Prague, Czech Republic: City of a Hundred Spires

                                   
It has been one of my life goals to visit Prague. I have heard it is the most beautiful city and Europe and the hype was true. I am in love with the architecture, red roofs, cobble stone streets, cheese sandwiches, a pastry called Trdelink, and the cynical but commical people.

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia.

Statue of St. Wenceslaus. He is the patron saint of 

Prague. He was a prince who was killed by his brother.

Many years later the brother felt bad about killing

him so he made him a saint. 

During the 1800s a carol was written about him.

St. Wenceslaus Square is the longest square

in Prague

Astronomical Clock

The clock was built in 1410 and is still operating

Old Jewish cemetery opened in 1439 and closed in

1787

 Maisel Synagogue.  During the early 1500s Prague

had the most Jews of any city in Europe. In 1542 and 

1561 they were expelled from Prague but returned and 

flourished from 1562-1612.

St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral

Trdelink. Dough is wrapped around sticks, then 

it is baked over a flame. We had some served with fruit

and others that were covered with cinnamon and 

sugar.

Kutná Hora, Czech, Republic

                     

Kutna Hora is a mid-evil town founded in 1142 AD by Cistercian Monks. It became a thriving metropolis due to the mining of silver, and rivaled Prague for the capital of Bohemia.  

Kutna Hora saw the Hussite Wars, a ten year war between the monarch backed Catholic church and followers of a reformist named Jan Hus. 

Kutna Hora has the Sedlec Ossuary or bone church, the Church of St, Barbara and the Church of the Assumption of our Lady and Saint John the Baptist.

The Church of Saint Barbara is named for the patron saint of mining, Barbara. According to legend, she converted to Christianity so her father locked her in a tower. When she would not denounce her faith her had her killed. 

Assumption of our Lady and Saint John the Baptist was first built in the Gothic style in 1300 AD. The church was burned during the Hussite War and was in ruins until the 1708 when it was rebuilt in the Gothic Baroque style.

Church of St. Barbara 

Stained glass in the Church of St.

Barbara. 

Church of St. Barbara

Wall depicting the making of silver coins. Political

prisoners had to be the ones to hold the silver coin

in place while a silversmith stamped the official 

seal on it. Legend says if a prisoner went a whole 

month without getting his or her finger smashed they

would be pardoned. 

 

The Italian Court is where the money

was minted. 

St, Barbara Street along Jesuit College

Assumption of our Lady and Saint John the Baptist

Sedlec Ossuary

Sedlec Ossuary, also known as the bone church is the one thing my second oldest wanted to do on vacation. She loves all things spooky and Halloween-esq. This church did not disappoint, it was surprisingly breath takingly beautiful and not creepy at all.
The Roman Catholic church is built under the Cemetery Church of All Saints. During the crusades, a priest went to the Holy Land. While there he got some dirt from Golgatha and spread it around the grounds of the church, thus the church became holy land. Many people from all over  Central Europe including Turkey and Hungry wanted to be buried there.
After a few centuries, the cemetery became overfilled,so bones of 40,000 to 70,000 people were dug up and stacked in the chapel. The decorating of the chapel was done by a half bling monk.

The spires have skulls and cross

bones

The church is starting to tip, so the foundation

is being reinforced. As they do this, archaeologists

are digging up more bones.

Bones were cleaned and bleached before

being put into the church

Many of the bones belong to people who

died during the Black Plague.

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg, with it's beautiful hills, flowing river and  crisp air filled with harmonious voices singing the soundtrack to the Sound of Music. The Sound of Music isn't Salzburg's only musical claim to fame, the musical genius Amadeus Mozart was born and raised in Salzburg.
Salz means salt in German. Salzburg got its wealth and prestige from the salt mining done in the area and shipped down the Salzach River. Salt mining had been done since the time of the Celtic settlement. Salt is referred to as "white gold" in the area.
While in Salzburg we drove a half hour to a salt mine. This was the kids favorite part of the vacation. We rode a train into the mine, learned how salt was mined and even got to ride down slides the miners rode down to get to the bottom of the mines.
Salzburg had many beautiful cathedrals, palaces, streets and wonderful food such as cheese, sausages and pastries and we heard some beautiful street performers.

These decorations were on a wall in Salzburg.

I think they are breathtaking. 

View of Old Town Salzburg

It rained the whole time we were in Salzburg. 

I am betting the city looks even more

spectacular in the sunlight. 

The roofs get the green color from the oxidation 

of copper they are made of.

This is the fountain that the Von Trapp children

run around singing the song Do-re-Me 

This is the home used for filming the Sound of 

Music. It was not the original Von Trapp family

villa. It is not open to the public.