Prague

Prague

 

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, the seat of the President, government and parliament and the political, cultural and economic centre of the country.

It lies in the centre of Bohemia on the river Vltava. It is a beautiful town with a rich history dating back to the 6 th century. 

Since that time Prague has been the seat of Bohemian kings. Since the 14 th century Prague has flourished.

A very imprortant ruler was Charles IV. He gained many regions through marriages (he had four wives).  Charles University was founded and many imposing buildings were built. He also iniciated construction of the Saint Vitus Cathedral. The first architect was Matyas from Arras but he died and Petr Parler was in charge. Anyway, the cathedral was completed in 20th century.

Nowadays Prague offers visitors many sights and they admire a great number of monuments in all styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque.

Prague Castle – Hradčany – dominates the town. It is the residence of the head of the state. We can visit there the Vladislav Hall , Spanish Hall, the National Gallery with paintings by old masters, and, of course St. Vitus ´s Cathedral where Bohemian kings are burried. Near is also St. George´s Church, one of the best preserved and most valuable examples or Romanesque architecture.

In the neighbourhood of the Castle the Strahov Monastery is located. Founded in the 12 th century, it is now a museum of Czech literature. Nearby the Petřín Observation Tower can be found. It was built for the Jubille Exhibition in 1891 as a free copy of the Eiffel Tower.

 

A curiosity in the area of Hradčany is Golden Lane, a little street with miniature houses where alchymists used to live /employed by Rudolf II./ In the Royal Gardens at Hradčany we can admire the lively Renaissance building of Queen Ann´s Summer House – Belvedere – with a Singing Fountain. From Hradčany we have a splendid view of the whole town and of the river with its many bridges. Through the narrow steep Neruda Street we come down to the old quarter of Lesser Town.

The Lesser Town is a quarter of narrow streets, old houses, palaces and cosy pubs. Well-known is e.g. Waldstein Palace. Today most embassies, consulates have their seat in Lesser Town.

Across the old Charles Bridge decorated with statues we can walk to another old part of our capital – to the Old Town. Charles Bridge is destined for pedestrians only, no other traffic is allowed.

In the Old Town Square we can often see a group of people looking at the Old Town Hall with its Astronomical Clock. When the clock strikes, they watch the parade of apostels. In the Old Town Hall many couples are married in the well-known Wedding Hall.

Some other sights admired by tourists are the Gothic Týn Church, the Huss Monument, old houses, not far from the square is the old Charles University with Clementinum, the Bethlehem Chapel

 

Wenceslas Square is the busiest place in Prague. In its upper part we can see the National Museum. The statue of the Czech patron – St. Wenceslas made by J.V.Myslbek is a symbol of free and independent republic. Coming down the square we get to Prague´s busiest streets: Príkopy and Národní trída to the left. Walking through this street we come to the National Theatre standing on the bank of the river Vltava.

 

But Prague is not only a historical city. New residental areas have been built on the outskirts. It is an important road, rail, air and river transport junction. Prague also has a dense network of local transport which includes trams, buses and the newly built underground called the metro.

Prague has been a centre of cultural life during various periods. Prague’s finest art galleries are in the castle area, especially the fine collections of the National Gallery in the Šternberský Palace and the Basilica of St. George.

Traditional scenes include the National Theatre, the neo-Classical Stavovské Theatre, where Don Giovanni, Mozartś masterpiece, was performed for the first time. Modern dramatic production is represented by the Laterna Magica theatre and a large number of smaller but very popular scenes, such as the Na Zábradlí and Ypsilon theatres.

Contemporary Prague is the political, administrative, financial and commerical centre of the Czech Republic. It is also an industrial city, producing goods ranging from machinery to foods.