7 Facts about Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, a city so full of historic buildings that it is difficult to know where to start. A good tip for experiencing this city is to bring good shoes, and walk the streets all the way to get the most out of it.

Prague Old Town, with the river and Charles Bridge in the middle.

7 Facts and Attractions in Prague

1. Prague is located on the Czech Republic’s longest river Vltava (in the picture above you can see the famous Charles Bridge that crosses the river in the old town). The city is the country’s most populous, with just over 1.3 million residents (2.6 million if you consider the surrounding areas.)

Many visitors have been delighted by what is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

2. The Prague Castle (Pražský hrad), one of the city’s most famous tourist attractions, is, according to Guinness’ record book, the world’s largest historic castle complex. The castle is 570 meters long at its longest, and the entire facility occupies almost 70,000 square meters.

“If European cities were a piece of jewelry, then Prague would have been the diamond among the pearls.” – Unknown

Statue on the Rudolfinum building. Prague Castle in the background.

3. Prague is often referred to as “the city with the hundred spiers”. No wonder, as spiers and towers can be seen everywhere. The term probably dates from the beginning of the 19th century, when according to Norwegian Wikipedia it should have counted 103 spiers. Today the figure should be over 500!

If you want to see the city from a real bird’s eye view, you can even walk the 286 steps up the narrow staircase in the main tower (which is 99 meters high) at St. Vitus Cathedral (here, however, you should not suffer from either claustrophobia or altitude terror).

“Prague is like a vertical version of Venice with stairs everywhere.” – P. Gilliatt

4. The Czech Republic is known as the world’s first beer country, and apparently no countries in the world have a higher beer consumption per person than the Czechs. In particular, the country is known for the pilsner roe (which was “invented” in the city of Pilsen about 9 miles from Prague. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to taste good beer around the capital’s many pubs and good restaurants.) you can also join the beer festival Český pivní.

“How is it possible not to love a city that has a pub with velvet cushions over the men’s urinal so you can rest your head while ‘doing what you need’? Where you can order a beer without having to say anything, just by to put the beer mat on the table? ” – Neil Wilson (Author Lonely Planet)

Beautiful buildings and spiers can be seen just about anywhere you turn in Prague.

5. John Lennon Wall. Popular “selfie point” near the Charles Bridge. After John Lennon’s death in 1980, people (to the annoyance of the communist regime) began to draw and write. Lennon quotes on this wall. While graffiti was previously removed by the authorities, it is now perfectly legal to add new elements.
6. The astronomical clock. At least as much is the astronomical clock from the 1400s. When the clock strikes every hour (during the day), 12 figures of the apostles appear from a window above the clock, and march to the delight of many tourists. It’s ticking off small details (how many are moving) on ​​the clock. Well worth a visit.
7. The narrowest street in Prague. Most curiosity, but this street (or alley if you will) is so narrow that you may not find it even if you are right by it. The street is no more than fifteen meters long, but so narrow that pedestrian traffic lights are set up on each end, since there is no room for two to pass each other in width!