I will guide you step by step through Prague...
Green lungs and the architecture of Prague
When you look at the realm of stone in the inner city, you can hardly believe that almost half of the city territory is occupied by gardens and parks (870 hectares). Some of these green islands have the status of reserves, and their visits are strictly regulated.
Three large parks on the left bank of the Vltava are perfect for long walks. This is, above all, Petř í n Hill, the "home mountain" of the Prague people. It was this secluded corner, the place of spring love dates, that Kafka chose for the execution of his hero Joseph K. in the novel The Trial. From the south, Strahov Garden, you can go to the monastery of the same name, which has become the Museum of National Literature.
The Letensky Gardens are located on a high plateau above the Vltava, opposite the Old Town. Next door is a trendy Prague restaurant housed in the Ganava Pavilion, a gem of Art Nouveau.
The Royal Garden is located in the western part. You can get to it by going through the bridge first to the Chotkovy Sady (Chotkovy sady), and from there to the Royal Garden itself (Krá lovská zahrada) with the summer palace of Queen Anna (Belvedere), built in 1534 between the Deer Moat and the Mariinsky ramparts.
There is also a forest reserve Stromovka in Prague, which is located north of the Letensky Gardens on the Vltava Loop. This park was founded by King Př emysl Otakar II as a hunting reserve. Under Rudolph II, a country palace was built and fish ponds were dug, which were filled with Vltava water through a special adit.
For more than a thousand years, sculptors and architects, artists and writers, musicians and scientists have created enduring values in Prague. The architectural ensemble of this city combines all the styles presented in the history of art - from Romanesque to Art Nouveau. By decision of UNESCO, Prague is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage.
The story began with the fact that the first princes from the Př emyslid family built a wooden castle in Hradč any and thus launched a thousand-year-old construction, as a result of which the Prague Castle acquired its present appearance.
Czech cuisine and restaurant. Club life in Prague.
Moving away from history and returning to the present, I cannot but mention Czech cuisine. In Prague, new cafes and restaurants are springing up like mushrooms after the rain, and the culinary variety is quite at the level of a world capital. Despite the Czechs' passion for everything new, knedlik is still the crowning number of the local cuisine, usually as a side dish for roast pork or beef. There are potato dumplings, bread dumplings, crackling dumplings and fruit dumplings. These latter are made from yeast dough made from cherries, apricots or plums. My advice to you is to visit the best restaurant in Prague, Zlatá Praha, which is located in the Old Town at Ná m. Curieový ch 5. From the top floor of the InterContinental Hotel you have a magnificent view of the rooftops of the Old Town. Sunday brunch here is considered the best in town. I also recommend such as "Ada", located in the elegant hotel "Hoffmeister" at Pod Bruskou street 9, the restaurant "Parnas" on the very bank of the Vltava (Smetanovo ná bř ež í.2 phone 22.218 521), with an incomparable view of Hradcany. But in the restaurant "U dragouna" (Parlě ř ova 5, Stř eš ovice, phone 22.551 282), they say that they serve the best tenderloin in the city. Upon prior order, a roast goose in the Czech tradition will be prepared for you.
But the favorite place for all "beer tourists" is "At Fleck". Beer in Prague is not just drunk, it is enjoyed. Pouring it into mugs is already a high art. The foam should be so thick that the match can stand in it for at least ten seconds. And every Praguer will name you a tavern where, in his opinion, the waiter is the best at this art. I trusted my Prague friends and chose "At Fleck" and was not mistaken. You will be offered at least 15 types and varieties of beer.
In Prague at night, not all cats are gray anymore. In many bars, the real fun doesn't start until after midnight. For those who prefer a moderate pace of life, there is traditional entertainment: the good old variety shows, discos around Wenceslas Square for wealthy businessmen from all over the world, elegant jazz cafes and countless casinos open all night.
Tip: The general system for booking theater and concert tickets: Ticketpro, Rytirska 12, telephone 29.333 333 www. ticketpro. cz or with my help.
A little about shopping. . .
Most shops in Prague are centered around the Golden Cross at the foot of Wenceslas Square. "Golden Cross" got its name for a reason - the closer to it, the more expensive the purchases. Prague is a city of fashion, although in this respect it is still
far from London or Paris. However, the offer is constantly growing. The Prague hat fashion is well known, leather gloves and handbags are also good. No less popular as souvenirs are the famous Prague ham (in cans), Becherovka herbal liqueur and Karlovy Vary waffles, and one should not forget about Bohemian crystal, which is the main Czech export. As a rule, shops are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 - 18.00, on Saturday until 14.00. Fashion stores open only at 10.00, large shopping centers and souvenir shops in the center are open daily.
I give you a few addresses where you should look, and the prices will pleasantly surprise you:
Shopping centers:
1. Č erna ruž e, Na př ikopě.12, New Town
2. Broadway, Na př ikopě.31, Old Town
3. Koruna, Vá clavskě ná m. /Na př ikopě , New Town
4. Pavilon, Vinohradská.50, Vinohrady.
Glass and porcelain:
1. Moser, Na př ikopě.12, New Town. The best glass shop in Prague. But the really valuable things cost accordingly!
2. Root Crzstal, Malě ná m. 3, Old City. The largest selection of glassware in Prague.
3. Č eský porcelá n, Perlová.1, Old Town. Porcelain with blue painting directly from a traditional manufacturer in northern Bohemia – inexpensive and beautiful.
Delicacies:
1. Botanicus, Tý n 3, Old Town. Several branches are located in the center. Vegetable oil, vinegar, spices, tea, dried fruits.
2. Fruits de France, Jindř í š ská.9, New Town. French wine, cheese and the best fruits and vegetables in all of Prague.
3. Country Life, Melantrichova 15, Old Town. Organic food and a good vegetarian self-service restaurant. Saturdays closed.
4. Jan Paukert, Ná rodní.17, Old Town. Alcohol, sausages, hams and a small selection of prepared snacks.
1. Cellarius, Lucerna-Passage, Š tě pá nská.61, New Town. Large selection of Czech wines.
2. Wine cellar in the restaurant "Rybí trh" in the courtyard of Ungelt, Tý n 5, Old Town.
Folk crafts:
1. Manufaktura, Melantrichova 17 and Karlova 26, Old Town. Wooden kitchen utensils, ceramics, fabrics, painted Easter eggs, candles.
2. Tupesy, Havelská.21, Old Town. Traditional folk pottery.
3. Sanu Babu, Michalská.20, Old Town. Linen and other expensive fabrics, Asian art.
How to get to the heart of Europe:
To apply for a single-entry tourist visa to the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Ukraine, you must provide: a passport valid for at least 90 days on the day of departure from the Czech Republic, 1 color photograph 3.5x4.5 cm, a questionnaire, an invitation or a voucher for booking a hotel. The Czech Republic entered the Schengen area, and new conditions for obtaining a visa entered. You can get acquainted with them on the official website of the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Ukraine.
From the airports "Odessa" in Odessa or "Borispol" in Kiev, the planes of the company "Czech Airlines" fly daily, which will take you to Ruzyne Airport. It is located 20 km from Prague. From the airport to Prague there are buses to the nearest metro station. And we can offer you a transfer airport-hotel-airport upon arrival in Prague (there are VIP class cars). You can also get to Prague using the Odessa-Prague or Kyiv-Prague railway connection or by bus.
I will help you book a hotel or villa in Prague and its surroundings from economy class to apartments at the time of your arrival.
Arriving in Prague, use public transport: metro, tram, bus, taxi, funicular. Be careful: validate your ticket with the up arrow. An incorrectly validated ticket is invalid! Believe me, fines are decent, about 400 to 800 crowns. Buses and trams run strictly according to the schedule. Ground transport operates from 05.00 to 24.00, night routes - from 23.30 to 04.30, traffic interval 40 minutes. You can use
taxi services. The car can be called through the dispatcher or taken at one of the many parking lots. Dispatchers "AAA" phone 14014 and "Radiotaxi Praha" phone 22.111 000 have proven themselves well.
Another option is to rent a car. A credit card is required at checkout. An additional insurance agreement is drawn up in case of an accident or theft of a car. I advise you to contact Czech Car Rental: "Czech Avto Rent", Uruquayská.5, phone 22.05 52.
The organization of city tours in Russian is organized by the PIS company located at the Old Town Hall. You can take a fascinating tour of the city in a small street train, you need to contact the company Ekoexpres, Slezská.11, phone 22.84 09.
Excursions in Prague.
I suggest you take a walk around Prague. I present 6 such routes that are necessary for the knowledge of the beauty, creation and life of Prague:
Route 1: Old City. Powder Tower - Municipal House - Old Town Square - Estates Theater - Klementium - Charles Bridge - Rudolfinum;
Route 2: Golem Kingdom. Pinkas Synagogue - Old Jewish Cemetery - Old New Synagogue - Jewish Town Hall;
Route 3: Mala Strana. Waldstein Palace - Baroque Park - Lesser Town Square - Church of St. Mikulas - Maltese Square - Kampa Island;
Route 4: From Wenceslas Square to Hradcany. Strahov Monastery - Loretan Square - Hradcany Square - Prague Castle;
Route 5: New city. Wenceslas Square - National Museum - National Theater - Charles Square - New Town Hall;
Route 6: View of the Libuse bath. Charles Square - Emauza Monastery - Church of St. John of Nepomuk on the rock - Vysehrad.
I also suggest you make out-of-town excursions to imperial castles and royal cities:
- Castle Karlstejn and Koneprusy. The most famous Czech castle stands on a rock above the Berounka river valley, about 30 km southwest of Prague.
(Motorway E50 in the direction of Plzen, exit Lodě nice or Beroun; also State Highway No. 4, exit Zbraslav; by train from Smichov railway station;
- Castle Konopiste. An extensive park in the English style with copies of Italian statues. Baroque style. The castle houses a large collection of weapons and hunting trophies. (Motorway E60, exit Miroš ovice 45 km south of Prague; by train from the Main Station);
- Melnik. A picturesque town 30 km north of Prague at the confluence of the Laba and Vltava rivers. Known for its excellent wine "Lyudmila". Wine Museum. (Access: by car on state highway No. 9);
- Kutna Hora. Located 65 km east of Prague. In medieval times, the residence of the Bohemian kings was located. Mint house of the 13th century and the Mining Museum. Ribbed mesh vaults, Gothic frescoes and carved oak benches attract attention. (Access: by car on the E67 in the direction of Podě brady, then turn to Kolí n; by train from the train station "Praha Stř ed";
- Sklapska dam. Favorite vacation spot of Praguers. A pond 40 km long with water and recreational walks. (Access: by car on State Highway No. 4 to Zbraslav, then on Highway No. 102 to Slapy).
And lastly, I advise you to visit the Czech zoo. You will get maximum pleasure on the territory of more than 6 hectares.
Change money into Czech crowns strictly at currency exchange offices or at a bank, and not at hotels or cafes, where the crown rate is usually higher. Do not forget to first find out how much the amount for exchange will be in crowns, as some currency exchange offices have a commission from 3 to 20%. The exchange rate is stable 1$ - 25.00 CZK.
We will provide full information support for those traveling to the Czech Republic, prepare individual sightseeing tours, organize and conduct wedding ceremonies and weddings in ancient castles and residences of the Czech Republic.
Be careful, happy and joyful trip to Prague to you,
Sincerely, D. Permyakov!
