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From Malostranske namesti take two tram stations to Ujezd. Or you can walk, it is not that far. Now take the the funicular from the street U lanove drahy to the top of Petrin Hill. Have your camera prepared! Once you are at the top you can visit Prague Observatory or climb the Petrin Tower (Petrinska vez). It is a small copy of the Eiffel Tower (please note that it is being repaired, so it might be closed). Going back down the hill to Hradcany you can take Strahovska street, which is easier way down, but your view will be blocked by the Hunger Wall. Therefore I suggest another option. Take Vyhlidkova cesta (Road with a view), if you keep to the left, go down hill and avoid the Hunger Wall (Hladova zed) you will get wonderful views of Prague. This road ends just below the Strahov Monastery. The Hunger Wall, also called the 'Bread Wall', which extends across the Petrin hill from Strahov to where Mala strana meets Smichov, was built by the poor during the reign of Charles IV as perhaps the first instance of a public works project. |
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Enter the courtyard of the Strahov Monastery. The Premonstratensian Monastery the Museum of National Literature and an art gallery which displays work ranging from Gothic art to Romanticism- accumulated by Premonstratensians over the centuries. The Theological Hall contains impressive original woodwork, historical, globes, and rare manuscripts, including the Strahov New Testament dating to the 800s- 900s. The Strahov library has an eight hundred year history; however a fire in 1258 destroyed many volumes, the Hussite wars caused additional damage, and pillaging Swedes claimed much of the library as war booty in 1648. The Church of the Assumption inside the Strahov compound is one of the several places where Mozart performed on the organ during his visits to Prague.
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Now walk around Pohorelec to Loretanske namesti. Loreto Chapel (Loreta) will emerge in front of you. The chapel, modeled after the original Loreto near Ancona, Italy, was founded in 1626 to popularize the Catholic faith after years of Protestant 'turmoil'. The Loreto compound includes the Blessed Virgin's Cottage, stuccoed with figures from the Bible, and a treasury with gilded liturgical objects- some of which were confiscated during the Napoleonic Wars. Further downhill from the Loreto you will discover Novy Svet, a secluded little neighborhood that shines with old world charm. Then get back to Loretanske namesti and walk down Loretanska to Hradcanske namesti.
On your left take note of the Baroque Archbishop's Palace. On your right notice the newly installed statue of the first Czechoslovak president TGM (Tomas Garrigue Masaryk).
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Slovene architect Josip Plecnik, who was invited by the first Czechoslovak President T.G.Masaryk to remodel the castle courtyards and interiors, also carried out major landscaping around the complex. Paradise Gardens was one of his projects and it offers a spectacular view of the city. Walk through the gardens and down the stairs to Klarov.
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