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OVERVIEW

The city of the hundred towers, the Paris of the East, Golden Prague, the city in the heart of Europe ... and many other names. While appreciating the beauty of this city, we can understand why so many names are included in the list of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

With its extensive history and special location between the Orient and the West, Prague is one of the biggest attractions of Central Europe. The only symbiosis of cultures, traditions, a true parade of all the architectural styles and a natural cozy scenery, difficult to find in any other city. Its 1.215.100 inhabitants make from Prague one of the smallest capitals in Europe.

Old city (Stare Mesto), Small City (Malá Strana), Castle (Hradcany), New City (Nine Mesto), Vysehrad and the Great Prague (Velká Praha) best known and visited districts that were developed around the historical center. Also stands out, with its own identity, the district Josefov, the Jewish City, with its synagogues, Jewish Museum and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

The Old City has beautiful houses and buildings in Baroque and Gothic styles that show the wealth of ancient noble families, craftsmen and merchants, from the 9th century, the scenery of commercial exchanges, the center of the market. We find here, in the Square of the Old City, the astronomical clock of the Town Hall,

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the Prague Castle. In this part of the city you will find many palaces in several architectural styles that are at present diplomatic buildings in its majority. The most visited places are the Church of Saint Nicolau, in baroque style and the Church of Our Lady of the Victory with the famous Infant Jesus of Prague.

A walk around the Hradcany, another district in the surroundings of hrad (the castle) shows the tourists architectural treasures. The square is surrounded by palaces, being the most important the palace Schwarzenberk or the palace Sternberk. One of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Czech Republic is Loreta where you see a church, several chapels and other religious buildings.

one of the jewels of the city. Also the Church of Sv. Jakub and one of the most significant Gothic buildings of the city, the Temple of Týn. In a street close to the square, you can see the house where the writer Franz Kafka lived during many years. In the streets of the Old City another celebrated character, who adored this city, Mozart, used to walk around, the time in which Prague was called by Golden Prague.

A jewel in the waters of the river Moldava is certainly Carlos’s Bridge, built in the year of 1357 by the architect Petr Parlé Å™ during the reign of Carlos IV. The bridge links the Old City to the Small City district (Malá Strana), a beautiful zone that stretches out all the way to the bottom of

The New City established by Carlos IV, shelters numerous convents, monasteries, churches and squares. The biggest square is the Venceslau Square, the long boulevard full of restaurants, hotels and shops where multiple shows and activities are celebrated in the open air. In this part of Prague, at the edge of the river Moldava (Vltava), it is located one of the spotlight of the contemporary architecture – the Dancing Building, work of the architects Frank O. Gehry and Vlado Milunic inspired in the skirt made out of crystal from Ginger Rogers.

In the hill along the river, in a district called Vysehrad, near to the Old City, stretches out the remains of a well preserved fortress of the 11th and 12th centuries, when it was the headquarters of Czech princes. The place is the origin of fables and myths of the Czech ancient history.

The surroundings of Prague is composed by several residential and commercial districts with typical urbane houses of two centuries

old, shops, bars, as well as parks, and other places of the daily life of the Czechs, generally with few tourists’ visiting, though they are considered safe and calm places.

CLIMATEPrague is pretty in any season of the year. In any season of the year there is much heat or much coldness. It is recommendable to Prague visits between May and September, when the weather is more pleasant and when city is not so full. Prague is situated in the continental climate zone when the summers are hot and the winters are cold. During the summer, the middle temperature is above 35°C and in the winter, below 15°C.

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The sunniest days take place in the months between spring and summer, and the period between May and August, the rainiest days. Snow in Prague is rare. If you are going to visit Prague in the summer, it must bear in mind that the restaurants, hotels and the city will be completely full of tourists. For the ones who also go to England, where the weather is very similar, the climate will not be any novelty. During the time of heat, the quality of the air can get worse because of pollution and can cause respiratory problems. If you suffer from asthma, it is interesting to take an inhaler with you.

TRANSPORT

SUBWAY

A quick way of travelling in the city of Prague is the subway, because it is clean and effective. You can buy the tickets in any station of the subway or in the hotel where you are, for example. Also it is possible to buy the ticket in advance or after the beginning of the travel, where date and time of boarding is marked.

TRAMSA little slower than other conventional vehicles of transport, the electric ones represent a much prettier and pleasurable way of travelling. It is possible to enjoy truly the city. In all the stops of the tram, the lines are informed and the timetables.

BUSESAs to the subway and the trams, the buses of Prague are of extreme quality, however with a difference: they are not so often used. The service of the Prague buses cover the surroundings of the city, work all the day, in the timetable between 5am and midnight. However, between midnight and 5am, in intervals of half-hour, circulate the night buses. The price of both services is quite cheap.

AIRPORT OF PRAGUEThe international airport of Prague (Ruzyně) is located at approximately 17km to the center of the city. The transport to downtown takes from 20 to 30 minutes by car, or 55 minutes if you decide for the public transportation.

ATTRACTIONS

CHARLES’ BRIDGE

Charles’ Bridge is the oldest bridge in Prague, and it crosses the river Moldava from the Old City up to the Small City. It is the most ancient second existing bridge in the Czech Republic. Its construction began in 1357 as a request of King Charles IV, and it was finished at the beginning of the 15th century. Being the only link between the two edges of the river, Charles’ Bridge was turned into the most important road of communication between the Old City, Prague Castle and the adjacent zones up to 1841.

Originally, this road of communication was called of Stone Bridge and Bridge of Prague, but it started being called Charles’ Bridge in 1870. The bridge measures 516 meters with width of 10 meters. It is supported by 16 arches and it is protected by 3 towers: two of them in the Small City (Malá Strana) and one in the Old City. The tower located in the side of the Old City is considered by many people as one of the most impressive constructions of the Gothic architecture in the world.

The bridge is decorated by a total of 30 statues. Most of them were carried out between 1683 and 1714 in baroque style. They represent several saints and patrons revered at that time. Amongst the artists who decorated the bridge with their works were the most prominent of the Bohemia: Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff and his sons Michael Joseph Brokoff and Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff, and others. From 1965, all the statues were substituted by retorts, and the original works are shown in the National Museum.

THE OLD CITY SQUAREAlways filled with tourists in the summer, the Old City Square is a historical square located right in the center of Prague, between Wenceslau Square and Charles’ Bridge. It is extremely important for the Czechs, as it is possible to see buildings in several architectural styles, like the Gothic Cathedral Týn and the church of Saint Nicolas. So, the square became an oasis for travelers of the narrow streets of Prague.

Besides the churches, other great attractions of the square are the Astronomical clock, called Orloj, the statue of Jan Hus and the Tower of the

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Old City, that allows you to have a panoramic view of the whole place. The statue of Jan Hus was inaugurated in July 6th, 1915 for the 500th anniversary of his death. Jan Hus was a religious reformer who was burnt alive because of his beliefs. Even so, the religion preached by him is today the most common in the country.

PRAGUE CASTLESituated in the Hill Hradcany, Prague Castle is one of the most important constructions and it is placed where the city was established. Formerly, 11th century, it was inhabited by the kings of the Bohemia, however at present it serves as the presidential residence. The construction occupies an area superior to 72,5 thousand m². Because of that the Guinness has considered it the biggest castle of the world.

A long time ago, the place was the sheltering to a fortress that dominated the region because it was possible to control all the vessels that crossed the river. Based on a simple structure made out of wood, clay and stones surrounded by a trench, the castle, after a certain time, was enlarged, as well as the inhabitants. The history of the Family Premyslid, the first residents of the construction, it is totally connected to the history of the castle.

Nowadays, the castle of Prague has several points opened to visitation. The initial nucleus of the castle is a very interesting visit, as it is in fact formed by three independent, superimposed castles. Each layer was built in a different time. Unfortunately there does not remain a great deal of the most ancient layers, but even so, what can be seen illustrates well the history and the style of the time.

NATIONAL THEATER OF PRAGUEThe neo-renaissance building of the National Theater of Prague (www.narodni-divadlo.cz) represents the main scene with three artistic casts - ballet, dramatic cast and opera. Its first inauguration was in 1881. After only 12 shows carried out in its stage, in August of the same year the theater was destroyed by a disastrous fire. This disaster stimulated an enormous national effort, the people began to give money for the reconstruction of the building and in 1883 the second phase of the construction of the theater was finished and then another celebrated inauguration followed. This rash enthusiasm of the Czech nation is reflected in the motto – “ The Nation to you “ - written on the top of the cloth.

NATIONAL MUSEUM The National Museum (www.nm.cz), the biggest and most ancient Czech museum, is situated in the neo-renaissance building that dominates Venceslau Square. Its exhibitions include historical collections (of the prehistoric, archaeological-historical period, history of theater) and natives (mineralogical, geologic-paleontological and zoological). The building of the National Museum and especially its historical staircase to the stage is usually used for symphonic concerts. The museum administers also other exhibitions installed in the buildings of the Music Museum and of the Ethnographic Museum of Náprstek.

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ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK The astronomical clock of the Old City, dated from the 15th century, is one of the most famous and precious monuments of Prague. It is situated in the Gothic tower of the Town Hall in the Old City. The astronomical clock slams, every hour between 9am and 9pm, at the same time that twelve apostles appear. From the sides of the clock figures of the Skeleton, Turkish, Mean and Vain move around. After the parade of the apostles the corner of the cock is heard and the clock begins to slam. The legend says that the councilors of the Chamber told to blind the master who had built the clock, so that he could not build a copy of the clock in other cities. The astronomical clock indicates four types of time: the time of Central Europe (ancient German time), the ancient time, the Babylonian time and the astral time.

WENCESLAU SQUAREWenceslau Square was conceived like one of the most magnificent centers of the New City, established by Charles IV in 1348. In 1890, in the top part of the square it was built the spacious building of the National Museum, which dominates the square up to today. In 1913, also in the top part of the square a monument to Saint Wenceslau was erected. At the square’s remembrance, the most important moments of the modern Czech history: the Independence of the Czechslovack State in 1918 and the announcement of the end of the Second World war in 1945, amongst others. Its original name was Market of Horses, revealing its initial use. The last fair carried out took place in 1877.

WHERE TO STAY

There are many options of accommodation that vary from price up to conditions of access to the center of the city in Prague. The city offers a countless quantity of lodgings. If you are travelling on budget, then do not waste time. Prague is a city that is occupied during the whole year, and the best is to book way in advance. In comparison to other cities in the world, Prague is very small and the public transport works very well. If you decide to book by yourself, the best is to look at the accommodation before paying. The quantity of stars of a hotel not always corresponds to the quality. All the hotels stipulate its prices in accordance to the season. The prices are higher during the high season (20 % more than in the low season). Do not belittle when choosing a hotel in Prague and always check all the offers.

DINING OUT

The Czech cuisine is based on dishes based on pork and cow’s meat, potatoes (boiled or in the form of small cake) and rice. The sausages are also quite common in tents that sell food in the center of the cities. They are accompanied by a slice of bread. In the open-air markets you can taste a very traditional sweet in the city, the Ceske Trdlo. It looks like a dough of bread rolled up in a metal cylinder to be cooked. Right after the dough is cooked it receives a layer of sugar and cinnamon. A delight!

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The food customs of the Czech population do not differ a great deal of other European nations. The day is divided in parts by the triad of plates: breakfast, lunch and dinner. For most of the Czechs, lunch is the biggest meal of the day. At home or in the restaurant, the typical lunch consists of a three-course meal: soup, main dish and dessert (or, eventually, salad).

SHOPPING

The Parizska street is one of the most expensive in Europe, with luxurious international shops. In the Republic Square, you find a very good commercial center called Palladium. Near Parizska, at the pedestrian avenue Prikopech parallel to the pretty Plaza of the Old City,

concentrates a variety of shops and boutiques that offer from typical Czech products, like jewels, Bohemia crystal, porcelain, puppets and wooden toys, up to well known world-wide trademarks. In the Prikope two important centers with boutiques of internationally recognized trademarks, and several galleries opened from Monday to Sunday, restaurants, coffee shops and art galleries.

STREET MARKETS In the open air markets, like that of the Old City Square, the prices are low, but an expert will tell you that most of them are not crystal, but yes a “ fine glass “. For the one who wants the authentic product, the business is to head in hundreds of shops spread mainly by the Old City and Malá Strana. Another attraction is the military antique shops. Prague has a handful

of these shops that are truly museums where it is possible to buy from a postcard of the 1st World war up to knives, uniforms, Russian machine guns and little soldiers from lead.

CURRENCY The monetary official unity of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown, the official abbreviation is CZK. The Czech Republic is member of the European Union since May 1st 2004, but it may start using the euro probably not before 2010. In the Czech Republic, the payments can be done in cash, credit card or in any other form. You will, also find many places where you can pay in euro: in most of the supermarket chains, household appliance shops and electronic commodity, petrol stations or restaurants.

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