S L Song : Love to travel but hate the travelling

Monday, November 28, 2011

Lunch near the Prague Castle

We had lunch near the castle at a restaurant we saw on our walk here from Loreto.

Gulash with dumpling

St George's Convent

It now houses the National Gallery's collection of Bohemian Baroque art.

This basilica was founded in 915 and predates the St Vitus Cathedral. It is the best preserved Romanesque church in Prague. It was enlarged in 973 when the adjoining St George's Convent was established here.

Tomb of St Ludmilla

She became Bohemia's first female christian martyr : she was strangled as she knelt down to pray.

The Old Royal Palace

Dating from 1135, it is the oldest part of the castle. This used to be the residence of the Bohemian Kings.

Vladislav Hall

This was the largest secular hall in medieval Prague. This hall has been used for coronation and knights' tournaments since the 16th Century. This hall is now being used for the election of the president of the Czech Republic.

The Observation Gallery offers a beautiful view of Prague

Coats of Arms cover the walls and ceiling of the Room of the New Land Rolls
(Oops caught by the guard)

St Vitus's Cathedral (the exterior)

St Vitus is the largest and most important church in Prague. It has two parts: the Gothic eastern part built in 14th and 15th century while the western neo Gothic in the 19th century.

The Bell Tower

This Renaissance tower holds the Zikmund, the biggest bell in the Czech Republic

The western main entrance into the church

The bronze door

The Gargoyles

The Rose Window

The church was closed during lunch time. So we went to the other parts of the castle before coming back here after lunch.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Prague Castle

Prague Castle was built in 870 and is the largest ancient castle in the world. The current Baroque style was built by Maria Teresa in the 18th century.