When I first arrived in Prague and saw the soviet-era brutalist architecture, I felt an odd feeling come over me. It's my least favourite architectural style, and although I have seen a few modern interpretations that soften its bulky overbearing appearance, I'm not a big fan. Glass and cedar for me, thank you. I'm a simple west-coast man. But nothing could prepare me for the architectural shock and grandeur of old Prague, which overwhelmed my senses with its vivid tapestry of architectural styles woven across its fabled skyline of spires and domes.
The Charles Bridge (1357)
I don't even know how I ended up on that side of town. Someone at a virtual reality demo had told me about it, I believe, so I headed that way following the majestic Vltava river with its soothing rushing sound.
Locals are camera shy
At times, I felt like I was in an old Soviet spy movie. My Gen-X cold-war paranoia circuits were definitely activated.
Wandering around Prague is like wandering in a Dali painting. You never know what you'll come across.
Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?
The architecture is a mix of styles like gothic, baroque, art nouveau, modern, etc. A far cry from the stark brutalist style outside the old city. This made me wonder, when did we stop trying to make our cities beautiful and majestic?
The Charles Bridge is a historic landmark in Prague, dating back to medieval times, it has seen a lot of history come and go across its length. When I saw it, I felt like I had just entered the Witcher game world.
Statue on the bridge.
Fortified tower at bridge entrance
On the bridge. Check out that awesome building in the background
The bridge was full of tourists and souvenir sellers. Thankfully, there were no vehicles allowed. On the other side, souvenir shops and restaurants were also plentiful. I stood there trying to imagine what it had looked like in medieval times with townsfolk going about their business on horse and carriage. There were no hordes of tourists back then, I imagine.
From the bridge
Alfons Mucha, Franz Kafka, Johannes Kepler, and John Dee are but a few innovative artists and intellectuals who were attracted by Prague's creative magnetism.
I wandered around aimlessly with my head swiveling this way and that. Lost in a haze of architectural visions. What a marvel of a city, infused with a long and rich history.
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Images by @litguru