Lesser Town: Love Baroque Style
Your strolls on Charles Bridge and in Lesser Town will be accompanied by more romantic moments if you visit Kampa, the most beautiful island in Prague. The most attractive place is “Prague Venice”, houses line Čertovka canal, separating Kampa from Lesser Town. If you are into cruises, you can have a wonderful view of the island and its surroundings on board one of the pleasure boats. If you prefer walking, there are several small bridges offering a nice view of Čertovka, with a large mill-wheel of the Grand Prior Mill, dating back as far as 1400. Do not forget to have a nice meal in one of the many local pubs, restaurants, cafés and patisseries, offering both Czech and international specialities.
In the centre of Lesser Town, in Lesser Town Square (Malostranské náměstí), you can admire St. Nicolas' Church that will strike you with its impressive dome and bell tower. It is often referred to as the most beautiful baroque church in Prague and one of the most valuable baroque buildings in Europe. Another architectural jewel is hidden just a few steps from there, in Karmelitská Street: the terraced baroque garden, spreading on the steep slope of Petřín behind “Vrtbovský” Palace, has been one of Prague's prides since it was built. What's more, it is a lovers' paradise.
Via Petřín Hill to the Wedding Diamonds of Loreta
Petřín Hill is said to be the destination of all people in love and is perfect for romantic strolls for you and your loved one. You will find it very easily: it is crowned with a 60m tall lookout tower, dating back more than a hundred years. You can get to the very top by funicular, departing from the Újezd stop, but you can also take a scenic trip to the “Nebozízek” restaurant, pass through the “Hunger Wall” and walk up the hill to the tower. The lookout tower was built in 1891 and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris; if you want to go to the very top, be prepared for its 299 stairs! Less effort and more fun at the same time awaits you in the Czech Republic’s most famous and oldest hall of mirrors, resembling a miniature castle from the outside. You will definitely have a lot of fun there with your partner, testing its curved mirrors.
Take a romantic stroll from Petřín Hill up to Prague Castle! Don’t forget to stop at Loreta, a remarkable baroque complex with the Holy House surrounded by cloisters and the Church of the Nativity with its world-famous carillon. One of the most attractive places in Loreta is the treasure house where you can admire a collection of some three hundred outstanding artworks, mostly brought by pilgrims. The most valuable piece in the collection is the Prague Sun monstrance, created by Viennese goldsmiths towards the end of the 17th century. It is decorated with 6,222 diamonds, a wedding gift given to a countess called Ludmila Kolovratová by her third, 35 years younger, husband; it was her express wish, stated in her will, to use the diamonds to create the Loreta monstrance. Quite an amazing expression of love, don't you think?
Royal Love
When you are at Loreta it is just a few steps to get to Prague Castle. Its area of 70,000 square metres is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest castle complex in the world and it is included in UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage list, together with Prague's historical centre. Prague Castle’s dominant feature is the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral (St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral, to be more precise) but you can also admire the majestic buildings surrounding the three courtyards: the Old Royal Palace, hosting a permanent exhibition called “The Story of Prague Castle”, St. George's Basilica, St. George's Monastery with a part of the National Gallery, Golden Lane and many other places. You can round off your journey with a visit to the gardens of Prague Castle, accessible for free and offering many other interesting places, such as Ann’s Summer Residence, also called the Belvedere. Even this building was inspired by love: allegedly the most beautiful Renaissance house to be found north of the Alps was built in the 16th century by king Ferdinand I for his beloved wife Ann.
An interesting landmark in the garden is its Singing Fountain, the oldest surviving fountain in Prague and an amazing work by a metal caster named Tomáš Jaroš, who had his workshop in the “Mihulka” or Powder Tower. Would you like to listen to the singing of the fountain? Just standing there and trying to hear it would not do the trick. You have to duck under its wide, ornate bronze bowl and get close to its wall with your ear. The rhythmic sound of the falling drops sounds like music playing somewhere far from you - and they even say you will get married within a year if you hear wedding bells! Will they be ringing for you?
Loreta
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