Prague: Part 4 - Day 3 Morning: Prague Castle Circuit B

Day 3 (Morning)
Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 3 Morning.

5/1 Day 3 Morning: Prague Castle Circuit B

Optional Costs

(A) Entrance fees

(1) Prague Castle Circuit B - CZK250 per person

Food

(1) Ham and cheese sandwich at Rosetta CZK170
(2) Czech cheese cake and 2 latte CZK265

The Story

05012020 Morning: Today, we made a visit to Prague castle. We were informed by a random traveller that we met on the train to Kutna Hora yesterday, to visit the castle early as there will be lots of visitors by 10am and there is security check for every bag. So, we left the hotel at 7.15am, bought a very expensive sandwich because we could not find any cafe that is opened at 8am (even the sandwich sold in the airport is cheaper), and made our way towards the castle compound. We thought that the ham and cheese sandwich is probably so expensive because it was located in a tourist area.

That very expensive sandwich we got... we were even served after a customer eventhough we arrived earlier than the said customer.

We passed by Old Town and there was hardly any folk at the Astrological Clock Tower, so we took this opportunity to take lots of photos. 

We were on the new bridge, and saw Charles Bridge.

We walked up some annoying steps to the castle's entrance. At least, it kept us warm. As we walked further up the steps, we could see a better view of Prague town. What a pretty sight!

We got a very beautiful view at the top of the stairs. Especially with the sun shining directly at us!

Our bags were inspected by a security guard. Lucky us, as there was only one tourist before us. So, the security check went fast. It was 8.50am then. When we got out from the castle compound (to the same entrance) at 10.30am, there was a long queue at the security check. A really long queue. I guess that they did not that there was another entrance to the castle that has 4 security checks which went faster than this one that has only 1 security check.

Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, built in the 9th century. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, occupying an area of almost 70,000 square metres (750,000 square feet), at about 570 metres (1,870 feet) in length and an average of about 130 metres (430 feet) wide. Source from Wikipedia.

There was a Christmas market in the castle's compound which was starting to open.

The red building is St. George's Basilica.

I saw many groups of Chinese, Korean and Japanese tourists. I was so amazed by that! I did not realise that this country is such a famous destination for them.

At the information center, we saw different types of tickets. We were uncertain what to choose, so I did a quick google and found out that Prague castle was not worth a visit. Haha! Well, I cannot back out now. So, one suggested Circuit B. We bought Circuit B (Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica, Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral), and I was disappointed because I thought: 

a) Sweden's Royal Palace and Drottningham Palace was way better than the Old Royal Palace here.

b) St. George's Basilica was plain in comparison to St. Barbara's Cathedral that we visited yesterday. I googled and found out that a basilica has more historical significance than a cathedral.

Basilicas minor can be found around the world and are rewarded that status by the pope, usually because of some sort of historical, spiritual, or architectural significance. 

c) The Golden Lane is a short lane with colourful houses that 4 showcased the lifestyle of the people who lived there long ago while the other houses were boutiques.

d) St Vitus Cathedral. The only one worth going! It opens at 12pm on Sundays as they have church services on Sundays. And there was a ridiculously long queue to get inside.

Me in front of St Vitus Cathedral before all the tourists came.

Here we are, in the Old Royal Palace.

The Old Royal Palace is part of the Prague Castle, Czech Republic. Its history dates back to the 12th century and it is designed in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its Vladislav Hall is used for inaugurations, being the most important representative hall in the country. It is also home to a copy of the Czech crown. Source from Wikipedia.

St George's Basilica.

St. George's Basilica is the oldest surviving church building within Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic. The basilica was founded by Vratislaus I of Bohemia in 920. It is dedicated to Saint George. The basilica was substantially enlarged in 973 with the addition of the Benedictine St. George's Abbey. It was rebuilt following a major fire in 1142. The Baroque façade dates from the late 17th century. A Gothic style chapel dedicated to Ludmila of Bohemia holds the tomb of the saint. The shrines of Vratislav and Boleslaus II of Bohemia are also in the basilica. The abbess of this community had the right to crown the Bohemian queens consort. Source from Wikipedia.

Third place - Golden Lane. 

Golden Lane is a street situated in Prague Castle, Czech Republic. Originally built in the 16th century, to house Rudolf II's castle guards, it takes its name from the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century Although the lane was temporarily called the Street of Alchemists or Alchemists' Alley, alchemists have never worked or lived there. Golden Lane consists of small houses, painted in bright colours in the 1950s. The street originally had houses on both sides, but one side was demolished in the 19th century. Today the lane is a part of the small and big castle rings (i.e. a fee must be paid to enter), while there is free entry after the Prague Castle interiors close. Many of the houses are now souvenir shops, and there is a museum of medieval armoury within the former 14th-century fortification accessible from Golden Lane. Source from Wikipedia.

WHAT! I am upset that this is free after the Prague Castle interiors close. 

As St. Vitus Cathedral opens only at 12pm, and it was only 10.30am, we decided to visit Church of Infant Jesus. 

The other side of Prague Castle which has 4 security posts to check the bags.

We thought of going to KGB Museum but the owner (we think it is a privately owned museum) says that there must be at least 3 persons in a group and it costs CZK400 per person!

We found Church of Infant Jesus but we also found a cafe opposite the church, and we chose to step inside the cafe first as we would like a cup of coffee. Here, we had Czech cheese cake and latte. Their version of cheesecake is very different.

Here we are, in front of Church of Infant Jesus. 

The Infant Jesus of Prague or Child Jesus of Prague is a 16th-century Roman Catholic wax-coated wooden statue of child Jesus holding a globus cruciger, located in the Discalced Carmelite Church of Our Lady Victorious in Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic. Pious legends claim that the statue once belonged to Saint Teresa of Ávila. In 1628 it was donated to the Carmelite friars by Princess Polyxena of Lobkowicz. Source from Wikipedia.

We made our way back to Prague Castle to visit St Vitus Cathedral.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert (Czech: metropolitní katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha) is a Roman Catholic metropolitan cathedral in Prague, the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. Until 1997, the cathedral was dedicated only to Saint Vitus, and is still commonly named only as St. Vitus Cathedral. This cathedral is a prominent example of Gothic architecture and is the largest and most important church in the country. Located within Prague Castle and containing the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors, the cathedral is under the ownership of the Czech government as part of the Prague Castle complex. Source from Wikipedia.

This hanging statue was found at the back of the church and those who did not buy the tickets cannot see this. One can go inside the church even without tickets but they could only go until the last row of the bench.

Then, we went to look for food!