This is the Astronomical Clock located on the side of the Town Hall tower. Every hour the two doors on top open up and the Apostles shuffle by. To mark every hour, the skeleton below rings a bell. The story goes that Master Hunus built the clock in 1490 and was then blinded with a red-hot poker by the town councillors to make sure he couldn't make another clock for someone else. In retaliation, he groped his way around the clock and succeeded in stopping it, but then promptly died of a heart attack. The clock stayed broken for 80 years. I guess time stood still!
I'm not sure that I would have wanted to be involved in municipal politics in Prague during the Middle Ages. These two buildings were part of City Hall and the Czechs had an interesting practice of removing the mayor from office. Several times, city leaders where thrown from these top windows to the pavement below. Getting kicked out of office was taken very literally.
This is one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Prague. The Tyn Church is boxed in by the houses around it, which are built right against its walls.
The former Jewish ghetto of Josefov is very close to the town square. There are six very unique synagogues and a Holocaust memorial with over 80,000 names covering every bit of wall space. The synagogue below was built in 1530 and is beside the Old Jewish Cemetery, which was in use from 1439 until 1787. There are an estimated 100,000 people buried in the cemetery, sometimes 12 layers deep.
The Estates Theatre can be found on the other side of the Town Square. It is in this theatre that Mozart premiered Don Giavonni. Sherry and I had the privilege of seeing this opera in this theatre.
4 comments:
I for one don't mind seeing all that you are sharing of all that you have seen...what a wonderful experience...
Doug, I love the visual walk through parts of Prague, along with some its of history. Being the daughter of a clock maker, I found the clock tidbit very interesting!
Say a big Hi to Sherry!
Joan Godard
P.S. your son is writing some great blog entries. Maybe you can work on getting him to join MBMSI as a visionary strategist!
Very interesting article. You remind me my trip last year. We spent 4 days there and thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip, everything from public transport (very clean and punctual) to the wonderful architecture this city has. Also find good accommodation is not a problem, even in old center, there are a plenty of Prague hotels for any budget. Where ever you looked there’s history and character, which many cities are lacking.
What a fantastic, historical, wonderful city Prague is. Its my first trip to the Czech republic.
It wont be my last.
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