What??

From a distance, this door and it's arch and wrought-iron gate look really impressive and they are, but come in close and see some of the details that you might have missed when looking at the big picture...

A chain to keep the gate closed?

Two door handles (one old, one new)...is this a joke or what?!

But beyond those details, I do have to say that there are some nice things about this door. The lion's head carving is nice...

...as is the wrought-iron work that makes the gate...

...and the symbolism...a baby's head!!

The door itself is also interesting, but with all that is going on in front of it, it's a bit hard to focus just on the door!! It, too has a lot of style and the windows in it are quite interesting...just imagine how all of this would look if someone took the time to clean, repair and paint all of it. Wow!!

Watch This Space!

I have to take a couple of weeks off from blogging so I will leave you with one of the most incredible doors in Prague...perhaps not THE most incredible, but it is very nice and also very famous so I wouldn't be surprised if you have already seen it either in person or in pictures. Yes, you got it, the lion heads on The Door Hunter title bar come from this door.

This wonderful and very big door has plenty of things to look at (faces, for example, you don't see some of them right away but they are there...just look). This door is located right next to the famous Clock Tower and leads into (or used to, because I don't think it's used anymore - there is a new door) into the Prague Court House. Behind this door is a beautiful and finely detailed mozaic that is a must-see when in Prague as is the view from the top of the clock tower. Of course, if you are face to face with this door, you should stand in front of the clock tower when it strikes the hour...you'll know it's almost the hour even without looking at the clock because there will be lots of people hanging around the bottom of the tower and in front of this door.

So, until I get back, take care, enjoy the summer and if you find a nice door, don't hesitate to send it to me and maybe I will feature it on my monthly 'reader's door' which I post at the end of each month!

Church Door Sunday

Welcome to the Church of St. Nicholas. Once again, you are looking at a side entrance to a church rather than the main entrance (if you want to see that entrance and photos of the inside of this fabulous church, I suggest looking here: http://www.psalterium.cz/en/o_kostele_en.php). I don't really know what this entrance is used for though it does seem to be used sometimes. The rest of the time the stairs in front of it make a great resting spot for weary tourists!!

At the Stone Ram

The name of this building comes from the relief sculpture at the top right of the above picture. Actually, the ram has just one horn so apparently the building has also been called At the Unicorn since not too many rams have just one horn!!

Nevertheless, the rest of the door is what I'm most interested in...especially the carved pillars and the stonework at the top of them. The archway is heavy and strong and probably once framed a magnificent wooden door, but sadly, the present door might be very boring if it weren't for the wrought-iron work, but luckily the iron work is the saving grace. The building is early 16th century, so I am guessing that the door frame is from the same period though it is possible that various renovations occurred over the centuries resulting in changes to the original design of the pillars - that is just my guess though.

The stonework at the tops of the pillars is fabulous!