Prague information
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million.There are many historical monuments and landmarks in Prague. Among the finest is the Charles Bridge (Karluv most), which stands astride the Vltava River. The winding course of the Vltava, with its numerous bridges and changing views makes a strong contrast with the backdrop of the great castle of Hradcany (Prague Castle), dominating the left-bank region of the city from behind massive walls set high on a hill. The old part of the city with the narrow streets, little taverns and restaurants makes a strong contrast with the broad Wenceslas Square and modern parks or new residential quarters, while the great 18th-century Baroque palaces distinguish themselves in their own elegance and splendour. From the surrounding hills, the city assumes a unique perspective with its numerous elaborate bridges and church bell-towers; it is known as the “city of a hundred spires.” Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violenc
e and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the following: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petrín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
You can enjoy sightseeing so many unusual tourist attractions and historical places and monuments in many different ways. Most attractions can be found around Wenceslas Square (Václavské Námesti), the Little Quarter Square (Malostranské Namesti), the Old Town Square (Staromestské Námesti) and the Jewish Quarter (Josefov).
Wenceslas Square, a busy commercial centre and the famous promenade in the centre of the city, once was a horse market. Walking along Wenceslas Square, you will admire the quality of the actual architecture dating from the early 1900s. Here you will find numerous attractions and hotels like the famous Hotel Europa from 1906, the Koruna Palace (1914), the National Museum (1890) and the Wiehl House (1896). You will see the St. Wenceslas Monument, the State Opera House and the Jungmann Square with the Adria Palace (1925), formerly the Laterna Magika (Magic Lantern Theatre).
The Little Quarter Square, a public square and an integral part of life in the city's Little Quarter for more than 750 years was once a bustling market place. The Malostranské Namesti surrounded by its Baroque and Renaissance palaces and buildings rebuilt over the years, have a strong mediaeval character.
In the centre of the Little Quarter Square you will see St. Nicholas Church, Kaiserstein Palace, Liechtenstein Palace, Sternberg Palace and the Little Quarter Town Hall.
The very history of the city started with Prague Castle - Hradcany, established during the 9th century by the Prince Borivoj.
Prague Castle is located on an elevated position dominating the surrounding Hradcany district, overlooking the city below, the River Vltava and Malá Strana. Many buildings are entirely enclosed by the castle walls and these include the St. Vitus’s Cathedral, a monastery and a palace. The Jewish Quarter of Prague is located on the north-easterly side of the city. Since The Middle Ages, Jews have lived in this part of the city suffering great discrimination due to oppressive laws abolished by Joseph II in 1784. The Jewish Quarter became an official district of Prague in the mid-19th century, known as Josefov. Today, you will see a number of imposing synagogues, such as the Klausen and Pinkas synagogues, along with the Old Jewish Cemetery, St. Convent and the Jewish Town Hall, a striking white and pink building built between 1570 and 1577.
St. George’s Basilica was badly damaged by fire in 1142, in the later centuries it was reconstructed. Today it is possible to see the remains of the original frescoes within the chancel area. On the ceiling of the vaulted chapel of St. Lyudmila you will spot elaborate 16th-century paintings.
A special attraction is the Royal Summer Palace from the 16th century, an ornate, summerhouse with a very interesting roof.
Inside the geometrically shaped gardens there is the Singing Fountain, dating from1568, the fountain is producing music as the water cascades into the bronze bowls.
Prague is a city 1,100 years old and in its history it was a political, cultural and economic centre of central Europe for a long time.
During the Gothic and Renaissance periods, Prague was the permanent seat of two Roman Emperors and at the same time the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Later it was an important city in the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy and after World War I it became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.
Prague offers a rich cultural life with more than ten major museums, countless theatres, galleries, cinemas and other historical exhibits. Also, Prague boasts with a wide range of public and private schools, including the famous Charles University. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination; more than 4.1 million international visitors come to this brilliant city every year. Prague is classified as a global city.
A modern public transportation system connects the city. Prague is also accessible by road, train, and air.
In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 acres was listed in the UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.
Prague is one of the most beautiful European cities with outstanding, well preserved historical monuments. The city is dominated by the Prague Castle Hradcany located high above the town. It is a display of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava River consisting of 6 areas, formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century. Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town - today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad. The metropolitan area of Prague consists of over 1.9 million people.
Prague location
Prague is situated on the banks of the Vltava River, in the centre of the Bohemian Basin. Its coordinates are: 50°05"N and 14°27"E. Prague is approximately at the same latitude as Frankfurt, Paris and Vancouver.Situated in the heart of the country, the city is surrounded by a ring of mountains. The fertile soil, natural water streams and resources have played a vital role in the city’s early development. The Vltava River runs through the city forming a breathtaking city landscape. The city covers a total area of 496 sq.km.
Prague weather
The city has a temperate oceanic climate with warm, sometimes damp summers and chilly winters. The winters are relatively cold with very little amount of sunshine. Snow cover is common between mid November to late March but is usually not too heavy. Summers usually bring fine sunny days with temperatures around 24°C. Nights can be quite cool even in summer. Precipitation in Prague is rather low owing to the surrounding mountains and Central Highland.
The driest season is usually winter while quite heavy showers and storms can occur in summer. The average temperature in summer is 24 °C (74°F); sometimes it can reach 30 °C (92 °F). At night, temperature falls to 15°C (46 °F). In winter, the daily temperature is usually around the freezing point, often falling at night to –4 °C (26 °F).
January and February are the coldest months when daily temperatures amount around –5 °C (23 °F). The spring and summer months have the most of sunshine, while the period between May and August is the rainiest. Snow is rare in Prague during winter.
Prague history
The history of the place can be traced till the Palaeolithic age. Various tribes: Bohemian, Celtic and Germanic tribes settled in turns at the site during the long history of the city. The turning point for the city was the arrival of Czech tribes in 9th C. Princess Libuse founded the Prague castle.Christianity was spreading in the country in The Middle Ages, under the rule of the Premyslid Dynasty. King Wenceslas was the most illustrious king in this period. However, he was brutally murdered. He was buried in the rotunda of the St. Vitus’s Cathedral, the construction of which started in Ad 929.
Prague was soon granted the status of a bishopric by the holy church in Rome in AD 973 and soon Wenceslas was canonised. The Premyslid monarchs ruled in the city throughout The Middle Ages. The dynasty died out in 1306.
Prague came under the Luxembourg rule when Eliska, the last Premyslid princess married John of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg rule brought the waves of the Renaissance movement in Prague, announcing a new age in the history of Prague. Prague became an archbishopric in 1344.
Under the reign of Charles IV of the Luxembourg dynasty, Prague reached the true prosperity and importance.
The Charles University, the first of its type in Central Europe was founded, as well as the world famous Charles Bridge (Karluv most) constructed.
At that time Prague became an important centre of the New Education involving the scientists, alchemists and renaissance scholars.
A small Jewish community was formed inside the city. Prague became one of the greatest centres of humanist studies. After the death of Charles IV the city experienced uncertainty and confusion. The protestant reformist waves of early 17th century complicated the life in the city leading to the Battle of the White Mountains.
The country was a part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire till the end of the First World War. In the Second World War the country was occupied by the German Nazi forces in 1939. At the end of the war the city was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in 1945. It was the time when the communist regime in Czechoslovakia started. Prague was the seat of the new communist government. The so called Velvet Revolution started in 1989 leading to the first formal democratic presidential elections in January 1990, when the Czech Republic separated peacefully from Slovakia.
Prague became the capital of the newly formed Czech Republic.
Prague tourist attractions
There are many historical monuments and landmarks in Prague. Among the finest is the Charles Bridge (Karluv most), which stands astride the Vltava River. The winding course of the Vltava, with its numerous bridges and changing views makes a strong contrast with the backdrop of the great castle of Hradcany (Prague Castle), dominating the left-bank region of the city from behind massive walls set high on a hill. The old part of the city with the narrow streets, little taverns and restaurants makes a strong contrast with the broad Wenceslas Square and modern parks or new residential quarters, while the great 18th-century Baroque palaces distinguish themselves in their own elegance and splendour. From the surrounding hills, the city assumes a unique perspective with its numerous elaborate bridges and church bell-towers; it is known as the “city of a hundred spires.” Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the following: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petrín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.You can enjoy sightseeing so many unusual tourist attractions and historical places and monuments in many different ways. Most attractions can be found around Wenceslas Square (Václavské Námesti), the Little Quarter Square (Malostranské Namesti), the Old Town Square (Staromestské Námesti) and the Jewish Quarter (Josefov).
Wenceslas Square, a busy commercial centre and the famous promenade in the centre of the city, once was a horse market. Walking along Wenceslas Square, you will admire the quality of the actual architecture dating from the early 1900s. Here you will find numerous attractions and hotels like the famous Hotel Europa from 1906, the Koruna Palace (1914), the National Museum (1890) and the Wiehl House (1896). You will see the St. Wenceslas Monument, the State Opera House and the Jungmann Square with the Adria Palace (1925), formerly the Laterna Magika (Magic Lantern Theatre).
The Little Quarter Square, a public square and an integral part of life in the city's Little Quarter for more than 750 years was once a bustling market place. The Malostranské Namesti surrounded by its Baroque and Renaissance palaces and buildings rebuilt over the years, have a strong mediaeval character.
In the centre of the Little Quarter Square you will see St. Nicholas Church, Kaiserstein Palace, Liechtenstein Palace, Sternberg Palace and the Little Quarter Town Hall.
The very history of the city started with Prague Castle - Hradcany, established during the 9th century by the Prince Borivoj.
Prague Castle is located on an elevated position dominating the surrounding Hradcany district, overlooking the city below, the River Vltava and Malá Strana. Many buildings are entirely enclosed by the castle walls and these include the St. Vitus’s Cathedral, a monastery and a palace. The Jewish Quarter of Prague is located on the north-easterly side of the city. Since The Middle Ages, Jews have lived in this part of the city suffering great discrimination due to oppressive laws abolished by Joseph II in 1784. The Jewish Quarter became an official district of Prague in the mid-19th century, known as Josefov. Today, you will see a number of imposing synagogues, such as the Klausen and Pinkas synagogues, along with the Old Jewish Cemetery, St. Convent and the Jewish Town Hall, a striking white and pink building built between 1570 and 1577.
St. George’s Basilica was badly damaged by fire in 1142, in the later centuries it was reconstructed. Today it is possible to see the remains of the original frescoes within the chancel area. On the ceiling of the vaulted chapel of St. Lyudmila you will spot elaborate 16th-century paintings.
A special attraction is the Royal Summer Palace from the 16th century, an ornate, summerhouse with a very interesting roof.
Inside the geometrically shaped gardens there is the Singing Fountain, dating from1568, the fountain is producing music as the water cascades into the bronze bowls.