Cities of Light

Step back in time in Prague, an incredible tapestry of remarkably preserved medieval brilliance. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main square was a major crossroads on 12th-century trade routes, and so it was the focal point of the city’s early development. Today, it is a repository of Romanesque, baroque and Gothic splendor. Among the buildings you will see are the Týn Church and the 15th-century Astronomical Clock, which comes alive every hour with its “Walk of the Apostles.” Continue to Prague Castle. Within this massive complex, see the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral in which the good St. Wenceslas is entombed behind polished emeralds and stones. You will also see the grand castle itself, residence of the Czech president and the powerful seat of Bohemian kings and Holy Roman emperors of old.

See the stately residence of one of the region’s most avid patrons of the arts, and admire priceless artifacts. The 700-year Lobkowicz family history is rich with tales of political and military leadership, inlaid with the art of great masters and bejeweled with musical masterpieces. Tour their resplendent palace with an audio guide narrated by members of the Lobkowicz family, who will regale you with intimate family stories, including the loss of the palace to both the Nazis and the Communists and its restitution to the family. Survey grand portraits, weaponry, tableware and personal love letters from the family archives. As a special treat, trace Mozart’s annotations to Handel’s Messiah and study Beethoven’s Third (Eroica), Fourth and Fifth Symphony manuscripts. Your visit includes lunch in the family’s original living quarters and a private concert in the baroque concert hall.

Immerse yourself in the Josefov, or Jewish Quarter, of Prague during an enlightening walking tour. Jews are thought to have settled in the city as early as the 10th century. Today, the small district lies within the larger Old Town and is a rich repository of history. With your knowledgeable guide, you will visit the Maisel Synagogue museum, built during the 16th-century Golden Age of the Jewish Ghetto, and the Pinkas Synagogue, one of the oldest surviving synagogues in the city and a memorial to Holocaust victims. Peruse the historic Old Jewish Cemetery, the largest of its kind on the continent, before continuing to the elegant, baroque Klaus Synagogue and the neo-Renaissance Ceremonial Hall. Marvel at the Gothic exterior of the Old New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Note that this excursion requires the ability to navigate many stairs and that synagogues are closed to the public on Jewish holidays.

Raise a glass to the vibrant and colorful traditions of Czech culture during a fun-filled evening of food, dance and wine. In the Bohemian countryside, villagers once gathered to celebrate the harvest, marriages and other events. Today, there is a village gala most every night at Prague’s Číčovický Dvůr, or the court of the village of Číčovice. Travel to this rural setting for a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the traditions that have shaped Czech identity over the centuries. Take a seat in the rustic country hall as a lively ensemble of dancers, singers and musicians in traditional dress regale you with songs that have endured for generations. Enjoy the strains of violins, a dulcimer and other instruments during a typical Czech meal served family style. This uplifting evening of carefree entertainment captures the spirit of Bohemia and Moravia.

Experience the medieval treasures of Prague after dark during an illuminating walking tour. You will transfer from your hotel to Lesser Town, then set out on foot with your guide. You will see the famous baroque-style Church of St. Nicholas, as well as other baroque-style buildings. Stroll down Lázeňská Street, passing the 14th-century Church of Our Lady before Týn, and the John Lennon Wall, a symbol of nonviolent resistance. Continue walking under the medieval stonework of the Charles Bridge, adorned with more than 30 statues, and view Prague’s charming Little Venice, a manmade canal built by the Knights Hospitaller. See the Vojan Garden, one of Prague’s oldest gardens, before stopping to enjoy a refreshing glass of beer at a local pub. Cap your tour with striking views of the city from Letna Hill, then return to your hotel.