About Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia.

Prague is a political, cultural, and economic hub of central Europe, with a rich history and Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectures. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and residence of several Holy Roman Emperors, most notably Charles IV (r. 1346–1378).

It was an important city to the Habsburg monarchy and Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Prague is home to a number of well-known cultural attractions. Main attractions include Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The city has more than ten major museums, along with numerous theaters, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. An extensive modern public transportation system connects the city. It is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University in Prague, the oldest university in Central Europe.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and fi nished in the early 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a fl ood in 1342.

As the only means of crossing the river Vltava until 1841, Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city‘s Old Town and adjacent areas. This land connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe.

The bridge is 516 metres long and nearly 10 metres wide. Bridge is protected by three bridge towers, two on the Lesser Quarter side and one on the Old Town side, the Old Town Bridge Tower. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, originally erected around 1700, but now all have been replaced by replicas.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is built in the 9th century. It is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, occupying an area of almost 70,000 square metres, at about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres wide. The castle is among the most visited tourist attractions in Prague, attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.

Prague astronomical clock

The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj is a medieval astronomical clock was fi rst installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still in operation. The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism has three main components – the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; statues of various Catholic saints stand on either side of the clock; "The Walk of the Apostles", an hourly show of moving Apostle fi gures and other sculptures, notably a fi gure of a skeleton that represents Death, striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy; a ghost, mounted on the clock, was supposed to nod its head in confirmation. According to the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born on New Year‘s night.