I HAVE another riddle for you.
Who are the most photographed men in Prague?
No, it’s not the male cast members of the top-rating soap, the latest pop idol or the roster of the town’s top football team.
The blokes who have their photo snapped thousands of time every day are the Prague Castle Guard, the military men who stand at attention in blue-and-white boxes to protect the historic complex that sits high on the hill above the Czech capital.
Each soldier, dressed in grey trousers and slate blue jacket decorated with strands of colourful cords and patches, stands at attention for 60 minutes at a time with the changing of the guard ceremony happening every hour.
Prague Castle, which sits in the heart of the city’s beautiful Hradcany neighbourhood, has been home to the Czech parliament since the Velvet Revolution in 1989 so the soldiers have responsibility for protecting the country’s top government officials as well as getting their picture snapped.
Tourists who venture up to Prague Castle should give themselves a few hours to explore the complex as it sprawls across an area of almost 70,000 sqm, with the spectacular St Vitus Cathedral just one of the attractions.
``According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world,” the attraction’s website explains.
``A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century.
``The famous Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik was responsible for extensive renovations in the time of the First Republic (1918-1938). Since the Velvet Revolution, the Prague Castle has undergone significant and ongoing repairs and reconstructions.’’
