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John Pettitt holding the “Ryder Cup” 1985

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City of Prague

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Hradcany

Situated on the hill overlooking Prague, Hradcany is made up of Prague Castle, St Vitus' Cathedral and the Strahov Monastery ' places which are all steeped in history. The Museum of Military History, the Royal Gardens and the Toy Museum are also nearby.

St Vitus' Cathedral was commissioned by Charles IV (1316-1378) and its foundation was laid in 1344. However, work on it went on for 600 years before being finalised in 1929, meaning the architecture is from many different periods and in different styles. Attractions inside include the Crown Jewels, the crypt and the South Tower. The Strahov Monastery was founded in 1140 by the Premonstratensian Order although its present day baroque appearance dates from the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Mala Strana

Covering the area just below Hradcany and bordering the river, Mala Strana is just across Charles Bridge from the main city. Now home to many foreign embassies occupying a number of buildings built by the Catholic nobility, the area is full of palaces, gardens and baroque churches, including the Church of St Nicholas (Sv Mikulas). Open daily, this is an example of Prague baroque architecture - it was built between 1702 and 1753 by Christoph Dientzenhofer and later also by his son. Frequent concerts and recitals (both at lunchtime and in the evenings) are held here, featuring the works of Mozart.

Other buildings of interest include the Czech National Assembly, the Liechtenstein Palace, the Smiricky Palace and Petrin Hill to the west.

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Charles Bridge looking towards Prague Castle

Josefov

Prague's Jewish Quarter can be reached by a short walk from Wenceslas Square or by taking the metro to Staromestska, Line A.

Dating back to at least the thirteenth century, the area is rich in history. Places to visit include the Jewish Cemetery, its five synagogues, the Jewish State Museum and the Jewish Town Hall with its Hebrew clock dating from the fifteenth century. The narrow cobbled streets lend the area a unique atmosphere, especially at night. The Kafka Museum is located on the border of Josefov and Stare Mesto.

Stare Mesto

Prague's Old Town is centred around Old Town Square, the Huss monument and the Old Town clock tower featuring its astronomical clock dating back to the fifteenth century. The Old Town Hall is open daily. It is only a short walk away from Wenceslas Square.

There are several churches here including the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, as well as courtyards and numerous cafés, bars and restaurants catering for every taste.

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