Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A 17th-century baroque monastery building with an impressive central atrium makes
a beautiful setting for Prague's Museum of Music. The museum's permanent exhibi-
tion, entitled 'Man-Instrument-Music', explores the relationship between human be-
ings and musical instruments through the ages, and showcases an incredible collection
of violins, guitars, lutes, trumpets, flutes and harmonicas.
Highlights include a grand piano once played by Mozart in 1787, and the Rožm-
berk Court Ensemble of 16th-century woodwind instruments. The exhibits are
brought to life by recordings of music played using the actual instruments on display.
GARDENS
ARDENS
VRTBOV GARDEN
60/50Kč; 10am-6pm Apr-Oct; 12, 20, 22)
This 'secret garden', hidden along an al-
ley at the corner of Tržiště and Karmelitská, was built in 1720 for the Earl of Vrtba,
the senior chancellor of Prague Castle. It's a formal baroque garden, climbing steeply
up the hillside to a terrace graced with baroque statues of Roman mythological figures
by Matthias Braun - see if you can spot Vulcan, Diana and Mars.
Below the terrace (on the right, looking down) is a tiny studio once used by Czech
painter Mikuláš Aleš, and above is a little lookout with good views of Prague Castle
and Malá Strana.
MONUMENT
QUO VADIS (DAVID ČERNÝ SCULPTURE)
(Where Are You Going; Vlašská 19; 12, 20, 22)
Not strictly a public monument, this
golden Trabant car on four legs is a David Černý tribute to 4000 East Germans who
occupied the garden of the then West German embassy in 1989, before being granted
political asylum and leaving their Trabants behind. Today's German embassy is happy
for you to peer through its back fence at the sculpture.
Head uphill along Vlašská, turn left into a children's park, and left again to find it.
PARK
ARK
CHILDREN'S ISLAND
(Dětský ostrov; access from Nábřežní; 24hr; ; Anděl)
Prague's smallest island of-
fers a leafy respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, with a selection of swings,
slides, climbing frames and sandpits to keep the kids busy, as well as a rope swing,
