Landmarks Of Eastern Europe

Czech Republic

The Vitava River flows through the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague. The city has been nicknamed "The City of a Hundred Spires." There are many colorful Baroque buildings, Gothic churches and impressive landmarks.

A most visited tourist attraction in the Hradcany neighborhood is Prague Castle. This castle was once home to Bohemia's kings and today is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. It was originally built as a walled fortress around 870 AD, Within the castle walls, you can find some of the most popular tourist sites in Prague among them St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, the Powder Tower, the Old Royal Palace, and the Golden Lane.

Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world. You can get fantastic views over the Vitava River from here with the Old Town and the lovely spires in the background. The Royal Garden dates back to 1534 and has many old buildings including the Ball Game Pavillion, the Royal Summer House with its singing fountain, and the Lion's Court.

At night you can find vantage points from which to enjoy the illumination of the castle in a range of colors.

The impressive Charles Bridge is one of the most recognizable old bridges in Europe. The bridge was built in 1357 and comes with its own superstitions. The builders laid the initial bridge stone on July 9th at 5:31 AM, a precise set of numbers - 135787531 are believed to give the bridge additional strength. Also, it was constructed in perfect alignment with the tomb of St, Vitus and the setting sun on the equinox.

Charles Bridge is known for its fine old statues. Among them, the most important are those of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and John Of Nepomuk, the country's most revered saint.

Poland

The capital of Poland, Warsaw is the largest city in the country. The city lies on the Vistula River in east-central Poland.

Take the Royal Route starting at Castle Square then head south finally arriving at Wilanow Palace. At Castle Square, you'll see the impressive bronze statue of Sigismund III Vasa, atop of an 8.5-meter column. He is the man who helped move the capital of Poland from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596.

Along the Royal Route, the first stop is the Royal Castle at the southern entrance to the Old Town. The 90-meter facade of the Mannerist and Baroque castle was the seat of Polish monarchs for hundreds of years. Since its last reconstruction in the 1980s, the castle has become a museum.

Here you can see the apartments of the 16th century King Sigismund II Augustus and visit the House of Parliament. There are paintings from the 16th to the 18th century by world-renowned artists like Rembrandt.

Move on to the Lazienski Palace on the artificial island in the lake at Lazienski Park. This is the palace of King Stanislaw II Augustus from the 18th century. The north facade of the castle has a portico at the shore of the lake. The main entrance is in a recess of Corinthian columns and the roof is hemmed by a balustrade with statues of mythological figures.

Along the Royal Route, you finally arrive at Wilanow Palace of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before Poland was annexed by Prussia and Russia in the late-18th century. The palace was considered to be a summer place for King Jan III Sobieski towards the end of the 17th century. It has a parterre with two terraces with topiaries, broderie and statues that symbolise love.

Slovakia

The capital of Slovakia, Bratislava sits along the Danube River near the border with Austria and Hungary. The city is surrounded by vineyards and the Little Carpathian Mountains.

Bratislava Castle has four towers and can be seen from many places in the city. It sits in the middle of the city on a rocky hill. At the top of the hill, you can get spectacular views over Bratislava and even into Austria and parts of Hungary. The oldest tower, Crown Tower is 47-meters tall and dates back to the 13th century.

Today the castle is home to a branch of the Slovak National Museum. You can see the remains of the 11th century Great Moravian Basilica on the grounds of the castle.

The only remaining city gate from the fortified walls and towers that were built in the 1300s is Michael's Gate. At that time the only way in and out of the city was through one of the secured four city gates, At the top of the gate is the massive St. Michael and the Dragon statue.

The tower has a weapons exhibition and documents, photographs, and models showing the history of the city walls. At the top of the tower, you can access a balcony that offers awesome views of the Old City.

Hungary

The capital of Hungary, Budapest is bisected by the Danube River.

Looming above the Danube River is Castle Hill with the city's most important medieval monuments and museums. Here stands the impressive 18th century Buda Castle with 200 rooms. Among the important museums here are the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

The front of Buda Castle overlooks the Danube. Here stands a bronze equestrian statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a hero of Turkish attacks on the city. This entire historic complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle looks lovely when illuminated at night and the courtyards are open 24 hours a day, It can be reached by the historic Castle Funicular Railway.

An impressive structure is the Parliament Building along with its neighbors, The Museum of Ethnography and the Ministry of Agriculture. This is the world's third-largest parliament building built in the Neo-Gothic style and inaugurated in 1886 to mark the country's 1,000th anniversary. At that time Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The building has 691 rooms and guided tours are available. Among the highlights are the main entrance hall, various lobbies, and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.

Belarus

The capital of Belarus, Minsk is the largest city and is located on the Svislac and the Niamiha Rivers.

Visit the impressive white, circular building that is home to the city's renowned opera and ballet companies. The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre opened in 1939. Here you can see legendary operas and ballets performed in a hall that is decorated in gold, white, and red.

Visit Sts. Simon and Helena Church or Red Church which is a symbol of Minsk, The church was built to commemorate the premature death of two young children, Simon and Helena Wojhilowicz, of a Belarusian aristocratic family. It is called the Red Church due to its red brick walls. The Neo-Gothic church was consecrated in 1910. In 1990 the church was returned to the Roman Catholic Church and is now an important center of religious, cultural, and social life in Minsk.

Ukraine

The capital of Ukraine, Kyiv or Kiev is the country's most populous city. Kiev is located in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. It is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Eastern Europe.

St, Sophia's Cathedral is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ukraine. The cathedral was built in 1037 and named for Hagie Sophia. It has become popular with tourists. The cathedral has lovely murals, ancient mosaics and frescoes decorating the interior. From the bell tower, you can get incredible views of the city.

Kiev Pechersk Lavra Monastery was founded by two monks of the caves - St. Anthony and St. Theodosius. The monastery complex was built over a series of caves the monks had excavated and dates back to the 11th century.

Among the highlights of this Baroque style, monastery are the Near and Far Caves which have hundreds of artifacts. The underground crypts are interesting to visit where the monks are buried under glass.

Georgia

The capital of Georgia, Tbilisi is a mix of architecture with Eastern Orthodox churches, art nouveau buildings, and Soviet Modernist structures.

Overlooking the Abanotubani, the oldest district in Tbilisi is the Narikala Fortress dating back to the 4th century when the city was a Persian citadel. The fort stands atop a steep hill between sulphur baths and the botanical garden. Inside the courtyard is the St. Nicholas Church. You can walk up the hill from Maidan Square or take a cable car.

Nest to Narikala is a big statue of a woman holding a sword and a cup. She is the Mother of Georgia or Kartlis Deda in Georgian. This impressive aluminium figure is 20 meters tall. She is a symbol of not only Tbilisi but of the country as well. The sword she holds is for those who come as enemies and the cup of wine for those who come as friends.

Russia

The capital of Russia, Moscow sits on the Moskva River in western Russia, It is the nation's cosmopolitan capital.

The most recognizable landmark in Moscow is the Kremlin, a 15th-century fortified complex that is surrounded by walls dating back to the 1400s. The Grand Kremlin Palace has more than 700 rooms and was once home to the Tsar family. It is now the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

The massive complex has many other buildings that are open to the public, There are three cathedrals and a number of towers. It is also home to the Armory Building, a museum that has plenty to see like the royal crown, imperial carriages, the ivory throne of Ivan the Terrible, and Faberge eggs.

All of the main streets in Moscow start from the Red Square which is flanked by the Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum, two cathedrals and the State Historical Museum.

One of the most recognizable buildings in the Red Square is St. Basil's Cathedral dates back to 1555. The architecture of the cathedral was inspired by Byzantine and Asian designs. There are nine individual chapels inside the church all decorated with mural art.

Both the Red Square and the Kremlin are UNESCO World Heritage sites. On weekends at the entrance to the square, you can find stalls that sell souvenirs and traditional items like matryoshka - Russian nesting dolls.

Moldava

The capital of Moldava, Chisinau has much Soviet-style architecture.

The Nativity Cathedral stands in Cathedral Park. It was built in the 1830s in the Neo-Classical style. The lovely cathedral stands in the heart of Chisinau and has a beautiful interior. It is an impressive Orthodox church.

The Triumphal Arch is an impressive sight in the city. It stands between the cathedral and the Government House. The arch has become one of the most popular sights in Chisinau. It was built in 1840 to commemorate the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War.

The Triumphal Arch holds the bell that was made out of the captured cannons and meant to be put into the cathedral but being too heavy it was placed in the arch.

Romania

The capital of Romania, Bucharest is the capital and commercial center of Romania. With its elegant architecture, the city is known as "Little Paris."

You'll enjoy touring the Old Town which is one of Bucharest's earliest settlements. Here buildings date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It has been the seat of Romanian princes, a trade center, a place to worship, and for travelers a crossroads.

Many of the old historic buildings have been restored. There are charming pedestrian lanes and cobbled streets. Among the top things to do here is to visit Curtea Veche, an open-air museum built on the site of the Old Princely Court that was once home to Vlad the Impaler and the National Museum of Romanian History.

A top tourist attraction is the Palace of the Parliament. It is the second-largest administrative building in the world and holds the title of the heaviest building in the world as well.

There are over 3,000 rooms and it is constructed of marble and steel It was originally called the People's House by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who used it as his family residence and as the seat of his government. During his time workers worked on the Neo-Classical palace for 13 years. It still remains unfinished but houses the Romanian parliament and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.