Prague
It’s autumn again… Difficult time, getting a bit melancholic about the summer’s end; but in a way looking forward to chilly days and colourful trees.:) Luckily, there is a bank holiday on the 23rd of October, and hopefully there are still some cheap flight tickets to Prague, which would be great.
Czechs also have a day off in October, as state holiday. The 28th is the day of Czechoslovakian Statehood. Strange, that they are celebrating the establishment of a country that no longer exists in this form; but under the Communism it was called the Nationalization Day and they “celebrated” the transfer of private properties into the hands of the state.
If you feel like going to Prague and get to know the hidden beauties of the city, visit Vysehrad, the fortress that was originally built in the 10th century and according to a legend it was the first settlement before Prague emerged. When the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV started to build the Prague Castle in the early 14th century, Vyšehrad was no longer used as a royal home. It was completely renovated during the 17th century, when the Habsburg Monarchy took over the Czech lands after the Thirty Years' War it was also incorporated into the Baroque city walls around Prague.
Petrin Hill, with the Observation Tower on top, which is a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, is another interesting place to visit. The Tower is 60 metres tall and was built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition. It doesn't sound particularly high but the view is magnificent and it’s really worth climbing the 299 steps. On a clear day you can even see the highest peak of the Czech Republic, called Snezka. To get to the Observation Tower, you can take the funicular from Ujezd street in Mala Strana. Alternatively, you can rent a car or do the 25-30 minute stroll up Petrin Hill. The climb is fairly steep, but you are passing through gardens and an apple orchard.
Kutna Hora, the neighboring town of Sedlec, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and only an hour drive from Prague. Among its most important buildings there are the Gothic church of St. Barbara's, the Italian Court, former royal residence and the Gothic Stone Haus, which has served as a museum, contains one of the richest archives in the country. The Gothic St. James's Church, with its 86 metre tower, is another prominent building. Sedlec is the site of the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady and the famous Ossuary.
