Unknown Czech Republic. The most interesting sights of the Czech Republic. Chapel of the Ossuary, Sedlec

Many tourists do not want to jostle in a noisy crowd and walk along well-learned paths with guides. I want fresh impressions of my own. I will tell you about the “non-tourist” places in Prague, where to walk, what to see and visit.

Not all guests of the Czech Republic choose popular tourist routes. Many people do not want to jostle among noisy crowds and walk along well-learned paths with guides. I want fresh personal impressions, but there is not enough information - guidebooks offer only standard excursions.

I will tell you which places in “non-tourist” Prague are worth a walk, what to see, what establishments to visit.

Non-tourist areas of Prague

There are areas in the Czech capital where there are almost no tourists, but the atmosphere and architecture are original and interesting. One of these areas is Royal.

Královské Vinohrady has preserved picturesque villas from the times of the First Republic. The residents of Prague themselves love to dine in local cafes and restaurants. It’s especially beautiful in Vinohrady in the spring.

Prestigious area Nutcracker(Ořechovka) is located near. Its quiet green streets are lined with beautifully restored ancient buildings.

Area Carlin(Karlin) is also located near the center. The local streets and pubs have retained the authentic spirit of antiquity.

Vyšehrad is a historical district on a hill, remote from the center. This is a romantic place with a garden, a park and many beautiful “non-tourist” streets. Read mine on this page

Vršovice(Vršovice) is one of the oldest districts with cozy courtyards, small shops, and parks.

Hem(Podolí) – a quiet area with authentic streets, private cottages, villas.

Area Smichov(Smíchov) is a place where you can drink real beer in a “non-touristy” pub, visit shops, and take a walk in one of the beautiful parks.

Stresovice(Strešovice). Most of the area's territory has received the status of a protected zone. Many ancient villas have been preserved here.

Bubenech(Bubeneč) is a prestigious area surrounded by greenery. The architecture of the local buildings is varied and eclectic. There are embassy villas here, including the Russian one. Bubenech can be called the center of Russian culture: the Orthodox Church of St. George, there is a Russian restaurant and cultural center "Arbat". Here is a picturesque Prague park -.

Prague beer hall

According to many connoisseurs, Prague can be called the world beer capital. There are pubs in the city that tourists know little about, but locals love to drink there. Download my beer map t.

Organ concerts

It is not necessary to buy a ticket to listen to an organ concert. Go to a Catholic service in a regular one. Wonderful ceremonial services are held in the capital's churches before Christmas.

Memory of Marina Tsvetaeva

Here you need to follow the program of cultural events. There are many of them held in the Czech capital; almost every day you can choose an event to your liking.

Orthodox churches

Church of the Assumption in Prague

Of course, the Czech Republic is a Catholic country, but there are also Orthodox churches here. Orthodox pilgrims can create their own route through Prague churches.

Flea markets

Diversity and unusualness always attract travelers. There are four such bazaars in Prague, the largest being Kolbenovka. Here you can find literally everything and buy authentic Czech souvenirs and real antiques for a reasonable price.

Gastronomic souvenirs

Visit not the “promoted” tourist shops, but regular hypermarkets, where the residents of Prague themselves go for shopping. You can buy grocery gifts for yourself, friends and family in shopping centers. In summer, autumn or during Advent, I recommend visiting Czech fairs.

Prague without tourists

If you want to see the most striking sights of the capital, but you don’t like crowds, walk early in the morning or in the evenings, after 21:00. At these hours the center is not crowded, and you can see everything without fuss.

Theaters

Prague National Theater

How do I save on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts on Booking and 70 other booking sites simultaneously.

If you are coming to Prague for the first time, or are simply tired of the standard tourist attractions, you will probably want to see something new. Fortunately, there are no problems with this in Prague - in addition to what is described in every guidebook, there are also many interesting places that not all visitors know about.

Morning walk

In order to see Prague from a different angle, you don’t even have to look for special places; the first step can simply be choosing the right time. For example, if you overpower yourself, get up early and come to Old Town Square or Charles Bridge at 5-6 am, you may simply not recognize these places - they are crowded with people from morning to evening, early in the morning they will be completely empty, so you can see them at from a completely different perspective.

Sculptures of David the Black

In addition to the historical architecture for which the Czech capital is so famous, Prague also has a very positive attitude towards contemporary art. One of the most famous sculptors in Prague is David Černý; people like his works for their outrageousness and provocation, bordering on hooliganism. Arrange yourself a whole quest to find all his sculptures, especially since they are scattered throughout the city, so you can visit many parts of Prague along the way.

"Where are you going?" (Quo vadis?)

This is one of the first sculptures that brought wide fame to Black, it depicts a Trabant car standing on human legs instead of wheels, and symbolizes the time when residents of the GDR emigrated en masse to Prague in the German Trabant cars, popular at that time, in order to get political refuge. Now the sculpture is located on the territory of the German Embassy.

“The Head of Franz Kafka” (Hlava Franze Kafky)

Kafka was born and buried in Prague, and much is connected with his work here. Cherny immortalized the famous philosopher in the form of a 10-meter sculpture, which is located in the very center, next to the National Avenue metro station (Národní třída). Kafka's head is made of 42 mirror disks that constantly rotate.

“Pissing men” (Čůrající postavy)

This fountain sculpture, installed next to the Franz Kafka Museum, depicts two adult men peeing on a surface resembling a map of the Czech Republic. A definite advantage of sculptures is that they can do their job not chaotically, but write your text in a stream - for this you need to send an SMS to a certain number.

"Embryo"

In 2008, on the building of the Theater on Zabradli (Divadlo Na zabradli), Cherny placed another work dedicated to his 50th anniversary. A glowing embryo made of metal, plastic and epoxy resin is placed on a building's drainpipe. It would seem, how are the embryo and theater connected? The author’s idea remains in his head, but most often it is interpreted as a monument to the “emergence of creative life.”

"Babies" (Miminka Babies)

Cherny's brilliant bronze Babies are perhaps his most famous work. They were originally installed on the Žižkov TV Tower, and now copies of them can also be seen in Kampa Park.

"The Hanging Man" (Viselec)

The man grasping a beam hanging from the roof of a house represents Sigmund Freud. One interpretation is that the author wanted to show the gap between the famous psychoanalyst and ordinary people who are far from psychoanalysis. However, some will recognize in this sculpture the features of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, symbolizing communism hanging by a thread.

"Inverted Horse" (Kůň)

The sculpture is located in the Lucerna passage and depicts the Czech prince Wenceslas sitting on his stomach, suspended by his legs, a dead horse with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. It is a parody of the famous equestrian monument to Wenceslas, but what it symbolizes is anyone’s guess.

Monument to Toadies (Brownnosers)

This, perhaps one of Cherny's most provocative works, represents two naked human figures leaning towards the wall at an angle of 90 degrees. A staircase leads to the back of the sculpture, facing the viewer, and inside there is a video of artist Milan Knizek feeding former Czech President Vaclav Klaus with porridge. Apparently for Czechs who are familiar with the political history of their country, this video makes much more sense than for visiting tourists, who, however, are satisfied with the very appearance of the sculpture.

"Red cars" on the MeetFactory wall

Two red cars hang vertically on the wall of the Meetfactory cultural center building. Perhaps this work is less known, but given that the place where it is located is interesting in itself, it makes sense to visit here.

Meetfactory

Meetfactory, as the name suggests, is a meat processing plant. However, his “meat” business is a thing of the past; now this building houses a fashionable “art space”, which, by the way, was organized by the same David Cherny. True, unlike most of his works, this place does not express any protest, but rather the opposite - it unites modern talented craftsmen, both local and visiting, under its roof. It is at the same time a concert hall, a gallery, and a cinema; alternative musical groups perform here, exhibitions are held and arthouse films are shown.

Cross Club

This underground club is one of the most popular among locals. It is attractive for its atmosphere and futuristic interior - inside there are all kinds of mechanisms, blinking and moving figures, unusual chairs, many passages and corridors. Once inside, you feel like you are on the set of a science fiction film. Periodically, concerts of rock and punk bands take place here, so if you are close to this culture, you should like the place.

Beer depot

Of course, when talking about Prague one cannot fail to mention beer. Regular bars are located on every corner here, but if you want something more original, then check out the Vytopna restaurant. Its peculiarity is that all the tables are connected to each other by a model railway along which mini-trains with beer move. They load up at the bar counter and return there with dirty dishes “on board” - this, of course, doesn’t make the beer taste any better, but the surroundings are very interesting. Don't forget to book a table - as a rule, there are plenty of people willing to receive a beer order by rail.

Beer sauna

Well, if you want to immerse yourself as much as possible in beer traditions in every sense of the word, then we recommend going to a beer sauna. As a rule, relaxation in such places consists of several parts - first, guests warm up in a Finnish sauna, then plunge into an oak barrel with beer solution, after which they relax on a heated straw bed. A bath beer mixture usually consists of mineral water, beer wort with hops, malt and brewer's yeast, as well as oils and herbal extracts. There is no alcohol in this mixture, but most often a tap with beer is connected to the barrel, the consumption of which in unlimited quantities is included in the cost of the procedure.

And we also have

Do you want to become “one of our own” in the Czech capital? The secret is simple - stop rushing. Do not try to visit all the tourist establishments described in the guidebook, or better yet, stay away from them altogether. Why do you need these crowds of people, inflated prices, problems with service and standard souvenirs? Let's talk about alternative Prague - the way the natives know and love it!

Antoninovo pekařstvi

This small bakery (or rather, two - a branch recently opened) is deservedly popular among local residents. They line up to buy traditional bread and pies (kolaches), prepared according to the recipes of Czech grandmothers. Breakfasts are no less good, especially the favorite option of many Prague residents, which brings back memories of childhood - bread with egg salad and a cup of cocoa. Reservations are not accepted, so on a weekend morning you will have to stand in line (usually it moves quite quickly). You can sit outside and watch the quiet life of the area.

Address: Laubova 4 (Praha 3), Moskevská 38 (Praha 10).

Opening hours: daily from 7:30 to 19:30.

Choco Cafe

A family workshop and cafe that serves 50 types of chocolate, including some very original ones - for example, with chili pepper. It is also worth trying the wafer Hořické trubičky with a creamy filling, the taste of which is emphasized by chocolate, nuts and other additives. A portion of two straws costs 55 CZK (€2).

Address: Liliová 250/4, Klimentská 34, Betlémské nám. 8 (Praha 1)

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00.

Můj šálek kávy

Residents of Prague's Karlin district love this establishment for its versatility. Here you can have breakfast, lunch, drink coffee (gourmets consider it one of the best in the city), eat dessert or chat with friends over a glass of wine. The cafe is famous for its “English breakfast” - connoisseurs claim that it is prepared according to all the rules. To burn off those extra calories from this lovely establishment, climb the nearby Vítkov Hill for views of the .

Address: Křižíkova 105 (Praha 8).

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 22:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.

La Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise

Czech cuisine, considered by many gourmets to be lacking in sophistication, is a challenge for any chef. This establishment received him with dignity - they developed a tasting menu of 11 dishes based on culinary recipes of the 19th century. The asking price is 3350 CZK (€125).

Address: Haštalská 18 (Praha 1).

Opening hours: daily from 18:00 to 00:00.

Qubus Gallery

Fans of modern art and custom souvenirs will appreciate this art space created by designers Jakub Berdich and Maxim Velkovsky. Here you can see the works of Czech and foreign masters, as well as buy interesting (and very expensive) products made of glass, porcelain, wood, metal, wax, plastic and other materials.

Address: Rámová 3 (Praha 1).

Opening hours: daily from 11:00 to 19:00.

Cross Club

A place loved by representatives of the DIY subculture. They are attracted here by non-commercial music (dubstep, breakbeat, reggae, ska, punk, rockabilly and drum and bass), low prices, unspoken permission to smoke weed and a fascinating interior in which the world of Jules Verne and cyberpunk plots are intricately mixed. Czech and foreign performers regularly perform here, as well as other interesting events: author readings, theatrical performances, film screenings. A nice bonus is that most of them can be visited for free or for a nominal sum.

Address: Jindřišská 5 (Praha 1).

Opening hours: daily from 14:00 to 22:30.

Atrium Concert Hall

Located in a former church building. Classical music concerts are held here, tickets for which are obscenely cheap (Prague residents claim that at times they cost no more than a Big Mac). Sometimes famous musicians perform here, but you will have to pay a lot more for the pleasure of listening to them in famous halls.

Address: Čajkovského 12 (Praha 3).

Opening hours: according to the concert schedule.

Dox Center for Contemporary Art

Interesting exhibitions are constantly held here, sometimes even several at once (ticket costs 180 CZK or €6.5). You can join a tour (English-speaking guides are available) to get as much information as possible about the exhibits on display. There is a café and a store that sells souvenirs made of glass and porcelain, jewelry from the best Czech designers and books about art.

Address: Poupětova 1 (Praha 7).

Opening hours: Tuesday - closed, Wednesday and Friday - from 11:00 to 19:00, Thursday - from 11:00 to 21:00, Saturday-Monday - from 10:00 to 18:00.

Page Five

A cozy store specializing in the sale of books and magazines about art, as well as author's prints. There are works by young Czech authors and popular magazines Kinfolk, Frame and Monocle, as well as publications in English. The average cost of a book is 300 CZK (€11). Opposite is a homely bistro - Bistro 8, where you can have a cup of coffee and cake or have a full lunch after a successful shopping spree.

Address: Veverkova 5 (Praha 7).

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 19:00, Saturday from 12:00 to 16:00, Sunday - closed.

Second hand Fifty Fifty

Are you smiling sarcastically? Not worth it! This is not a store with well-worn rags, but a kingdom of vintage clothes! A stylish lady rules here, who personally brings interesting specimens from her trips (mainly from Berlin). You can buy tunics, blouses and shirts from the 70s, Levi's jeans from the 90s, handbags and other accessories - all in excellent condition. From time to time you come across real treasures, for example, a Burberry coat. The average cost of clothing is 300 CZK (€11).

Address: Slezská 28 (Praha 2).

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday - closed.

Parallelni polis

This unique place can be called a state within a state. Hacker state. It was conceived by the legendary association of Czech artists Ztohoven, in order to promote the development of crypto-anarchism.

In addition to the coworking space, there is a cafe here - officially the first establishment on the planet where they accept exclusively virtual currency - bitcoins - for payment. For those who are far from the world of “digital money”, there are so-called “paper wallets” that are used for one-time transactions. The coffee here is excellent - Berlin-roasted Bonanza, recognized as one of the best in the world.

Address: Dělnická 43 (Praha 7).

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00.

Art space MeetFactory

An art gallery, theater, music stage and co-working space for creative people. This place was founded by the provocateur Czech sculptor David Cerny, so don't be surprised by the building's appearance - its walls are decorated with pink cars and paint drips. Bands playing indie and electro music perform here, studios of young artists work, and exhibitions, fairs and festivals are held from time to time. The average ticket price is 350 CZK (€13). Good news for opponents of smoking - this bad habit is prohibited on the MeetFactory territory.

Prague is known for its abundance of ancient attractions and rich history. Tourists enthusiastically wander through the medieval streets, admiring the decoration of churches and the architecture of ancient buildings. But often, next to the well-known monuments described in any book, unusual sights are “hidden”, which not all tourists know about. Prague has many amazing and interesting places - both modern and ancient - that deserve attention. Especially if you are one of the travelers who like to discover unusual, “non-tourist”, little-known places.

Prague is an amazing city. Ancient palaces and churches coexist here with extravagant modern buildings. Ancient legends meet turbulent modernity. And on the medieval streets, which “breathe” with history, you can unexpectedly come across shocking sculptures by modern masters. What interesting things can Prague show us besides its own? To understand and feel this city, we will try to deviate from the usual tourist routes and look into some interesting places in Prague.

Interesting places on Kampa Island

Kampa Island is located in the very center of Prague, next to the Charles Bridge. But at the same time it is a surprisingly calm place, not crowded with tourists. Kampa is an artificially created island between the Vltava River and the small Certovka Canal. Thanks to the canal, along which there are ancient houses, Kampa delights the eye with picturesque views. The island is often called the “Venice of Prague”. This is a quiet, cozy and beautiful area, where it is so nice to just walk around, admiring the views. But while walking, let’s not forget about interesting places and unusual sights!

Narrowest street

Vinárna Čertovka Street The narrowest street in Prague is only 70 centimeters wide. Even two people will not be able to pass each other on it! It is called Vinárna Čertovka because of the winery that is located nearby. There were often even traffic jams on the narrow street, especially when happy visitors from nearby taverns met there and could not leave. Therefore, fire services and city authorities ordered the owner of the tavern to hang traffic lights on both sides of the street.

The narrowest street is located very close to the Charles Bridge. It is easy to find if you walk from the city center towards Hradcany. From there, just 150 meters - and you are already waiting for the green traffic light!

To easily find this attraction in Prague, download ouriPhone. The narrowest street is included in our

Lovers' Bridge and Velkoprzevorska Mill

In any self-respecting city there are places and traditions that provide lovers with the opportunity to symbolically “fix” their romantic feelings. In many cities, these are Lovers' Bridges, hung with hundreds of locks, the keys of which lovers prudently throw into the river so that they will never be separated. There is such a bridge in Prague, small and cozy, and it is located on the same romantic island of Kampa.

From the bridge you can also admire the ancient Vekoprzevorsk water mill. And if you look closely, next to you you will see a figurine of the Water Kaburek, a character from Czech fairy tales and legends, who smokes a pipe and thoughtfully looks at the water.

Anna's house

There is another interesting place on Kampa Island called Anna's House. Its beautiful balcony is visible even from the Charles Bridge. It is this balcony that is worth paying attention to, because above it hangs an icon of the Mother of God with an unquenchable lamp lit in front of it. There are two legends associated with the “House of Anna” on Kampa Island. One of them is about a woman named Anna who lived there during a very severe flood in 1892. When the water had already flooded almost the entire house, she ran out to the balcony in despair... and suddenly saw the icon of the Mother of God floating past. Anna managed to catch her, and she began to pray earnestly for salvation. Soon the water began to recede! In gratitude and memory of the miracle, the hostess hung the icon over the balcony and lit an unquenchable lamp in front of it (today it is electric).

It is worth paying attention to an unusual detail in the icon - these are two wooden rollers, both to the right and to the left of it. There is another legend about a maid who worked for Anna and ironed clothes using an ironing machine. Somehow an accident happened - the girl’s hand ended up between the rollers. In this critical situation, she began to pray to the Mother of God. The mechanism miraculously stopped, the maid was able to free her hand and remained safe and sound. In memory of this miracle, rollers were placed next to the icon.

A walk around Kampa Island is part of our audio tour "", which can be listened to oniPhone with a guide to PragueTravelry . The guide will “take” you to the most interesting places on the island, and the audio guide will “tell” you about Narrow Street, Lovers’ Bridge, the old mill, Anna’s House and many other interesting places in Prague.

Lennon Wall

There is a place in Prague to which many fans of the legendary group “The Beatles” flock. Since fans began to paint the wall opposite the French embassy with portraits of John Lennon and many inscriptions, the city authorities have repeatedly tried to stop the “disgrace” and periodically painted over the wall. But over time, they stopped even trying. The Lennon Memorial Wall has become a popular meeting place for young people and one of the unusual attractions of Prague. You can often meet street musicians here. And the wall itself “lives” and continues to be covered with various messages.

Unusual sculptures of Prague

Beautiful Prague, known for its ancient buildings, medieval towers and historical landmarks, often surprises tourists with an abundance of unusual and whimsical modern sculptures. This city strangely combines a variety of eras, styles and moods!

"The Hanging Man"

Many tourists, relaxingly walking along Gusovaya Street, get terribly scared when they suddenly raise their heads and see above them... a hanging man, who is holding onto a beam with one hand and is about to fall off! Many people are heartbroken! But this is just a monument to Sigmund Freud, the “father of psychoanalysis,” who “hovered” over the abyss of the unconscious. Its author is David Cherny, known for his shocking works. The sculpture “hovered” over Gusovaya Street back in 1997. Since then, the “Hanging Man” has “visited” more than one world-famous exhibition complex...

We will see the unusual sculpture of the “Hanging Man”, like many other interesting places in the Old Town, on a walk with the audio guide “”, which is available in the mobile guide to PragueTravelry.

March of the Penguins across the Vltava

Glowing in the dark figures of penguins “marching” along the bank of the Vltava River near the Kapma Museum evoke bewilderment and a smile. 34 yellow penguins stand one after another on a platform right in the water, and a huge chair about six meters high is visible nearby. These compositions are elements of the Prague exhibition Re-Evolution, organized by the Kampa Museum (museum of modern art).

Monument “Cloak without a Man”

The somewhat surreal monument is located near the Estates Theater in Prague. The pedestal... there is a strange figure on it, covered from head to toe with a cloak, and instead of a face there is emptiness... At the first second you shudder, but it is difficult to take your eyes off the empty hood. To whom is this monument dedicated and who is its author? It turned out that the sculptor Anna Chromie created her creation in dedication to Mozart and his opera “Don Giovanni” - after all, the premiere of this famous work took place here at the Estates Theater, with the great author himself conducting! The monument is called differently: “The Cloak without a Man”, “The Man without a Face”, “Anonymous”, “The Cloak of Conscience”, but most often – “Il commendatore”, that is, “The Commander”. After all, it embodies the image of one of the opera’s heroes – the Commander, or rather, his spirit.

Listen to an interesting story about the Estates Theater and other interesting places nearby in the audio tour "".

Monument to Kafka

The monument to the legendary writer Franz Kafka is one of the most unusual in Prague. It is also special in that it gives many reasons to think and leaves wide scope for interpretation. Just imagine - a small man sitting on an empty suit of impressive size. The body is not visible under the jacket, and there is no head above it. What does it symbolize? Different interpretations are possible, perhaps you will have your own! There is an opinion that the jacket is a symbol of the system, power, and the character sitting on it personifies the collective image of the hero of Kafka’s works - a “little” man who obeys the system. One can also recall Kafka’s story “The Story of a Struggle.” Her hero climbed onto the shoulders of a random fellow traveler, towards whom he felt a feeling of envy. But this feeling passed when the hero saw the world through someone else’s eyes and was in “someone else’s costume.” There can be many possible explanations for this monument. But it makes an indelible impression... It is noteworthy that the monument is located exactly where the border was between the quarter where Jews lived and the Old City, inhabited by Christians.

To come across the grave of a Soviet soldier in the center of ancient Prague is a big surprise for many tourists. And even with the inscription on the monument: “Eternal glory to Comrade Belyakov.” A soldier named Belyakov, who died during the liberation of Prague in 1945, is buried there. They say that while dying in the monastery hospital, the soldier asked to be buried next to Loreta, the monastery with which the name of the entire Loreto Square is associated. “Comrade Belyakov” really loved the ringing of the Loretan bells and always wanted to hear it.

We visit the beautiful Loreto Square, in particular the Tomb of the Soviet Soldier, in . Download our guide with audio guide and explore Prague with inspiration!

New World Street

One of the most famous and beloved tourist attractions in Prague is Golden Street in Prague Castle, with its tiny bright, almost doll houses. But not all tourists make it to another amazing medieval street - the New World. Meanwhile, it also captivates with its unique medieval flavor. And it’s much easier to feel it here, without the tourist bustle, noise and crowd.

Novy Svet Street is very small, calm, and therefore very cozy. It goes along the former city walls. The unique appearance of the street is created by a row of small houses decorated with amazing house signs. Once upon a time, people who served Prague Castle lived here. In those days the street was modest and poor. But centuries later the situation changed radically: artists, writers, and poets began to settle on this street. The ancient street has become prestigious, and today real estate on it is very expensive.

Novy Svet Street was rebuilt more than once due to frequent fires. But after a global restructuring in the 17th century, it was left alone, subsequently restoring only individual houses. But few people know that it was here, in the house “At the Golden Griffin”, that the famous scientist Tycho Brahe lived. By the way, the griffin is not the only “golden” one here. Many houses on the street have “golden” names and are decorated with corresponding house signs. They say that in this way the first inhabitants of the street (mostly servants or poor artisans) tried to “scare away” or embellish the poverty in which they lived. Well, today there is no need to embellish anything here - the old cozy and romantic street New World is good in itself and is one of the most cozy and interesting places in Prague.

A leisurely walk along Novy Svet Street is part of the audio tour “” with a guideTravelry. The audio guide will help you learn many amazing stories and interesting facts about Prague, andThe GPS guide will not let you get lost in this magical city!

ADVICE

If you travel with an iPhone, use . You can easily find interesting and unusual sights of Prague both on the map and in the directory of places. To do this, select a filter, and in it – the “See something unusual” category.

The ZIRKA project decided to go to conquer the city of love - Prague. A trip to the Czech Republic from the series “Incredible adventures of Ukrainians in Europe” will take place in March 2016.

Prague is a beautiful city, which is impossible not to fall in love with. Every building in it is an architectural masterpiece. Medieval streets, cozy cafes, interweaving styles, majestic castles, luxurious churches, romantic parks and gardens - all this gives the city incredible charm.

The romance, love and charm of the city captivate millions of tourists, but at the same time Prague is a very mystical city, covered in legends and mysterious stories. There are places here that will surprise you.

The ZIRKA project in its journey decided to focus specifically on little known pages from the life of the city, bypassing traditional excursions to the main attractions. Discover a new Prague with the ZIRKA project!

The program expects you to:

• Prague slums;
• strange museums of Prague;
• night excursion “Mystical Prague”;
• exclusive tour of unusual breweries;
• panoramic Prague - the most beautiful views of the city;
• and, of course, photo hunting.

Slum

These are residential areas with spontaneous spontaneous developments without normal living conditions.

We are all accustomed to the fact that such places are located in poor and undeveloped countries, and we do not expect to see this in civilized European countries. However, there are slums in the Czech Republic.

Thus, in Prague, buildings for the poor and unemployed from the times of the First Republic are still preserved. Now marginalized sections of society no longer live in these places, and the area itself has become a colorful landmark of the city. You get here and it’s as if you’re transported to another world, forgetting for a moment that you’re in the capital of a developed European country.

Where are the slums in Prague?

At the beginning of the 20s of the 20th century, the country felt the need to build new buildings for offices and government agencies. For these purposes, workers and artisans from other regions of the Czech Republic arrived in the city. It was expensive for them to rent housing, so future builders were allocated a plot of land on the outskirts of Prague.

The workers built their own houses. The means at hand were used: old boards, bricks, sleepers and other rubbish. The first house in this area was built in 1924, and three years later there were about 300 such buildings.

The Slatiny Slum colony for the unemployed is still maintained. Other similar places in the city were either demolished or converted into family-type houses. In the Zizkov area, for example, a park was built on the site of a slum.

Strange museums in Prague

The Czech capital is home to many different museums. In addition to the historical, art and other traditional museums that can be found in any city, Prague also has very unusual, sometimes a little strange, exhibitions. These are the ones that interest us.

1. KGB Museum

This museum opened relatively recently, in 2011, and is dedicated to the activities of the USSR State Security Committee. The exhibition was assembled by the hands of a Czech collector who lived in Moscow for some time.

The museum contains a large number of personal belongings of the top officials of the USSR, heads of the KGB, NKVD, GPU and other organizations, as well as office interior items. There are also exhibits from which the “top secret” stamp has not been removed (confiscated photos of army officers, etc.). The collection includes: Lenin's death mask, Leonid Trotsky's murder weapon, boxes of poisonous gas, killer cigarettes, telephones, etc.

2. Museum of Vice

Its other name is Sex Machine Museum. There is a collection of tools for sexual gratification, stimulants, underwear, costumes for role-playing games, tools for sadomasochism and photographs. Among the exhibits are ancient contraceptives, as well as modern devices that can be purchased.

At the entrance there is a chair that will test the level of sexuality of everyone who sits in it. The museum occupies three floors, and one of its halls is dedicated to erotic cinema. Here you can watch the very first porn films.

3. Museum of Ghosts and Legends

Here is a collection of mystical characters who, according to residents, actually existed. A ghost in a black robe awaits tourists at the entrance. However, the museum was created with the goal of introducing visitors to the mystical legends and mysterious stories of Prague, and not to intimidate people.

Each person is given a booklet describing all the exhibits. And there is something to see here: the Keeper of Prague legends with a mysterious book, ghosts walled up in the walls, a wooden cross covered with nails, a magic mirror, skeletons and headless ghosts.

4. Museum of Torture

This the darkest museum in Prague. It features 60 torture objects during the Middle Ages. Moreover, both copies and real weapons that were used in real life are stored here.

The museum tells about torture and punishment in medieval Europe, about how people were burned alive, partially walled up in walls and subjected to various tortures, including death (skulls were crushed, joints were torn, etc.).

5. Museum of Historical Toilets

This is one of the strangest museums in Prague. He talks about the history of chamber pots, flushers and toilet paper. Here is an exhibition of toiletries and night vases that were used by imperial families, military personnel and rulers.

6. Lego Museum

The Prague Lego Museum is the largest in Europe by the number of exhibits. It spans three floors and the exhibition required about a million pieces to create. All exhibitions here are divided by topic: Harry Potter, Star Wars, the world of Indiana Jones, transport, etc.

7. Chocolate Museum

The Prague Chocolate Museum is a branch of the Belgian museum. Here visitors will be told about the origins of cocoa, the history of chocolate creation, and shown a collection of packaging and wrappers. Everyone can try making chocolate themselves.

At the entrance to the museum, all visitors are offered to eat a chocolate bar or drink a cup of aromatic hot chocolate.

Hung on the walls of the museum paintings painted with liquid chocolate. Anyone who wants can also try themselves as an artist.

This is only a small part of all the museums in Prague. In addition to those already presented, you can visit the museum of pomegranates, toys, public transport, magic and alchemists, police, communism and even sewers.

Mystical Prague

The Czech capital is shrouded in mysteries, secrets and legends. This is a city where ghosts, ghosts and ghosts live. Each building here keeps its secrets. Therefore, visiting Prague and not being imbued with local mystical legends, sometimes creepy, is unforgivable.

The city acquires a special atmosphere at night. Walking through the medieval streets, where magicians, alchemists, masons and such local celebrities as the Golem, Princess Libuše, the one-armed Vore, the Headless Knight and many others once roamed, will allow you to see familiar things with different eyes.

Prague residents love to “scare” tourists with various mystical stories. Moreover, at such moments it is not always clear whether they believe in them themselves, or are just having fun.

For example, the famous Charles Bridge is fraught with many secrets; more than one legend is associated with it. Rumor has it that he is bewitched. That is why this bridge has never been destroyed: neither from wars, nor from the elements. According to one version, the legendary structure is protected by the magic of numbers; according to another, during its construction, the devil was promised the soul of the first person to cross the bridge in exchange for the eternity of the building. Now, in cloudy weather, you can see the devil on the bridge handing out his portraits to passers-by.

Another interesting story is connected with the colorful Zlata Ulitschka. There are mini-houses of different colors on it - a stunning sight. However, this was not always the case. Once upon a time, alchemists and charlatans lived here, creating the elixir of youth, unraveling the secrets of immortality and turning tin into gold. If you come to this street at night, when all the tourists have left, you can see a non-existent house here.

There is a skeleton in Prague who begs for alms at night. Legend has it: a Prague doctor collected skeletons. One day he wanted to get the skeleton of his servant. He was a tall man, he entered the house, bending down, and slept on two beds. The doctor asked him to bequeath his skeleton to him after his death and promised that he would give him a place of honor in the anatomical hall. However, the man did not agree. But he had one weakness: he really liked to drink. And so, when he had no money for drinks, he signed an agreement with the doctor. Now the skeleton goes out into the street after midnight and begs to buy himself back.

There are plenty of mysterious places in Prague and its environs, as well as mystical legends. Just look at the Church of All Saints, built from human bones, Houska Castle with a chapel covering the entrance to hell, and the House of Faust with an ominous story telling about a man who was carried out through the roof by the devil, after which for a long time they could not repair the hole in the ceiling, and the place itself was bypassed by the tenth road.

Unusual Prague breweries

Prague is the capital of Czech brewing. Here you can try all varieties of the national drink. In general, there are a lot of breweries in the Czech Republic, both large production and small, almost family-owned.

The ZIRKA project invites you to walk through the most interesting beer places:

1. Pivovarsky House

This unique establishment offers non-traditional beer drinks. Here tourists can try the beer “carousel”. This is a selection consisting of cherry, coffee, nettle, banana, wheat, blueberry and many other unusual varieties, as well as a special beer of the month. In addition, you can taste other alcoholic drinks made from beer: beer vodka, beer rum, liqueur and beer champagne.

2. Brewery with restaurant “U Bulovki”

This place offers its guests beer made from natural ingredients. At the same time, the assortment is constantly changing. Only five brands remain unchanged on the menu: Ležak, Alt, Helles, Export and Weizenbock. The pride of the beer hall is the archive of all existing types of beer, which was collected first in the country. At this place on Fridays you can drink beer while listening to live music.

3. Břenov Monastery with a brewery.

This is the oldest brewery in the Czech Republic, and the monastery was founded in 993. In 2011, a complete renovation of production took place and now beer made according to traditional Czech traditions is bottled here. The authentic style restaurant, located in the historical monastery complex, also serves traditional Czech dishes. The monastery itself also deserves the attention of tourists.

4. Restaurant “At the King of Brabant”

This is a very colorful medieval-style pub. Here guests are entertained with saber fencing, dance performances and fire tricks.

6. Another colorful place - Prehistoric restaurant PRAVĚK

When you come here, you will find yourself in the Stone Age. Rock paintings, stone chairs, skins of killed tigers and mammoth tusks will immerse you in another world. The primitive atmosphere in the establishment is maintained by actors and waiters who, transformed into real savages, hoot, growl and bang on drums.

7. Beer depot

This establishment deserves special attention. The Vytopna restaurant treats its visitors in an unconventional way: instead of waiters, beer is delivered by trains along specially laid rails between the tables. The bar counter serves as a loading and unloading station, as dishes are brought here and beer is poured here. In addition, you can eat very tasty food here - Vytopna is famous for its cuisine. It is advisable to reserve a table in advance.

Festival-competition “Prague Starfall”

The ZIRKA project is planning to hold an international talent festival during its trip to Prague. The Prague Starfall competition will accept several hundred participants from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Russia, India and other countries.

As part of the festival, a grandiose Ukrainian flash mob will take place, which will introduce Ukrainians to the whole world.