Hlavní město Praha je politickým - ekonomickým - kulturním a turistickým centrem celostátní-ho i mezinárodního významu. V jeho správních hranicích žije na rozloze 496 km2 1 200 000 obyvatel a na jeho území je cca 770 000 pracovních příležitostí. Praha navíc tvoří jádro středočes. regionu - tj. území o rozloze více než 3000 km2... více
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and lies in the middle of
Bohemia. It covers an area of nearly 500 sq km and its population is
about 1,200,000 inhabitants. Prague is divided into many boroughs. The
historical centre consists of the Old Town - Josefov - the Lesser
Quarter - Hradčany - the New Town and Vyšehrad. Together they make a
town preserve which is quite unique. On the other hand Prague is now
surrounded by a ring of modern housing estates serving as residential
quarters.
A legend binds the founding of Prague with Princess Libuše of the
Přemysl dynasty who prophesised the future glory of Prague - which would
“touch the stars”. The oldest settlements of this region started 25,000
years ago. St. Vitus Rotunda - the Prince’s Palace and convent with a
church were built in Hradčany in the second half of the 10th century.
Prague’s other castle – Vyšehrad – was built in the 11th century and for
some time it was the seat of the Czech rulers.
Prague became the imperial residence of Charles IV (1346-1378). During
his reign - the archbishopric (1344) - the Charles University (1348) -
the New Town with the Horse Market (now Wenceslas Square) - and the
Cattle Market (now Charles Square) were founded in Prague. Charles IV
promoted the construction of other important buildings such as St. Vitus
Cathedral and the Charles Bridge.
In 1918 Prague became the capital of Czechoslovakia. Prague is the seat
of our President - the Czech Government - all important state Ministries
and the Czech Parliament.
Prague is also an important industrial and business centre and transport
crossroad. It is the industrial centre of engineering - food-industries
- ready-made garment - chemical - and polygraphic industries and
tourism.
It is also a cultural centre of the republic and can offer many
outstanding theatrical and musical performances (e.g. the Prague Spring
International Music Festival in May-June each year). We can find here
the
best theatres - galleries and museums such as:
-The National Museum at the top of Wenceslas Square.
-The National Gallery which is spread out in various locations in Prague:
Gothic art in St. George Church at the Prague Castle - Czech 19th
century art in St. Agnes
Monastery - sculpture collection in Zbraslav.
-The National Theatre - built in the late Renaissance style from a
public money collection in the second half of the 19th century. Before
its ceremonial opening in 1881 it was severely damaged by fire and was
rebuilt within the next two years. The best artists of the 19th century
decorated the theatre (M. Aleš - F. Ženíšek - V. Hynais).
Other important places of culture include the Smetana Theatre - the
Palace of Culture - the Magica Laterna - the Lucerna Hall - the Tyl
Theatre - the Vinohrady Theatre - the Semafor - the Viola - the
Činoherní klub - Divadlo na zábradlí and many new clubs for young people
and young art e.g. Bunkr - Rock Café etc.
Many world-known personalities lived or spent some time in Prague - e.g.
Mozart - Beethoven - Einstein etc. And many famous personalities visited
Prague such as the Pope - George Busch - Queen Elizabeth II. etc.
Prague is also an important centre of sports. There are many stadiums -
parks (Letná - Stromovka - Kampa - Petřín) and swimming pools. The
biggest stadium is Strahov - which was built by the communists. In
Prague there are many sports clubs.
A majority of Czech universities - colleges and student residences is in
Prague.
The most visited tourist sights include:
The Prague Castle:
It was founded in 880 A.D. by the first Přemysl prince Bořivoj. Its
greatest period was during the reign of Charles IV. In 1344 the
construction of St. Vitus Cathedral started. In the time of Rudolf II
the castle became a famous centre of science - arts and culture. Famous
sights in Prague Castle include: St. Vitus Cathedral - the Royal Palace
with the Vladislav Hall - the Spanish Hall - the Golden Lane (a legend
connects it with Rudolf II’s alchemists). The Prague Castle is
surrounded by the Strahov Monastery and Petřín hill with its famous
watchtower.
Old Town Square:
Parts of Old Town Hall were hit by bombs in May 1945. The Astronomical
Clock strikes every 60 minutes and is controlled by a very complicated
mechanism built in the Middle Ages. In the upper part of the horologe -
a procession of the Apostles can be seen every hour. The horologe is
decorated by 12 medallions representing the course of village life -
painted by the famous Czech painter J. Mánes. There are also 12 signs of
the Zodiac. In the Old Town Square there is the monument of Master Jan
Hus. There is also a Gothic tower house called At the Stone Bell and St.
Nicholas Church designed by K. I. Dienzenhofer and built in the Baroque
style.
Vyšehrad:
Formerly one of Prague’s towns and originally the castle of the Přemysl
dynasty in the latter half of the 11th century and first half of the
12th century. Nowadays we can visit the National Cemetery here with
graves of outstanding Czech personalities in the cultural sphere -
scientists and politics. The original Romanesque Church of Saint Peter
and Paul has a neo-gothic appearance now.
Charles Bridge:
Commissioned by Charles IV in 1357 and built by the famous Gothic
architect Petr Parléř. On both ends of the bridge there are Gothic
Bridge Towers. It is the second oldest stone bridge in Central Europe.
It is 520 m long and 10 m wide. In the 18th century the bridge was
decorated by baroque statues by Matyáš Braun and Jan Brokoff. The bridge
gradually became one of the lively centres of Prague life. During the
summer it is always full of tourists - souvenir stalls and street
artists.
The Powder Tower:
A monument of the Czech late Gothic period - stands at the end of
Prague’s new pedestrian zone called King’s Road.
The Carolinum:
The oldest building of Charles University founded on the 4th April 1348
as the first institution of its kind in Central Europe.
The Clementinum:
The second largest building in Prague (after the Prague Castle) - was
built in the 17th century. Today it serves as the largest branch of the
National Library.
Wenceslas Square:
The centre of the city. It is about 750 m long and 60 m wide. The statue
of the Czech patron – St. Wenceslas – made by J. V. Myslbek is a symbol
of a free and independent republic. People usually gather here in
troublesome moments of Czech history.
The River Vltava:
(which inspired Smetana to compose his unforgettable music) - flows
through Prague and surrounds 7 islands. About 18 bridges stretch over
the river.
King’s road:
The name of the King’s road comes from the times - when the road was
used by the kings of Bohemia at their coronation. It starts at the
POWDER TOWER a monument in the Czech late Gothic style which was built
during the reign of Vladislav Jagellonský at the end of the 15th century.
It was rebuilt in the 18th century by Matyáš Rejsek.
Next to the Powder tower we can see the MUNICIPAL HOUSE. It is an
example of the Art Deco style from the beginning of our century. In the
14th century it was the manor house of bohemian kings.
Passing through the Powder tower we enter the CELETNÁ STREET. In the
13th century the street was named after a special kind of bread which
was baked there. There are a lot of houses in different styles. The most
interesting one is the cubist House at the Black God’s Mother. Some
houses are decorated by signs which were used instead of numbers.
The Celetná street leads to the OLD TOWN SQUARE. An old crossroad of
trade roads and a market place which became a square in the 12th century.
Above the arcades of the Latin school with gables in the Venetian
Renaissance style - there is one of the dominants of the square – the
spires of the TÝN CHURCH. It is a fine example of the Gothic style from
the 14th century.
Another interesting architecture monument is the HOUSE AT THE STONE BELL.
After the Baroque façade has been removed we can now see the original
Gothic architecture from the 14th century. The biggest house in the
square is the KINSKÝ PALACE built in the Rococo style. Our attention is
also attracted by the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas built in the 18th
century by Kilian Dienzenhofer.
But the most important building at the square is the OLD TOWN HALL
dating back to the 14th century when Jan Lucemburský allowed Old Town
burgesses to establish their own administration.
Behind the Old Town Square there is the Little Square with its
Renaissance fountain.
Another interesting monument is the PALACE OF CLAM-GALLAS on the corner
of the KARLOVA STREET. It leads pass the Clementinum towards Charles
Bridge.
The Clementinum was a Jesuit collage founded in the 16th century. In the
17th century it became the seat of the Charles University and now it is
used as national library.
Before entering Charles Bridge we cross the Little Square with two
Baroque churches of St. Frances and St. Salvatore which is a part of the
Clementinum.
Charles Bridge is guarded by three towers. The Old Town Tower is the
oldest but the wall of the Lesser Town Towers comes from the 12th
century when there was a wooden bridge.
Mostecká street leads to the LESSER TOWN SQUARE. There is the dominant
of the Baroque church of St. Nicolas built by the father and son
Dienzenhofers.
NERUDOVA STREET
Contains some of the fines Prague Baroque houses and palaces. It was
named after Jan Neruda - a famous Czech writer and poet who lived in the
19th century in the House of Two Suns. The Nerudova street is the border
between two parts of Prague - Hradčany and Lesser Town. Before we enter
the Castle our sight is captured by the panoramic view of Prague.