Prague

I started by crossing the river on Charles Bridge, going there before the throng of tourists, as recommanded by the guide -and it is good advice. I walked up along steep streets, and arrived in front of the castle in time to see a few guards leave it in formation, wearing a nice uniform, to te great delight of us assorted tourists.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge: put your lock for eternal love

The castle. It is not that easy to call it a castle, since it is a complex of several buildings, amongs which are palaces, a cathedral, and several assorted churches, towers, and halls. Most building requires a different entrance fees, and there is an additional fee for taking pictures, which seems a strange organisation from my point of view.

After a quick tour of the cathedral and the inside courtyards, I went to my main purpose: the gardens. The paradise gardens lead me to the gardens on the remparts, which are really nice, and from there, to the gardens below the castle (yes, that seems to be their official name). The hill being more than steep there, it is in fact a series of terrace gardens, divided in five (I think) different vertical gardens, each with its own history: one used to be a vineyard, and belonged to a monastery, another belonged to a nobleman... They offer 5 different independant ways to go down, which means that to be really appreciated, one has to get back up!

Gardens

They also provide a gorgeous view on the old town and its roofs. I stayed there almost two hours, moving lazily from one to the other, in between bouts of sighseing, reading, sheltering from the rain and picnicing. There was this bench, on a corner, half sheltered from the rain, and still warm from the lingering sun... I did say that I like public benches, especially in nice and quiet places?

Gardens

Roofs of the old city from the gardens