2024 Oct 9 Wednesday

Prague

We have finally reached the end of our vacation with the last sightseeing day in Prague.

First on today’s list is a walk to Vyšehrad castle fortress and the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul. Afterwards, we planned to walk through Wenceslas Square and then return to Old Town and the Jewish Quarter. A full day!

10:46 am to about 7:00 pm. 8.55 miles, 23,713 steps, elevation +639 feet.

Warm and sunny.

Richard’s Relive video for the day is here:  https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4dxr9LRv

Once more across our closest bridge to head south, this time towards the old castle area of Vysehrad.
Boat vendors were getting their paddle boats ready for the day—wiping down yesterday’s rain. Who could resist paddling off in an army jeep?
More street art.
Even pop art!
Richard is preparing to head through the old castle wall at Vysehrad.
The cemetery art is always a surprise.
Even the great Alfons Mucha has a relatively simple grave.
The Basilica of St. Peter and Paul adjoins the cemetery. The current building is neo-Gothic, constructed between 1887 and 1903. In 2003, Pope John Paul II promoted the Vyšehrad capitulary temple to a papal “basilica minor“.
The hollow spires have slender holes making the tops of the towers light and elegant reminiscent of the conic formation of the chestnut flowers one can find blooming in trees along the walkways in the Vyšehrad complex. The spires are frilled with petal-like finial protrusions along their length and on their tops, further connecting their likeness to the flower.
Inside, seemingly every inch of the walls, pillars and ceilings is covered with the ornate, flowing decoration of the painter František Urban and his wife Marie Urbanová-Zahradnická inspired by Alfons Mucha. The vivid greens and browns which cover the entirety of the interior create a feeling of being inside a forest. The ceiling of the nave is dark green, as if it is a canopy in shadow. Even the brown wooden benches on the ground for the beholders of church services are ornately carved with oak leaves.
The theme of the stained glass windows is the history of Gothic architecture; each window portrays Jesus before a different Gothic or neo-Gothic church.
Along with the design of the building the main altar, the pulpit, and all the smaller altars in the side chapels are neo Gothic. They are intricately carved with mini-spires and tracery throughout.
The Baroque painting of Joseph with the Christ child is from the last quarter of the 18th century.
The art nouveau floral motifs and angels are the most unusual interior decorations. Also, saints are portrayed not with their attributes, but in colorful and gentle art nouveau style.
This wooden plaque recognizes King Vratislaus II of Bohemia, who built the first Romanesque basilica in 1070-1080.

There are 17 bells and 4 large bells which ring separately or can join in the carillon. Melodies are selected differently for regular days and holidays and there are 50 songs altogether stored in the memory. Click below to hear the bells.

From the vantage point of this former castle, we can see Prague Castle in the distance.
Ancient walls and battlements hint at the fortress that was once here.
Continuing on to Wenceslas Square, there is a statue of Charles IV (Holy Roman Emperor) who promoted much of the building in Prague in the 14th century.
There are also extensive genealogy charts attesting to the influence of Charles IV by marrying strategically with other European nations.
St. Wenceslas’s statue in front of the National Museum. It would be great to visit but we had little time left in the city and beautiful weather, so we elected to keep going toward Old Town and the Jewish Quarter.
Old Town’s building art.

Every waking hour Prague’s astrology clock gives a performance for a courtyard of tourists. We were finally able to catch the show. Click below to see and hear it.

After the show, Richard climbed this clock tower as well.

The Golden Crown.
The Old Town Bridge Tower off the Charles Bridge. Yes, you can climb it, but no, Richard agreed we didn’t have time in daylight for one more climb.
One more trip across the Charles Bridge and then dinner and packing.

2 Responses

  1. Wonderful end to an amazing journey! Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures and memories from your trip. Appreciated “being along for the ride!” Safe journey home. Look forward to catching up when we return next week from our Mississippi River trip.

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