Prague (Day Two): Czech Republic

Day two in Prague was easy-breezy.

I only had one area of interest on my 'To Do' list: 

Vyšehrad

We woke up around 9am and walked to a local Lidl store that has a bakery within. Grabbed a quick breakfast of muffins, juice and some type of rolled pastry, and headed to Vysehrad.

Vysehrad is an area of Prague that is often referred to as a 'Castle' because of it's Czech translation, but in modern times, you won't find a castle there. Instead it's a large park surrounded by a fortification wall. Inside the fortification walls of Vysehrad you'll find grassy knolls, small cafes, a basilica, a cemetery, and Prague's oldest building: Rotunda of St. Martin. 

There once was a castle here, yes, but if you head to Vysehrad thinking it still exists (based on the name's description in Google), you'll be sorely disappointed. Thankfully I knew this all beforehand, but I did overhear another American say something to her travel companion about not being able to find the Vysehrad castle on the grounds. 

I do wonder how long they searched for it...! It's a rather large area, and all of the uphill and downhill walking can really take the life out of you.

After posing for some cheesy pictures at a lookout spot, we ate our breakfast in the park, and explored the Vysehrad cemetery. Beautiful, yes! But I was growing tired of the graffiti 'art' in Prague, and seeing it in the cemetery really pissed me off to no end. Disrespect goes way further than North America. It's here in Europe, too, and chances are it's a bunch of local low-lifes or dumb kids that do it. 

I don't discredit the city for all of it's assholes that feel the need to draw stupid shit with spray paint on walls of sacred places and landmarks, but it really is sad, and takes away from the atmosphere and beauty of Prague. It wasn't just in this cemetery; it's EVERYWHERE in this city. Like I said, I grew tired of it. Seeing in the cemetery was the "Really?" point for me.

I digress.

After Sunday service let out of the church (technically speaking, it's a basilica), we ventured through the majestic sparkling tiled doors. This basilica is unlike any other I have ever seen! A real treat and worth visiting Vysehrad. As soon as you walk into the atrium, you are rewarding with shining gold details that seem to pipe each arch; gold foiled highlights within the art work. Everything shines. 

From the entrance to the alter, the inside of this church defines opulence, and not in an overdone gaudy sense like Asamkirche that I love in Munich, Germany. 

I hate comparing two very different things, but that's just it; they are very different, but both spectacular in their own way. If you've only visited one of the two, and loved whichever, you wouldn't be disappointed with the other. This church is neo-gothic with baroque elements throughout (a design to pay tribute to the building that stood here before it), and Asam's in Munich is definitely baroque. Although different, both are at the top on my list. Both are equal in terms of beauty and 'awe'.

 Vysehrad's Basilica of St Peter and Paul is my favorite thus far, in terms of places of worship (churches, chapels, cathedrals, basilicas, etc,). I LOVE to tour them, as you might know if you've looked through any of my posts, but this one left me wanting more. I almost wished that it was bigger, just so I could have a reason to stay longer!

After making my kids suffer through silence in the church, we made our way back to the hotel for checkout. Our trip to Prague wasn't very long, but I shall return! I still have much to explore!

On the drive home

                                                  

Hello, Deutschland! I've missed thee!