Prague Part 3: Wallenstein Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle and the Strahov Monastery
On our final full day in Prague, we headed across the river to the Prague Castle. We began at the bottom of the hill at the Wallenstein Palace Gardens. The property was built in the 17th century by a wealthy Bohemian and was in the hands of the family until the end of World War II. The property now houses the Czech Senate.
From there, we took a trolley up the hill to the Prague Castle and the St. Vitus Cathedral. Towering over the city, St. Vitus houses the tombs of a number of Bohemian kings and emperors from the Holy Roman Empire. The stained glass is absolutely incredible, the St. Wenceslas Chapel and the tomb of St John of Nepomuk.
We also saw the Lorteo, which was a destination for pilgrims traveling to Prague and houses a museum and the Santa Casa, a replica of the Virgin Mary’s home where she was visited by the angel Gabriel. Inside the Loreto Church of the Nativity of Lord, where on either side of the altar, the skeletons of St. Felicissimus and St. Marcia are on display, covered in clothes and wax but with their hands visible. Talk about creepy!
We then made our way to the Strahov Monastery, founded in 1143. We toured inside the monastery, seeing all of the libraries and historical artifacts. Finally, we wrapped up the day at the pivovar Strahov, or Strahov brewery. The brewery opened in 1142, and closed in 1907 before re-opening as a craft brewery in 2000. The outdoor courtyard area offers some great seating, and nearby there’s an amazing view over the city! It was a great way to wrap-up our trip before heading to France the next morning to meet our friends!