Františkovy Lázně | Czech Republic
Františkovy Lázně is a SPA-town in North Bohemia not far from Karlovy Vary. We have been there more than once – after all, Nico’s family
Menu
Františkovy Lázně is a SPA-town in North Bohemia not far from Karlovy Vary. We have been there more than once – after all, Nico’s family
Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic is located only 51 kilometers from Prague. For centuries it even competed for supremacy with the capital of modern
St Vitus Cathedral in Prague is the largest church in the whole of the Czech Republic. Capturing it in a single photograph is therefore not
The Pravčická Gate is the largest natural sandstone bridge in Europe. It is located in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (České Švýcarsko). In 1826, not
Near the village of Hřensko in the Czech Switzerland National Park, there is the Pravčická Gate, a natural rock bridge. The span of the gate
Are you already longing for new Nico’s photos from Prague, Czech Republic? The Charles Bridge, the Cathedral and the Prague Castle are some of his
During the Bronze Age, there were already settlements in this western region of Czechia, where Karlovy Vary is now situated. Now in our modern times, Karlovy Vary is the ultimate and largest Czechia SPA town. It is historically famous for possessing 13 hot springs and 300 smaller springs; you can see them on almost every step while walking through the town centre.
Maxim Gorky Colonnade is the icon for the SPA building in the Region of Karlovy Vary. In fact, it’s the largest construction in Czechia! The steel structure was built in the neo-baroque style and was untouched by attacks during the Second World War. The ceilings of this building present a metaphor of humans’ desire to fly – the frescos of these are depicted in one of my other photographs from Mariánské Lázně.
The Springs at Mariánské Lázně has proved to be a growing and popular destination through the centuries, for the greatest community of people from Europe’s history. Those dwelling in this area where The Springs at Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) was situated, held beliefs of healing from many diseases. This particular Spring in the photo above – Rudolfův pramen (Rudolph’s Spring) contains high amounts of calcium.
The Maxim Gorky’s Colonnade is an icon of Marianske Lazne or Marienbad in my language. The Colonnade was built between 1888 and 1889 in the renowned style that is Baroque. In the summer during the evening hours, there are displays nearby of “singing fountains”. What a perfect scenery for SPA holidays!
Every time you pass through a building that appears like no other, look up! You may discover frescos that grab your attention instantly and that will likely prompt you to want to see them again repeatedly. These newly discovered beauties were decorated on the ceiling of Maxim Gorky’s Colonnade in the Mariánské Lázně spa town in the Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge has two towers – one from the side of old town and one from the Mala Strana district. This one closer to the old town is open for visitors. Originally, I planned to take photos of just the bridge, but there were simply too many tourists. So, I went up hoping to have some good composition from the tower, where I would have city view and the sunset together in one shot.
Tourists from around the globe visit Prague Old Town, attracted by its well-preserved historic sights. When you cross the Charles bridge though, you will find yourself in a bit different world. Malá Strana is known for colorful streets and cozy cafés. However, it is also a place with ornamental buildings in which are embassies.
The name of the Vinohrady district of Prague literally means ‘vineyards’ in English. While nowadays this is an urban area, in the middle ages this land was covered in vineyards. On the photo you can also see the Roman Catholic Church “Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně” or “Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord”. Another significant city sight, visible here, is the Žižkov Television Tower, adding a high-tech touch to the landscape.
During our last stay in Prague I decided to make my way to Prague Castle, which was built in the 9th century as the largest ancient castle in the world, before any day trippers would be there in order to capture it in the golden light of the shy morning sun. I love to get my camera out before the day dawns and watch the world slowly wake up – to me this is very special.
As I have mentioned before, there is hardly anything more exciting to me than watching a city wake up in the early hours of the morning. Especially when the city is so close to my heart, like the capital city of the Czech Republic – Prague. The image shows the Charles Bridge, one of the oldest stone bridges in Europe, which sprawls over the river Vitava in the middle of the Golden City. It connects the Old City with the Mala Strana with a total length of about 516 meters.
The picture shows the Old Town Square while it is shining bright in the light of the night. The eye catcher in this picture is, without doubt, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, which is with its two towers one of the most famous buildings in the golden city of Prague. The construction of this monumental gothic basilica started in the 14th century, but was not completed until the beginning of the 16th century. This church together with the entire Old City of Prague is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1992 and is always worth a visit.
As you know, Prague is a pretty unique place for me. I have so many fond memories and I am glad each time when I can walk for a few days through the pretty streets. And of course, each time I have to cross the Charles Bridge at least once. During dawn, it is absolutely amazing and the various statues welcome you in the silence of a Sunday morning.
This is not the first photo of this point which I will show you. And it certainly won’t be the last. What can I say, I simply love this place in Prague. This unique view of the Castle and the Charles Bridge that leads you to the other side of the Vltava River. And in addition, the quiet zone in the otherwise rough water, that makes all the lights look twice as nice.
My alarm went off at 3:30am, because before the sunrise I wanted to photograph the empty alleys. But when I arrived at the main entrance to Prague Castle, I was surprised when I saw it closed. Somehow I had assumed you could enter the castle yard at any time – yep, apparently not. Well, I started running the castle hill back down, through the streets of Malá Strana and then at the vineyards up again to the Prague Castle. No way that I would miss this moment of the rising sun!
The path from the Republic Square up to the St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle is known as the royal way of Prague. For centuries this was the way that had to be taken by the Bohemian kings to be crowned in St. Vitus Cathedral. Since in 1836 the last king was crowned in Bohemia, nowadays the Royal Way is just a tourist attraction – but one well worth seeing!
This photo shows the Charles Bridge in Prague, with the guard tower on the side of the historic old town. It’s the old, traditional way to get from the royal side of the city to the civil old town. Most photos from Prague are taken from exactly the opposite site of the river. The place from which I took this photo however is rarely visited by tourists. A missed opportunity, just like most photographers pack up their stuff as soon as the blue hour finished – but why?
Prague is a popular destination for New Year’s Eve celebrations, with thousands of people flocking to the city to ring in the new year with
Prague (Praha) is often referred to as „golden city“. When the sun is in the right position, you understand why – but when the sun
All images contained in this website are copyrighted by Nico Trinkhaus and Sumfinidade Unipessoal LDA (ZFM) and may not be distributed, modified, reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the author.
Contact us for prints or licensing.
Privacy and Data Protection Policies & Imprint
Protected by PhotoClaim.
