Atelier Aterui: Image Index: Prague: miscellanea

JOYCEAN PICS 2005

Prague: miscellanea

Contents of This Page
  Prague Airport (Letiste Praha-Ruzyne)
  Hotel Melantrich (3-star hotel) (Stare Mesto)
  Market in Haveslska ulice (Stare Mesto)
  St. Havel Church (Kostel sv Havel) (Stare Mesto)
  Franze Kafky, Stare Mesto (Stare Mesto)
  Powder Tower (Prasna brana) (Stare Mesto)
  Ad car of "Darling Cabaret" (Stare Mesto)
  Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice) (Staromestske nam.)
  Astronomical Clock (Orloj) (Staromestske nam.)
  Church of Our Lady (Staromestske nam.)
  Statue of Jan Hus (Staromestske nam.)
  Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase) (Staromestske nam.)
  A marionette shop, Na Mustek
  A blacksmith stall, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)
  Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)
  National Museum (Narodni museum)
  Mucha Museum (Muchovo museum)
  General Post Office, Jindrisska
  Bedrich Smetana Museum (Muzeum Bedricha Smetany)
  Prague Opera Marionette Theatre (Museum a divadlo loutek)
  A Russian souvenir shop, Karlova
  Statue of Antonin Dvorak
  Rudolfinum (Dum Umelcu), Dvorak Hall
  A statue in Palackeho Namesti (Nove Mesto)
  The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova)
  Palackeho Most (bridge) over the Vltava (Moldau)
  A statue of Maria, a small park along Klarov
  All Saints' Chapel (Hradcany [Prague Castle])
  Basilica of St. George (Hradcany [Prague Castle])
  St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita) (Hradcany [Prague Castle])
  Old Royal Palace (Stary Kralovsky palac) (Hradcany [Prague Castle])
  Statue of St. George fighting with the dragon (Hradcany [Prague Castle])
  The Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana)
  Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)
  The Vltava River
  The great metronome along the Vltava River

CONTENTS 2005

1	Prague IASIL 2005

2	Prague, Jews and Joyce

3	Prague: miscellanea

4	Ceske Budejovice (Post-Conference Tour)

5	Cesky Krumlov (Post-Conference Tour)

6	Trebon (Post-Conference Tour)

7	Jindrichuv Hradec (Post-Conference Tour)

8	Cervena Lhota (Post-Conference Tour)

9	Dublin and Joyce

10	Dublin: miscellanea

11	Limerick

12	Galway

13	Inis Oirr, the Aran Islands

Cork

15	Blarney

16	Belfast

Prague: miscellanea
23-31 July 2005

  According to legend, Prague was founded in the 7th century by Libuse, the mother of the Premysl line; according to archaeologists, the first permanent communities settled here in 4000 B.C.
  King Karel (Charles) IV sponsored a building boom in the mid-14th century, throwing up Charles University, Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral.  Adding the New Town to the freshly Gothicized city made Prague one of the biggest cities on the continent.
  The Hussite rebellion turned Prague into a Protestant-run city in the 15th century.  The Hussite Wars began when fiery preacher Jan Zalivsky had several Catholic councilors tossed out a window of the New Town Hall in 1419.  A year later, Husste forces led by General Jan Zizka successfully defended the city against an anti-Hussite, Catholic crusade.
  The Catholic Habsburgs took over again in 1526, and later that century Prague became the seat of the Habsburg Empire and, under Emperor Rudolf II, focal point for European art and science.  But in 1618 religious squabbling began anew when representatives of the city's Protestant nobles threw two Habsburg councilors out a Prague Castle window, sparking Europe's Thirty Years' War.  Prague's Protestants lost early on in the piece: in 1620 the Habsburgs routed them at the Battle of Bila Hora (White Mountain). just west of the city, and they sat out the rest of the war they'd started until 1648, when Swedish troops seized Hradcany and Mala Strana.  Prague's population shrank from 60,000 in 1620 to 24,600 in 1648.
  Eventually, the Habsburgs moved back to Vienna, reducing Prague to a provincial town.  A devastating fire in 1689 led to a baroque rebuilding, and in 1784 the four towns of Prague - Stare and Nove Mesto, Mala Strana and Hradcany - officially became one city.
  As Czechs struggled to define themselves independently of the Habsburgs and Germany in the 19the century, Prague architects built several proud Czech monuments, including the National Theatre and the National Museum.  Czechoslovakia, with Prague - historically the most important city in the region - as its capital, declared its independence towards the end of WWI.  Several days after the announcement, the country's new government had to ask Prague's citizens to please stop partying and do a little work, or the fresh-minted country's economy would collapse.  On 1 January 1922, Greater Prague absorbed several surrounding towns and became a city of 677,000.  By 1938 the population had grown to one million.
  After Britain handed the Sudetenland to Hitler in the Munich Agreement of March 1939, Germany marched into Prague without a fight and the city's buildings consequently suffered little damage.  However, its people - particularly the Jewish community - suffered a great deal.  The Nazi Govenor (Reichsprotektor) of Czechslovakia, Reinhard Heydrich, was assassinated by British-backed Czech para-troopers in the city in June 1942; in a lather of revenge the Nazis executed a large number of Prague's intellectuals, pretty much wiping out the Czech resistance.  On 8 May 1945 Prague rose up against its occupiers, negotiating the Nazis - who were already militarily on the back foot - out one day before the Soviets marched in.
  After the communist coup in February 1948, economic and social policies almost bankrupted the country and crushed all dissent, sending Prague into a slow decline.
  In 1968, under the leadership of Alexander Dubcek, the party introduced reforms to decrease censorship and increase democracy.  The resultant flowering of artistic and intellectual activity was known as the Prague Spring.  The Soviet Union, unimpressed by the direction Czechoslovakia was taking, sent in the tanks (supported by Warsaw Pact troops) on the night of 20-21 August.  Fifty-eight Praguers died.
  The extraordinary "Velvet Revolution" was set in motion on 17 November 1989, when marchers in Prague commemorating the execution of nine students by the Nazis 50 years earlier were beaten by the police.  The communist government was brought down agreement between the elected Czech and Slovak leaders, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist and Prague became the capital of the new Czech Republic. (Neal Bedford, etc., "Prague: History" of Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)



  According to Louis O. Mink's A "Finnegans Wake" Gazetteer (1978), there are some references to Prague in Finnegans Wake:

PRAGUE (PRAHA).  Captal of Czech and prov of Bohemia; on both sides of Moldnu (Vltava) River.  The form coll of the Ir Franciscans, founded 1629, is in Hibernska Ulice ("Irish St") (551.32).  The old town of Prague is Stare mesto (539.21); it was fortified by King Wenceslaus I (539.29).  The banks of the Moldau were connected very early by a br (?539.21 brixtol), later by Charles IV's famous "Br of Prague."  Prikopy (Ger, Graben) is the main thoroughfare in central Prague (554.03); the name means "ditch"; it follows orig wad and ditch fortification, and is continuous with Ovocna Ulice (537.06).  Petrin (135.10) is the highest hill in Prague.

For the Defenestration of Prague, see Czechoslovakia.

135.10.  Pitre-le-Pore-in Petrin
?333.28.  Podushka be prayhasd
537.06.  by virchow of those filthered Ovocnas
539.21.  starrymisty...brixtol
541.24.  I made prahafeast upon acorpolous
551.32.  Hibernska Ulitzas
554.03.  my priccoping gents   (Mink 453-54)

IMAGE IMAGE NO. DATA

Prague Airport      Prague Airport (Letiste Praha-Ruzyne), Prague 6

prg2005-001 (Saturday 23 July) Prague Airport (Letiste Praha-Ruzyne), Prague 6



Old Town      Old Town (Stare Mesto)
  A settlement and marketplace existed on the eastern bank of the Vltava by the 10th century.  In the 12th century this was linked to the castle district by the Judith Bridge, since replaced by Charles Bridge (see below).  Old Town (Stare Mesto) has been Prague's working heart ever since, and the city you see now still largely follows the medieval layout.
  Many of Stare Mesto's buildings have Gothic insides and Romanesque basements.  To ease the devastation of frequent flooding by the Vltava, the level of the town was gradually raised, beginning in the 13th century, with new construction simply building on top of older foundations. (Neal Bedford, etc., Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-004 (Sunday 24 July) Hotel Melantrich (3-star hotel), Melantrichova 5, Prague 1 where I stayed for 7 nights in total: highly recommended!

prg2005-006 (Sunday 24 July) Hotel Melantrich (3-star hotel), Melantrichova 5, Prague 1 where I stayed 7 nights in total: highly recommended!

prg2005-007 (Sunday 24 July) Market in Haveslska street (ulice), located between Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.) and Mustek station (nadrazi)

prg2005-008 (Sunday 24 July) Market in Haveslska street (ulice), located between Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.) and Mustek station (nadrazi)

prg2005-009 (Sunday 24 July) Market in Haveslska street (ulice), located between Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.) and Mustek station (nadrazi)

prg2005-010 (Sunday 24 July) Market in Haveslska street (ulice), located between Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.) and Mustek station (nadrazi)

prg2005-011 (Sunday 24 July) Market in Haveslska street (ulice), located between Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.) and Mustek station (nadrazi)

prg2005-012 (Sunday 24 July) St. Havel Church (Kostel sv Havel), Havelska ulicka

prg2005-013 (Sunday 24 July) St. Havel Church (Kostel sv Havel), Havelska ulicka

prg2005-073 (Sunday 24 July) In front of Franze Kafky, Stare Mesto, Prague 1

prg2005-075 (Sunday 24 July) Powder Tower (Prasna brana), Na prikope, Prague 1.
  The gloomy 65m-tall Powder Tower was begun in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II Jagiello but never finished.  Used to store gunpowder in the 18th century, it was refurbished in the 19th century and the steeple and decorations were added.

prg2005-250 (Thursday 28 July) Powder Tower (Prasna brana), Na prikope, Prague 1

prg2005-251 (Thursday 28 July) Powder Tower (Prasna brana), Na prikope, Prague 1

prg2005-252 (Thursday 28 July) Powder Tower (Prasna brana), Na prikope, Prague 1

prg2005-078 (Monday 25 July) Ad car of "Darling Cabaret," Melantrichova, Prague 1

prg2005-014 (Sunday 24 July) Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice) and the Astronomical Clock (Orloj), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-259 (Sunday 31 July) Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-216 (Wednesday 27 July) Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-195 (Tuesday 26 July) Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-015 (Sunday 24 July) Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on the wall of Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-016 (Sunday 24 July) Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on the wall of Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-213 (Wednesday 27 July) Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on the wall of Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-217 (Wednesday 27 July) Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-017 (Sunday 24 July) Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Matka Bozi pred Tynem), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-214 (Wednesday 27 July) Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Matka Bozi pred Tynem), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-215 (Wednesday 27 July) Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Matka Bozi pred Tynem), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-018 (Sunday 24 July) Statue of Jan Hus (1372-1415), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.).  He was the Bohemian Reformer in the 15th century, who denied the authority of the Roman Pope and Catholic Church in Konstanz and was finally condemned to the stake in 1415.
  A century before Martin Luther nailed his demands to a church door, the Czechs were agitating for church reform.  Jan Hus, a fan of English theologian John Wycliffe, led a movement which espoused - among other things - services given in Czech rather than Latin, letting the congregation taste the sacramental wine as well as the host (the Hussites' symbol was the chalice) and an end to the selling of indulgences (and church wealth in general).  When he was burned for heresy, Hus' martyrdom sparked a religious, nationalist and class-based rebellion in Bohemia, led the preacher Jan Zelivsky and operating mainly out of Tabor, Plzen and Prague's Nove Mestro.
  The Hussites moved swiftly from rhetoric to warfare: on 30 July 1419 Zelivsky preached a blood-stirring sermon at St. Mary of the Snows in Prague, then led the congregation to the New Town Hall to confront the Catholic burglers.  Militant Hussite Jan Zizka led a charge up the stairs and the councilors were thrown out the windows and beaten to death by the mob.  After four months of church burning and street battles, the Hussites held Prague and Emperor Sigismund had retreated to Moravia.
  The pope told Sigismund to take Prague back, but the Catholic attack in 1420 was defeated by the forces of ferocious, frail-wielding commander Zizka (Vitkov Hill, where the battle took place, is now called Zizkov Hill and is topped by a massive equestrian statue of the general).  Eventually moderate Hussites let Sigismund back into town and joined forces with him to defeat radical Hussites at the Battle of Lipany, near Kolin.  Jiri z Podebrad (1458-1471) was elected Hussite king, and though he had a few radical ideas, such as a European council to solve international problems by diplomacy rather than war, the rest of Europe was unconvinced by the Hussite regime.  After Jiri's death, despite a few Polish kings holding the throne, real power in Bohemia continued to lie with the Protestant Ultraquist nobles, the so-called Bohemian Estates.
  While all this upheaval was going on across the border, Slovaks were having a relatively easy time of it with the Hungarians.  Not everyone, early 14th century a powerful warlord named Matus Cak ruled much of what is now Slovakia from Trencin (in West Slovakia).  The Hussites also managed to dislodge the ruling Hungarians for a time and ruled much of Slovakia until their defeat at the Battle of Lipany.  Juraj Daza was not so successful.  His rebellion in the early 16th century with an army of 50,000 peasants was ruthlessly crushed. (Major reference: Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-153 (Tuesday 26 July) Statue of Jan Hus (1372-1415), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-154 (Tuesday 26 July) Statue of Jan Hus (1372-1415), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-221 (Thursday 28 July) A carriage for tourists in Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-020 (Sunday 24 July) Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-260 (Sunday 31 July) Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-262 (Sunday 31 July) Interior of Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-263 (Sunday 31 July) Interior of Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-264 (Sunday 31 July) Interior of Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-265 (Sunday 31 July) Interior of Church of St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikulase), Old Town Square (Staromestske nam.)

prg2005-021 (Sunday 24 July) "Theatres Little Broadway" and "National Black Light Theatre" (ticket office), Havelska ulicka 3

prg2005-022 (Sunday 24 July) A marionette shop, Na Mustek

prg2005-023 (Sunday 24 July) A blacksmith stall, the west end of Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-024 (Sunday 24 July) A blacksmith stall, the west end of Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-257 (Sunday 31 July) A blacksmith stall, the west end of Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-258 (Sunday 31 July) A blacksmith stall, the west end of Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-148 (Tuesday 26 July) Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-149 (Tuesday 26 July) Inscription of Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-150 (Tuesday 26 July) Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-151 (Tuesday 26 July) Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-152 (Tuesday 26 July) Sculpture Grande 05 by Gallery Art Factory, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-282 (Sunday 31 July) My lunch I bought from a hotdog stall, Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-283 (Sunday 31 July) National Museum (Narodni museum), viewed from Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)

prg2005-284 (Sunday 31 July) Mucha Museum (Muchovo museum), Panska 7, Prague 1 [off Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)]

prg2005-285 (Sunday 31 July) General Post Office, Jindrisska, Prague 1 [off Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti)]

prg2005-183 (Tuesday 26 July) Bedrich Smetana Museum (Muzeum Bedricha Smetany), Novotneho lavka 1, Prague 1

prg2005-184 (Tuesday 26 July) Statue of Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884), Bedrich Smetana Museum (Muzeum Bedricha Smetany), Novotneho lavka 1, Prague 1

prg2005-185 (Tuesday 26 July) Bedrich Smetana Museum (Muzeum Bedricha Smetany), Novotneho lavka 1, Prague 1

prg2005-190 (Tuesday 26 July) A beggar working near the Bridge Tower of Charles Bridge

prg2005-191 (Tuesday 26 July) Prague Opera Marionette Theatre (Museum a divadlo loutek) presenting Mozart's Don Giovanni, Karlova 12, Prague 1

prg2005-192 (Tuesday 26 July) Prague Opera Marionette Theatre (Museum a divadlo loutek) presenting Mozart's Don Giovanni, Karlova 12, Prague 1

prg2005-193 (Tuesday 26 July) A Russian souvenir shop, Karlova, Prague 1

prg2005-194 (Tuesday 26 July) ? Exhibtion of "Krajina Zatisi," Karlova, Prague 1

prg2005-205 (Wednesday 27 July) Statue of Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) in front of Rudolfinum (Dum Umelcu), Alsovo 12, Prague 1

prg2005-207 (Wednesday 27 July) Rudolfinum (Dum Umelcu), Alsovo 12, Prague 1

prg2005-209 (Wednesday 27 July) "Mozart's Night," Rudolfinum (Dum Umelcu), Dvorak Hall, Alsovo 12, Prague 1.

  The Magic Flute Overture
  Symphony in D Major, No. 38 "Prague"
  Mass of Requiem in D Minor, K 626

  Maria Haan --Soprano
  Pavla Vykopalova -- Mezzo
  Jaroslav Brezina -- Tenor
  Jiri Sulzenko -- Bass
  Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno
  Petr Fiala -- Choirmaster
  Czech National Symphony Orchestra
  Libor Pesek -- Conductor

prg2005-211 (Wednesday 27 July) "Mozart's Night," Rudolfinum (Dum Umelcu), Dvorak Hall, Alsovo 12, Prague 1

prg2005-266 (Sunday 31 July) A tram, Kaprova (near the east edge of Manesuv Most), Prague 1



New Town       New Town (Nove Mesto)
  Although it's called New Town, this part of Prague isn't particularly: a crescent of land east and south of Stare Mesto, it was founded in 1348 by Karel IV.  The New Town's first buildings were constructed on the corner of Wencelas Square and Jindrisska.  Its outer fortifications were knocked down in 1875.  The layout has been essentially preserved, although most surviving buildings are from the 19th and early 20th centuries.  Many blocks are honeycombed with pedestrian-only passages, some lined with shops, cafes and theatres.
  Nove Mesto extends eastward from Revolucni and Na prikope to Wilsonova and the main railway line, and south from Narodni almost Vysehrad.  Its focus is Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti), a broad, 750m-long boulevard lined with late-19th-century and early-20th-century buildings almost completely obscured by modern shops, sloping down from the National Museum towards Stare Mesto. (quoted from Neal Bedford, etc., Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-025 (Sunday 24 July) A statue in Palackeho Namesti (near Karlovo namesti station)

prg2005-026 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.

prg2005-027 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.

prg2005-028 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.  Viewed from Jiraskovo Namesti.

prg2005-029 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.  Viewed from Jiraskovo Namesti.

prg2005-030 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.  Viewed from Jiraskovo Namesti.

prg2005-031 (Sunday 24 July) The Dancing House or the Dancing Building (Tancici dum or Tancici budova), Rasinovo nabrezi 80.  It was designed by Czech Vlado Milunc and American Frank Gehry, who originally called it the "Astaire & Rogers Building."  Completed in 1996.  Viewed from Jiraskovo Namesti.

prg2005-032 (Sunday 24 July) Palackeho Most (bridge) over the Vltava (Moldau)

prg2005-033 (Sunday 24 July) Palackeho Most (bridge) over the Vltava (Moldau)



Prague Castle      Hradcany (Prague Castle and its environs)
  Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad), simply called hrad by the Czechs, is the most popular sight in Prague.  According to the Guinness Book of Records, the hrad is the largest ancient castle in the world - 570 m long, an average of 128 m wide and occupying 7.28 hectares.  The surrounding complex of churches and former ecclesiastical buildings covers an additional 38 hectares.
  The castle's history goes back to the 9th century, when Prince Borivoj built a few houses here and put a wall around them.  It grew as rulers made their own additions, which is why it's a jumble of architectural styles.  Prince Sobeslav did a Romanesque makeover in the 12th century, and Empress Maria Thresa had the place a classical face-lift in the 18th century.  In the 1920s, President Masaryk contracted a Slovenian, Josef Plecnik, to renovate the castle.  For centuries this was the home of Bohemia's kings; since 1918 it's been used by Czech presidents. (Neal Bedford, etc., Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-087 (Monday 25 July) Prague Castle, viewed from Manesuv Most (near Rudolfinum)

prg2005-091 (Monday 25 July) Prague Castle, viewed from Manesuv Most

prg2005-092 (Monday 25 July) A statue of Maria, a small park along Klarov; on the way to the castle

prg2005-094 (Monday 25 July) The castle guards of the main gate at the west end of the castle.

prg2005-095 (Monday 25 July) You can see how big the castle guard is, standing with me, though I am a little shorter than the average Japanese male!

prg2005-096 (Monday 25 July) "Museum Hracek" (Souvenir shop)

prg2005-097 (Monday 25 July) All Saints' Chapel

prg2005-098 (Monday 25 July) The fountain (Statue of Sv. Jiri)

prg2005-099 (Monday 25 July) Basilica of St. George

prg2005-100 (Monday 25 July) St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-101 (Monday 25 July) St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-102 (Monday 25 July) Old Royal Palace (Stary Kralovsky palac)

prg2005-103nito (Monday 25 July) The castle guards passing by St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita).  Photo taken by Prof. Noriko Ito, Tezukayama University, Japan.

prg2005-103 (Monday 25 July) The castle guards passing by St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-104 (Monday 25 July) St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita): the east side

prg2005-105 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-107 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-108 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-109 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-110 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-111 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-112 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-113 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-114 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-115 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita)

prg2005-116 (Monday 25 July) Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala sv. Vita): In memorioal of Arch Bishop Frantisek Tomasek

prg2005-117 (Monday 25 July) Statue of St. George fighting with the dragon

prg2005-118 (Monday 25 July) Prague viewed from the old castle steps

prg2005-119 (Monday 25 July) Prague viewed from the old castle steps

prg2005-120 (Monday 25 July) Prague viewed from the old castle steps

prg2005-121 (Monday 25 July) Me @ the old castle steps.  Photo taken by Prof. Noriko Ito, Tezukayama University, Japan.



Lesser Quarter       The Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana), south of Prague Castle
  The Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) clusters at the foot of Prague Castle.  Most tourists only see the Royal Way, climbing along Mostecka and Nerudova on their way to the castle.  Slip off into the narrow back streets and you'll find the quarter is surprisingly quiet.  This historical reserve is now a favorite movie set and commercial centre.
  Mala Strana started life in the 8th or 9th century as a market settlement and was nearly destroyed twice - during the Hussite War in 1419, and the Great Fire of 1541.  In the 17th and 18th centuries the baroque churches and palaces that stud Mala Strana were constructed. (Neal Bedford, etc., Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-124 (Monday 25 July)



Charles Bridge      Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)
  Part of Karel IV's Gothic building frenzy, Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) was constructed to replace the ealiest Judith Bridge (Juditin most; named after Vladislav I's queen), which had been irreparably damaged by ice.  Designed by Peter Parler, it was completed in about 1400, though it was called the Prague Bridge until the 19th century.  Despite occasional flood damage, it withstood wheeled traffic for 600 years without a shudder - thanks, legend says, to eggs mixed into the mortar - until it was made pedestrian- only after WWII.  During the floods of 2002, cranes stood watch over the bridge, pulling large pieces of detritus out of the water so the pillars would not be damaged.
  Many of the statues were later additions, put up to promote their particular ecclesiastical orders.  These days the most popular is that of the country's patron saint, Jan of Nepomuk, tortured to death by Vaclav IV.  Most of the statues are copies - the originals are preserved in Vysehrad and at the Fairgrounds Lapidarium. (Neal Bedford, etc., Czech & Slovak Republics, Lonely Planet 2004)

prg2005-088 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most) viewed from Manesuv most

prg2005-090 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most) viewed from Manesuv most.

prg2005-126 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-127 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-128 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-129 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-130 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-131 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-133 (Monday 25 July) Street musicians, Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-135 (Monday 25 July) Charles Bridge (Kanuv most)

prg2005-136 (Monday 25 July) Bridge Tower built in 1400, Old Town, Prague 1



The Vltava

prg2005-162 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-164 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-166 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-167 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-169 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-170 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-171 (Tuesday 26 July) Charles Bridge and the Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-172 (Tuesday 26 July) Charles Bridge and the Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-174 (Tuesday 26 July) Charles Bridge and the Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-176 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-179 (Tuesday 26 July) The Vltava River viewed during the boat cruise

prg2005-181 (Tuesday 26 July) The great metronome, viewed during the boat cruise on the Vltava

Maintained by Eishiro Ito