Instagram Roundup – Prague, Czech Republic
Background
From the time I started posting an-image-a-day on Instagram, I have posted many series on different destinations. Notable amongst them have been my series on New York City (NYC), Paris, Ladakh, Delhi, Iceland, and Rural Rajasthan (you may check those out here – NYC Instagram | Paris Instagram| Ladakh Instagram | Delhi Instagram | Iceland Instagram | Rural Rajasthan Instagram).
You may want to follow me on INSTAGRAM for your viewing pleasure. I post an image a day, you know.
This time, it is Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic. I’ll be speaking at TBEX Europe 2018 (Ostrava, Czech Republic) in July. So, I had chosen to showcase Prague (I haven’t yet been to Ostrava, you see!).
Results:
This series of 35 images ran from 12th May to 11th June 2018. While it ran, it got 2056 likes and 67 comments. During this period, my Instagram account got 31 new followers.
Here are the 35 stunning photographs from Prague! Czech them out!
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase I
👆 Kicking off the series with a bird’s eye view of Štefánikův Most (Bridge) shot from Letna Park, Prague, Czech Republic. It is one of the bridges leading across the Vltava river. I feel this shot brings out the character and personality of this Central European capital. What’s your view?
👆 Do you know this is one of the most photographed bridges across the globe – Charles Bridge. Throughout its history, Charles Bridge has suffered several disasters and witnessed many historic events.
Czech legend has it that construction began on Charles Bridge at 5:31 am on 9 July 1357 with the first stone being laid by Charles IV himself. This exact time was very important to the Emperor because he was a strong believer of numerology and felt that this specific time, which formed a palindrome (1357 9, 7 5:31), was a numerical bridge, and would imbue Charles Bridge with additional strength.
👆 To get to one of the most photographed bridges across the globe – Charles Bridge, this is the underpass I used every day. As in many other European cities, the street art in Prague also is stunning.
Want to spend two days in Prague meaningfully? Check out my friend CHRYSOULA’S POST
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase II
👆 The Old Town Bridge Tower of Charles Bridge is replete with history. A year after the Battle of White Mountain, when the 27 leaders of the anti-Habsburg revolt were executed on 21 June 1621, the Old Town Bridge Tower of Charles Bridge served as a deterrent display of the severed heads of the victims to stop further resistance.
During the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648, the Swedes occupied the west bank of the Vltava, and as they tried to advance into the Old Town the heaviest fighting took place right on the bridge. During the fighting, they severely damaged one side of the Old Town bridge tower (the side facing the river) and the remnants of almost all gothic decorations had to be removed from it afterward. This is the view of the tower from the Old Town (East) side. That side still has some of the old decorations intact.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. Here is Statue No. 2 on the South side of the bridge (on the left, as you come from the old town side) – the statues of Saints Barbara, Margaret, and Elizabeth.]. These are outdoor sculptures by Ferdinand Brokoff, sculpted in 1707 CE.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. Here is Statue No. 3 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of the Lamentation of Christ (also known as Statue of Pietà).]. Designed by Emanuel Max in 1858, upon commission from the Old Town’s public authorities, the statue depicts Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary mourning the dead Christ.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. Here is Statue No. 8 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Ludmila.]. The exact date and sculptor responsible for this statue are not known, although it is believed that it was created by Matthias Braun around 1730. The statue depicts St. Ludmila teaching her grandson, St. Wenceslas. The base contains a relief sculpture showing the murder of St. Wenceslas.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. Here is Statue No. 9 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of Francis of Assisi.]. Sculpted by Emanuel Max in 1855, it portrays St. Francis standing with two neoclassic angels, on a pseudo-baroque base.
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase III
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 11 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Nicholas of Tolentino.]. It was sculpted by Jan Bedřich Kohl in 1708. Here, the saint is portrayed standing on a simple base, together with an angel holding a basket of bread.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 12 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Luthgard (Dream of St. Luthgard).]. Possibly the most valuable piece of art on the bridge, the statue of St. Luthgard was sculpted by Matthias Braun in 1710. He did it as a commission from Evžen Tyttl, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Plasy.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 13 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Adalbert.]. It was designed by Michael and Ferdinand Brokoff in 1709. Here, the saint is represented with a prelate stick developing into a sea paddle and is standing on a base decorated with angels and the emblem of the donor.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 14 on the South side of the bridge (on the left as you come from the old town side) – the Statues of Saints John of Matha, Felix of Valois, and Ivan.].
The most spacious and expensive sculpture on the bridge, this was designed in 1714 by Ferdinand Brokoff. The sculpture was intended to honour the two founders of the Trinitarians, the order that supervised buying back and redeeming of Christians in captivity under Turks. St. Ivan, the saint patron of Slavs was added to the group for unknown reasons. The base depicts a cave in which three chained Christians are praying to the Lord for salvation.
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase IV
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 1 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of the Madonna attending to St. Bernard.]. This statue was sculpted by Matěj Václav Jäckl in 1709 and donated by the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Osek, Benedikt Littwerig.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 2 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of the Madonna, St. Dominic and Thomas Aquinas.]. This group was sculpted by Matěj Václav Jäckl in 1708. The statue portrays the Madonna giving the Rosary to St. Dominic on the left, with St. Thomas Aquinas standing to the right.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 3 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Crucifix and Calvary.]. This sculpture is one of the most historically interesting sculptures on the bridge. It gained its present appearance over many centuries. This crucifix was originally made in 1629 by H. Hillger based upon a design by W. E. Brohn. In 1666, two lead figures were added, but these were replaced in 1861 by the present sandstone statues by Emanuel Max, portraying the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 4 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Anne.]. Designed by Matěj Václav Jäckel in 1707, this statue represents St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, who is portrayed here as a young girl.
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase V
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 6 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. John the Baptist.]. Sculpted by Josef Max in 1857, this statue depicts a standing St. John. This replaces a statue by Jan Brokoff, portraying the Baptism of Jesus by St. John, which stood in this position between 1706 and 1848.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 7 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statues of Saints Norbert of Xanten, Wenceslas, and Sigismund.]. This statue was designed by Josef Max in 1853.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This one is Statue No. 8 on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. John of Nepomuk.]. This statue is the oldest on the bridge. The original clay design was made by Austrian sculptor Matthias Rauchmüller, based upon a wood model by Jan Brokoff. The statue was then cast in bronze by Volfgang Jeroným Heroldt in Nuremberg.
The saint is presented in a traditional way, as a bearded capitulary with a five-star glory, standing on a tripartite base. The base portrays scenes from the life of St. John of Nepomuk, including the confession of Queen Johanna and the saint’s death. In 1393 St. John of Nepomuk was thrown from the bridge into the river where he drowned. In modern times it has become traditional to touch the bridge here; this is held to bring good fortune and to ensure that the visitor will return to the city of Prague.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This is the 9th statue on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Anthony of Padua.]. Designed by Jan Oldřich Mayer in 1707, this statue represents St. Anthony standing between two vases, holding Jesus.
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase VI
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This is the 10th statue on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus.]. This sculpture portrays St. Jude holding a rod. It was sculpted by Jan Oldřich Mayer in 1708.
👆 [Charles Bridge has two rows of 15 statues each on both sides. This is the 12th statue on the North side of the bridge (on the right as you come from the old town side) – the Statue of St. Cajetan.]. This statue was sculpted by Ferdinand Brokoff in 1709. The Saint, the founder of the religious order of Theatins, is portrayed holding a book and standing before an obelisk representing the Trinity.
👆 Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of 2.6 million. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters. Home to over 200 public libraries, Prague is now a UNESCO-Designated City of Literature – one amongst a total of 28 across the globe! Image: Prague on the banks of Vltava River
👆 Old Town Square or colloquially Staromák, is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague. It is located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. And, the Old Town Square is an important part of this inscribed historic centre. The imposing building forming the image backdrop is St Nicholas Church.
👆 Old Town Square or colloquially Staromák, is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague. It is located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. And, the Old Town Square is an important part of this inscribed historic centre. The tall steeples at the back are of the Church of Our Lady before Týn.
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase VII
👆 Prague astronomical clock or the Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. It is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest that still works.
👆 The Tourist Information Centre located in the Old Town Square gels totally with the character of the historic city centre. Don’t miss its medieval decorations!
👆 Hanging from the ceiling of the Art Nouveau Lucerna Palace in Prague, you’ll find the statue of King (subsequently Saint) Wenceslas riding astride an upside-down, dead horse. This installation was created by Prague-born artist David Černý.
👆 Wenceslas Square is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague. It is more of a boulevard than a square – a very long rectangle (over 750 Mts in length). Besides being historically important, it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. The square is named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. It is part of the historic centre of Prague, a World Heritage Site.
👆 On my way from Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square, I spotted an interesting store selling jewellery and artefacts. The slim mirror beside its entrance presented an interesting photo-op. Here’s what that photo-op resulted in.
👆 Having an ice cream in Prague is an interesting experience. Notice the names of these ice creams – Chimney Blizzard, Chimney Devil, Chimney Almond, Chimney King. While the ingredients may change, ‘Chimney’ is a common refrain. Why ‘Chimney’? Well, the ice cream is served in cones that are like chimneys – open from both ends. Watch it as you enjoy your ice cream!
Instagram Roundup Prague Czech Republic – Phase VIII
👆 Prague Castle is a castle complex dating from 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). The tall steeples are of Saint Vitus Cathedral, located inside the castle complex.
👆 Here is the imposing façade of Saint Vitus Cathedral, located inside the Prague Castle complex. The castle complex dates back to 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.
👆 Imposing Saint Vitus Cathedral is located inside the Prague Castle complex. 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.
👆 This blue-hour image of one of the most photographed bridges across the globe – Charles Bridge – would be a fitting culmination to this heritage-rich series. Throughout its history, Charles Bridge has suffered several disasters and witnessed many historic events. But even today, its charm hasn’t faded. It perhaps qualifies as one of the most unique collections of heritage art in the form of the 30 statues that line its 515 Mt length.
Want to know more about Travelure? Click HERE
