Kann uns wer unter Euch Tips für schnelle, leichte, dennoch lohnende Kurzcaches im Prager Zentrum geben (für dieses WE)?
TBs werden auf Wunsch von Linz mitgenommen (solange sie kleiner und leichter als Glueck auf Erden (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=47328) sind).
BS/2
Kann uns wer unter Euch Tips für schnelle, leichte, dennoch lohnende Kurzcaches im Prager Zentrum geben (für dieses WE)?
Vorschlag: Maile toniczech (ueber gc.com) - er ist sehr nett und zuvorkommend.
Frustus kennt Prag auch ein wenig, aber ich weiss nicht, ob er im Urlaub dies hier rasch genug liest.
TBs werden auf Wunsch von Linz mitgenommen (solange sie kleiner und leichter als Glueck auf Erden (http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=47328) sind).
OT:
Der ist mittlerweile wieder in Deutschland wo es viele passende Behaelter fuer ihn gibt. Ich habe mich "aufgeopfert" ihn zu transportieren. Bei ueblichen Gewicht meines Reisegepaeckes macht auch so ein TB keinen Unterschied mehr [;)].
Cezanne
Erster Kurzbericht: 2 Tage, 12 Caches (mit toniczechs Hilfe).
GCKN5P (Wenceslaw square)
GCJC2D (United Islands of Prague 1)
GCKVB9 (Hunger Wall)
GCKVD3 (King's Pins)
GC1E51 (Prague Panorama)
GCE802 (Microcache Hradcany)
GCK91V (Bike Cache No. 1)
GCHCE0 (Pendulum)
GCF496 (Cache my Czech)
GCJAEN (Turbine)
GCHP7C (Vitkov cache)
GC6F37 (Prague, Stare Mesto)
Absolut empfehlenswerte Tour, von Toni perfekt vorbereitet.
Details später...
BS/2
Prague itinerary part 1
Hi,
so the first portion of my "know how" is here:
1) weblink to Prague Public Transport: http://www.dpp.cz/de/index.htm
2) weblink to pictures of Cowparade Prague 2004, which took place in Prague from June to September.(photos made by me, website with the gallery belongs to Igi, a fellow geocacher from Slovakia) http://81.2.210.188/~igi/gallery/cowparade This may help you to get the "right" atmosphere of Prague...
As you may have heard, among the quarters of Prague, Karlin was the most heavily devastated by the great flood in August 2002. The water level was up to 3 metres in the streets. When walking to the hotel, imagine it... The Ibis Hotel is on the corner of Sokolovska and Saldova streets and easily reacheable by metro (line B) or tram. After leaving the Krizikova metro station go on for some 40 m and on the corner of Sokolovska street turn right (there is also a tram stop (Krizikova) behind this corner) and go along the street (with tram rails) for some 200 m.
Karlin and the surroundings of the hotel as well as the way from there to the historical centre of the city are not worth of some walking by foot. There are no extraordinary sights of interest for tourists from abroad along the way. The things start to be really interesting, let's say, somewhere from the Republic square (Namesti Republiky) or National Museum (Narodni Muzeum). Don't waste your time, take metro or tram and go downtown. This is also the reason, why I do not recommend visiting following
Vitkov cache
regular (GCHP7C)
This cache is very easy to find and the access is comfortable with some interesting views of Prague. There is also a HUGE bronze statue of Czech national hero Jan Zizka, a yeoman from South Bohemia, who was the military leader of Hussites in 1420s, never defeated in a battle. The hill is called Vitkov or (also with the city quarter souh of it) Zizkov as a tribute to Jan Zizka. This hill is the scene of decisive battle, where Hussites of Prague, Tabor and other towns of Bohemia defeated the Crusade against them in summer of 1420. The building of the whole monument started prior to WWII and it was completed in late 1940s. There is a grave of Unknown Soldier and a mausoleum of local communist leaders used to be here in 1950s (with mummy of Klement Gottwald, brrr... :-P). Zizka's memorial is said to be the biggest bronze equestrian statue in the world.
But the access from/to city centre is quite complicated, through ugly streets full of stinking cars and the hill is partially cut off from the neighbouring areas by railways from both north and south sides. Even though it is quite near to your hotel, forget about this cache.
In general, Prague city transport network is extensive and dense and the fare is very cheap. The basic transfer ticket ("prestupni jizdenka") allows unlimited use of metro, trams, buses and the Petrin funicular (and some trains with certain restrictions). It costs 12 CZK (0.4 €) and after validation you may travel vith this ticket for 60 minutes (on working days) or 90 minutes (on weekend and holidays - which is your case). Prague and its surroundings are divided into several concentric zones: P, 0,1,2,3,4,5. Everything you need to know about this is, that the whole territory of Prague city lies within P and 0 zones and the basic transfer ticket is valid for two zones, i.e. you may travel from one side of the city to the opposite end with it. There are also non-transfer tickets ("neprestupni jizdenka") for 8 CZK (0.26 €) which allows you to go 15 (30 on Sat and Sun) minutes by bus or tram, or 4 stations (the starting station not included) in metro. If you intend to travel more during one day, then an 24-hours ticket ("24-hodinova jizdenka") for 70 CZK (2.25 €) is the best choice. There are vending machines selling these tickets at all metro stations (and selected bus and tram stops). If you don't have enough Czech coins after having arrived to Prague, try the information centre at Muzeum metro station. It is in the subway of the station, just below the corner of Wenceslas square and Washingtonova street (leave the main railway station hall, turn to the left and go straight on for some 450-500 m). Well, if already there, you can try
Vaclavak/Wenceslas Square
micro (GCKN5P)
(metro Muzeum A/C)
I suggest you to read the AH before - there are too many people, esp. tourists around from morning till night. With AH you should be able (with a bit of luck) to pick the cache up discreetly even in their presence.
Try not to behave too suspiciously, because the modern building in the neighbourhood over the crossroad (seat of Czechoslovak Federal Parliament until 1992) now houses the Ra dio Fre e Eur_ope, which is considered as one of possible targets of "bad boys with towels on heads". If you have seen Fatherland, an American alternative-history themed film, you may recollect this building...
From the cache spot there is a nice view along the whole Wenceslas sq., but unfortunately the popular equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas is being restored, so you probably won't see it.
Only several steps between the fountain and the busy road in front of the National Museum there are two bumps with crosses made of cobbles. It is an interesting testimony of not-so-distant history conmemorating Jan Palach, a student who burned himself to death here in 1969 as a protest against the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.
So, where when and how to go at all?
As the weather forecast promisses a sunny weekend, how about to have a walk across the Petrin hill, Hradcany with Prague Castle and its gardens and Letna park (Letenske sady) on Saturday afternoon. Walking, geocaching, great panoramic views of Prague and (some sightseeing) of course on "day 1". And the most of Prague's historical sights (Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town with rest of Prague Castle area) on Sunday.
This suggested scenario includes the following caches:
Sat
Hladova zed / Hunger wall (GCKVB9) *
Robertova spendlikova cache / King's Pin's (GCKVD3) **
Prague Panorama (GC1E51) ***
Microcache Hradcany (GCE802) *** suitable for TBs
Bike cache no1... (GCK91V) *
Pendulum / Kyvadlo (GCHCE0) ** suitable for TBs
Sun
Prague, Stare Mesto (GC6F37) **
Cache my Czech (GCF496) ***
and optional extension
United Islands of Prague N°1 (GCJC2D) **
United Islands of Prague N°2 (GCJVZV) *
Vysehrad Castle II (GCG3AB) *
Turbine (GCJAEN) *
my rating:
*** a must
** worth visiting
* not necessary
Why?
1) The best view of the inner city of Petrin hill is in the afternoon (2-4 pm) with sun on SW.
2) The Jewish Museum, synagogues, cemetery etc. are closed on Saturday.
3) Dense crowds of people on Charles Bridge during day - the best time to have a walk across it is early morning (6-9 am).
4)The Castle Gardens (Zahrady Prazskeho hradu) areaccessible between 10 am and 6 pm, not early in the morning (and closed from Nov 1 till Mar 31).
5)The parts of the Castle, that require ticket (St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, etc.) are open from 9 am till 5 pm.
If you won't try the Vaclavak cache in front of the National Museum, and have decided to start the tour of Prague across the Petrin hill directly from the main railway station, then the best way to get there is a tram. Leave the station hall and turn right, go through the park some 250-300 m to its end. Here, in Bolzanova street, you find a tram stop ("Hlavni nadrazi"). Take tram No 9 to "Ujezd" (corner of Vitezna and Ujezd streets, just below Petrin) This tram goes past Wenceslas Square ("Vaclavske namesti") and National Theatre ("Narodni divadlo").
There is an island amidst the Vltava river called Strelecky (Shooters' I.) with a cache on it:
United Islands of Prague N°1
micro (GCJC2D)
tram "Narodni Divadlo" or "Ujezd"
Quite easy to find, but sometimes difficult to log in. People can be (and usually are) sittig on benches in close proximity.
Still want to ty it? The get off the tram No 9 one stop earlier (i.e. at "Narodni divadlo"), go across a busy crossing to the left (south) side of the bridge and in the half of the bridge downstairs to the island. (400 m)
From the cache back upstairs and continue to Ujezd (another 400 m)
When you reach Ujezd, there is a time for some bad news. The funicular is out of order because of regular autumn maintenance (Oct 11-29). You'll have to go uphill "per pedes". It is not difficult, the hill is covered with net of tare footpaths (though some parts haven't been repaired pretty long time). At Ujezd start from the lower station of funicular. After several minutes of wandering uphil you should reach
Hladova zed / Hunger wall
regular (GCKVB9)
Why Hunger wall? An romantic legend says, that Emperor and King Charles IV (whom most of the Czechs considers as the best ruler of our country's history) ordered to build this wall to secure some work and living for hundreds of unemployed poor people. But it's just a legend...
This well-preserved part of city walls originates from time of Charles IV (1360s). The area of medieval Prague within Charles' city walls was about 8 sq. km. The Gothic fortification became obsolete with rapid development of artilery and the 30 years' war proved its insufficiency. Then, during reign of Leopold I, Josef I and Charles VI, Prague was turned into a huge Baroque fortress. (Some parts of preserved Baroque bastions you can see close to the next cache and further along our trip.)
Well, you have to decide, whether look for cache from north or from south side of the wall. IMO it is clearly visible where to search (especially now, after several visits in the last few days). I don't like this cache very much per se, but the views along the way are worth it. (If you have passed through the wall at too low level (i.e. the cache is still approx. 90 m above you), continue to N50 04.789 E014 24.114 (great view of SE, S and SW parts of the inner city - Nove Mesto, Vinohrady, Vysehrad and Smichov), where you can turn back directly to the cache.
From the Hunger Wall cache continue uphill on the south side of the wall until you reach
Robertova spendlikova cache / King's Pin's
small (GCKVD3)
A labyrinth of picturesque small sandstone rocks and boulders, ivy twines around trees... Very impressive spot. I really recommend this cache. The official coords may be several metres off. I was geting my own coords for 3/4 hour and you can see them added to my log. With this info (and AH if necessary) it should be OK.
Then return the same way for some 150 m and using stairs come through an Gothic bastion to the other side of the wall (N 50 04.849 E014 24.101, another interesting view of Prague Castle from above and far). From there you will be following the road aproximately along the contour line for some 1.5 km. After 450 m there is a building (Nebozizek Restaurant) on your left, use the stairs on your right and go several metres down and pass under the funicular rail. Another cache is not far:
Prague Panorama
regular (GC1E51)
An obligatory part of every geocacher's stay in Prague. Don't miss it, because this cache is really worth its name. (and you will meet another "panoramata" along this way).
The hiding place is quite obvious and there is no need to search in dense bushes etc. But don't trust your GPSr too much, the satelite signal is weak and unreliable (+-15-20 m is common here).
Search for this cache is not so easy, when you are approaching from mid-station of funicular or from the outlook tover above, so here is my suggestion: When coming along the road from the funicular, don't turn directly uphill through the grass slope. Go still on and leave the cache slightly behind you (let's say 7-8 o'clock in a distance of some 100-110 m). Then turn yourselves and go straight to the cache (you are heading SSW-SW now).
From Prague Panorama return back to the road below which leads on to NNW, and through a wide passage in a low semi-dilapidated wall, you pass by a sitting statue of poet Jaroslav Vrchlicky (1853-1912) and continue still along the contour line (don't turn from the curving road up- or down-hill).
After a while you can see Strahov Monastery (which has a magnificent Baroque library) above you on left and you reach a road-crossing at N50 05.235 E014.23.450. Another superb vista of Prague. Now there are two ways to choose from:
1)Turn left uphill almost into opposite direction and pass through the courtyard of monastery and behind the gate on the other side to the right (to Pohorelec Square). This suburb of Hradcany quarter is called Pohorelec (something like Brand in German) since it has burnt down once in medieval times.
2) Go right downhill for 70-80 m and around the building of Swedish embassy back left uphill to above said Pohorelec Square.
From Pohorelec to Loretanske namesti (Loretto Square). The Loretto church with famous carillion from 1695 and rich treasury you can see on the east side of Square, on the west side there is Cerninsky palac (Czernin Palace) a monumental building from end of 17 cent., seat of Foreign Ministry of Czech Republic. Go to the northwest corner of the square (which is a bit lower), then along the wall of palace garden to the narrow Cerninska street and after some 60-70 m to the left and upstairs to Keplerova street (tram rails). Now you can start another search, because you are close to
Microcache Hradcany
micro (GCE802)
Easy. Another and not-so-common view of Hradcany and Prague Castle.
From Microcache you need to get to the "other side" of the brick wall (1/back downstairs and left or 2/ forth another few metres and downstairs). Then along the Novy Svet ("New World") street with picturesque tiny houses and Kanovnicka street to Hradcanske namesti (Hradcany Square) with many Renaissance and Baroque palaces around it. The Castle is in front of you. On your left the Archbishops' Palace, on your right the statue of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937), a philosopher and politician and first President of Czechoslovakia. Every hour from early morning till midnight you can watch changing of castle guard (nothing extraordinary, but interesting). More detailed tour of the Castle and its south gardens can wait till Sunday, Now pass through the main entrance and so-called Mathias gate (a Manneristic gate from around 1610, which is now only a gateway in a newer palace building from 18 century. There is another parallel gateway on your left where remains of a pre-Romanesque church from 9 century (first in the Castle area) are on display behind glass. Leave the Second courtyard through the northern gateway and walk across so-called Prasny most (Powder Bridge), which is now an embankment containing the former bridge deep inside it and connecting both sides of Jeleni prikop (Deer Moat). A pedestrian tunnel has been broken through the embankment recently, so tourist can easily walk along the whole length of the "Moat". It may be interesting for you, that your countryman, famous surgeon Bodner, was one of the sponsors. But the descent into the "Moat" is not IMO so interesting. You can see slopes covered with ivy from below, that's all.
So cross the Prasny most and then enter the Royal Garden (Kralovska zahrada) on your right, which stretches along the norten side of Prague Castle. The garden was founded in 16th century, the Emperor Rudolph II has his menagerie here and and small yellow villa in the west part of the garden used to be a private residence of Gustav Husak, Czechoslovak president in 1975-89 (the garden was closed to the public at that time). The length of the garden is 450 m from west to east and on its east end you can find Letohradek kralovny Anny (Queen Ann's Summer Palace), an amazing Rennaisance building also called Kralovsky letohradek or Belveder. And in front of the palace there is so-called Singing Fountain (Zpivajici fontana) cast in 1560s. I don't know, whether there is still water in the fountain at this time of the year. If so, put your ear to the bronze surface from below, you will hear the singing...
It's the time to turn your GPSr on again. At the Summer Palace leave the garden, go several metres along the busy street to east and then turn right to the park for
Bike cache no1 alias Piss cache guarded by GayMan
small (GCK91V)
tram "Kralovsky letohradek" or "Chotkovy sady"
A pretty strange name, isn't it? Well, the place, where the cache used to be first was "not-so-clean" and what more, somebody stole it after two days. (Its founder, Pc-romeo was quite new to GC at that time and slightly underestimated the whole situation, so I helped him to find a new, safer, spot). Then some fellow cachers refered about an older gay man, who is sometimes walking around (and maybe trying to seduce them? :-)). See photo made by Barba. I belive that you as a straight couple would be absolutely out of his interest. ;-)
The terrain is easy, no need to make any significant descent somewhere downhill. For case of doubt here you have some AH (written backwards): rregrycveg
There are two alternatives at that moment:
1) If you have enough time, I suggest to make a short detour to the Pisecka Gate (Pisecka brana) north of the Bike cache. It is approx. 100 m across that busy stret. The gate (between K Brusce and Mickiewiczova streets) was built during reign of Charles VI in 1720 and it is the last remaining gate of the Baroque city fortification (except Vysehrad). Surprisingly only little of the Prague born citizens (not to mention tourists) know about its existence. It is worth to have a look at it from both sides - they are quite different (rich decoration demonstrating the power of Habsburg monarchy from outer front vs austere inner side). From the gate through Mickiewiczova street, then cross another busy road still "following the arrow" for the Pendulum cache.
2) If short of time, go directly from Bike 1 to Pendulum without detour to Pisecka Gate. Let the GPSr still turned on and go towards Pendulum cache (660 m to east). Through the park, where the Bike cache is, you come to a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. Cross the bridge over a busy street and then along wide roads through Letna Park (Letenske sady). The big villa ("Kramarova vila") at the bastion on your right, is the residence of Prime Minister.
The park is a paradise for in-line skaters and and the walk along the upper edge of the hill offers new and new panoramic views of Prague. When you get closer to the cache, you can see broad staicases, granite, marble, concrete... and a giant metronome above that all. What does it mean?
The stairs, platform, and undreground halls beneath it were built in early 1950s as a tribute to Soviet leader Stalin. A giant sculpture of Stalin (followed by column of "workers, farmers, scientists, soldiers" etc.) was unveiled here in 1955. In short time evil tongues nicknamed this "decoration" of Prague "The queue for meat". :-) Nothing lasts for ever (even the glory of mighty dictators) and the sculptural group was dismantled on the sly in 1962. Only the stairs and platform remained. The metronome conmemorates the "jubilee"exhibition hold in Prague 13 years ago. This "work of art" (???) occupies the Stalin's place since 1991. Sometimes it is working, sometimes not (depending whether there is enough money for electricity).
Pendulum / Kyvadlo
regular (GCHCE0)
tram "Cechuv most"
You must be pretty tired after such afternoon, I suppose. So how to get to the hotel?
From Pendulum go downstairs (don't cross the road when you are on the lower end). There is a tram stop named "Cechuv most" on the embankment below the hill. Take tram No 17 to "Staromestska" (2nd stop) or tram No 12 to "Malostranska" (1st stop). From "Staromestska" or "Malostranska" use metro (line A to "Mustek", then line B to "Krizikova").
The total length of the walk (from National Theatre to "Cechuv most" below Pendulum) is approximately 8.2 km with 7 caches. From "Ujezd" (without United Islands 1) 7.4 km with 6 caches. I think this could be done within those 7 hours, you have between the arrival and the sunset.
Day 2 (Sunday)
Most of the "top" sights open at 9 am (also apostles at the Town Hall Clock make their show at 9, 10, 11 and so on), thus my recommendation for the morning is following: a part of the "Royal Way" and Charles Bridge.
Take metro from "Krizikova" to "Namesti Republiky" (2 stations only). When leaving the train, go to right (exit "Namesti Republiky" heading downtown), not to left (exit "Masarykovo nadrazi" heading uptown).
From metro to the left, towards corner of "Na prikope" and "Celetna" streets. On your right side you can see so-called Municipal House from 1905-11, an outstanding example of Art-Nouveau architecture and interior design with restaurants, concert and exhibition hall inside. This building replaced a palace called Kraluv dvur (King's Yard) where the kings of Bohemia used to stay in 14-15 cent.
The Gothic Powder Tower (Prasna brana) stands just besides the Municipal House. It was built in 1470s and is 65 m high. If you have a look into some city plan, you can clearly see a half-ring of Revolucni, Na prikope and Narodni streets, dividing the Old and New Town of Prague. This is the line of former walls and moats of the Old Town. After establishing the New Town with new outer walls (along Wilsonova and Legerova streets) in 1340s this part of fortification lost its military importance, but remained preserved for two further centuries as a symbol of power and independence of the Old Town (The Old, New and Lesser Town as well as Hradcany were four completely separate municipalities until they merged together in 1784). That's also why the gate has so rich decoration.
The Royal Way (kings used these streets to ride through Prague on their coronation's day) begins here, by the gate (then through Celetna, Old Town Sq., Karlova, Charles Bridge, Mostecka and Nerudova up, to the Castle).
Go through the gate to Celetna street and after some 120 m, the interesting cubist house on the corner in front of you is called At the Black Mother of God. It was designed by Josef Gocar and built in 1911-12. The sign from the older house - sculpture of black Madonna - is still there (in a cage).
Take the left way and go along the broad Fruit Market (Ovocny trh). There is the Estates Theatre (Stavovske divadlo) from 1783 in the end of the square. Mozart conducted the world's first performance of his opera Don Giovanni here in 1787. Along the theatre on the right side there are gothic buildings of Carolinum, the oldest college of Charles University, founded in 1348.
After you have passed between the theatre and Carolinum, turn right and follow Zelezna (Iron) street to Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti).
(If you wish, go across the square for a cache
Prague, Stare Mesto
virtual (GC6F37)
but this can be done several hours later during the way back.)
Have a look at the Town Hall, a group of buildings from 14-15 cent. with a unique astronomical clock from 1410. If the time is already getting close to 9:00, wait with hundreds of other people for the twelve apostles on parade. If it is much earlier, continue to the west along the Town Hall to Male namesti (Little Square) and then zigzag left and right to Karlova street. This narrow street leading towards Charles Bridge is usually heavily overcrowded during day, that's why I recommend this part of trip for the morning.
The Karlova street runs into Krizovnicke namesti (Cross Knights Square). The huge Baroque building on your right along the busy road (between Karlova and Krizovnicka streets) is Clementinum, originally a Jesuit college from 16-17 cent, now seat of the National Library. It covers an area of 170 x 110 m and is said to be third largest Jesuit college in the world. If you come close to the church of St. Francis (north-east corner of the square) and look to the ground, you can see several square metres of the oldest preserved paving in Prague - these irregular black stones originate from half of 12 century.
The bronze statue in the square is a tribute to Emperor Charles IV (1346-1378) and was erected in 1848 (500th anniversary of Charles University).
The 515 m long and 9.5 m wide bridge was founded in 1357 (by Charles IV, whom else :-)) on the site of an older bridge from 12 century. The Old Town Bridge Tower originates from 14 cent. and the decoration of its eastern facade depicts Charles and his son (and successor) Wenceslas with coats-of arms of of all their crown lands (Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Upper and Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg and Luxemburg). When you pass through the gate, you can notice the contrast between rich decoration of eastern and plain western facade. That's because of the Swedes during the 30 years' war. Their troops seized Hradcany and Lesser Town (left bank) in 1648 and they were bombarding the opposite part of the city for several weeks. No wonder, that the decorations were lost...
After its completition in 14 century the bridge remained without sculptures for 300 years. The only decoration was a crucifix, which is now the third sculpture on your right (from east to west). The current one was installed in 1657 and has a unique Hebrew inscription celebrating Christ as a God around it. (Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, JHVH tz' vaoth) This (for Jews very humiliating) inscription was originally a punishment: One Prague Jew mocked to Christ in 1696 when passing over the bridge. He was fined and making of the inscription was ordered as a punishment for him and the whole Jewish community...
Another sculptures started to appeared on the bridge in the end of 17 century and within several decades the whole bridge turned into an open-air gallery.
You can turn the GPSr on again, when entering the bridge, because there is a virtual cache in front of you, but the use of GPSr isn't absolutely necessary - your target is on the right (northern) side, approximately in the middle of the bridge length.
Cache my Czech
virtual (GCF496)
The question is simple: what kind of animal is so frequently touched by tourists in the lower part of the sculpture.
This "saint of bridges" is very popular and his sculptures are common throughout both Czechia and Austria. It may be interesting, that right this sculpture was the pattern for all those sculptures and pictures made in the next centuries.
What's the story below the legend? In 1393 Wenceslas IV, the King of Bohemia was at odds with John of Jenstejn, the Archbishop of Prague. This cleric, loyal to the Archbishop, was arrested and tortured (even by the King personally). He died of his injuries and his body was thrown down from bridge to the river - on the spot, where the sculpture stands now.
Closer to the west end of the bridge there is also a staircase to Kampa island. The Lesser Town Bridge Towers are one century younger than their counterpart. Go through Mostecka (Bridge) street and continue to Malostranske namesti (Lesser Town Square). The Baroque church of St. Nicholas was built by father Christoph and son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 18 century. Now you have two ways how to get uphill to the Castle
1) Nerudova and Ke Hradu streets
2) (above the St. Nicholas' go to the northwest corner of the square and through a side Zamecka lane up and left to Zamecke schody (Castle Stairs)
From the Castle you can admire Prague panorama again. Don't go through the main entrance this time, but use a small gate in a wall next to the upper end of the Zamecke schody staircase. Go several metres down using another broad staircase. You are in so-called Paradise Garden (Rajska zahrada). Continue through the garden along the south side of the Castle for some 150 m (from the entrance). Now you can see half-open stairs in the wall of the building on your left, leading up, to the Third Courtyard with the Cathedral. But stay in the garden for a while. There is a strange several metres high obelisk (partially below the ground level) and if you look behind the corner, you can find the second obelisk directly below the palace windows.
This is a remembrance of a very significant moment in Europe's history. The Defenestration of Prague. On May 23 1618 rebelling noblemen of Bohemia threw down the Imperial governors Slavata and Martinic out of the window two floors above your head, which incident started the Thirty years' war. Both governors survived the fall (convinced that Virgin Mary saved them from certain death) and erected these memorials after their victory several years later. The foot of the "sunk" obelisk indicates the terrain level of 17 cent.
After this history lesson use the staircase to the Third Courtyard. This so-called Byci schodiste (Bull Staircase) as well as many other parts of the castle gardens and interiors is work of famous Slovenian architect Josip Plecnik from 1920s and 30s. The inspiration by old Minoan architecture is clear.
(Another Plecnik's masterpiece is the church of The Most Holy Heart of Lord, which is the object of another cache
High noon cache / V prave poledne
micro GCJRQC
metro A "Jiriho z Podebrad"
but if you want to fulfill the conditions of this cache, you must also take a photo of church clock showing exactly 12:00 - no time for such a detour, I suppose)
and the rest of the tour later should come in the evening, if I manage...
Dazu ist er dann nicht mehr gekommen.
Wir haben Tag eins ziemlich genau in der beschriebenen Reihenfolge absolviert. Durch die Wegführung völlig abseits der Touristenpfade haben wir zwar andere Geocacher aber kaum Touris angetroffen; fast durchgehend war im Osten die Altstadt, Neustadt, Kleinseite, teilweise auch der Hradschin zu sehen.
Abendessen im Amos (http://www.amosrestaurant.cz) (Masna 17); einfache tschechische Küche (mit minimalem Fusion-Einschlag), fast nur tschechische Gäste.
Tag zwei wieder "nach Vorschrift". Der Tip, vor neune wegzugehen, war goldrichtig, weils wirklich noch einigermassen ruhig war (um 9 bei der Astronomischen Uhr nur ein paar Dutzend Zuschauer, nicht wie am Nachmittag tatsächlich hunderte). Wer auf die Apostel verzichten kann, solte m.E. noch früher über die Karlsbrücke (Virtual) auf den Hradschin gehen.
Rest des Vormittags Rundgang in der Stadt (Virtual am Altstädter Ring).
Das Kraftwerk beim Cache "Turbine" sieht von weitem wie eine Mischung aus Kirche und Lustschloss aus.
Vitkov cache lag mehr oder weniger auf dem Rückweg von "Turbine" zum Hotel, deshalb haben wir ihn trotz der mahnenden Worte von Toni noch gemacht. Zugang über die westliche Flanke (vorbei am Militärmuseum) hinauf zum wirklich riesigen Reiterdenkmal.
Restaurantempfehlung für Sonntag: Les Moules (http://www.lesmoules.cz) (Pařížská 19), eher belgisches als tschechisches Restaurant, feine Austern, Leffe blonde/brune vom Faß, moules et frites etc... :D :D :D
Fazit: Mit der Beschreibung von Toni haben wir einiges gesehen, an dem wir sonst vorbeigegangen wären (bzw. schon beim ersten Besuch vorbeigegangen sind). Dennoch sind alle "wichtigen" Sehenswürdigkeiten inkludiert. Die Wegstrecke (je ca. 12 km) ist mit guten Schuhen (Dämpfung, nicht Profil!) ohne weiteres zu bewältigen. Die Caches sind für unseren Geschmack eher sehr leicht zu finden (es gibt im Zentrum auch keine Multistage- bzw. Mysterious Caches).
Für die Cacher/innen aus Oberösterreich: Ideale Zugverbindung ab 6.17 in Linz, an 10.45 in Prag; retour um 18.17 (ja, nicht um 18.47 wie wir dachten! Taxi zur nächsten Haltestelle nach Tabor - ca 120 km - kostet 3000 Kronen und ist aufgrund der erforderlichen Geschwindigkeiten eher nicht nochmal zu empfehlen :shock: :roll: :shock: ) Ankunft in Linz um 22.41 (alles LT).
BS/2
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