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Art in Prague Photos

Art in Prague

Trip Over to the Czech Republic

Everywhere you look there is art in Prague, whether it is in the form of the statues on the Charles Bridge, the architecture of the old and modern buildings, political statements or modern art. Prague is an amazingly beautiful city and the two weeks I spent there was barely enough time to explore everything. Fortunately Prague is a great city for walking, as all the works I mention in this story are easily found without going too far or up many hills, we’ll cover the more far flung and lofty in other stories.

Beautiful things are everywhere, you just come across them. On a bench in Wencelas Square casually sits a perfect bronze sculpture of a man, I can’t find any information of who he is, who created him or what he represents, but I like him. He just sits there in the square watching the passing parade of shoppers, sightseers, and locals, while good King Wencelas looks down from his horse at the top.

Further up through the old town next door to the Spanish Synagogue, in Dusni Street in the historic Jewish Quarter, you will find a statue by Jaroslav Rona, of Franz Kafka being carried on the shoulders of a giant headless man. Based on one’s of Kafka’s stories, “Description of a Struggle”, which tells the story of a political candidate carried through the streets of Prague on another man’s shoulders. But in this case the man being carried is Kafka himself. There are often crowds gathered around this statue, and tour groups stop there, we had a coffee outside a great coffee shop across the road so I could pick my moment to run across and get some photos.

Art is found not just out on the streets and large galleries, small galleries are everywhere, like Inter Art Gallery in Husova Street is worth popping in to. This one showing art by Gor Avetisyan, and run by his sister is really interesting, a very talented family. Beautiful 3D details added to paintings using plaster really bring them to life, and the little statuettes and vases are exquisite.

At the foot of Petrin Hill, not far from where you catch the funicular to the top of the hill, you will find the Memorial to the Victims of Communism unveiled in 2002, twelve years after the fall of communism. The bronze plaque reads, “The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism”. The memorial, created by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek, and architects Jan Kerel and Zdenek Holzel, shows seven bronze figures descending a flight of stairs, the further they are from you the more decayed they are, their bodies breaking up, limbs missing. The bronze strip up the middle of the path showing the alarming statistics of those impacted by communist rule, those arrested, those forced into exile, those who died in prison, those shot trying to escape, those executed, a sobering moment in a beautiful park.

On Narodni Street in a small arcade is a bronze plaque showing hands reaching out from the wall, dated 17.11.1989, the date of the Velvet Revolution, this memorial is to the students who were attacked and beaten by the communist police desperately trying to hold on to power eight days after the fall of the Berlin Wall – the day 41 years of communist rule came to an end, and Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic, 17th November is a national holiday in the Czech Republic.




Hanging above the street just near our favourite coffee and pastry shop in the New Town area, Boulangerie Patisserie, a man and a woman hanging from umbrellas, called “Slight Uncertainty” by the artist Michal Trpak, they represent feelings during the depression. I guess slight uncertainty would be a bit of an understatement if the only thing stopping you from dropping to the road was an umbrella, but you can imagine where he was going here. Prague is filled with interesting and unusual things, as you amble around the streets don’t forget to look up as well as all around.

There is such great respect for art that they don’t confine it to galleries and museums, it is everywhere, shopping centres, hanging above the streets and in arcades. One piece that the powers that be deemed too offensive to be in public is displayed in the grounds of a private museum. They took it promising to always leave their gates open so the public could access it if they wanted to – and they do, in droves! The fountain called “Piss” by Czech artist David Cerny, can be found in the grounds of the Franz Kafka Museum in Mala Strana. The bronze basin of the fountain is the shape of the map of the Czech Republic, there are two gyrating mechanical “gentlemen” standing in it peeing on their country. Apparently, visitors can instruct the “gentlemen”, by SMS, to write messages in pee, and they do, with much hip swivelling and penis waggling- but that’s another story.

David Cerny has over ten sculptures displayed in Prague, all considered to be slightly offensive but amusing, he has been accused of being a hooligan, and some have tried, and failed, to have his work banned. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it – on the grand scale of offensive things in public, in my view, you’re trying to ban the wrong thing!

After leaving the Franz Kafka Museum walk down through Mala Strana before going under Charles Bridge, on the right is a glass shop, Artel, all things crystal couture are available here. (I bought a beautiful water carafe that I just love on my bed side table, and many pairs of earrings). Then go under the bridge and just to the left is a little shop called Vanda and Valerie, tucked into the wall of the bridge selling the most amazing hand painted mugs, (yes, I bought some!), earrings and other nick nacks, definitely worth taking a look before going to look at the Lennon Wall – the wall’s owners, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, allow the graffiti, song lyrics and messages of peace to remain there. Occasionally it gets painted over then it all starts again. On the anniversary of John Lennon’s death there is a candle light vigil.

Come back down from the Lennon Wall and continue along the path through Kampa Park on the west side of the Vltava River. The Giant Bronze Babies are near the Kampa Museum, these sculptures of crawling babies all have weird smushed in faces. More of these babies can be seen crawling up the TV tower.

The Kampa Museum houses the sculpture garden, and many more fascinating art works on display inside. Looking out of the window to the river you can see the Yellow Penguins, by the Cracking Art Group, made from recycled plastic bottles taken from landfill sites. The penguins are marching in protest of what is happening to their Antarctic home due to global warming and environmental destruction.

Sitting out on the river at one of the breakwaters is a giant timber chair, made by Magdalena Jetolova called the Vltava Chair, the chair was washed away in one of the great floods and found 50kms down river.

Back across the river in Husova Street, between the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge if you look up you will be shocked to see a man dangling by one hand from a piece of wood jutting out from the roof, at first everyone gasps – is a suicide attempt? No, it’s another of David Cerny’s statues. This one is Sigmund Freud hinting at the powerlessness and hopelessness of man in the modern world, but not willing to let go.

Behind shops near Narodni Trida Metro Station sits an enormous rotating head of Franz Kafka by David Cerny. It has 42 rotating layers and when they all align it forms the Czech writer’s face. There is a cocktail bar nearby, the perfect venue to watch this metamorphosis take place.

Back near Wencelas Square, inside an art nouveau arcade called Lucena Pasaz, just up Stepansha Street opposite the Grand Hotel Europa, there is another David Cerney sculpture, this time possibly mocking the current Czech President, Vavlav Klaus, a frequent subject of Cerney’s derision. Here as King Wencelas sitting in the same pose as King Wencelas on the statue outside in Wencelas Square, astride his horse, but he doesn’t seem to realise the horse is dead, upside down and unceremoniously suspended from the ceiling.

David Cerny never comments publicly on his works – so over to you – make of it what you will….

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Prague

Itinerary for Trip Over to Prague and Berlin

Flights from Sydney to Prague via Dubai with Qantas/Emirates

Stayed for 2 weeks in a beautiful apartment near the Dancing House, found on Airbnb.

Had a driver from On Day Trip pick us up in Prague and drive us to Berlin

Stayed for 2 weeks in Berlin in one of the magnificent penthouse apartments at Gorki Apartments near Rosenthaler Platz U-Bahn Station.

Return flights with Lufthansa from Berlin to Frankfurt, then Qantas/Emirates from Frankfurt to Sydney via Dubai.

After catching the tram across the river, I strolled through Letna Park, there are stunning views of Prague's Vltava river, the bridges and the castle, not to mention all the flowers in the park.#flowerseverywhere #viewsfordays #praguelife #solotrip #walkinthepark
At this time every year Sydney Harbour is filled with light for Vivid Sydney. #vividsydney #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
On my solo adventure in Palermo, Quattro Canti became a familiar spot I visited almost daily ✨️ This iconic intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the center of the city's historic quarters - Kalsa, Seralcadi, Albergaria, and Castellammare all meet here. In the evenings, it's the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and plan a night out at one of the many restaurants on Via Maqueda.#solotravelinsicily #palermo #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #quattrocantipalermo
Popped into Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly yesterday evening ✨️ mainly to have a look at the new double helix staircase built up the middle of the store. Disappointed that they had no feature decorations hanging down the centre of it!!The lower floors were absolutely packed with people, if one person moved, they all had to. I took a few pics and made a run for it!!#fortnums #shoppinginlondon #doublehelixstaicase #londonlife #solotravel
Back to Schonbrunn Palace to see the Imperial Apartments. Gold was definitely the order of the day ✨️ but I reckon I could live there quite comfortably with a few more mod cons!! #schönbrunnpalace #imperialapartments #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Caught the train from Vienna to Bratislava for a day trip. Walking up the hill to visit the castle is not for the faint hearted!! And the walk back down 🥴 brutal on the dodgy knee!!! But I made it 😃!!!#bratislava #daytripfromvienna #daytripfromviennatobratislava #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of the CBD and Sydney Harbour all sparkling on an unseasonably hot day for June ✨️ Who would have thought hats and sunscreen would still be the order of the day, I would expect hats and coats at this time of year!!! #royalbotanicgardens #urbanoasis #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks
The gardens at Sydney's Government House and into the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour.#royalbotanicgarden #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #sydneylife #walkinthepark
Beautiful day to have another amble around the gardens at Schonbrunn Palace after exploring the Imperial Apartments, in another month these gardens will be in full bloom☀️☀️☀️#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #palacegardens #solotrip
After visiting the Easter Markets at Schonbrunn Palace , I went for a walk up through the gardens, all the way up to the 'Gloriette' at the top of the hill way off in the distance. The Gloriette was built in 1775 for no other reason than the view - when the Habsburgs were sitting on the balcony of their summer Schloss, they wanted something nice to look at, so they had the Gloriette built along with a few ponds and fountains. The world became a better place!!#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #solotravel #habsburgfamilyresidence #vienna
The moon stole the show at Vivid Sydney, rising up over this tree in front of Governnent House near the Sydney Opera House. Always need a full moon when there is a light show in Sydney!!!#vividsydney #fullmoon #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The largest synagogue in Europe, built in the 1850s, has been witness to unmentionable horrors during WWII including being bombed. It borders the ghetto where the Jews were left to die. In the garden cemetery there are tens of thousands of nameless bodies and a few that could be identified.There us a very powerful museum housed here too.#dohanystreetsynagogue #budapestarchitecture #budapest #soloadventure
Strolling around Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and Government House✨️ looking out across Sydney Harbour on a sunny mid winters day☀️#rbg #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyharbourwalks
Chilly morning in Vienna today, but apparently its going to warm up big time tomorrow! First stop Naschmarkt, then strolling past Karlskirche on my way to Schloss Belvedere.......#naschmarkt #karlskirche #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
Aimlessly wandering around the streets of Prague - beautiful💖#prague #praguelife #solotrip #praguearchitecture
Had lunch in one of London's oldest pubs yesterday, on Fleet St, not far from St Paul's. Re-built in 1667 after the original Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub went up in flames in the great fire of London the previous year🔥I've had better fish and chips in older London pubs - The Prospect of Whitby and The Mayflower - but still very nice to sit by the fire, then explore the rabbit warren of areas in this pub, knowing people have been drinking here for nearly 400 years.#yeoldecheshirecheese #londonpublunch #historiclondon #solotravelinlondon #londonlife
Exploring Prague with lots of walking and lots of tram rides! Walking across Charles Bridge, up to the castle, through Lesser Town, into New Town, and historic Old Town.#prague #praguelife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
Vienna's Easter markets are in full swing now, with beautifully decorated eggs and plenty of food and drink. Great to amble around in the sun, even though it was a bit chilly!!#solotravel #vienna #eastermarkets #traveltheworldwithme
Just blew the days food budget on Sacher Torte and Coffee at the Sacher Hotel because......why not??? Priorities, priorities!!#sachertorte #sacherhotel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Hotel Pension Suzanne in Vienna is in the perfect location, walking distance to everything, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shops and museums. ✨️Safe, quiet and comfortable, all requirements of the solo traveller✨️Click the link to my website in the bio for more information on the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure to Budapest, Vienna and Prague.#hotelpensionsuzanne #solotravel #solotrip #vienna #traveltheworldwithme
Leaving Budapest from Keleti station, I found my ticket gave me access to the Business Lounge waiting room!!Next stop on my solo adventure - Vienna🥂!!#solotravel #budapest #keletistation #travelbytrain #traveltheworldwithme
Walking from Bratislava train station to the town centre takes 15 minutes, passing through a park and by the parliament buildings before reaching the historic cobblestone streets.This is where the touristification of the town kicks in, every shop is a restaurant or souvenier shop.Even the castle is a remake of what they think tourists want to see....we actually want to see the original castle!!#bratislava #streetsofbratislava #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Had a quick run around Prague after a 4 hour train trip from Vienna. I was last in Prague 9 years ago, all seems familiar except Wenceslas Square....apart from the statue of Good King Wenceslas on his horse, the rest of the square that used to be an elegant collection of historic buildings, hotels, cafes, etc......has now turned into Oxford Street, London...Primark, C&A, Half Price, the list goes on......who thought that was a good idea????#prague #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #charlesbridgeprague
.....further to my previous post. I walked past Hochstrahlbrunne, a fountain built in 1873 to celebrate the opening of Vienna's high pressure water system. Then once I arrived at Schloss Belvedere, I found that this was not the place to be at Easter. There was one long queue to buy a ticket to stand in one of 3 other long queues to get in!!! Even one of the staff on crowd control said he had never seen it like this - I'll go back after the Easter weekend crowds have left.#vienna #viennaeaster #soloteavel #changeofplans
More sculptures in the streets, and I found another one of the minitures that are dotted all over the city. It's hard to tell what it is, but perched on the wall near the castle, the little guy in the last photo is looking through his telecope at the city below!!#streetsculptures #budapest #artinthe streets #solotravel
It's a museum kind of day in Vienna, 2 to 5 degrees, we've had a bit of snow, a bit of sleet, a bit of rain and a lot of cold ❄️❄️❄️The Furniture Museum is a collection of furnture and other items from the Imperial Palaces, including a display of the toilets from the day.The museum holds huge stores of furniture that they lend out for movies, plays and other events needing furnishings from that era.#viennafurnituremuseum #coldday❄️ #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
The Hungarian Parliament Building from across the Danube at night ❄️ It was a freezing cold evening, but a quick trip under the Danube on the Metro to get a few photos is just what needs to he done!#hungarianparliamentbuilding #budapest #soloteavel #traveltheworldwithme
Beautiful Prague in spring was the next stop on my recent solo adventure to central Europe, where I stayed at Hotel Grandium ✨️ Lovely place in a great location and nice and close to the station, perfect if you arrive by rail.✨️Check out the hotels I stayed in by clicking the link to my website in the bio.#grandiumprague #solotravel
Dinner at the Parisi Passage, a historic gem from the 1800s inspired by Parisian arcades, it withstood bombing raids but faced neglect post-war, now revived as a stunning hotel with an incredible restaurant and bar.#solotravel #parisipassage #parisipassagebudapest #párisipassagecaféandbrasserie
Budapest's streets are full of art✨️ apparently there are mini sculptures scattered everywhere, and I've found one of them so far!! The hunt continues.....#artinthestreets #budapest #solotrip #neverstopexploring
It was a lovely sunny London day to walk through Kensington Gardens from South Kensington to Baystwater Rd. Kensington Palace was all locked up for the Christmas break.#kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardenslondon #london #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme
Budapest was an amazing place to begin my solo adventure to Central Europe.✨️ Hotel President was in a great location for exploring, walking distance to most places, or handy to the metro or buses.✨️For more info on the hotels I stayed in click the link to my website in the bio.#hotelpresidentbudapest #solotravel #solotrip #soloadventure #budapest
Budapest Central Market Hall built in the late 1800s, extensively damaged in WWll, left in ruins until the late 1900s when it was returned to it's former glory.....only to now be mainly selling tourist trash.#budapestcentralmarket #budapest #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
The fairytale world of Castle District, perched high above the Danube on the Buda side. Hours of leisurely strolling are a must!! My solo adventures in Budapest continue...#budapestcastledistrict #budapest #solotrip
Finally a sunny day in Budapest, strolling on Margrit Island, great weather, no complaints, perfect!#margritisland #budapest #soloadventure #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Arriving in Vienna, I found my hotel at set off exploring the neighbourhood, the architecture is all gobsmacking, but hard to get far enough away from to photograph!! #vienna #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #solotravel
As promised, a beautiful sunny Easter Sunday in Vienna ☀️☀️☀️ After being in Palermo last Easter, where it was underwhelming, Vienna really knows how to take Easter to the extreme!!!#easterinvienna #eastermarkets #soloadventure #vienna
Just opened my curtains to see this beautiful sunrise ✨️over Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. Beautiful colours to start the day, I was just in time to catch it, those peach colours are no longer there!#londonsunrise #bigben #westminsterabbey #londoneye #housesofparliament

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