Find your way to the Church of Our Lady Victorious, Karmeltiska 9, in Mala Strana. An easy way to get there is to use the Prague tram system (trams 12, 20, 22 or 23), exiting at the Helichova station. Upon exiting the tram, head north and cross Ujezd Street. Continue walking a long block until you can see church domes in the distance and trees to your left. This is the front of the church. Just to be sure you have arrived at the right place, look for the statue with the stars above the front entrance and go inside.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY VICTORIOUS
MONESTERIO DEL NINO DE PRAGA
KLASTER PREZSKENO JEZULATKA Karmelitska 9 - Prague
Website: www.pragjesu.cz
Open daily, 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and Sundays, from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. Masses in various languages.
One of the major Christian pilgrimage stops in Europe, Our Lady Victorious is home to the Infant Jesus of Prague, known in Spanish-speaking countries as the Nino de Praga. The statue originates form 1628, although it was partially destroyed and subsequently restored by Father Cirilo. The priest was inspired to do reputed by the statue itself, which concluded "The more you honor me, the more I will bless you."
In 1639, the Infant Jesus is said to have performed his first miracle, as devout citizens asked him for help from the besieging Swedish army, which broke off its siege soon after the citizens of Prague beseeched the statue for help.
The church has a museum at the right side of the altar and up one level of stairs which displays clothing made for the statue from followers all over the world in native costume. Most tour groups miss the display, but take the time to see the different vestments for their color and craftsmanship.
Be sure to pick up a prayer card on your way out of the church.
Now that your church visit is complete, you may also want to visit the church's gift shop or the several gift shops nearby, all of which are primarily dedicated to the Infant Jesus.
Once you are done shopping, head back to the Helichova tram station and continue north on tram 22. Look for the one headed towards Bila Hora. You are now going around Castle Hill through the heart of Mala Strana.
Depart the tram at Pohorelec station and walk up the gentle hill towards the church spires, but continue to your right up the ramp with a metal rail until you reach the entrance of the Strahov Monastery.
But, don't go in just yet. Continue a few steps further to have a quick look at a remaining part of the medieval town wall.
MEDIEVAL TOWN WALL
Corner of Dlabacov and Strahovska, next the parking lot for the monastery
While certainly not the most beautiful site in Prague, the medieval town wall is certainly impressive for its mass and construction. The fear of invasion was quite dramatically on the mind of its builders. Imagine the planning and work it took to erect and imagine the planning and work it took to take it down to allow the modern town to grow.
Return to the entrance of the Strahov Monastery and go in...
STRAHOV MONASTERY
Address: Strahovske nadvori 1
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.00 am – 12.00 pm
Website: www.strahovskyklaster.cz
Entry fee
This fine monastery has an art museum, a spectacular library of ancient volumes, a beautiful basilica, and a gallery of medieval art, which is particularly recommended, because one can get quite close to many of the artworks.
At the rear of the building complex is a large panorama of Castle Hill and the majority of old Prague.
Make a right when exiting the building, heading back down the ramp, walking straight ahead until the street forks in the square. Here, you will take the left road which changes names from Dlabacov to Pohorelec to Lorentanska. Continue until you see, on the left side...
LORETA PRAHA
April 1 - October 31: daily 9 am. - 5 pm. November 1 - March 31: daily 9:30 am. - 4 pm
Closed on the Feast of the Nativity and New Year's Day
Website: www.loreta.cz/domains/loreta.cz/index.php/en/
Entry fee
The Loreta is a copy of the Basilica dell Santa Casa, in Loreto, Italy, which is believed to enshrine the house in which the Virgin Mary is believed to have lived. Thus, the Loreta Praha became an important central European pilgrimage site.
Dating from the 1600s, but augmented and changed several times, make sure to listen for the chapel bells, which present a pleasing sound. Their construction and use are documented in the museum on the upper floor.
When exiting Loreta, go left up the small hill back to Lorentanska and make a left. Continue for a few blocks until the street splits again, this time going down the right side onto Hradcanske. There are a few places for refreshment along this stretch, should you need a break.
Continue past the reknowned Schwarzenberg Palace, which has Italianate rectangles and houses a museum of arms and armor, should you be interested in that sort of thing, until you see the entry gates to the castle complex. Look for the golden gate and the palace guards.
The entry to the complex has a security check, but it may be off to the left of the main gate during busy times. Follow the crowds through to…
SAINT VITUS, WENCESLAUS AND ADALBERT CATHEDRAL
April to October:
Open Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
November to March:
Open Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Website: http://www.katedralasvatehovita.cz/en (includes a virtual tour)
Entry fee - Visitors are charged based on the sections of the cathedral and castle complex they will visit. The basic ticket is sufficient for most visitors, but do not be dissuaded from purchasing entrance to all areas, should you desire to do so.
So much to see and learn - Highlights include the massive cathedral, impressive both inside and out, especially on the right side, where detailed tilework on the roof can be seen, the Romanesque church, the very window where the Prague defenestrations (that is, the throwing people out of windows!) occurred, Goldsmith's row, with its quaint reconstructed houses, especially the last one, which has an unexpected museum about the silent movie days in Prague, and the torture chamber. What kind of castle would it be without one?
With your visit to the torture chamber, you have reached the end of the castle, which means it's time to get back to town.
By this time, you've had an active, full day of touring and you may be ready to return to your hotel before going out to dinner or a concert in the evening. If so, take the first of these two choices. If you want to continue walking, take the second option...
First option: Go out the castle gate and follow the long stairs down the hill to the right. You'll have one last chance for a panorama on the way.
At the bottom of the stairs, make a right on Klarov. From there continue a couple of blocks until you reach the Malostranska metro/tram station, where you can catch a ride "home".
Second option: From the Malastranka station, continue directly ahead on Klarov, which changes its name to Luzickeho, noting the vehicular bridge which spans the Vltava River (don't cross it!), until you reach a three-pronged fork in the road. Go to the street in the center - Chelna - and follow it, keeping the river on your left. You are now in Prague's "Little Venice", a neighborhood of shops and restaurants with an atmosphere reminiscent of that other Venice. You may choose a restaurant here or do a little shopping.
Otherwise, Chelna will lead you to the Mala Stranka end of the Charles Bridge, which you can cross to the Old Town as the sun goes down!
This marks the end of our tour for today. Wisqiti hopes you have enjoyed and we wish you an enjoyable rest of your stay in Prague!
