The Czech Republic.

THIS IS ONE OF FOUR ARTICLES I HAVE POSTED ON MY PARTICIPATION IN A 24-DAY ELDERHOSTEL PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER 2003 WHICH INCLUDED VISITS TO POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, AND HUNGARY. I AM PUBLISHING PHOTOS AND WRITING A STORY INDIVIDUALLY UNDER FOUR LOCATIONS: (1) WARSAW, POLAND; (2)CRACOW(CRACKOW/KRAKOW?), POLAND; (3) PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC; AND (4) BUDAPEST, HUNGARY. FOUR NIGHTS WERE SPENT IN EACH OF THE POLISH CITIES, AND SEVEN NIGHTS WERE SPENT IN EACH OF THE OTHER TWO CITIES. YOU CAN FIND THE OTHER ARTICLES BY GOING TO MY HOMEPAGE AT: ... (more)

McDonald's-highway break stop
During our 200-mile drive to Prague from Krakow, Poland, we had a chance to...

Prague - busy street
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague with 1-1/2 million people is one of...

Prague-"Fred and Ginger" modern building
Officially named the "Rasin Building" soon after its...

Prague-in the path of the 2002 floods
This building is in the Little Quarter just slightly higher than the Vltava...

Prague-2002 flood damage
The dark area on the side of the building even with the second-story...

Prague-cruising on the Vltava River
Prague is split by the Vltava, the longest river in the country, which flows...

Prague-Charles Bridge and Vltava River
Heavy flooding by the Vltava has been a problem during Prague's...

Prague-Charles Bridge and Vltava River
During the summer of 2002 the Vltava River reached the bottom of the Charles...

Prague-Little Quarter's Addres Method
In Little Quarter most of the construction occurred before 1800. Many...

Prague-John Lennon Peace Wall
Although Lennon never visited Prague, he was a pacifist hero for the Czech...

Prague-Little Quarter Bridge Tower
Little Quarter Bridge Tower at one end of the Charles Bridge was built in the...

Prague-Charles Bridge and Bridge Tower
Charles Bridge was commissioned in 1357, the Old Town Bridge Tower was...

Prague-walking on Charles Bridge
Some of the 30 statues on Charles Bridge can be seen here as well as...

Prague-Charles Bridge Statue of Christ
One of 30 statues along both sides of Charles Bridge, this statue...

Prague-Charles Bridge Statue
One of 30 statues along Charles Bridge, this statue of St. Luitgard, placed...

Prague-Vltava River from Charles Bridge
By the early 1900's technology solved some of the structural problems...

Prague-Old Jewish Cemetery
Pebbles are left on gravestones by visitors as a sign of respect and...

Prague-Old Jewish Cemetery
For over 300 years the Old Jewish Cemetery, founded in 1478, was the...

Prague-Old Jewish Cemetery
Our city guide for seven days is telling the group of Elderhostelers...

Prague-Souvenirs in Old Town Square
This is just a small portion of trinkets and souvenirs available from many...

Prague-Old Town Hall Tower
Old Town Hall Tower was established in 1338 after an agreement was reached to...

Prague-Old Town Square souvenirs
There was no shortage of souvenir vendors around Old Town Square, a site we...

Prague-Hus Statue in Old Town Square
The Jan Hus monument, a large statue to the religious reformer and...

Prague-Hus Statue/St. Nicholas Church
Jan Hus, a religious reformer and Czech hero, is honored by the large...

Prague-St. Nicholas Church in Old Town
St. Nicholas Church in Old Town was used by the troops of Prague's...

Prague-St. Nicholas Church in Old Town
St. Nicholas Church on Old Town Square occupies a site where there has been a...

Prague-St. Nicholas Church interior
St. Nicholas Church on Old Town Square was built in 1735. In 1868 while the...

Prague-Hus Statue and Tyn Church
Hus, an important thinker of his time, objected to the Catholic Church's...

Prague-Church of Our Lady Before Tyn
Construction of the Gothic church began in 1365. Its 260-foot towers...

Prague-Church of Our Lady Before Tyn
The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn has an interior mostly rebuilt in Baroque...

Prague-tower view of Tyn Church
Prague's Old Town Square can best be seen from the Old Town Hall...

Prague-tower view of Old Town
Old Town is seen from the Old Town Hall Tower. Houses and churches...

Prague-tower view of St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas Church completed in 1735 has been used as a parish church, a...

Prague-tower view of Old Town Square
The shadow on Old Town Square is cast by the Old Town Hall Tower from...

Prague-tower view of distant Castle
Despite numerous fires and invasions the Castle has retained buildings from...

Prague-tower view of distant Castle
Founded in the 9th century in a commanding location high above the...

Photograph 35

Photograph 36

Photograph 37

Photograph 38

Prague-Powder Gate
Powder Gate built in 1475 had little defensive value. Its rich sculptural...

Prague-Municipal House's facade
The Muncipal House is Prague's most prominent Art Nouveau building. Above...

near Prague - lawn ornaments for sale
At a rest stop enroute from Prague to Karlsbad, we saw these cute lawn...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks
Visited on a day trip out from Prague, Karlsbad is the home of Moser...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks museum
The museum which is part of the factory and shop of Moser Glassworks...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks museum
Moser Glassworks was established in Karlsbad in 1857 as a glass-engraving...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks museum
Moser Glassworks developed a formula for manufacturing glass as hard...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks museum
Moser Glassworks has produced for more than 140 years luxury glassware and...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks shop
The museum and shop offered quite a lesson in both the history of the company...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks shop
Moser has continued since 1857 to make outstanding pieces of glass...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks factory
Teams consist of (1) the master who is the most skilled and...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks factory
Every piece of Moser glassware begins with a combination of human breath and...

Karlsbad-Moser Glassworks factory
Except for the wearing of safety glasses, my group was not limited in...

Karlsbad-Restaurant Postovni Dvur
All meals were included during the 24-day Elderhostel program either at...

Karlsbad - Grand Hotel Pupp
The Grand Hotel Pupp is one of the older grand hotels serving those in...

Karlsbad - a popular spa
Karlsbad is 85 miles west of Prague.

Karlsbad - 19th-century buildings
Karlsbad has many 19th-century buildings lining the old street along...

Karlsbad - buildings along the Tepla
Karlsbad's old street along the Tepla River is home to hotels,...

Karlsbad - the water's the cure
Karlsbad has 12 hot mineral springs. The best known is 40 feet high and the...

Karlsbad - the buildings are crumbling
Karlsbad has many buildings that are crumbling behind their beautiful facades...

Karlsbad - a tourist attraction
Some of Karlsbad's spas have turned to offering short-term...

Karlsbad - a colonnade
Structures called colonnades have been built around the springs to...

Karlsbad - a royal discovery in 1300's
According to a legend King Charles IV discovered one of the sources of water...

Karlsbad - over 200 buildings by 1600
A medical description of the springs was published by 1522, and by the end of...

Karlsbad - a royal destination
Royal visitors to Karlsbad have included Russia's Peter the Great in 1711...

Karlsbad - still a popular destination
A large numberof Russians have purchased property in Karlsbad in the last few...

Karlsbad - famous for china and glass
Karlsbad is also known for its china and Moser glass. See my other pictures...

Karlsbad - outdoor cafes line river
The Tepla River flows through Karlsbad historic center, and many...

Karlsbad - a sunny September day
Our guide with us for the seven-night stay in the Czech Republic told us how...

Karlsbad
This building is just on the outside of the older section of Karlsbad where...

Prague-Folk music and dance performance
Our attendance at this folk music and dance performance was included in the...

Prague-Folk music and dance performance
Our attendance at this folk music and dance performance was included in the...

Prague-Folk music and dance performance
Our attendance at this folk music and dance performance was included in the...

Prague-Brevnov Monastery
The original Brevnov Monastery was established in 993 by the Czech...

Prague-Brevnov Monastery
The monastery, originally wooden, was adapted during Roman and Gothic...

Prague-Brevnov Monastery burial vault
In 1964 the crypt of the original 10th-century church (St. Margaret's...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church, part of the Brevnov Monastery, was completed in 1720.

Prague-Brevnov Monastery ceiling
This ceiling fresco was seen as we moved from a meeting room to the...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church was completed in 1720. In 1993, the 1000th...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church is part of the Brevnov Monastery, the oldest...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
This view may be the best to appreciate the overhead frescoes in St....

Prague-Brevnov Monastery ceiling
This fresco is painted on a ceiling in the monastery along the hallway...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
Sun was streaming in the windows of St. Margaret's Church as we...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
The organ pipes, balcony, and overhead frescoes are just a small part of the...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church is part of a former Benedictine abbey...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church was completed in 1720. A statue of St....

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church is part of the oldest monastery in Bohemia...

Prague-Brevnov/St. Margaret's Church
St. Margaret's Church was quite busy on Saturday during our visit to the...

Prague-Brevnov-St. Margaret's Church
Several weddings took place on Saturday while we were visiting the Brevnov...

Prague-Mozart Museum/Bertramka Villa
It was intermission for these concertgoers at Bertramka, a 17th-century...

Prague-Mozart Museum/Bertramka display
The museum is part of a 17th-century farmhouse enlarged to convert it to a...

Prague-Mozart Museum/Bertramka display
This piano at the Mozart Museum in Bertramka on the outskirts of Prague is...

Prague-Prague Castle garden
This small garden was seen as we walked to the entrance to the castle.

Prague-Prague Castle garden
This garden was seen as we walked to the upper entrance to the castle.

Prague-Castle Square statue
This statue is in Castle Square looking toward the entrance to the castle.

Prague-Prague Castle entrance
Prague Castle, founded in the 9th century, has a commanding location...

Prague-Castle entrance and guard
After passing Czech soldiers on guard, entrance to the first courtyard of the...

Prague-Church of the Holy Rood
The Church of the Holy Rood is located in the second courtyard of the castle.

Prague-towers of St. Vitas Cathedral
Looking through Matthias Gate, built in 1614 as a free-standing...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral towers
St. Vitus's Cathedral covers an area 407 feet long and 97 feet...

Prague-front of St. Vitas Cathedral
The rose window viewed from inside shows scenes from the biblical...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral archway/door
Visitors enter the cathedral through the portal in the western facade,...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral door arch
Visitors enter the cathedral through the portal in the western facade,...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral towers
The third courtyard is the center of castle life with the cathedral...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral side view
A granite obelisk, 55 feet tall, is a memorial to the dead of World...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral bell tower
The cathedral's most prominent feature is the tower which is 300...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral bell tower
In addition to probably the best view of the 300-feet-tall bell tower in...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral Last Judgment
Above the three portals on the south side of the cathedral is a 14th-century...

Prague-inside St. Vitus's Cathedral
This is just one more example of the decorations inside the cathedral.

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral chancel
The flying buttresses surrounding the exterior of the nave and chancel...

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral St. John tomb
The tomb of St. John Nepomuk was crafted of solid silver in 1736. St....

Prague-Cathedral stained-glass window
This is one of many stained-glass windows in St. Vitus's Cathedral.

Prague-St. Vitas Cathedral stained glass
The sun caused the colors of the stained-glass window to blend...

Prague-Castle's St. George's Basilica
Overshadowed by the cathedral in the third courtyard, St. George's...

Prague-St. George's Basilica interior
St. George's Basilica is considered the best preserved Romanesque...

Prague-city view from castle overlook
We had a great view of the city from an area near the castle entrance....

Prague-city view from castle overlook
Prague's multitude of architectural styles was evident as we...

Prague-city view from castle overlook
Prague, seen as we used the sloping walkway of 100 steps at the left of the...

Prague-National Gallery
The National Gallery uses the Trade Fair Palace, about a block from the Park...

Prague-Park Hotel
Our seven-night stay in Prague was at the Park Hotel on the edge of Stromovka...

Prague-buildings and tram by Park Hotel
The Park Hotel, where we stayed seven nights, is well located on a...

Czech Republic-Can you interpret this?
A sign in Czech near our rest stop enroute between Brague and Budapest.

Czech Republic-the My Hotel in Lednice
The My Hotel in Lednice was our lunchstop in the Czech Republic on our way to...

Czech Republic-McDonald's is everywhere

enroute from Prague-McDonald's
No matter how far a person travels or to what area of the world, I think a...

article published 10/7/2003

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Thanks so much for your excellent history of Czech Republic and what you saw, I was envious, as I've been there twice but didnt take in all that you did, or learn as much! Great job!!
— Eleanor Robb, May 3, 2009

Many nice photos, though the lawn-gnomes looked evil to me.
— Clay Sneller, August 24, 2004

DON'T MISS OLD TOWN HALL TOWER CLOCK
COMMENT FROM THIS SITE'S AUTHOR!! Watching the parade of characters appear as the Old Town Hall Tower clock strikes the hour is a must see attraction. I'm sorry I took only slides of it. The current mechanism of the clock was perfected about 1560. Below the mechanical clock are an astronomical clock and a calendar.
— Jim & Diane Tanner, February 21, 2004

Frd & Ginger
The architect of this building is Frank Gehry, the architect of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
— Anna Rundle, January 19, 2004