Prague 1 – Art, Gardens and Baroque Landmarks

Prague 1 between art, history and distinctive cityscapes

Prague 1 offers you a stay in which significant buildings, art collections, gardens and symbolically charged places provide different ways to experience the Czech capital. For families and other travellers with varied interests, the appeal lies in being able to shape your days entirely around your preferred focus: from modern art and early Baroque architecture to Charles Bridge and extraordinary landmarks.

Art at the Kampa Museum

A prominent cultural point of reference is the Kampa Museum. It is located in Sova's Mill in Malá Strana in the centre of Prague. The collection includes the largest collection of works by František Kupka, who is considered one of the founders of modern abstract painting. The museum therefore connects a specific place with an artist whose work represents the development of modern abstraction.

The Kampa Museum also hosts several temporary exhibitions featuring modern artists from Central Europe. In addition to Kupka’s collection, you can therefore experience changing perspectives on modern art there. This makes a visit to the museum a suitable focus for anyone who wants to discover not only historic sights, but also modern art and modern artists from Central Europe.

Wallenstein Garden and Wallenstein Palace

Wallenstein Garden reveals another side of Prague 1. It was laid out in the style of an Italian Mannerist park. Particularly unusual is the artificial grotto wall found in the garden. Its design sets the garden apart from an ordinary park and gives the visit a striking detail that younger travellers can also look out for.

Wallenstein Palace forms part of the historic setting. It was built between 1624 and 1630 as Prague’s first monumental secular building of the early Baroque period. The garden and palace thus represent an era in which representative architecture and landscaped parks were conceived together. Anyone interested in architectural history will find a clear connection here between the character of the garden and the significance of the palace.

Bridge, observation tower and churches

Charles Bridge was founded in 1357 and completed in 1402. Its two recorded dates give the historic structure a precise timeframe. Petřín Observation Tower, by contrast, was built for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition. It was constructed as a free copy of the Eiffel Tower and is therefore an independent landmark with an immediately recognisable model.

The Church of the Infant Jesus of Prague stands in Malá Strana. It is one of Prague’s most visited pilgrimage sites because of the world-famous statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. The statue dates from the 16th century and originally came from Spain. For your visit, this creates a connection between the church interior, religious significance and a clearly documented history of origin.

St. Nicholas Church is one of the most significant works of the High Baroque period.

Places of particular symbolic significance

The John Lennon Wall stands on Velkopřevorské náměstí in Malá Strana. It is symbolically associated with peaceful resistance to violence and injustice. It therefore complements the museums and buildings with a place whose significance lies not only in its design, but also in the message associated with it.

You can thus experience Prague 1 according to different interests: with modern art at the Kampa Museum, with garden and architectural history at Wallenstein Palace, with religious and Baroque sights in Malá Strana, or with symbolic urban sites such as the John Lennon Wall. If you would then like to expand your search to other destinations, you can also find Motol, Karlín, Prague 7, Hloubětín, Holešovice, Zbraslav, Jinonice and Dejvice.

For the overarching travel overview: Prague.