The Golden Lane in Prague

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The Golden Lane in Prague, Czech Republic

The so-called Golden Lane in Prague has, at least in modern times, literally ‘earned’ its name, as these small houses now contain profitable souvenir shops and cafés, some of which even charge an entrance fee. The allure of these 11 houses isn’t just due to the myth that alchemists once tried to produce gold here; since the 16th century, famous residents like Franz Kafka, who lived for a year in the blue house number 22 at the front left, have also contributed to its appeal, alongside the goldsmiths.

St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle

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Nave of St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, Prague, Czech RepublicThe mighty pillars of St. Vitus Cathedral stretch over 30 m towards the sky. The Gothic-style cathedral doesn’t just tower over Prague Castle; despite the many other spires, it dominates the silhouette of the city of Prague. The church boasts a number of superlatives: it’s the largest church in the Czech Republic, the Sigismund Bell is the largest bell weighing 17 t, and besides the tombs of Bohemian monarchs, the church also houses the coronation regalia in the Crown Chamber. The church also owes its special atmosphere to the numerous stained-glass windows, for example by Mucha, through which the light streams, creating a fascinating play of colours.

Prague’s Lesser Town and Charles Bridge in the Evening

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People strolling across Charles Bridge at night, Prague, Czech Republic

Even in the evening, Prague’s Charles Bridge is a meeting point for travellers from all over the world. From the bridge, the panoramic view sweeps west across the Vltava to the illuminated historic buildings of the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, St. Nicholas Church, and Prague Castle, which is considered the largest enclosed castle complex in the world. The 30 stone statues of saints on the bridge are well accustomed to it, calmly watching as many people jostle on the bridge amidst a flurry of camera flashes. In contrast, the Charles Bridge is completely deserted at sunrise – and the panorama is no less impressive.

Charles Bridge, Lesser Town Bridge Tower, St. Nicholas and Prague Castle in the evening, Prague, Czech Republic

The image above was taken in 2015 with a digital camera – almost the same shot from 1994 with my old film camera (Nikon FE2) during my first visit to Prague.

More pictures in the Czech Republic Gallery.

Sunrise on Charles Bridge

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The cool morning air streamed through the window, and in the twilight, the first outlines of the city began to appear. So, I decided to explore the city of Prague and Charles Bridge at this early hour. As I didn’t want to walk the rather long way from the hotel to the centre, I tried to find a bus or tram using the sparse map and the posted timetables. Read more

Two ‘Lampenputzer’ in Prague

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Workers repairing street lamps in Prague, Czech Republic

On my city trip to Prague, I also came across these two workers, which reminded me of the poem ‘Der Revoluzzer’ by Erich Mühsam (dedicated, among others, to German Social Democracy): “Once there was a revolutionary, by trade a lamp cleaner (…)” It also somehow fits Prague, which has been the scene of many revolutions and political upheavals throughout its long history.