Historical Czech Republic, Prague's Medieval Charm

Welcome to Prague, a city that seems like it has leapt out of the pages of a fairy tale. With its cobblestone streets, majestic castles, and a skyline that could belong to an old-world painting, Prague enchants travelers with a mix of history, culture, and charm. Whether you're a history buff, a lover of architecture, or someone just seeking an adventure, Prague will captivate your soul.

Traveling by bus to Prague is possible but it is a very long trip. From Luxembourg we went to Germany for a 2 hour stop and then to Prague which was a 10 hour bus ride. Luckily the buses are pretty comfortable so it wasn't as bad. 

We started the adventure in Old Town Square, where the city’s medieval charm is on full display. The square is surrounded by stunning buildings in a rainbow of pastel hues. My eyes were immediately drawn to the Astronomical Clock, a 600-year-old masterpiece that’s the pride of Prague. Every hour, on the dot, the clock chimes and animated figures of the apostles appear, drawing a crowd of eager onlookers.

I woke up early to experience one of Prague’s most iconic sights, Charles Bridge. The bridge, adorned with 30 baroque statues of saints, connects Old Town with the historic Lesser Town, or known as Malá Strana. Walking across it at dawn, when the sun casts a golden glow over the city and the crowds have yet to arrive, was magical. The views of the Vltava River and the city’s spires are simply breathtaking. We also went to the narrowest street in Prague, it was quite crowded and everyone wanted to take a picture. They had a traffic light system as well to indicate when you could go down and back up. 

The Book Tower, officially known as Idiom, is a towering installation created by Slovak artist Matej Krén. The sculpture is made from thousands of stacked books arranged in a cylindrical shape, forming a seemingly endless tower of literature. What makes it truly mind-bending is the use of mirrors inside the installation, which create the illusion of infinite books stretching up to the sky and down to the earth. It’s a visual metaphor for the limitless nature of knowledge and the boundless worlds contained within books.

After marveling at the Book Tower, I took some time to explore the rest of the Municipal Library, which boasts a peaceful reading room and plenty of corners to sit and lose yourself in a good book. The library, one of the largest in Prague, also hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year, making it a great stop for travelers looking to experience Prague’s intellectual and artistic side.

Prague is a city that effortlessly blends the old with the new. It’s a place where every corner has a story to tell, from the grandeur of its castle to the hidden alleys filled with street art and local life. Whether you’re gazing at the Vltava River from Charles Bridge or getting lost in the charming streets of Old Town, Prague will leave a mark on your heart. It certainly left one on mine.

Up next Budapest!