DESTINATIONS PRAGUE | SHORT BREAKS
VINOHRADY WHY GO?
Much quieter than the centre, but still boasting plenty of magnificent architecture – neo- gothic, baroque revival and renaissance pastiche can be found within metres of each other – Vinohrady is where Prague’s well- heeled live. That makes for a lot of good eating and a thriving coffee bar scene.
WHAT TO DO Vinohrady is ideal for just wandering around and admiring the buildings, but if you’re after specific targets, then the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord is a bizarre masterpiece, with a giant circular clock and what looks, from a distance, like armour plating. For a view out over the city, head for Rieger Gardens, or in the winter months, take a stroll around its pretty Christmas market.
ŽIŽKOV
WHY GO? Regularly billed as Prague’s Montmartre, Žižkov is no-nonsense and quirky. The bar scene is plenty of fun, with many having gimmicks (such as Scalextric sets or vintage arcade games) without dipping into pretentiousness. The Vítkov Hill, with its memorials and statues, offers a mighty fine vantage point. Žižkov is directly north of Vinohrady, and the two neighbourhoods make for an interesting contrast.
WHAT TO DO If you want to explore the bars, then Viator sells a half-day Prague Žižkov Alternative tour for about £50, which covers the district’s history, as well as its drinking dens. The stylishly brutalist Žižkov Television Tower is one of Prague’s icons. There’s an observation deck with superb views – and look out for the bizarre sculptures of babies clambering up the tower.
3 OF THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE
E Cesky Krumlov: Located in southern Bohemia, this is one
of the most beautiful towns on Earth. Built around a loop of the River Vltava, it is topped by a fairy-tale-worthy painted Renaissance castle, while the rest is cobbled streets of cuteness and frothing beer on riverside terraces. Isango sells a full-day trip starting at £72.
E Kutna Hora: This quirky, 13th-century silver-mining town
has plenty of history and a fab medieval cathedral. But the real reason to visit is the Sedlec Ossuary. This incredibly creepy chapel is made with thousands of human bones, stacked up and arranged as decoration. Viator sells six-hour trips to Kutna Hora from Prague for £41.
E Terezin: During the Second World War, this former military
fortress was used by the Nazis as a concentration camp for Jews. It was something of a show camp, with token educational and cultural efforts made in a bid to show the camps weren’t so bad. But almost all the Jews who arrived in Terezin were later sent to a death camp. Isango sells six- hour round trips for about £52.
travelweekly.co.uk 3 OCTOBER 2019 53
PICTURES: Shutterstock; Prague City Tourism/Richard Horak;
petersalek.com
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