The Czech capital Prague, called Praha in the Czech language, is a charming city to visit and probably best explored on foot. When walking, one gets to feel the texture of the sidewalks, stroll the former noble villas’ gardens, and become a part of the city for a little while. Plus, how else can one observe the full mixture of architectures in detail?
One of the first things to notice when walking in Prague are the cobblestones. Introduced back in medieval times, these small natural building blocks create visually interesting sidewalks. Set in sand and other materials, these stones, sized about 2-3 inches cubed and mostly white and gray, are arranged in various designs and could be reset if needed to keep the streets looking like they did in old times. It’s like easy time travel! However, they get slippery in the rain and are not easy to walk on in high heeled shoes, forcing the visitor to take their time exploring the old center at a slow pace.
And there are so many places and things to explore in the city’s old center. Blend of beautiful European architecture throughout the time in Baroque, Renaissance, Gothic, Romanesque, Art Nouveau, and postmodern styles among many others makes it exciting and very educational to look around. One of the best examples of a very walkable medieval structure is the stone arch Charles Bridge. Originally constructed in 1402 and named after the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who is said to have laid the first stone himself, it connected the old town with the Prague castle over the Vltava River.
The bridge has been used by different vehicles: from horse carriages to electric trams. Since 1965 it’s been a fully pedestrian-only bridge, making it one of the city’s most popular attractions. Decorated with 30 statues, including prominent saints such as St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis Xavier, it is an open-air gallery of art. Prague has held an important place in European arts, and both Mozart and Beethoven were among the list of famous visitors. Artists are still commonly seen on Charles Bridge playing musical instruments or painting city views. After sunset the dark waters of the river reflect shining stars and create quite a magical atmosphere.
Placed on the top of a steep hill, Prague Castle is a bit of a challenge to reach on foot, but it’s all the more rewarding once you reach the destination and enjoy the St. Vitus Cathedral and panoramic views of the city. Orange roofs as well as tall modern buildings are a marvelous mix from above. It is truthfully nicknamed as “City of a Hundred Spires.” Another wonderful place to visit is the Grébovka (Havlíčkovy sady) park formed at the site of a former villa. It contains both Italian-inspired fountains, lush gardens, and stunning cityscape views.
What also makes Prague very walkable is it’s infrastructure: sidewalks, traffic lights, streetlights, and also, very important, public restrooms. Public restrooms are a common feature in many European cities. In Prague, public restrooms are conveniently located near major sightseeing attractions and public parks. They are usually not free, but they are also not expensive. Interestingly, they are maintained by on-site staff. There is a person sitting upfront to take your money, usually around 1 euro. If necessary, they will give you change back. In the modern times of machines and sometimes even robots, that’s a very human interaction.
Prague is a beautiful city. With historic urban architecture and nature, it is enjoyable for everyone who loves history and beauty, hills and exercise, and places to rest and enjoy all along the way.