Special note. Because these are being produced after our trip they will be in chronological order to make it easier to follow. Usually, I add the latest posts at the top to reduce scrolling.
Cannes/Budapest, Sunday, April 14, 2024
Today begins our two-week Spring trip to Budapest, Vienna & Prague – April 14 -28.
We left Cannes on the 12:03 train and took the L2 Tram to the airport for our 3:00 PM flight on Wizz Air (178.2 eu) to arrive at 4:55 PM in Budapest. We took the 100E bus to the city center.
We checked in to our Air BnB ($74 Night/5 nights) and then headed out for dinner at Vak Vargu Restaurant (Paulay Ede u. 7) and an evening walk.
Our first impression of Budapest was very positive. The weather was warm and sunny.
Budapest, Monday, April 15, 2024
We awoke at 8 AM excited to explore the city.
We were having trouble with our cell phone service so we stopped in at Vodaphone and bought 2 SIMs for 25 eu each for full European service, good for 30 days.
We picked up some provisions at a nearby Lidl stocked the kitchen, and had lunch at the apt.
After a bite, we left to explore Budapest, crossed the Chain Bridge, and took a long walk up the hill to Fisherman’s Bastion and St Mathis Cathedral which overlook the city and provide an excellent view.
The Chain Bridge was the first permanent stone-bridge connecting Pest and Buda, and only the second permanent crossing on the whole length of the river Danube. It is one of the symbolic buildings of Budapest, the most widely known bridge of the Hungarian capital.
Its construction was proposed by Count István Széchenyi, one of the leading figures in 18th century Hungary. Its official name is Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Works were started in 1839 to the plans of English engineer William Tierney Clark with the financial support of Baron György Sina, a Viennese financier.The place at the Buda end of the bridge has been named after him. The inauguration of the Chain Bridge took place on 20 November 1849.
Fisherman’s Bastion was built during the 19th century for the Hungarian Millennium celebrations, this mock bastion features pointed towers and turrets, reminiscent of the fairytale castles in Disney World.
Matthias Church is one of the finest churches in Budapest and the most unique churches in Europe. Located atop the Buda Castle hill, it has been serving the citizens of Buda Castle Hill since 1015, its foundation by the first Hungarian king
The church was used as a coronation church by Hungarian kings for centuries, also a mosque for over 150 years by the Ottoman Turks, once owned by Franciscans, Jesuits, now a thriving Catholic church with holy masses, concerts, plenty of weddings, thousands of tourists.
We took the #16 bus back to the city center and had a light Vietnamese bite before taking a sunset evening river cruise along the Danube River.
Budapest, Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Today the weather turned from warm and sunny to cold and rainy.
We toured the Jewish Synagogue.
Budapest’s stunning Great Synagogue is the world’s largest Jewish house of worship outside New York City. Built in 1859, the synagogue has both Romantic and Moorish architectural elements. Inside, the Hungarian Jewish Museum & Archives contains objects relating to both religious and everyday life. On the synagogue’s north side, the Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial presides over the mass graves of those murdered by the Nazis.
And took the #216 bus to the Buda Castle area to visit the National Széchényi Library.
The National Széchényi Library was founded in 1802 by the highly patriotic Hungarian aristocrat Count Ferenc Széchényi. Széchényi traveled the world buying Hungarian books, which he assembled and donated to the nation. In 1803, the public library was opened in Pest. Széchényi’s example resulted in a nationwide movement of book donations to the library
We then took the same bus back to the hood for lunch at the same restaurant we had dinner at on Sunday and then rest.
Budapest, Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Today was cold but sunny.
Rebecca rested much of the day.
I toured the town on foot, beginning with the Great Market Hall.
The Great Market Hall in Budapest (in Hungarian Nagycsarnok or Vasarcsarnok) was built in 1897, and is the most beautiful and largest of all Budapest market halls (yes, there are more historical market halls in Budapest, like the one in Hold Street called the Downtown Budapest Market Hall).
The market hall is not only ‘Great’ in its size, but is also great in other aspects. Most importantly the market is also central, no wonder it is also called the Central Market Hall, for both of its location (5 min walk from the city centre), and the volume of trade taking place here on a daily basis.
Then on to the nearby Green Liberty Bridge.
Liberty Bridge is the third and shortest bridge of Budapest. It was built for the Millennium World Exhibition in 1896, its original name being Francis Joseph Bridge.
It was built to plans resulting from a design competition held in 1893. Originall, it was named Fővám Square Bridge after the Fővám Palace, which currently hosts the Budapest Corvinus University, formerly known as Budapest University of Economics. The bridge was designed by János Feketeházy, chief engineer of the Hungarian Railroads at that time. Construction was started in June 1894. It was inaugurated by Francis Joseph I, who hammered in the last silver rivet on the Pest side on 4 October 1896, at the festivities held for the thousand-year jubilee of Hungary. The bridge was named Francis Joseph after the Emperor.
From there I walked up the hill to the cave church, after which I climbed to the Citadella which was much more work than the value of the view.
The cave church is located on thje buda side of Budapest, tucked into the side Gellert Hill (named after a saint who was stuffed into a spiked barrel and rolled down the hill), is a small cave with a large cross above it. Supposedly once the home of a hermit monk, the cave is today run by the Pauline Monks.
The Citadella, above the cave church, was built in 1851 by Julius Jacob von Haynau, a commander of the Austrian Empire, and was designed by Emmanuel Zitta and Ferenc Kasselik, after the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. It occupies almost the entire 235 metres high plateau. The fortress is a U-shaped structure built about a central courtyard, being 220 metres long, 60 metres wide, and 4 metres tall. It had a complement of sixty cannons.
I returned to the apartment to pick up Rebecca to visit St Stevens Basicilla, climbed to the top for the view and caught lunch at Spiler
St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika) is Budapest’s largest church. Begun in 1851 and completed in 1905, St. Stephen’s Basilica was consecrated in the name of the canonised King, Stephen I of Hungary. One of the king’s relics, his right hand – known as the Holy Right and symbolic of his incorruptibility – is housed within the church.
We took an evening walk and had a burger at Rebel restaurant (Budapest, Király u. 8)
Budapest, Thursday, April 18, 2024
I left the apartment early to locate the train station. After following my GPS for half an hour it led me to a parking lot. I asked a nearby merchant and he told me to take a bus from that point to the station. I gave up and will try later. Walked home for breakfast.
We were told that the #2 tram had a great view of the river so we set out to find it. Unfortunately, we hopped on the #2b tram which went the opposite way and hit the end after a few stops.
Fortunately, we ended up going by some interesting areas so we walked around to explore.
Walked around the Parliament building and finally got on the #2 tram. Unfortunately, we stayed on too long and ended up far away from where we wanted to be. So took a different tram back to the city center. No big deal as we were exposed to new areas that we had not seen before.
We finally found our destination of Vajdahunyad Castle but first, we discovered Heros Square.
The origins of Heroes’ Square date back to the late nineteenth century. In 1895, it was decided to build the so-called Millennium Monument as a national pantheon — to commemorate the one thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathians and the founding of the Hungarian state in 896.
The monument, designed by Albert Schickedanz, was completed in 1900, although sculptures were still being added to it right up to its final opening ceremony in 1906.
The Heroes’ Square monument commemorates the first thousand years of Hungary’s existence with a representation of the seven Magyar tribes that founded the country. Alongside them, there is space for 13 statues of national heroes, which were put in place between 1905 and 1911.
Situated in City Park, the largest park in Budapest, Vajdahunyad Castle began its life as a structure made of wood and cardboard. It was built for the millennium celebrations of 1896 and was a huge hit with both the locals and those visiting Budapest.
The castle, actually an enclave of buildings rather than just one structure, was designed by architect Ignác Alpár. He created a complex that represents each architectural style in the history of Hungary. Each section is modeled after an existing building in the Kingdom of Hungary. In total, twenty-one different buildings were integrated into the complex.
The most picturesque wing of the castle is modeled after the Hunyad Castle in Transylvania, hence its name. During the millennium celebration, the castle housed an exhibition that outlined the significant periods and events of Hungary’s one-thousand year history.
We climbed the tower in the castle for the view and explored the Hungarian Agricultural Museum at the castle complex.
The Hungarian Agricultural Museum is housed in the stunning baroque and gothic wings of Vajdahunyad Castle. Scattered across a dozen palatial halls, the museum showcases Europe’s largest collection of things agricultural, covering everything from centuries-old butter churns and livestock breeding in the 15th century to Hungary’s prodigious grain yields in the 19th century. Farming, hunting, fishing and viticultural equipment abound, as do antlers. Don’t miss the 18th-century dugout canoe carved from a single tree trunk and the rare-breeds section.
After this exploration, we took the metro home rested a bit and then went out for Thai food at In-oon (Klauzál tér 14).
They were shooting a movie in our ‘hood.
Budapest/Vienna, Friday, April 19, 2024
We checked out of our air BnB and took the #2 metro to the train station.
Bought 1 Kg of strawberries outside the station to spend our remaining Hungarian money (25,000 Hf).
Took the 11:40 AM train (7980 HUF/$22.00 for both) to arrive in Vienna (VienHbf) at 2:20 PM. Along the way, we saw wind farms.
Upon arrival, a helpful girl took us to the ticket booth and explained the different tickets. We purchased a week pass ($16 eu) at her suggestion. It turns out the 72-hour pass would have been better as the Week pass expired in two days and costs the same. No big deal.
We took the local #2 tram and were treated to a nice tour of the city on the way to our Airbnb. ($519/4 days)
Checked in at 4 PM and unpacked. Had dinner at Gasthaus Rebhuhn (Berggasse 24,). The weather was cooler and light rain.
After we went to Billa for groceries. Home at 6:30 PM a bit tired.
Vienna, Saturday, April 20, 2024
We were up at 8 AM to a cold and wet day.
We walked to the Hofburg Imperial Palace (Hofburg Wien) which we visited along with the Music and and Armory areas.
Hofburg Palace has been the heart of power in Vienna since 1279, so naturally, it is rich with history that can’t be experienced anywhere else. Once the Habsburg’s winter residence, this massive palace complex now serves as the workplace and home of the President of Austria. However, visitors can still catch a glimpse of Hofburg Palace’s Imperial past; the richly decorated Imperial apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the lavish silver collections are all open to guests who want to understand the palace’s rich history.
Portrait of young Beethoven
In 1853, Emperor Franz Joseph was attacked with a knife in an assassination attempt. Following his survival, his brother started a campaign to build a church on the site of the attack, as a thanks to god for saving his life.
Work began that year, and the Votivkirche church was opening in 1879 on the silver wedding anniversary of the Emperor and his wife, Empress Elisabeth.
The interior of the Votive Church is characterised by soaring vaulted ceilings. Light floods in through its enormous arched windows and it has a generally airy and elegant feel.
Inside, admire the church’s eye-catching altar, an elaborately carved piece inspired by Italian Gothic architecture. The Renaissance-style tomb of Nikla Salm, who defended Vienna during the Turkish siege in 1529, is also housed in the church, and the highlight of its museum is the Antwerp Altar which dates back to 1460.After this, we went to the Sisi Museum for a tour.
Founded in 2004, the Sisi Museum is dedicated to the enigmatic Empress Elisabeth. The wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, Elisabeth (called Sisi), was an unconventional and spirited woman who never quite fit into the courtly society in the capital. During her life, she was the object of fascination, rumour, and admiration, and after her tragic death by assassination in 1898, the myth of Sisi only grew. Featuring over 300 hundred objects, this museum gives guests an insight into her eventful life and death while dismantling the myth in order to reveal the woman underneath.
After our visit, we had lunch at Huth Gastwirtschaft (Schellinggasse 5,), and returned home.
In the evening we took the U4 metro to have dinner at Gorilla Kitchen and then attended a 7:30 PM Vivaldi concert in the St Charles Church, a beautiful venue.
A rare photo of Rebecca in church.
Took the U4 metro back home
Vienna, Sunday, April 21, 2024
Up at 7:30 AM had breakfast and then walked to the Vienna National Library for a 10 AM opening. which was amazing.
Today the Vienna marathon was held.
We had to wait for the buildings to open so we ducked into a nearby Votivkirche church where the choir was practicing. It was very beautiful.
The Austrian National Library is just one of the visitor attractions in Vienna’s Imperial Palace. In the former court library, however, the books are only the supporting cast: The impressive Grand Hall is almost 80 meters long and 30 meters high, and is crowned at its center by a mighty dome. The riotously colorful fresco by court painter Daniel Gran shows the “becoming a god” of Emperor Charles VI, who commissioned the construction of the library in 1723. This also stands hewn in marble in the center of the central oval – directly beneath the dome. The other 16 statues show rulers and nobility of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg family.
After the library, Rebecca went for coffee and I did a quick visit to the Albertina Museum for a showing of Lichtenstein’s work.
The Albertina Museum collection, which was established in 1776 by Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen, a son-in-law of Empress Maria Theresia, comprises over one million prints and 60,000 drawings. Famous pieces such as Dürer’s “Hare” and his “Hands folded in prayer”, Rubens’ studies of children and masterpieces by Schiele, Cézanne, Klimt, Kokoschka, Picasso and Rauschenberg are displayed in the rotating exhibitions.
On permanent display in the Albertina’s new exihibition collection are the most exciting art movements of the last 130 years: from French impressionism to German expressionism to the Russian avant garde and the present. Monet’s “Water Lily Pond”, Degas’ “Dancers” and Renoir’s “Girl” can be gazed at in wonder, as can paintings by Beckmann, Macke, Chagall, Malevich, Rothko, Rainer and Katz.
We regrouped for lunch and revisited the nearby Gorilla Kitchen
From there we headed over to the Belvedere with our 2 PM tickets. Rebecca enjoyed the Klimt exhibit.
The unique, overall complex, with its two palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, and their extensive gardens, is one of the most stunning Baroque architectural ensembles in the world. In the 18th century, the Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned the renowned Baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build a summer residence. After the death of Prince Eugene, Empress Maria Theresa acquired the entire complex and transformed the Upper Belvedere into an exhibition venue for the imperial collections – making it one of the first public museums in the world. The Marble Hall was the venue for important historical events and now offers an unparalleled view of Vienna. The Lower Belvedere, formerly the residence of Prince Eugene, is home to illustrious exhibitions.
After we took the tram home.
Vienna, Monday, April 22, 2024
Rebecca wished to rest a bit so I headed out for an adventure.
I took the metro to the Schönbrunn Palace. There were busloads of Chinese tourists being dropped off as I arrived. I tried to stay ahead of them as much as possible.
The history of Schönbrunn and the previous buildings that stood on this site goes back to the Middle Ages. The whole estate was referred to as the Katterburg from the beginning of the 14th century and belonged to the manor of the monastery at Klosterneuburg. Over the following centuries the names of numerous tenants are documented, including a few prominent figures such as, in 1548, Hermann Bayer, who was mayor of Vienna and who extended the buildings, transforming the whole into a manorial estate.
I then went to St Stevens and took the elevator to the rooffor a splendid city view.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) is not only the main Roman Catholic church in Vienna– and the seat of the city’s Archbishop – it’s also one of Austria’s most popular attractions, welcoming more than a million guests each year. With its 137-meter-high spire and richly decorated roof, it’s the city’s most important Gothic edifice and represents eight centuries of architectural history. All that remains of the original 13th-century structure are the massive gate and the Heathen Towers (Heidentürme). Next, came reconstruction in Gothic style in the 14th century and the completion of the choir and the Chapels of St. Eligius, St. Tirna, and St. Catherine, while the South Tower, the Nave, and the Chapel of St. Barbara were added in the 15th century. During WWII, the building experienced nearly complete destruction. Its reconstruction, from 1948 until 1962, proved to be a tremendous communal effort involving the whole of Austria, demonstrating the nation’s eagerness to restore this former symbol of the country’s illustrious past.
Later I went out for a Sushi Lunch at Hiro (Seyringer Str. 6-8,)
I then called Rebecca to meet up at Shapesphere & Co a bookstore she wanted to visit.
We went home after that to regroup
Later I took some photos around town and took the metro home.
Vienna/Prague, Tuesday, April 23, 2024
We were up early to tidy up the apartment and pack for our train to Prague. We checked out and headed downtown to find a bag drop for our bags as our train didn’t leave until mid afternoon. We could not find the first two places using GPS and finally identified the third via a little sign in the window.
Rebecca went shopping and I tried to find the crypt at St Joseph’s. Unfortunately, the only tour available was at noon, too late for us.
We regrouped for a visit to St Stephens and then lunch at a city center restaurant Chattanooga (Graben 29a).
We also met a cute couple at a nearby coffee shop (Truth).
After we border a tram to go to the train station we realized we were going the wrong way. Running tight on time now we got off and grabbed a Bolt taxi to the station.
Took the 2:39 Train (21.00Eu for both) to arrive in Prague at 6:37 PM. Relaxed in business class for the 4-hour train ride.
We ordered an Uber at the train station but he couldn’t find us and did not speak English. We cancelled it and booked a Bolt taxi to our Air BnB arriving around 7:15 PM. Surprised to see that it was a dump. Immediately canceled the reservation and rebooked a new Air BnB after negotiating a better rate on the new one. Huge improvement, near Kafka’s rotating sculpture.
Checked in at 9:30 PM
Prague, Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Up at 8 AM, I went to nearby Billa Supermarket for provisions.
We walked to the Astronomical clock which is a big attraction, crossed the Charles bridge and headed up to the Castle.
The Prague Astronomical Clock is the world’s most famous Medieval clock. It was built in 1410 by the clock makers Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel. However, until 1961, when a document was found revealing the real identities of the authors of the Astronomical Clock, it was believed that this masterpiece had been made by the clock master Hanuš. The legend also recounts that the author believed to be responsible for this masterpiece, Hanuš, was blinded by Prague Councillors when they discovered that he was making an even better clock for another city. The clock was repaired by Jan Taborský during the sixteenth century.
Charles Bridge, stone arch bridge built between 1357 and 1402 over the Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. It was commissioned by King Charles IV to replace Judith Bridge (constructed 1158–72), a narrower construction that had been unable to withstand a flood in 1342. The cornerstone for the new bridge was laid in 1357. The architect was German mason Petr Parléř, who also designed St. Vitus’s Cathedral. It was the only bridge over the Vltava in Prague until 1841.
The bridge has 16 arches. Two towers—one built in the Renaissance style and dating from the 16th century, and the other late Gothic and dating from 1464—guard either end and offer good views along the bridge and over the many spires for which Prague is famous. In the mid-17th century, the bridge began its evolution from Gothic stone crossing to the avenue of Baroque statues seen today. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk, erected in 1683, remains a somber depiction of the country’s patron saint. Between the sixth and seventh pillars sits a cross that is said to mark the place where St. John was thrown into the Vltava on the orders of King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia in 1393. Eventually, all the pillars were occupied—a total of 30 statues of saints, mostly Baroque in style.
After we took the tourist train ride around the city returning to the city center.
We returned to the apartment for a rest and then headed out for an evening walk around town.
We returned home at 9:30 PM
Prague, Thursday, April 25, 2024
The day was still a bit cool and cloudy.
I made a quick trip to the Textile House to check out the vintage clothing and then headed over to the Mucha museum
The Mucha Museum – the only museum in the world dedicated to the life and work of the world-acclaimed Czech ART NOUVEAU artist Alphonse Mucha (1860 – 1939) was opened in Prague to the general public on 13 February 1998.
I met up with Rebecca at the Astronomical Clock for lunch at the Dutch pub (Vladislavova 1390 ). Rebecca headed home and I explored the town heading over to the Jewish Quarter.
The torrid history of the former Jewish Ghetto began in the 13th century, when Jewish people were ordered to vacate their disparate homes and settle in this one area.
Over the centuries, with Jews banned from living anywhere else in Prague, and with new arrivals expelled from Moravia, Germany, Austria and Spain joining them, ever more people crowded in to the quarter.
That evening I walked about town.
Prague, Friday, April 26, 2024
We began by exploring the St Giles church. The weather is getting nicer.
St. Giles Church, has a remarkable history from the 12th century. The three-aisled church was built on a Romanesque church’s foundations and was reconstructed numerous times from the 12th to 14th century. In 1625, it was donated to the Dominican order, which continues to serve in the church and adjacent monastery. Notably, the church is a popular venue for classical concerts, offering a wide selection of performances. It’s particularly renowned for its unique Baroque-Romantic organ, a remarkable instrument characterized by its sound and size, consisting of 3,500 pipes.
Then walked over the Charles Bridge and ascended the bridge tower for a city view.
After we climbed the hill to the Strahov Monastery (Strahovský klášter)
This Premonstratensian monastery was founded in 1140. In the complex there is the church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the rare Strahov Library with a number of medieval manuscripts, maps and globes, the Baroque Theological Hall, the Classical Philosophy Hall decorated with frescoes, and the Strahov Gallery, one of the most significant Central European collections of Gothic painting, Rudolfian art, and Baroque and Rococo paintings.
We tried to buy tickets for their famous library but it was too difficult. We did tour the chapel and treasury and met a nice retired couple from San Francisco.
After Rebecca and I had lunch at the monastery cafe which is in a cave. Pretty cool.
Walking around we chanced by the Loreto and explored the grounds and the treasury.
The Loreto (Loreta) is a Marian pilgrimage site with the Baroque Church of the Nativity and a replica of the Holy House is surrounded by cloisters and chapels. In the tower there is a 27-bell carillon that plays the Loretan Marian song (every hour from 10 am to 5 pm). The Loreto treasure consists of a rare collection of liturgical objects and other votive gifts from the 16th to 18th centuries, the most famous of which is the “Prague Sun”, a monstrance encrusted with 6,222 diamonds
True portrait of St Francis of Assisi
We then went to the St. Vitus Cathedral for a nice city view.
The magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral is a vital part of the history of Prague Castle. It was founded in 1344 and took nearly 600 years to be constructed. The grand interiors of this Gothic masterpiece boast a range of wonders, including the beautifully decorated St. Wenceslas Chapel with the tomb of Saint Wenceslas, the crypt where many Czech kings are buried, and the Crown Chamber, home to the Bohemian crown jewels.
We then walked home.
Prague, Saturday, April 27, 2024
This is our last day in Prague and the weather is excellent, warm, and sunny.
We took a random walk in the city just exploring for exploring sake. We headed over to the Jewish quarter that I had visited but Rebecca had not.
After we headed over to Restaurant Tiskárna Jindřišská (Na hroudě 2122/13)which was recommended by our friend Veronika who is Czeck. In the general area, Rebecca discovered an English bookstore – Globe- so we went inside to browse.
We wandered the city for a bit. In some areas, the city was getting quite crowded.
We returned to apt for a rest and headed out that evening for another stroll and our 7 PM appointment at the National Library and Clock Tower.
After arriving in the city, the members of the Society of Jesus began to build their first Jesuit College in Prague in 1556. The construction of the entire complex, in which important Baroque builders such as Carlo Lurago, Francesco Caratti, Giovanni Domenico Orsi, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, František Maxmilián Kaňka and others participated, took more than 170 years. After the abolition of the Jesuit Order in 1773, the premises were used for cultural and educational institutions. In 1928-1930, a substantial part of the premises was adapted for the needs of the National Library by architect Ladislav Machon.
The Baroque Library, one of the most beautiful Baroque libraries in the world, is located in the annexe of the Astronomical Tower above the Mirror Chapel. The library hall with large historically valuable globes is distinguished by the beautiful fresco decoration by Josef Hiebel. The upper part of the vault depicts the allegory of the sciences known by reason, while the lower part is dedicated to the revealed truth. The hall was completed in 1727, probably according to the plans of the important Baroque architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. It is unique for its original form; it has not been damaged, altered or rebuilt in any way during its history. The books are stored in oak inlaid bookcases. On the ground floor there are mainly foreign-language theological works, and in the gallery there are general scientific writings. The library collection, which is still open, comprises over 27,000 volumes.
The Meridian Hall is located on the 2nd floor of the tower. Since the 18th century, this unique room has housed a unique slotted sundial. Through a small hole high in the wall, a ray of sunlight penetrated and turned the small space into a camera obscura. The image of the sun fell on a string stretched on the floor and their fusion determined with great precision the moment of local noon, the exact time when the sun is at its highest point in its orbit.
Two original astronomical instruments – mural quadrants – have also been preserved in the walls of the hall.
The Astronomical tower was completed in 1722, probably according to a design by F. M. Kaňka or K. I. Dientzenhofer, while it is likely that Anselmo Lurago collaborated on the modifications. The top of the 68-metre tower is adorned with a lead statue of Atlas carrying the celestial sphere on his shoulders. Around 1750, the original observation tower was equipped with astronomical instruments and astronomical and meteorological measurements began to be taken here. The unbroken series of daily meteorological measurements started on 1 January 1775. From the gallery of the tower, for more than eighty years (1842-1928), noon was announced to the citizens of Prague. Now the tower offers visitors a magnificent view of the centre of Prague.
The tower offers great city views especially in trhe golden light of dusk.
Prague/Cannes, Sunday, April 28, 2024
We had an early 8:10 AM plane back to Cannes (2 hours) so we arose at 5 AM and took a Bolt taxi at 5:45 AM to the airport arriving in plenty of time for our flight. EuroWings (133 EU for both) upgraded us to an exit aisle so we had nice seats.
We landed in Nice at 10:10 AM and Andy James our friend who had been staying in our apartment while we were gone picked us up at the Nice airport which was a treat.
We were tired, relaxed and refreshed after our two weeks away.
