Exploring the History of Prague through Its Architecture

There are few cities in Europe that can tell such a varied and beautiful story of history through its architecture like Prague. Airport transfers will give you your first glimpse of the spectacular architecture and how the new part of the city flows into the historical Old Town.

Start your tour of the architectural heritage of the city by exploring the Old Town, then head to Prague Castle, before seeing the Cubist House of the Black Madonna and the modern Dancing House.

The Old Town

The Old Town has been inhabited as early as the Palaeolithic Age. Inscripted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the Old Town centre may even be on your route as you travel to your accommodation on your Prague Airport transfers. The architecture that exists here was built between the 11th and 18th centuries, and as you wander around you can explore the "extreme medieval urbanism" of the Old Town, and understand how it has developed to incorporate Gothic, High Baroque and Modernist architecture.

As an interesting route, take a walk across the Gothic Charles Bridge, stroll along to see the Romanesque Holy Rood, and then head into the Old Town Square. Here you can visit the Baroque St. Nicholas Church before stopping to check the time at the Astronomical Clock. The clock itself is not a work of architecture per se, but it is well worth catching the "show" at the stroke of every hour. Finally, the Old Town Hall Tower, which was built in 1338, is one of the most visually arresting buildings in the city.

The House of the Black Madonna

While you are in the Old Town area you should also seek out the House of the Black Madonna. Designed by Josef Gocar in 1911, the house is a must-see for those who have a love of Cubist architecture, or even a passing interest in unusual looking houses. Your driver on the Prague Airport transfers may point it out to you, but you really should return on foot to explore it up close. The building was named after the statues in the same square, and it was originally designed to be a department store. The café on the first floor is a true feat of engineering, in that it is open and without any supporting structures. The building has had many internal changes over the years, becoming bank offices, then more offices, before becoming the Centre for Czech Art and Culture in 1994. It was restored in 2003 and now it is home to the Museum of Czech Cubism.

The Dancing House

Prague Airport transfers to the city are the perfect time to catch your first glimpse of the Dancing House, which is the nickname of the Nationale-Nederlanded building. Nicknamed the Fred and Ginger House, the building was designed by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry. The idea was to incorporate a static building and a "dancing" one, to symbolise the country’s movement from a communist to democratic state. One building looks as if it is twisting and moving around its more static component and it really stands out among the Baroque, Art Nouveau and Gothic styles that surround it.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Prague airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.