Our adventure takes us across the pond to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic! We are in the historic region of Bohemia, on the Vltava River.
On our first day out, we went to the Prague Castle complex, specifically to Lobkowicz Palace, to attend a Midday Classical Concert. The venue was charming and the musicians were wonderful. Later that evening we took a food tour. We tried lots of local food and beer!😋
We returned to the Prague Castle complex a few days later for a guided tour.
High Noon: The Changing of the Guard
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| Palace Guards under statues of the Fighting Giants |
To witness the ultimate military precision, we went to the Matthias Gate in the first courtyard. The daily noon ceremony is a sharp, theatrical display complete with a live brass band.
The March to the Palace:
The real highlight was watching the incoming guard march in perfect, unblinking synchronization toward the palace. Dressed in sharp, retro uniforms, they stride forward with chrome-plated rifles held high.
Flawless Choreography:
They cut through the crowds with rigid, rhythmic boots on cobblestone, marching right under the fierce statues of the Fighting Giants flanking the gates.
The Handover:
Once inside, the marching units met for a sharp 15-minute sequence featuring a flag exchange, synchronized rifle drills, and fanfares blasting from the castle windows.💂
Guard Trivia:
The guards' sharp uniforms weren't created by a military outfit—they were designed by Theodor Pištěk, the Oscar-winning costume designer behind the famous 1984 film Amadeus!
St. George's Basilica: The Ancient Time Machine
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| St. George's Basilica |
Inside St. George's Basilica we instantly left the bustling castle crowds behind for a world of quiet, medieval majesty. While the outside catches one's eye with its bright, cherry-red Baroque front, the interior is a complete surprise: a raw, powerful space that is Romanesque, austere, and monumental.
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| Interior of St. George's Basilica |
Pure Architecture: The minimalist interior features thick limestone walls, heavy stone pillars, and simple arches that look almost exactly as they did a thousand years ago.
The Ultimate Contrast: It offers a great photo opportunity to capture the stark difference between the plain, medieval stone inside and the ornate, colorful design outside.
St. Vitus Cathedral: The Gothic Masterpiece
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| St. Vitus Cathedral |
The Last Judgment Mosaic:
Above the historic Golden Gate entrance we admired the massive, 14th-century Venetian mosaic depicting the end of the world.
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| The Last Judgment Mosaic |
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| Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral |
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| Organ and Stained-glass window |
The Mucha Window:
We were dazzled by the brilliant, technicolor stained-glass window designed by iconic Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha.
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| The Mucha Window |
Golden Lane: Prague’s Storybook Alley
Tucked along the northern wall of the castle perimeter is Golden Lane (Zlatá Ulička).
This miniature street feels like stepping straight onto a movie set, lined with tiny, brightly colored 16th-century houses built directly into the castle arches.
Kafka’s Secret Hideout:
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| No. 22 |
The bright blue house at No. 22 is where legendary author Franz Kafka lived and wrote for a few years to find quiet inspiration away from the city noise.
The Hidden Film Stash (House No. 12):
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| No. 12 |
This house belonged to amateur historian Josef Kazda. During WWII, Kazda heroically hid thousands of pieces of banned Czechoslovakian film history in canisters right under the noses of Nazi occupiers. Inside the house we could see the vintage film reels and posters left behind.
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| View of Prague from Castle |
The Grand Finale: Panoramic City Views
After navigating the historic interiors, our ultimate reward wss to take in Prague's iconic skyline from the castle overlooks. The sea of terracotta-tiled roofs, winding cobblestone lanes, and distant river bridges look incredibly dramatic from up here.
The Hidden Palace Viewpoint:
For the ultimate overlook, we wandered toward the eastern end of the complex to the privately owned Lobkowicz Palace. We passed through the main courtyard and headed out onto the open-air balcony of the Lobkowicz Palace Café.
We enjoyed a tasty lunch and a slice of homemade cake as we processed the incredible history we just walked through while soaking in the best view in town.
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| Lobkowicz Palace Café Terrace view |
