From Deseret News archives:
Old and new capture essence of Prague
And yet the streets of Prague are filled with music, from hot jazz to classic opera.
It also is a living museum of architecture. Novelist Myla Goldberg called her book on Prague "Time's Magpie," describing a city "hoarding beautiful, eclectic bits from each successive era."
Take a look.
Other sights
Cernin Palace: Just up the road from Prague Castle, this 17th-century stone palace is where in 1948 Jan Masaryk, son of a beloved Czech president, the only non-communist in the fledgling Soviet-backed government, fell to his death from a palace window. No one knows whether he fell or was pushed.
The Observation Tower: Some refer to Prague as the Paris of Central Europe; it even has its own miniature Eiffel Tower. Located in a hillside park high above the city, the Observation Tower was built for an 1891 exhibition.
Letna Park: On another hill near the Prague Castle, this park features a massive slab once planned as the pedestal for an equally massive statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. It now features a working sculpture of a music metronome. Sweeping slowly back and forth, it was built in 1991 after the Velvet Revolution.
Prague Castle
On the commanding heights above the Vltava River, the castle is where Prague began in the 9th century. The Royal Palace is worth a look, as is St. George's Convent, home of the Czech Republic's national art gallery.
The most impressive building is St. Vitus's Cathedral, its twin Gothic spires towering over a vaulted ceiling. Built over the course of six centuries, it houses the crown jewels and the ornate tombs of many a Bohemian king.
Within the cathedral, check out the St. Wenceslas Chapel, named for Prague's patron saint. It features frescoes of Bible scenes with a small golden steeple — as well as the door handle Wenceslas is said to have grasped as he was stabbed to death, the assassins hired by his brother.
Old Town Square
Half-hidden among narrow and winding streets, Old Town Square is bounded by City Hall with its ancient clock tower and the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, with more sky-scraping Gothic spires.
The sellers are here, too, as well as the musicians. One recent day, a small brass band played a Dixieland jazz tune. Food is plentiful, in both elegant restaurants and outdoor stalls.
One of the Czech Republic's proudest exports, beer, is readily available, and there are even British and Irish pubs within a stone's throw of one another.
