Prague - Prague guide, attractions and pictures


Prague Travel Guide


Prague is a city of music and fine architectural buildings, combining Art Nouveau, Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles. The birthplace of Kafka and the Velvet Revolution boosts riverside parks, beer gardens, various engaging museums, and art galleries. Moreover, the capital city offers one of the best beers in the world. Prague is a synonym of magic and elegance.

The city originated and grew close to the Vltava River in Central Bohemia. By the 14th century, the settlement developed into a busy commercial center and later became a seat of the royal dynasties. During this period, King Karel IV, known as the father of the Czech nation, became a Holy Roman Emperor. The King turned Prague into a capital of the Empire. He ordered the construction of the Charles Bridge, the Charles University, and St Vitus Cathedral. The next century witnessed a religious conflict which resulted in the throwing of several Catholic councilors out of the windows of the New town hall. This act remained in history as the First Defenestration of Prague. Religious conflict in 1618 amounted to the Second Defenestration and led to the Thirty Years' War. In 1784, four towns: Stare Mesto, Nove Mesto, Mala Strana, and Hradcany officially united under the name Prague. The 19th century was marked by the Czech National Revival and the establishment of the National Theatre and the National Museum.

The Old Town stands at the first place of settlement on these lands. The site hosts the Astronomical Clock, the Old Town Square, and the Old New Synagogue. St Vitus Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church which functions as the formal seat of the Archbishop of Prague. Named after the goldsmiths who settled here, the Gold Lane is a miniature street of tiny houses which host various shops. The Prague Castle is the most famous landmark of the city. The world’s largest ancient castle dates back to the 9th century. The building functioned as the seat of the Czech royalty and the formal residency of the heads of state. Founded in 1140, the Strahov Monastery features the green domes of the Baroque Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. The monastery holds the largest monastic library in the country. The Gothic structure of the Charles Bridge was designed by Peter Parler and constructed in 1400. The legend tells that the strength of the bridge is due to mortar mixed with eggs. The Tyn Church was originally built as a guest house for the foreign merchants. The miniature lanes around the church host many shops and restaurants.




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