's not often you come upon synagogues with both Moorish and Art Nouveau styles incorporated, what…read morea beautifully unexpected combination! The Jerusalem Synagogue (aka Jubilee Synagogue) was constructed in 1906 and in honor of the golden jubilee (50th anniversary) of Emperor Franz Joseph's reign, and is the largest synagogue in Prague though not the largest in the Czech Republic. Designed by Wilhelm Stiassny originally this was used as a synagogue by the Reform Judaism community though now used by a Modern Orthodox congregation. Both inside and outside are decorated with moorish horseshoe arches, bright red, gold and blue patterns--the ones on the interior painted with Art Nouveau patterns. One of the more elaborate synagogues I've visited and probably the most colorful! The second floor has some displays of Prague's Jewish community and the history of this synagogue. The building opened in 2008 to the public on days when it wasn't actively used as a place of worship, and current ticket prices are: Adults: 150 CZK (eTicket 135 CZK) Children under 6: free Children under 15 and students: 100 CZK (eTicket 90 CZK) Reduced entrance fee for visitors with valid ticket to the Jewish Town sites: Adults: 100 CZK Children under 6: free Children under 15 and students: 80 CZK More info here: synagogue.cz

In a city of a thousand spires, this is an amazing baroque cathedral in Malá Strana. Unfortunately,…read morethe beautiful interiors were covered by scaffoldings for renovations. Mozart played his Mass in C on the beautiful organ in 1787.

Don't forget to make a wish! Definitely a must see, the church's architecture is so beautiful and…read morespecific. Admission is 70kc or with student ID reduces to 50Kc. There's also a gallery on the second floor. The details are just amazing and breathtaking overall. They also hold concerts every Wednesday at 6pm.

This is a church called "Our Lady of Victories" in English and it is free to visit. We were on our…read morefirst hike through Malá Strana, the Lesser Quarter, of Prague- gorgeous neighborhood- and we looked up and saw groups of schoolchildren headed in. My husband is Bohemian-American and remembered learning about the Infant of Prague as a child. I'm not religious at all, and tend to avoid churches as they stress me out, but was up to visit to just see the architecture and decoration. There is a statue here that has significance for Catholics, you can Google the story behind that. I was more interested in the absolutely over the top design and decor, wow. Cute souvenir shop on the way out, got a few postcards of the statue in its fancy robes.

ENGLISH NAME: CHURCH OF OUR LADY VICTORIOUS…read more Gorgeous! Came here for mass while I was touring Prague with my sister. We came to see the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. It's a wooden statue from the 16th century that supposedly belonged to St. Theresa of Avila. Pope Benedict XVI even came here in 2009 to donate a crown during his apostolic visit. I'm not sure if he's still there but my sister and I were greeted by Father Victor who was super nice and friendly. He gave us prayer cards and a large souvenir photo. Definitely worth a visit if you're a church junkie or interested in some history.

I had seen pictures of this church online and I decided to visit at night when the basilica would…read morebe lit up. I am so glad I did....it was just a beautiful sight. To get there, you must climb about 100 steps from the street level, so save your energy for this climb...it is still a worthwhile effort. The Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul is located in the Vyšehrad fortress area in n Prague. Founded in 1070-1080 by the King Vratislaus II of Bohemia, the Romanesque basilica was rebuilt through the years in Gothic and later in neo-Gothic style. The basilica features an impressive stone mosaic above its entry, and its twin 190 feet (58 m) towers can be seen atop a hill to the south from along the Vltava River.

What a splendid cathedral...if you like Art Nouveau then this spot's your jam!…read more Looking back on my photos, it makes me wish I was there in person examining all the colorful romantic paintings that adorn its walls! Compared to many European cathedrals that are often decorated in more austere or florid styles, it's such a refreshing breath air to see this flowing, softer style represented in religious architecture. There is a comparative abundance of botanical and feminine motifs compared to your traditional story board layouts and patriarchal focus, I appreciated its more modern perspective. Founded by King Vratislav II between 1070-80 as a Romanesque basilica it was damaged in 1249 from a fire, rebuilt in a Gothic style, then again in a Baroque style in the 1720s. The current version constructed between 1887 and 1903 was built in a neo-Gothic style, and was begun by architect Josef Mocker, though altered and completed by František Mikš with pseudo-Gothic towers added at the front of the building in 1902. Surrounding the basilica is Vyšehrad fortress, now a public park (separate review coming later) and behind it is the Vyšehrad cemetery. This is the final resting place of many famous Czechs, including author Karel Čapek and composer Antonín Dvořák. Open to the public, it's worth taking a stroll to admire the myriad gravestones--they exude a peaceful elegance and dignity--and taking a moment of reflection for the ones resting here. It's astonishing (though not altogether surprising given how long they've been around) to see the wide range of artistic styles sculpted and inscribed onto the stones and walls. Inside the church's interior there are remnants from different centuries, both in the architectural details like the Gothic main and side altars, stained glass windows, and artwork--like a Baroque painting depicting the fortress area in 1420. The most prominent displays of art are the richly colored ornamental paintings and tracery by painters František Urban and his wife Marie, added in 1902-3, in the Art Nouveau style of Alphonse Mucha. Tickets are 130 CZK for adults, 70 CZK reduced, 250 CZK for families. The church holds regular masses; for times see their website kkvys.cz What a special treat to visit! Would love to come back again if I go back to Prague.

Mozart played on the organ here! This old church is located…read moreright on the banks of the river, right next to the Old Town Square side of the St. Charles Bridge. It's super old, and historic! Inside, you'll find massive paintings of Christ and angels and what God looks like. It's pretty impressive the amount of work that's gone into these paintings! The church offers wooden pews, with candles you can light in prayer. It's a relatively quiet church, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the city. It was nice to duck in here when it was snowing in Prague! The church offers regular organ concerts with classical music for a fee. They're aggressive about putting info in your hands about these concerts. The organ looks huge, but I didn't get to hear it.

Lovely "little" church right next to the Charles Bridge. Offers concerts, beautiful ceilings and…read morewalls. High ceilings but not very big. Great place for a quick visit to add on to the discovery of this area of town.