all the world’s a stage

If they gave out Oscars for best supporting city in a feature fi lm, Prague would surely win the coveted gong. See why on a movie buff’s tour of this beautiful capital... by Gerald McCusker

What do the movies Amadeus, Mission: Impossible and Shanghai Knights all have in common?

Well, apart from pulling in the punters and putting bums on seats at your local cinema, each box-offi ce hit has been fi lmed on the streets of Prague, the Czech Republic’s hottest tourist destination.

Whether it’s a period drama with more wigs than Elton John’s boudoir or an action fl ick with enough fast cars, hot women and groovy gadgets to keep James Bond occupied for several months, Prague is fast becoming one of the most versatile and sought after locations for Hollywood producers and A-listers.

With architecture ranging from Baroque to Gothic and Romanesque, an array of skilled crew members and a raft of luxurious hotels, superb restaurants and decadent nightclubs, the thriving capital offers enough to keep even the biggest movie stars entertained.

Add to that the famous Barrandov Studios, which recently announced plans to build new sound stages worth €3.5 million due to increased demand from international fi lmmakers, and it’s easy to see why top directors are packing their bags and heading to Prague to shoot the next collection of blockbusters.

So whether you’re a movie buff with a taste for the highbrow, a comic book fan seeking to follow in the footsteps of your fi lm hero or a tourist searching for a short break with a twist, Prague is guaranteed to leave you starstruck.

Who knows, you might even spot a star while you’re sightseeing!

PS. Don’t be surprised if you run into 007 while you roam the city’s streets. Daniel Craig, the latest actor to slip into James Bond’s shoes, is currently fi lming the spy’s new adventure, Casino Royale, in Prague.

real life: Charles Bridge
reel life: Van Helsing, A Knight’s Tale,

No other crossing in the world has seen as much fi lm action as Charles Bridge, built in 1357 at the behest of King Charles IV.

Tom Cruise watched a car being blown up on it in Mission: Impossible, Hugh Jackman agreed to trade Frankenstein’s monster for a princess on it in Van Helsing and Vin Diesel nearly destroyed it during the explosive fi nale to xXx.

A testament to the Gothic architecture that dominates the city, Charles Bridge is one of Prague’s busiest tourist attractions.

Take a leisurely stroll, have your portrait sketched by a licensed artist or simply enjoy the breathtaking views of the River Vltava and Prague Castle.

Best experienced fi rst thing in the morning or towards the end of the day, Charles Bridge is one location you’re sure to see more of in future movies.

real life: Prague Castle
reel life: Les Misérables

The most recent film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables found Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush and Uma Thurman fi ghting for liberty, equality and fraternity on the cobbled streets of Mala Strana.

Throughout this sweeping look at post-revolutionary France, Prague’s identity was carefully hidden with a mixture of cunning façades and elaborate sets, transforming the ancient castle into the streets of revolutionary Paris.

Sitting atop a hill, with glorious views of the city in all directions, Prague Castle, whose history stretches back to the ninth century, contains a treasure trove of sights for visitors.

Home to St Vitus Cathedral, St George’s Basilica, a National Gallery collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerism art and even a summer Shakespeare festival, it is also the world’s largest castle (570 metres in length, according to the Guinness Book of World Records).

real life: The Estates Theatre
reel life: Amadeus

Probably the most famous fi lm to emerge from Prague to date, Milos Forman’s Amadeus was the movie that, in 1984, kick-started the Czech Republic’s fi lm production industry.

Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it is an outstanding piece of biographical cinema that can be relived during every day of your stay.

Fans of Amadeus are in for a treat – the streets and buildings of Prague act as an existing set for the movie, with the Estates Theatre your starting point.

It was here that Mozart staged his world premiere of his opera Don Giovanni, back in 1787, and here that Forman sought to recreate that magical moment with Tom Hulce starring as the famous composer.

Recreate the magic yourself and buy a ticket for a performance – you may get the chance to sit in one of the famed private boxes and, who knows, Don Giovanni may even be on the bill!

real life: Wallenstein Gardens
reel life: Immortal Beloved

Mozart was not the only musical genius to have his biography fi lmed in Prague – Immortal Beloved, also shot on location in the city, saw Gary Oldman turn in one of his best performances as tortured genius Ludwig van Beethoven.

Relive the composer’s romantic stroll with companion Anna Marie Erdody (Isabella Rossellini) in the spectacular gardens of Wallenstein Palace in Mala Strana.

With its leafy paths, ornamental ponds, gurgling fountains and bronze statues, it’s the perfect place for loved-up couples to spend some time together away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

Apart from being one of Prague’s must-see sights, admission is also free, making it ideal if you’re travelling on a budget.

Prague was the ideal stand-in for Vienna during the fi lming of Amadeus. Modern television antennae, plastic and asphalt were rarities during Communist rule, preserving Prague’s historical beauty throughout its making.

real life: Kunta Hora
reel life: Shanghai Knights

Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson successfully recapture their chemistry from the fi rst fi lm, Shanghai Noon, by bringing more kung fu chaos to the big screen, this time to the streets of 19th-century London. While the majority of the movie was fi lmed in the Barrandov Studios, the neo-Classical Kunta Hora fi ts the Victorian style of the movie to a tee with several scenes being fi lmed in the quaint mining town. Kunta Hora makes a great day trip as it’s just an hour away from Prague by train. Public transport is still reasonably priced in the Czech Republic, so treat yourself by booking a fi rst-class ticket and get ready to indulge in Kunta Hora’s many cafés, restaurants and shops!

real life: Krivoklat Castle
reel life: The Brothers Grimm

Director Terry Gilliam’s masterful tale combines folklore and fantasy, telling the story of con-artists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Heath Ledger and Matt Damon), who travel from village to village pretending to protect townspeople from enchanted spirits. Krivoklat Castle was the perfect setting for the movie and needs to be seen to be believed. The castle is more than 900 years old and surrounding it are stunning hiking trails as well as a variety of shops and restaurants. Take a tour indoors to see the splendid interiors, which are well worth the entrance fee alone.

Krivoklat Castle is a little tricky to get to if you’re making it on your own. The best route is to head to Beroun from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi by train and make a connection there, otherwise an organised trip will get you there much more quickly and easily.