Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mirror Maze
After laughing at the
distorting mirrors in the
labyrinth, take in a bit of
history with a diorama
depicting the final battle
of the Thirty Years' War
on Charles Bridge
(below)
.
Rose Gardens
At the top of the hill,
catch your breath in the
extensive rose gardens.
Outside the nearby obser-
vatory is a memorial to
Czech airmen who served
during World War II.
Karel Hynech
Mácha Statue
Mácha is a national poet,
best loved for his
Romantic poem “May .
On 1 May, young lovers
lay flowers at his statue's
feet
(above)
.
Church of St
Lawrence
The Stations of the
Cross, created between
1834 and 1838, lead to
the onion-domed Church
of St Lawrence. Built on
a pagan shrine in the
10th century, it was
rebuilt in Baroque style in
the 18th century.
Funicular
If you want to save
your breath, do as visitors
have done since 1891
and take the funicular
railway to the top of the
hill and walk down. The
cable car offers
outstanding views of the
castle to the north.
Strahov
Monastery
Exhibits
Since its founding in the
12th century, Strahov
Monastery has suffered
fires, pillaging armies
and totalitarian regimes.
Josef II dissolved most
local monasteries in
1783, but spared
Strahov on the condition
that the monks conduct
research at their library.
The majority of the
research at the National
Literature Museum
today involves preserv-
ing the paper from
being devoured by
acidity. Other, older
books are on display in
the Theological and
Philosophical Halls.
Visitors can see ornate
gospels and miniature
Bibles here.
Hunger Wall
The 14th-century wall
(below)
was originally
part of the city's southern
fortifications. Charles IV
is said to have ordered
its construction as a public
works project to feed the
poor during a famine.
Church of St
Michael
No longer used for
services, this lovely
wooden church
(above)
was moved to Prague
when the Ukraine valley
it stood in was flooded
by a dammed river.
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