Jolly Ol' St. Nick's

There's so much to see in Old Town Square, and while the Astronomical Clock has to be your first stop, St. Nicholas Church is a close second.

Though finally completed in the early 1700s, St. Nick's is actually mentioned in literature dating back as far as 1273. It was the location of a parish church that wanted a more permanent structure. Of course, over the centuries, the designs and ambitions grew until it became the Baroque beauty that it is today. While the outside certainly is stunning, it's a trip inside the church walls that really takes your breath away. The interior design was modeled after Paris' St. Louis des Invalides, and it's lined with sculptures created by Antonin Braun. Though Russian Orthodox at the turn of the 20th century, the church has belonged to the Czech Hussite movement since after World War II. The church doesn't just host services, however, as it's also become a popular venue for classical concerts.

This church on Old Town Square is also the oldest of Prague's St. Nicholas venues. That's right, St. Nick was such a popular fellow that there are actually two other places named in his honor. There's a second church that dates back about 300 years, and then there's St. Nicholas Cathedral that started construction shortly after the Old Town church. The cathedral is famous for its organ, which some dude named Wolfgang A. Mozart used to play when he lived in Prague.

Ultimately, I would recommend visiting all three churches, but you might as well start with the oldest of the bunch, and that's St. Nicholas in the Old Town Square. It's certainly a beauty that you don't want to miss.