CAPITAL CITY – PRAGUE

Prague with its population of 1.2 million inhabitans is the capital city of the Czech Republic. Prague is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is situated in the very heart of Europe on the Vltava (Moldau) river. Founded in the 9th century it has been the residence of the Czech princesses, kings and Holy Roman emperors. The true beauty of Prague lies in its architectural variety. It offers numerous monuments, churches, palaces and monasteries built in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau up to modern styles. Prague is easily accessible by air, rail or by road. There are frequent airline connections with other European cities.

HISTORY

„PRAGA CAPUT REGNI“ is inscribed on Prague’s coat of arms. Since its beginnings, Prague has always played an important role in the nation’s history as well as in the history of Europe. Since the Middle Ages, Prague has been known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and adjectives such as „golden,“ „hundred-spire,“ „the crown of the world,“ and „a stone dream“ have been attributed to it. Throughout the centuries many prominent personalities have paid homage to Prague: W.A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, F.M. Dostojevsky, A. Rodin, A. Einstein, O. Kokoschka, Queen Elizabeth II, and Pope John Paul II. They were in awe of the city’s attractiveness and architectural beauty. The city’s character is reflected in the works of Jan Neruda, Jaroslav Hašek, Jaroslav Seifert, Franz Kafka, Max Brod, and Egon Erwin Kisch and the others. Prague presents a remarkable collection of historical monuments the most prominent of which is Prague Castle, which towers dominate the city. The architectural styles merge in a unique way creating a city with an extraordinary atmosphere. In 1981, the heart of the city centre was designated as a national historical monument and in 1992 it was included in UNESCO’s list of the world’s cultural heritage.