PRAGUE - In Your Pocket GmbH

72 WHAT TO SEE
Toy Museum (Museum hraček) B-1, Praha 1, Jiřská
6, tel. (+420) 224 37 22 94, www.muzeumhracek.
cz. The unfortunate thing about most toy museums is
that children tend not to enjoy them. For the most part, the
experience is too frustrating because all the cool toys are
kept just out of reach by a pane of glass. However, all is not
lost; the second floor has switches at children's level which
make the displays of stuffed animals jostle about. QOpen
09:30 - 17:30. Admission 20 - 40Kč.
Landmarks
Funicular Railway A-4,
Újezd tram stop. The funicular
runs up Petřin Hill
providing beautiful views of
Prague and the castle. There
are two restaurants sitting at
the half-way point - there is
a station there. Use regular
20Kč tickets. Trams run at
15 min intervals. QOpen 09:00 - 11:20.
Gestapo HQ I-4, Praha 1, Politických věznů 20. This
sombre black building is now the headquarters of the Czech
Trade Office, but between 1939-1945 this was the most
feared buildings in the city. Jews and Czechs alike were
brought here and interrogated. In one particular incident on
Nov 24, 1939 the Gestapo executed 120 students accused
of anti-Nazi plotting. Their deaths are commemorated by a
small statue on the corner of the building.
Klementinum D-3, Praha 1, Karlova 1, tel. (+420) 222
22 08 79, www.klementinum.com. The Klementinum
offers a little something for everyone: Beautiful views from
the astronomical tower; Baroque architecture in the library
hall and classical musical concerts in the Mirror Chapel. The
building dates back to 1232 and currently houses the National
Library, as well as 12 hard to find sundials. Guided tours are
held daily. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00.
Náměstí Míru J-5/6,
MNám. Míru. In Czech this
means Peace Square and it is
dominated by a soaring twotower
basilica, the neo-gothic
Saint Ludmila Church (Kostel sv.
Ludmily). This beautiful church
was constructed from 1888 to
1893 and bears the creative
power of many renowned artists,
including sculptor Josef Václav
Myslbek, who also fashioned the
statue of St. Wenceslas. Ludmila
(860 - 921) was born in Mělník
and baptised, probably by St. Methodius, in 871. After her
husband died their son assumed the throne and had two sons
with his pagan wife Drahomíra; Boleslav and Wenceslas, the
latter later to become the patron saint of the Czech Republic.
Ludmila was strangled at the hand or the behest of Drahomíra
who resented her meddling with the budding Christian, Wenceslas.
She is celebrated on 16 September and is patron to,
among others, converts, widows and those with problematic
in-laws… Náměstí Míru (green line A) is the deepest of Prague's
metro stations and as such has one of the longest escalators in
Europe - 87m long with a vertical span of 43m - without walking,
it takes over 2 minutes to ascend/descend. The park hosts
many festivals including the late September burčák festival and
the Christmas market. The square has an almost starring role
in the 2006 remake of cult horror classic, The Omen.
National Memorial (Národní památník) K-3, Praha
3, Na Vrchu Žižkově. One of the largest equestrian statues
in the world dominates the hill overlooking the north eastern
district of Žižkov. The 16.5 ton statue commemorates the
Hussite hero, Jan Žižka. Behind the statue is the national
mausoleum, built originally as a memorial to World War I
Czechoslovak legions, and then taken over as the resting
place for the great and the not very good Communists. The
first working class president, Klement Gottwald, was pickled
in slivovice and put on display here. Unfortunately the preservation
was not wholly successful and the body started to
putrefy from the feet up, shocking the odd visiting school
party as their national hero literally started to fall apart before
their very eyes. His body was returned to his family in 1990
and later buried in the cemetery in Olšanské.
Petřín Tower (Petřínská rozhledna)
A-4, MPetřin funicular,
tel. (+420) 257 32 01 12. At the
top of Petřin Hill stands a 60m-high
bad copy of the Eiffel Tower, affording
great views of the city. The building
was completed in May 20, 1891.
An alternative route to the castle is
to ride the funky funicular up Petřín
Hill and walk pass the tower across
to the castle area. QOpen 10:00
- 19:00. Open Sat & Sun 10:00 -
17:00. Admission 50/40/10Kč.
The Dancing House (Tančící dům) G-5, Praha 2,
Rašínovo nábř. 80. Frank Gehry's design for this building
was inspired by the dancing team Ginger Rogers and Fred
Astaire. Built in 1996, this structure more than cuts a swathe
among the Austrian-Hungarian terrace blocks that make up
most of Prague.
TV Tower K-4, Praha 3,
Mahlerovy sady 1, MJiřího
z Poděbrad, tel. (+420) 267
00 57 78, fax (+420) 222
72 40 14, www.tower.cz.
This huge silver tower with
funny-looking boxes attached
to it was built between 1985
and 1992. Swift lifts whisk you
to a fantastic panorama of the
city, then descend a few floors
to dine whilst contemplating
the intricacies of vertigo. The
scary black babies crawling
all over the tower are an art
installation by David Černy that became permanent. And
now the tower is lit up in rather fetching hues of pink and
purple. Try and miss it now... QOpen 10:00 - 23:30. Admission
150/120Kč.
Parks & Gardens
Botanical Gardens (Botanická zahrada) Praha
7, Nádvorní 134, MNádraží Holešovice, tel. (+420)
234 14 81 11, www.botgarden.cz. An outdoor section
with vineyard, chapel, bonsai, a Japanese Zen garden,
greenhouses and wonderful views of the city. A little
further up the hill is the Fata Morgana greenhouse
exhibiting desert, high sierra and tropical plants in a
realistic setting. Residents include butterflies, moths,
frogs and greenery galore. Bus N°112 from the metro
station. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Fata Morgana closed
Mon. Admission 120/60Kč.
Prague In Your Pocket prague.inyourpocket.com
Kampa Park G-4, Kampa Island. Featuring a well-equipped
children's playground, Kampa Park is caressed by water
on all sides thanks to the millstream known as the Devil's
Stream. The park is notable for its serenity in the midst of
the centre, and is popular with couples, the local and expat
hippy population, as well as families enjoying the playground.
You can also feed the ducks or visit one of the cafés. QOpen
09:00 - 20:00.
Letná, MHradčanská. Massive park high atop the Vltava
and pinpointed by the often-static metronome where once
a massive statue of Joe Stalin stood. Biking/skating paths
galore, skateboarders, playing fields, tennis courts, kids
playground, beer garden and more. Fabulous outdoor spot.
Ostrov Štvanice J-2, Praha 7. The largest island in the
Prague stretch of the Vltava is occupied by the oldest ice
hockey stadium in Prague, a tennis stadium, a skate park
and has outdoor film screenings in the summer.
Petřín A-3/4. With stunning views of the city and a choice
of gardens and trails to explore, Petřín is packed with activites
or lazing opportunities. Features include the tower, a mirror
hall, an 18th century Ukrainian wooden church and Prague's
lovers enjoying ... ah, the view.
Troja Chateau Praha 7, U trojského zámku 1, MNádraží
Holešovice, tel. (+420) 283 85 16 14, www.citygalleryprague.cz.
A grand 17th century summer palace built
for Count Václav Vojtěch Šternberg, Troja has French gardens
littered with Baroque sculptures right on the river below the
Botanical gardens and next to the Zoo. It was originally situated
here to be opposite Stromovka royal game preserve (now
Stromovka Park), which it is linked to today by a pedestrian
bridge, but be warned it is no short walk. Admission 120/60Kč
for the gallery inside, gardens free. From the metro, hop on
tram 5, 17, 25 to Trojská. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon.
Valdštejnská zahrada
B-1/2, MMalostranská.
The Wallenstein Gardens
may have a lot of rules, but
the lack of human and canine
detritus adds to their beauty.
Famous for the peacocks,
the cavern-like folly (look
for phallic and serpentine
motifs) and the biggest fish we've seen in a while - ducklings
often have to make a sharp exit to avoid being nibbled. An
owlery, beautiful frescoes and benches galore for whiling away
sunny afternoons. Look for the secret entrance next to the
metro exit.QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. G
Zoo Praha Praha 7, U Trojského zámku 3, MNádraží
Holešovice, tel. (+420) 296 11 21 11, www.zoopraha.
cz. Zoo Praha is a really cool zoo. Following the floods of
2002 (in which there was an unfortunate loss of animal life
that was broadcast round the world) many improvements
to infrastructure and the animal's homes have been made.
Big ones, like elephants, lions and tigers can be spotted,
but don't miss the gorillas, penguins, kangaroos, giraffes,
parrots, wolves and hyenas. Recent additions have included
an Indonesian Jungle and the just opened (04/2008) pavilion
for a group of rare Indian crocodiles. Seven young Gavil crocs
are now at home here - the only European zoo to house this
critically endangered specie. Zoo officials hope they'll settle
in nicely and reproduce. That's another special aspect of
the Zoo Praha - their conservation efforts. The facility was
instrumental in preventing the extinction of Przewalski horses
in the ‘60's and hopes to have similar success with the
prague.inyourpocket.com
WHAT TO SEE
Gavils. Additional highlights include the Gorilla Pavilion and
African Jungle. Definitely the place to come to if you have
little ones in tow - there's an excellent petting zoo and kids
play area. A train ride through the zoo, a chair lift ride above
the zoo or wagon-like vehicles for the kids are available for
tired tootsies. Shaded, well-laid out paths make this a good
visit, even on warm days.
The zoo opened in 1931 and today spreads over 60 hectares
and is home to nearly 5,000 animals. Concession stands
shockingly don't jack up the prices, so an entire day can easily
be spent here. Take bus N°112 from metro station Nádraží
Holešovice or even stretch your legs further and walk across
the Vltava River via the footbridge from Stromovka park.
QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. March 09:00-17:00, Apr, May, Sep, Oct
- 09:00-18:00, Jun, Jul, Aug- 09:00-19:00, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb -
09:00-16:00 Admission 150/100Kč. TA6ULBKC
Walking & Bike Tours
City Walks, tel. (+420) 608 20 09 12/(+420) 222 24
45 31, www.praguer.com. For 450Kč you can take the
four hour Insider Tour of the city including Staroměstská,
Nové Město, Josefov, Malá Strana and Prague Castle. The
tour also provides complimentary refreshments and a ride
on the funicular. Tours begin daily at the statue at the top of
Václavské nám. at 09:45 and 13:30.
Daily Walks J-3, Praha 1, Na Florenci 20, tel. (+420)
281 91 76 42/(+420) 603 15 70 01, www.walks.cz.
These cool cats will walk you around town for 300 - 1,000Kč,
less if you are a student, and introduce you to various aspects
of Prague. The meeting point is in front of the Astronomical
Clock at the blue umbrella.
Prague Travel Praha 2, Vinohradská 28, tel. (+420)
222 51 60 64/(+420) 777 07 07 84, fax (+420) 222 52
05 73, www.praguetravel.cz. Several themed umbrella-led
walks starting at the Astronomical clock at various times; just
look for the orange umbrella. Go for a short tour of the city
centre or on the 6-hour megawalk. Prices from 200 - 1,000Kč.
Real Tour I-5, tel. (+420) 602 45 94 81, www.walkingtoursprague.com.
Englishman Paul and Czech Michal do the
four-hour, 300Kč Real Tour of Prague starting at 12:30 at the
horse statue at the top of Václavské nám. The walk includes a
break at a pub and ends at the castle. Pick-ups at 12:00 from
the Traveller's Hostel on Dlouhá and the Clown and Bard. Walks
on Mon, Wed, Thu & Sat only. NB, no tours from 20 - 31 Oct.
October - November 2009
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