In just a few years Prague has become one of the most important cities in Europe. Along with Barcelona, Lisbon, Dubrovnik or Amsterdam, Prague is one of the most visited cities by young people. All these cities have in common that they are “cool” and “cheap” cities. But besides, they are also places where the use of so-called soft drugs is more or less tolerated. Finally, these cities are part of the network of low-cost airlines. As a result, Prague is a city saturated with tourists who come to the party in bars and celebrate all kinds of events such as the famous bachelor parties (EVG).
One of the solutions to escape this touristical mess is to leave the splendid St. Charles Bridge to reach the most unusual places in Prague. Another way of seeing things, without taking life too seriously.
The list of the most unusual places in Prague
1. The dancing house of Prague (dancing tower)
The image of this twisted and slightly cambered building has gone around the world. It is the fruit of the imagination of two architects, Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic, whose first stone was laid on September 3, 1994.
A building of deconstructivist style. Deconstructivism is an architectural movement that was initiated in 1988 by Philip Johnson.
This place houses a four-star hotel and an exhibition hall. There are also some offices, cafes.
Address of the Prague dance house: Rasinovo nabrezi, 80.
2. Prague Public Library
This seems to be a speciality of Central European cities. Already during our visit to Budapest, we had been seduced by the numerous libraries of the town. So Prague does not seem to escape the rule, and neither does the Prague library. The craziest place in the Prague library is in the idiom hall. It is an art installation dating from 1998. This work is the result of the imagination of a Slovak named Matej Krén.
The idiom hall is a bottomless well made of books that form a circular wall—a confusing place and unusual enough to be recalled here.
3. The Pater Noster elevator in Prague
A Pater Noster elevator is a continuous elevator that consists of a series of open cabins. One goes up and down this elevator without stopping at the floors.
If you wish to observe this curiosity, an elevator that never stops, go to the new Prague City Hall.
Address of the new City Hall: Marianskié name 2.
4. The tomb of Frantz Kafka
This Czech writer who lived most of his life in Prague is buried in the new Jewish cemetery in Prague. A graveyard of almost 10,000 hectares with nearly 25,000 burials. It is located in the Zizkov district, just behind the strange 216-meter high Zizkov transmission tower.
Address of the cemetery: Izraelskà 712, in the Zizkov district. (Metro Zelinvského – line A)
5. John Lennon’s Wall, one of the most unusual places in Prague
John Lennon’s death in 1980 had a powerful impact around the world. This wall delimits a garden that belongs to the Order of Malta and just opposite is the French Embassy.
On December 8, 1980, a drawing appeared on this long wall in the city of Prague. And then very quickly, within a few days, this wall became a symbol, a place where every student would come to draw something in homage to John Lennon who had just been assassinated. And then, over time, this place became the place representing peace and freedom, a kind of secular mausoleum of modern times. This place of protest and meditation is located in the Mala Strana neighbourhood.
6. The narrowest street in Prague
An utterly senseless place that you have to go and see. It’s quite surprising, this alleyway that runs between two buildings is so narrow that the Prague municipality has installed a pedestrian light there. No, you are not dreaming, Viarna Certovka street is indeed the narrowest street in Prague. Another one of the most unusual places to visit in Prague.
Address of the Prague pedestrian traffic light: 26 Luzického seminare. (Malostranka metro station – line A)
7. The Deym Palace
One can pass by without really noticing it; the Palais Deym is famous for its perched statues. This Palace was born from the union of three houses on Vorsilska Street in 1702. When you look up, you can see figures on its roof.
8. The Vitkov Memorial
This is one of the traces that Sovietism left on the city of Prague. Situated on a hill, from this monument you can enjoy an exceptional view of the city of Prague.
9. The Strange Bunker of Parukarka
Still, in the series “Communist bloc of the former USSR”, there is the bunker of Parukarka. A strange building that is part of the small thousand antiatomic bunkers that were built around the middle of the 20th century.
Address: Malé Namesti 11.
10. The library of the Strahov Premonstratensian Convent.
In the monastery, which was founded in 1140, is one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe. The Strahov Library (Strahovskà knihovna) is an unusual monument with 200 000 books.
Address: Strahovské nadvori 1/132
photo credits : Arno