Travel to Prague, Czech Republic

The historical center of Prague was built between the 11th and 18th centuries. It has been famous for its great architectural and cultural influence since the Middle Ages. In 1992, the Historic Center of Prague was included in the World Heritage List by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a cultural heritage. This is also the reason why I came to this city twice, in 2010 and 2018.

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, located in the Vltava River Basin of Central Bohemia. Historically Prague was a center of art, trade and religion. The architectural styles of Prague's various historical periods are reflected here. There are buildings from various historical periods such as Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance. The most shocking thing about Prague is the buildings of different styles, which are not only amazing in number but also ever-changing in architectural style. Each building has brilliant colors and exquisite styles, showing the heyday of architectural art.

Prague Castle: Located on the hills on the west bank of the Vltava River in Prague, it was built in the 9th century. For more than 60 years, the offices of all presidents have been located in the castle, so the castle is also called the "Presidential Palace". "Mansion" is still the seat of the Presidential Palace of the Czech Republic. There are buildings of various historical eras here, including churches, palaces, galleries, halls, statues, fountains, etc.

St Vitus Cathedral: Located in Prague Castle, it was built in 1344 and is the tallest building in the castle. It was a Romanesque circular building in its early days. It was built in 925 by Duke Wenceslas I of Bohemia and expanded in 1060. In 1344, Charles IV ordered a Gothic church to be built on the basis of the original church. In 1929 Built in year. The top of the church is 97 meters high, 60 meters long and 12 meters wide. It looks majestic from a distance, and the spire seems to reach the sky. The exterior of the church is covered with patterns and patterns, and the carvings are exquisite. The stone carvings of humans and animals are beautifully shaped and come in various poses. The coronation ceremony of the Prague royal family was held here, and the remains of the past royal family were also buried here. The king's crown and coronation scepter are also preserved here. From the appearance, the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral has many classic architectural features, such as the arches and flying buttresses on the door, and the decoration is quite gorgeous. The brilliant rays of sunlight shining through the stained windows create an atmosphere of divine tranquility in the church, adding a lively touch to the majestic cathedral.

Charles Bridge: Built in 1357, the Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River. The bridge is 520 meters long, 10 meters wide, and has 16 piers. There are towers on both sides of the bridge. 30 stone statues. These statues are masterpieces by Czech Baroque art masters from the 17th to 18th centuries. The originals are now kept in museums, and most have been replaced with replicas. At both ends of the bridge are Prague Castle and the Old Town. Charles Bridge is the only way for the coronation processions of kings in the past. Charles Bridge has become one of Prague's most famous monuments with its long history and architectural art.

Golden Lane: It is one of the most famous attractions in Prague Castle. No. 22 Golden Lane was the place where the famous Czech writer Franz Kafka once lived. Golden Lane was originally a place where servants and craftsmen lived. Later, it got its name because many magicians gathered to make alchemy for the king. Golden Lane was originally a place where servants and craftsmen lived. Later, it got its name because many magicians gathered to make alchemy for the king. The Golden Lane is narrow and winding, with colorful small houses standing next to each other on both sides, just like the small houses in a fairy tale. It is the most poetic and picturesque street in Prague. Golden Alley is also famous as Kafka’s former residence.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was born into a Jewish businessman family in Bra, the capital of the Czech Republic (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). He worked as an insurance clerk. His main works include the novels "The Trial", "The Castle", and "Metamorphosis". Kafka, together with French writer Marcel Proust and Irish writer James Joyce, is known as the pioneer and master of Western modernist literature. In June 2010, I came to Prague for the first time and came to the entrance of Golden Lane. It was under construction at the time and could not be entered, so it was a pity that I could not see Kafka's former residence in Golden Lane. In June 2018, I came to this city again and visited Kafka’s former residence at No. 22 Golden Lane. Kafka's former residence is a small blue house with red tiles and blue walls. It is small and exquisite. It is now a bookstore with a variety of items. The room is very small, only about ten square meters, and the bookshelves along the wall are filled with Kafka's books.

Old Town Square: Old Town Square is also called Hus Square. It has been a meeting place for citizens since the 12th century.

The square is surrounded by buildings in Gothic, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles. In the center of the Old Town Square is the statue of Hus. The most distinctive feature of the square is the famous astronomical clock built on the outer wall of the old city hall. It is divided into two towers, the upper and lower ones. The outermost circle of the disc below represents the 365 days of the year. In the middle are 12 paintings representing the months, and the inner circle is 12 constellation. In the middle is the city emblem. Above is an astronomical clock, with the blue part representing daytime. The bell is an exquisite and unique self-ringing bell flanked by symbolic sculptures. There are also mechanical puppets of the Twelve Apostles on the upper part of the astronomical clock, which come out to tell the time on the hour. The landmark building in the Old Town Square is the Church of Our Lady of Tien, famous for its twin spiers.

Prague has many places of interest, including castles, palaces, churches, museums, etc., all over the city. Its colorful architecture and artistic styles have won recognized international praise, and its unique style has attracted the attention of the world. Prague is a city that allows people to travel through time and space, a city that makes people get lost in history. Walking in the streets and alleys, you can encounter surprise and beauty at any time. A city full of exotic customs, this is Prague ,

Written and photographed by Sun Keqin

References

Sun Keqin, 2008, World Heritage Science. Beijing: Tourism Education Press.

Sun Keqin, Sun Bo, 2018, Entering the World Heritage. Beijing: Peking University Press.

Sun Keqin, Sun Bo, 2020, World Heritage. Beijing: Peking University Press.