Fresenius Medical Care v Praze 10 - Vinohradech

Prague – a trip to the heart of Europe

There are truly beautiful cities all over the world, displaying amazing architecture and conveying a sense of well-being. A lot of cities are fascinating in how they have taken their multi-faceted history to the present day in constant change. Prague is both. The Czech capital has preserved its medieval flair through its magnificent buildings and places that are exquisite both in their fine details as in the myths surrounding them. After a rough and convoluted 20. Century, the Czechs established freedom and heralded a new era in a masterpiece of the non-violent power of the people.

It is always a good sign when a city is dubbed with special names describing its attraction. Prague has been called “the Golden City” because Emperor Charles IV. had the towers of the castle gilded and because Rudolf II., King of Bohemia, assisted alchemists in their search for gold. It is also labelled the “City of a Hundred Spires”. A city like Prague deserves to be explored leisurely and without rushing. How good that there are five NephroCare clinics in Prague available for your holiday dialysis request. This enables you to take your time with the wonderful city of Prague and let your impressions of the Golden City sink in.

Activities & Sights

The Old Town

An ancient city centre is usually a good place to start exploring a foreign borough. Prague is no exception to this rule. On the contrary, the Old Town is full of amazing buildings. The Old Town Square with its marvellous, well-preserved architecture of 10 centuries ago will captivate you immediately. The various street performers, musicians and merchants that line the streets somehow intensify the feeling of being right back in the Middle Ages.

As leisurely as your stroll around should be, some things should be timed all the same. While visiting the Old Town Square, make sure you get to the Old Town Hall at the full hour to watch the spectacle of the mechanical clock marking the turn. And a spectacle it is! Very probably the most well-known and best-preserved medieval astronomical clock in the world, it displays four moving automatons (including a skeleton ringing his death knell for each hour), and rotating statues of the 12 apostles. It also shows the moon’s phases and the sun’s journey through the constellations of the zodiac.

The walk from the Old Town to the castle is also a nice thing to do in Prague. The Malá Strana (meaning “Little Side”) is full of medieval buildings, restaurants and historical places, too. You get there by passing over the famous Charles Bridge, so prepare for another lasting experience. Built during the 14th and 15th century, it is presumably the most iconic tourist attraction in Prague. The bridge spanning the Vltava River is protected by three imposing Gothic towers. While walking across the bridge, pay attention to the Baroque-style sculptures and climb one of the towers, the view from the top is spectacular. The Charles Bridge is remarkable both day and night. As a result, it naturally draws large amounts of tourists in all but the quietest nightly hours. At sunrise, the quiet atmosphere and the silhouette of the old town being slowly illuminated is particularly spectacular. Whatever time of day you choose, enjoy your first time of crossing the bridge – and every other time you do it.

In and around Prague Castle

If you are interested to visit the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the busy Golden Lane, the Old Royal Palace or the Daliborka Tower, you just have to go to one place – the breath-taking Prague Castle. The largest ancient castle in the world, it is also one of the most renowned of all of the city’s many landmarks. It has traditionally been the seat of Czech rulers and is today the official residence of the president.  

The spire you see from all around the city of Prague belongs to the St. Vitus Cathedral. This is where the kings of Bohemia were coronated. Although the cathedral looks many hundreds of years old, it was in fact completed in 1929. Time will fly while you explore the many awesome attractions and places to visit.

The views, the views!

Some of the best views of the historic centre of Prague are from the riverbank of the Vltava River. Along its embankments, trendy bars, cafés and markets invite you to linger and enjoy the panorama. A stroll along will even be topped by a river cruise that shows you some of the city’s best-known landmarks from the water. You can also rent a rowboat or a motorboat to explore the river on your own.

If you are into views from above, pay a visit to the Žižkov Television Tower just outside the historic centre. The observation deck of this modern landmark, completed in the early 1990s, offers breathtaking views of the city.

Accommodation

Not many cities have so many small hotels and guesthouses as Prague does. You can find anything here – from romantic rooms in one of the Patrician houses and spectacular suites in an art nouveau villa to modern hotel rooms. In some hotels the traffic noise is quite bothersome, so make sure where you book your lodgings. Holiday apartments

Should you plan to stay in the centre as most visitors do, you will have to book well in advance to get a room. Many more rooms are available in the new town (Nové Město) and the other quarters, of course. They are all in easy reach by public transport. The five NephroCare clinics in Prague are scattered just outside the city centre.

Culinary & Culture

Eye-catching and mind-boggling

Prague is the recognised centre for Black Light Theatre. This special type of theatre conceives truly amazing images through light. Actors dressed in black play on a completely black stage, which is why the human eye cannot discern them. The eyes only see the objects and puppets they move in the light, creating a surreal and unforgettable experience.

The Bohemian Carnevale, also called Prague Carnival, is spectacularly celebrated in February with colourful costumes and fanciful masks. The main attraction during the festival is the masquerade parade, similar to the one held in Venice every year. Those among you who are not into the carnival might prefer the annual International Jazz Festival. It has a long-standing tradition in Prague and attracts myriads of artists and music lovers.

The Bohemian cuisine you often find in Prague is hearty, rich and dominated by meat – like roast duck or Pork Knuckle (Kolano). A permanent feature on the menu is the typical Goulash (Guláš), a thick beef stew. If you come across something called “Drowned Men”, don’t worry! It is a dish with pickled sausage and said to be very good, especially accompanied by a beer from Prague. A lot of meals have unpronounceable names, so visitors have to try their luck. Most of the dishes are accompanied by dumplings, cabbage and a thick sauce.

While the Czechs are used to this kind of substantial meals, it can be quite heavy going for everybody who is not used to this type of eating. So, with your special diet, we would recommend to tread carefully and enjoy tasty samples here and there.