CZECH REPUBLIC - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 86

berg. “Long Visit” tickets, covering all of the ticketed areas, are 350 CZK, with tick-
ets for portions of the castle less; www.hrad.cz .
Old Town, centered on Old Town Square, is the center of the original town site
of Prague. The cornerstone of the square is the Orloj (Astronomical Clock). Ori-
ginally built in 1410, the clock plays an hourly show of the Apostles. It also demon-
strates the location of the moon, the planets, and the sun, among other functions.
There are numerous cafes and restaurants in the area, serving all types of food
and drink. Be sure to check out the Municipal House, a large and striking Art
Nouveau building completed in 1912, still in use as an event hall. Concerts of vari-
ous types are held in the building, and guided tours of the amazingly decorated in-
terior are available daily 1000-1900. The Museum of Communism tells the story
of communism in the Czech Republic, from 1948 until 1989, and houses many in-
teresting artifacts from this period of recent Czech history. Open 0900-2100 daily,
admission 190 CZK adults, 150 CZK students. Visit www.muzeumkomunismu.cz .
Possibly the single most famous landmark in the Czech Republic, the Charles
Bridge crosses the Vltava River, connecting Old Town with the Lesser Quarter, just
below the Prague Castle. Construction on the almost 1,700-foot-long bridge star-
ted in 1357, and upon its completion in the early 15th century it immediately be-
came an important trade route between eastern and western Europe. It is also fam-
ous for the three large bridge towers, especially the one on the Old Town side of
the river, a massive Gothic-style structure. The bridge is decorated with 30 statues
of saints along its length. The bridge is crowded during the day, with many artists
and street vendors to serve the thousands of tourists that walk its length.
The Prague Zoo is consistently ranked among the best zoos in the world and is
on the leading edge of research and breeding programs. It has contributed to the
breeding and subsequent reintroduction to the wild of Przewalski's horse, a type
of wild horse that was nearly extinct by 1945. Hours 0900-1900, shorter in winter;
200 CZK; www.zoopraha.cz . The zoo is located on the north side of the Vltava
River and immediately next to the Troja Castle. This Baroque palace was built in
the 17th century, but now is owned by the city of Prague and houses an impressive
collection of Czech art. As impressive as the palace itself are the huge, immacu-
lately maintained gardens, where you could easily spend hours wandering and re-
laxing.
Prague is the city of the Vltava River, and a steamboat trip on the river is an ex-
cellent way to see the city in a different way, or to travel to a different portion of the
city. Most riverboats depart from Rašínovo Quay, southwest of Old Town, on the
east bank of the river. (Take the Metro B-line to Karlovo náměstí.) Trips include a
guide to point out the various sights along the way, and food and drinks are avail-
able on board. A 90-minute trip is 310 CZK for adults, and 160 CZK for children