When I arrived in my executive double room on 23rd floor of the Corinthia Hotel Prague, I felt that I am residing in the watchtower of a giant fortress overlooking a protected city across the famous Nusle Bridge. The Hotel was just like my gateway to Prague, on my first visit to the city. It took me a while before I unpacked my luggage, as I was fascinated with panoramic view of the historic city.
The tallest hotel in the Czech Republic with 26 floors and 539 luxurious and comfortable rooms is next to the Prague Congress Centre and has Vysehrad metro station on its doorstep. Its close proximity to the Congress center is a desirable location for business guests. The hotel also provides several conference halls, private rooms, business center, lounge and well-equipped halls for events.
But the hotel amenities and ideal location only two metro stops from the old town (five minutes) would also make it a great hub for tourists who wish to discover the secrets of the city and relax in comforts of the hotel as they wish. The 11th-century Vysehrad fortress on a hill overlooking Vltava River is only 15 minutes walk from the hotel. In the grounds of the fort, the 11th century Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, the Rotunda of St Martin and 19th century Vysehrad cemetery, which contains remains of several famous Czech figures.
Opposite the hotel, the Russian built Nusle Bridge over the Nusle Valley, which is a crucial network connecting Northern-South traffic from D1 motorway to South-Eastern parts of the city, is also the reminder of a historical incident when sixty-six Russian tanks driven up and down 600 times to test the strength of the bridge. The bridge has also a dark side because there has been many suicide attempt from it during communist era.
The hotel is not just a five star luxury environment but also has kept a boutique style feel with calming colours throughout offering ultimate satisfaction to visitors.
The glass building opened in June 1988 was one of the first international investments in the country before the collapse of communism. The building designed by the army with heavy reinforced strong concrete has a huge arena to the size of a tennis court 3 levels underneath the car park, which can be used, as a nuclear shelter. The building has also a historical standing during the cold war witnessing the top-level political talks. At the time, every room in the hotel was bugged in order to monitor foreign guest’s conversations. Another interesting story is the use of room 214 in the hotel for interrogation by German Intelligence who questioned Nabil Sharitah, a Syrian Diplomat in connection with Carlos, the wanted international terrorist.
The cozy bright hotel setting is complemented for dinning with the stylish decor restaurants and bar to serve a variety of Czech, European and Oriental cuisine. There are three restaurants: Let’s Eat, The Grill and Rickshaw. You can enjoy excellently prepared Mediterranean and international food with grilled meat and fish with a nice view from the second floor. Or taste traditional Asian Cuisine in a secluded and bizarre oriental decoration under lanterns and candles In Rickshaw restaurant.
The newly decorated Lounge 62 is a cafe and bar on the ground floor, pleasantly set in a luxurious environment to offer cocktails, lunch menu and freshly made deserts throughout the day. I enjoyed having my crispy Czech vegetable soup and delightfully grilled juicy salmon fish when I had to have my lunch in the late afternoon. My lunch was concluded with a nicely baked cake and coffee latte. The Lounge 62 is an ideal place to have afternoon tea or a relaxing drink in the evening.
The Apollo Day Spa on the 26th floor of Corinthia hotel offers a fully equipped gym and heated indoor swimming pool with a stunning panoramic view of the city. The Spa center pampers your wellbeing for an ultimate relaxation by providing sauna, steam room, solarium, beauty salon and treatment rooms for a variety of massages to awake your senses. The Spa is open to both guests and visitors who are not staying at the hotel.
The UNESCO World Heritage city of Prague, which has preserved a great sense of antiquity in the old town on either side of the Vltava River, has many must-see places including Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, Roman and Gothic Churches and many museums. This year, 2016, the city celebrates the 700th birth anniversary of the visionary King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV who is one of the noblest characters in Czech history. It is a good time to visit Prague to learn about the city and legacy of Charles through exhibitions, conferences and events.
For more information on this lovely hotel or to make a booking please visit http://www.corinthia.com/hotels/prague/.
For more information about what to do and see in Prague please click on http://www.czechtourism.com/.
“Photo Gallery of Corinthia Hotel Prague”:http://www.amirinia.com/the-corinthia-hotel-prague/
