Prague

Why is Prague visited so frequently? What makes her so alluring and so successful in captivating almost everyone who walks through her streets? There are many answers to these questions and they nearly all agree in one respect: the atmosphere and beauty of Prague arises not only from the poetic mixture of artistic monuments of different eras, but also from the life which flows within her and which itself carries memories of times gone by. French historian Ernest Denis wrote about her long ago: “Every one of her stones brings to mind heroic drama. Nowhere was life so storm tossed, so subjected to upheavals, so driven by passion, so gripped by furious and savage struggle…Prague is one of those places which creates history.”

Anyone who views the town as one large museum, can no doubt admire it, but they will not experience or understand it. Prague demands to be wandered through. In the words of one of its admirers: “The art of the poetic walk through the town is something which we must make our own.” Take note a perceptive walk can interfere with time. Walking, one is suddenly assaulted by a feeling that the boundaries between the past and the present are dissolving.

Regrettably not many of us can wander through the town for hours and weeks on end. The guidebooks can ease one's orientation, but they are also restricting. Therefore it is good, if we don't take them too seriously and occasionally turn off like real pilgrims into a side street, passage or little tavern, which they do not mention. The following walks through the town try to bring not only information but some diversion and entertainment - nothing more. In other words everone has to find the soul of the city entirely in their own way, just like distinguished pilgrims such as Jaroslav Seifert, Vítězslav Nezval, Franz Kafka, Jaroslav Hašek, Guillaume Apollinaire and many others.

Also visit Prague castle website.