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The Charles Bridge in Prague

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The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague is unlike other metropolitan cities. It comprises of not just the hustle bustle of urban life but also the beauty and quiet of country life. It is the  political, cultural, and economic centre of Europe and features a large number of museums, along with countless theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits.

The Charles Bridge is a famous historical monument present here. It connects the Old Town and Malá Strana and is built over the Vltava River. The Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV commissioned its construction.

Its size is enormous, around 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide. Architect Petr Parléř is responsible for this Gothic style beauty. Its design is such that it has held on through so many years. Another bridge the Judith Bridge used to connect the Prague banks of the Vltava too. But unlike the Charles Bridge it gave way a long time ago.

The bridge rests on 16 arches and is protected by three towers. The Old Town side houses one of these while the other two lie on the Lesser Quarter side. These towers are magnificent with their baroque architecture and a number of statuaries adorning their façade. These statues were erected in the 1700s but today you can see only their replicas here. The originals have been preserved in the Lapidarium museum.

Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff, and his sons Michael Joseph and Ferdinand Maxmilian are few of the sculptors whose works are found here. The statues generally depict saints and other holy issues.

The bridge is not only a popular spot for tourists but also for the locals. A large number of painters, souvenir vendors, owners of kiosks, musicians etc keep frequenting this area. If you ever visit Prague this bridge must not be left out of your list of places to visit.

Visiting Terezin near Prague

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Terezin
The Czech town of Terezin stands 38 miles (60km) from Prague. The site became a tourist attraction after coming into limelight due to the sufferings of thousands of innocent people during World War II when Nazis used this site as a Jewish ghetto and Nazi concentration camp. While many Jews passed through Terezin en route to the Polish concentration camp Auschwitz, numerous others were imprisoned or died at Terezin.

Terezin was built as a garrison town by Emperor Joseph II at the confluence of the rivers Labe (Elbe) and Ohře (Eger) in the late 18th century with the aim of protecting the Czech lands from the Prussians. It was originally a fortress surrounded by massive ramparts.
The town has become a tourist attraction these days where visitors come to see the Ghetto Museum, the Small Fortress (used as a Gestapo prison during World War II), and the Terezin Memorial. The memorial was built to commemorate the victims of the Nazi political and racial persecution during the occupation of the Czech lands in World War II. the Terezin Memorial hosts many actions and concerts related mainly with the history of Jews in the Czech Republic and the persecutions in the Nazi camps. The Memorial is open all throughout the year (except 24-26 December and 1 January). Seniors, students, children and families get benefit of discounts.