Prague, Czech Republic, Day Four 14th April 26

On Tuesday the 14th April 2026 after breakfast we left the hotel and made our way to the Metro and caught this to the Vyšehrad stop. From here we had a short walk to visit the Vyšehradské Hradby.

We walk through the Leopold Gate pictured above. This gate was built in 1672 as the main entrance to the Citadel. It was designed by the Italian Carlo Lurago, Master of Prague Baroque and named in honour of the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia Leopold I. There was once a moat in front of this gate.  

Just a short way pass the Leopold Gate is the Rotunda of St Martin.

The rotunda was built in the 2nd half of the 11th century, and it was turned into gun powder storage when the fortress was established. In 1841 it was threatened by the planned communication between the New Town and Pankrác, but count Karel Chotek managed to preserve the Romanic rotunda. In 1875 it was purchased by the Vyšehrad canonry and was restored according to a project of architect Antonín Baum. Antonín König and Jan Heřman painted the interior wall paintings, and František Sequens painted the altar painting. Today’s appearance is the result of several repairs. The rotunda’s internal diameter is 650 cm; the apse is 220 cm deep, and the walls are 95 – 97 cm thick. Above the portal created in a pseudo-Romanic style, there is a canon ball walled in to commemorate the Prussian siege of Prague in 1757. The entrance was originally to the West. The rotunda has a so called lantern on the roof, edged with a gold-plated cross with a half-moon and the sun.

Walking on we reach the Saints Peter & Paul Basilica.

Founded in 1070–1080 by the King Vratislaus II of Bohemia, the Romanesque basilica suffered a fire in the year 1249 and has been rebuilt in Gothic and later in neo-Gothic style. The basilica features an impressive stone mosaic above its entry, and its twin 58 m towers can be seen atop a hill to the south from along the Vltava River in central Prague.

There was an entrance fee to enter, so we decided not to pay and just admire the exterior.

The current building itself is a neo-Gothic basilica. It was constructed between 1887 and 1903. The first master builder was Joseph Mocker but he died mid-way through construction. It was finished by his partner František Mikš who modified the façade and tower designs from Mocker's original plans. The main part of the church consists of a nave with two side aisles; a large choir, sanctuary and apse; and two side rooms which hold a sacristy and a chapel for Panna Maria Šancovská Our Lady of the Ramparts.

Another interesting feature of the St. Paul and Peter's Basilica design is the spires, which are hollow. They have slender holes making the tops of the towers light and elegant reminiscent of the conic formation of the chestnut flowers one can find blooming in trees along the walkways in the Vyšehrad complex. The spires (and indeed the triangular gable of the façade between them) are frilled with petal like finial protrusions along their length and on their tops, further connecting their likeness to the flower.

Behind the church is located large park and Vyšehrad cemetery, the final resting place of many famous Czechs, including author Karel Čapek and composer Antonín Dvořák. In 2003 the church was elevated to basilica by Pope John Paul II.

We walk pass the Statue of St Wenceslas as pictured below.

The statue of St. Wenceslas located in

Vyšehrad is an early Baroque equestrian sculpture created by

Jan Jiří Bendl around 1678–1680. It was originally situated in the middle of Prague's Wenceslas Square (formerly the Horse Market) until 1879, when it was moved to its current location in the

Štulc Gardens within the Vyšehrad fortress complex.

Vyšehrad (English: "upper castle") is a historic fort in Prague, Czech Republic, just over 3 km southeast of Prague Castle, on the east bank of the Vltava River. It was likely founded in the 10th century. Inside the fort are the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul and the Vyšehrad Cemetery, containing the remains of many famous Czechs, such as Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Karel Čapek, and Alphonse Mucha. It also contains Prague's oldest Rotunda of St. Martin, from the 11th century.

Our walk takes us along the riverfront to the Vyšehrad ramparts, across the Botič Stream valley and up the hill to little-known Karlov, offering inspiring views of the city, as well as a remarkable showcase of architecture. At the foot of Vyšehrad, you’ll discover the beauty of Czech architectural Cubism immortalised in the crystalline forms of the Kovařovic Villa and other buildings.

We walk along the ramparts taking in great views across the city of Prague.

Views across Prague with the Žižkov Television Tower in the far distance that has the Crawling Babies sculpture by David Cerny.

We walk down and through the streets until we reach the riverside and walk on to visit the Dancing House.

Upon reaching the Dancing House, we enter and take the lift to the top floor to visit the rooftop cafe there.

In the Tančící dům - Ginger & Fred Restaurant we sit and have a coffee taking in the views. There is an outside viewing platform but at nearly £15 for the two of we sat inside, we can see the views for free from the windows!

View to the Šítkovská vodárenská věž (Šítkov Water Tower).

The Šítkovská vodárenská věž (Šítkov Water Tower) is a historic 47-meter-tall Baroque tower in Prague, known for its distinct tilt. Built in the 17th century on the bank of the Vltava River near the

Mánes Gallery, it served as a water supply hub for over 200 years.

The Dancing House (Czech: Tančící dům), or Ginger and Fred, is the nickname given to the Nationale-Nederlanden building on the Rašínovo nábřeží (Rašín Embankment) in Prague, Czech Republic. It was designed by the Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot. The building was designed in 1992. The construction, carried out by BESIX, was completed four years later in 1996.

Gehry originally called the house Ginger and Fred (after the dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire – the house resembles a pair of dancers), but the nickname Ginger & Fred is now mainly used for the restaurant located on the seventh floor of the Dancing House Hotel. Gehry himself later discarded his own idea, as he was "afraid to import American Hollywood kitsch to Prague".

The "Dancing House" is set on a property of great historical significance. Its site was the location of an apartment building destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Prague in 1945. The plot and structure lay decrepit until 1960, when the area was cleared. The neighboring plot was co-owned (until 1948–50, when the Communist regime overtook every larger private property and commercial activities) by the family of Václav Havel, who spent most of his life there. As early as 1986 (during the Communist era), Vlado Milunić, then a respected architect in the Czechoslovak milieu, conceived an idea for a project at the place and discussed it with his neighbour, the then well known (both nationally and internationally) dissident Havel. A few years later, during the Velvet Revolution, Havel became a popular leader and was subsequently elected president of Czechoslovakia. Thanks to his authority, the idea to develop the site grew. Havel eventually decided to have Milunić survey the site, hoping for it to become a cultural centre, though this was not the result.

The style is known as deconstructivist ("new-baroque" to the designers) architecture due to its unusual shape. The "dancing" shape is supported by 99 concrete panels, each a different shape and dimension. On the top of the building is a large twisted structure of metal nicknamed Medusa.

In the middle of a square of buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the Dancing House has two main parts. The first is a glass tower that narrows at half its height and is supported by curved pillars; the second runs parallel to the river and is characterized by undulating mouldings and unaligned windows.

Dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are represented in the structure. A tower made of rock is used to represent Fred. This tower also includes a metal head. A tower made of glass is used to represent Ginger.

This design was driven mainly by aesthetic considerations: aligned windows would make evident that the building has two more floors, although it is the same height as the two adjacent nineteenth century buildings. The windows have protruding frames, such as those of paintings, as the designer intended for them to have a three-dimensional effect. The winding mouldings on the façade also serve to confuse perspective and diminish contrast with the surrounding buildings.

We walk on along the river and walk up Národní and visit Levels, an amusement centre.

Levels offers more than 200 arcade games, state-of-the-art simulators, vibrant bars, and excellent food. Whether you want to enjoy mini golf, billiards, karaoke, or themed bars.

We walk on and walk back through to Wenceslas Square.

Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) is a 750-metre-long, bustling boulevard in the heart of Prague’s New Town, established by Charles IV in 1348 as a horse market. Today, it serves as a major hub for shopping, nightlife, and culture, featuring the National Museum, numerous hotels, and iconic art nouveau architecture, alongside a rich history of protests and national celebrations.

Jindřišská Tower

This late Gothic tower is part of the Church of St Henry and St Kunhuta and, with its height of 65.7 m, is the highest freestanding bell tower in Prague. Today this structure offers visitors a view from the tenth floor, a restaurant, a museum and a gallery. Another unique feature is the carillon — a set of ten cast bronze bells in the tower attic, designed for listening in the interior of the tower.

We walk back through the city trying to find areas we haven't visited. Seems like weve covered just about everywhere. We catch the tram back to the hotel.

Later that night we go out for our last dinner in Prague to an Italian Restaurant San Carlo Vinohrady  on Anglicka. Very nice food and atmosphere.

Prague Czech Republic Day Three -13th April 26

On Monday the 13th April 2026, Mel and I woke up in the hotel and after breakfast we catch the Tram 22 back up to the Pohořelec stop near to the Strahov Monastery Brewery we visited yesterday.

We walk up Strahovská uphill for a distance, the funicular is being renovated and closed till the Summer, so this was the best option to avoid the steep hill climb from the bottom.

We reach the top and walk up to the tower upon the summit of Petrin Hill.

Petřín Hill is a 327-metre-high, extensively landscaped park area in central Prague, renowned for its panoramic city views, the 1891 Petřín Lookout Tower (a mini-Eiffel Tower replica), and the Hunger Wall. It is a popular recreational area featuring gardens (rose, seminar), the Mirror Maze, and the Štefánik Observatory.

Petřín Tower, one of the most prominent landmarks of Prague, was built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a loose copy inspired by the Eiffel Tower (at a ratio of 1:5). It is 58.70 metres high, and 299 steps lead to its peak, which is at the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower. The view from its top overlooks not only the whole city, but on a clear day you can see nearly all of Bohemia.

We decide not to pay nearly £18 to climb 300 steps and admire it from below and go inside to the cafe for a drink instead.

We walk on just over from the tower is St Lawrence Cathedral. We couldn't find the entrance, maybe on the other side of the wall so we didn't enter.

The Church of St. Lawrence is a Baroque, pink-brick cathedral located on Petřín Hill in Prague, next to the Petřín Lookout Tower and the Hunger Wall. Reconstructed between 1739–1745, it is now the principal church of the Old Catholic Church in the Czech Republic.

Calvary Chapel

The Calvary Chapel on Petřín Hill in Prague is a small, picturesque Baroque chapel built around 1735, known for its stunning sgraffito façade depicting the Resurrection of Christ. Located next to St. Lawrence Church, it is part of the Petřín Hill Stations of the Cross complex, offering a serene, photogenic, and historic stop.

Walking on we pass the Funicular that's being refurbished and the normal easy way up here.

The Petřín Funicular in Prague, a historic cable railway operating since 1891, is currently closed for major renovations and track replacement until summer 2026. When operating, it connects Lesser Town (Újezd) to the top of Petřín Hill, offering scenic views and a steep 510-metre ride.

We start to make our way downhill with fabulous views as we do.

Views back over to Prague Castle

On the way down we pass the Magical Cavern. We stop to have a nose in, the man tried to get us to go in and then offered it at half price. Still didn't think it was worth a look. Strange place with lots of mystical paintings.

Reon's Magic Cavern project has a long history, reaching back to the 1970s in Bretagne. The Petřín Magic Cavern opened in 2005. Here you can view 80 paintings in the three-floor building, which Reon transformed into a cavern and a museum dedicated to his dreamland Argondie using numerous original sculptures and many tonnes of plaster. The cavern also features a seating area with jugs of free beverages for visitors.

We wind our way down the hill and pass the statue of Vítězslav Novák.

The bronze statue of Czech composer Vítězslav Novák (1870–1949) is located in the Petřínské sady park on Petřín Hill in Prague. Created in 1970 by sculptor Jan Simota, the statue portrays the composer in a long coat, often described as holding a cane, and is situated near the funicular railway.

We work our way down to the road below and see a mural of The Good Soldier painted on the side of Pivnice U Svejku on Ricni Street in the Mala Strana district.

We walk up Vitezna and over onto the Legion Bridge and half way over we take the elevator down to Archers Island.

Nutria (coypu) are large, non-native rodents commonly found along the shores of Střelecký Island (Archer's Island) in Prague's Vltava River. While tourists often feed and photograph these animals due to their relaxed nature, they are considered an invasive species, carry diseases, and can be aggressive, so caution is advised.

Caution aside they were friendly, because the tourists feed them I guess!

Native to subtropical and temperate South America, it was introduced to North America, Europe and Asia, primarily by fur farmers. Although it is still hunted and trapped for its fur in some regions, its destructive burrowing and feeding habits often bring it into conflict with humans, and it is considered an invasive species in several countries. Nutrias also transmit various diseases to humans and animals, mainly through water contamination.

We sit on a bench and watch the pedalos on the river.

We walk back up and along the river and come across The Babies Sculptures.

The "Babies" (Miminka) in Malá Strana are bronze, crawling sculptures created by artist David Černý, located in Kampa Park near the Museum Kampa. Installed in 2008, these three giant, faceless baby sculptures—which have barcode-like faces—are a permanent, ground-level version of the fibreglass, crawling babies found on the Žižkov Television Tower.

Symbolizing the dehumanizing impact of technology and the loss of individual identity. Featuring barcode-like slits instead of faces, the babies represent a dystopian, technological future and critique the loss of individuality.

Just a short walk from the Babies is The Penguins Sculptures.

A line of 33-34 bright yellow plastic penguins standing on a metal beam along the Vltava River, near the Kampa Museum.

Created by the Cracking Art Group, a Milan-based art movement known for using recycled plastics to create large-scale public art.

 The installation serves as a statement on environmental protection, highlighting the dangers of climate change and plastic consumption.

View upriver to Charles Bridge.

We walk away from the river we and cross the Certovka Canal (Devils Stream).

Grand Priory Mill is the mill with the huge wooden wheel of the 15th century. It is one of the most romantic and picturesque places at Kampa Island (The Venice of Prague) in Lesser Town.

The mill is out of order nowadays, it doesn´t drive anything, but it keeps rotating.

Squint and zoom in, and you will see that it's not really a human figure, but a googly-eyed, green-skinned goblin smoking a pipe.

His origin is rooted in general Czech folklore as well as the local legends of Prague. In Czech folklore, vodník is a water goblin similar to the vodyanoy of Slavic mythology: a green frog-like creature covered with algae, oftentimes dressed in flamboyant fashion. Some are good-natured, some are mischievous tricksters, while some are more malicious and may drown humans who wander near their territories. Either way, they love beer and locals would provide water buckets for them to stand in so that they could drink at Prague's old pubs.

We walk on a bit further and find the John Lennon Wall.

The Lennon Wall  or John Lennon Wall , located at Velkopřevorské náměstí (Grand Priory Square), Malá Strana, is a historic legal graffiti wall in Prague, Czechia. After the 1980 murder of John Lennon a mural of Lennon was painted by an unknown artist onto the wall and as more people expanded upon it, the wall slowly became a place for free expression of then communist Czechoslovakia.

It has historically been used for demonstrations and carries a central theme of John Lennon, but it also features designs relating to local and global causes such as global warming. The wall has also inspired other walls across the globe, such as the Hong Kong Lennon wall.

The wall is owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which until 2019 allowed all graffiti. As of the latest reconstruction, the wall exists as a semi-legal graffiti wall; spray painting has been banned and only some areas of the wall are allowed to be used by the public.

The Lennon Wall in Prague is a historic symbol of peace, love, and political resistance, originating after John Lennon’s 1980 murder. Once a quiet spot, it became a,,," symbol of free expression against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia, featuring graffiti inspired by Lennon and the Beatles. The wall continuously changes, representing freedom, hope, and global solidarity.

We walk back towards the river and pass The Wall Pub.

We have a quick look inside and see its a Beatles themed pub due to it proximity to the Lennon Wall.

We didn't have a drink, I didn't come all the way to Prague to drink English Beer!

Walking further up and under Charles Bridge, the canal passes us again with men dressed as Sailors trying to lure punters onto their barge cruises.

Charles Bridge

Walking on we find the Narrowest Street in Prague.

The narrowest street in Prague is located near the Charles Bridge. The nameless alley connects U Lužického semináře Street with the courtyard of the Čertovka restaurant on the Vltava riverbank. A curiosity is the installed traffic lights that control pedestrians, because two people cannot pass through the alley at the same time. In the widest part, it is only 70 centimetres wide, and in the narrowest parts, it is around half a metre. This is the last preserved fire alley in the Lesser Town.

The alley brings out into a restaurant that probably tries to capture as many tourists it can, we said hello and walked out!

We stop by the river here to capture photos of The Charles Bridge from another angle.

A ferry making its way across the Vltava.

Walking out onto Cihelna and pass a Gingerbread shop (Perníkový panáček)

selling overpriced gingerbread products.

We reach the Piss Statue.

The "Piss" sculpture, often referred to as Proudy (meaning "Streams" or "Currents" in Czech), is a 2004 interactive bronze fountain by artist David Černý, located outside the Franz Kafka Museum in Prague. It features two male figures, programmed to pivot and "pee" water into a Czech Republic-shaped basin, often spelling out literary quotes or user-sent SMS messages.

We walk back pass the Canal and back over The Charles Bridge again.

I liked the paintings on sale on the bridge but not at their prices!

We walk through a market as we make our way to get some Czech cuisine at Kuchyn.

We enter Kuchyn on Hradčanské nám. 186/1, 118 00 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia.

We order a Beef Goulash and bread dumplings paired with a Czech beer!

We walk on to see the Powder Tower.

This monumental entrance by which the coronation processions of Czech kings entered the Old Town is one of the most significant monuments of Late Gothic Prague. Completed in 1475, the Powder Gate Tower, which formerly served as a gunpowder store, is still the starting point for the Coronation or Royal Route to Prague Castle. The viewing gallery is located at a height of 44 m.

We stop for a Trdelník, although I know its not a Czech food. I loved these in Budapest. These didn't match up and cost so much more!

We make it back to the Astronomical Clock so we can watch the hourly chimes and show.

The Prague Astronomical Clock (Orloj) hosts a popular 45-second mechanical show hourly from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (starting from 8 a.m. according to some sources), where the Twelve Apostles parade, and figures representing Vanity, Greed, and Death move. The spectacle concludes with a cock crowing and bell ringing.

After the show we make or way back to the hotel for the night.