Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and lies in the middle of Bohemia. Its population is about 1 200 000. It is the biggest city in the Czech Republic. It covers an area of almost 500 km². It is a historial centre, busines and financal centre, industrial centre and transport crossroad. On the other hand Prague is now surrounded by a ring modern housing estates. Prague is the seat of our President, the Czech government and Parliament. In 1918 Prague became the capital of the independent Czechoslovak Republic. Czechoslovakia split into two independent states, so on 1^st January 1993 Prague became the capital of the Czech Republic. It belongs among the most beautiful cities in the world. It is sometimes called “the golden city of a hundred spires, the heart of Europe, or mother of towns”. I´m proud, that I live near Prague and that I´m often there.

Prague has a large number memories. Prague became a Gothic metropolis during the government of the king and emperor Charles IV. During his reign Prague grew. Charles IV. established an Archibishopric, founded Charles University (1348) and the New Town, Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. The most famous memories are Hradčany, with Prague Castle which was founded in the ninth century by the Prince Bořivoj and it became the seat of the Přemyslid dynasty. In the past it was the residence of the Czech kings and since 1918 it has become the residence of our countrie´s presidents. If you visit Prague Castle, you will not be disappointed by Spanish Hall, Rudolph Gallery, the late Vladislav Hall, where the election of the President takes place. From the Castle tourists can admire the city below with the roofs of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses and hundred of church spires for which Prague is famous. The most impressive building at the Castle is St. Vitus Cathedral. It was completed in 1929, a thousand years after the foundation of the first church on this site. The Gothic cathedral was founded by Charles IV. in connection with the establishment of the Prague Archibishopric. The present cahtedral is the result of the work of two famous architects, Mathias of Arras and Petr Parléř. The most admired parts of the church are the gothic St. Wenceslas Chapel decorated with semi-precious stones, the coronation chamber where the coronation jewels are kept, and the Royal Crypt. Another places worth seeing are Romanesque church the Basilica of St. George, Schwanzenberg Palace, Archibishop´s Palace, Golden Lane, which is made up of tiny coloured houses from the 16^th century when craftsmen settled there. In the castle gardens we can admire the Royal Summer Palace Belvedere, the purest example of Italian Renaissance architecture north of Alps, and the Singing Fountain, which gained its fame due to the sound made by the falling drops of water. In the neighbourhood of the Castle on Petřín Hill there is the Strahov Monastery located. It was founded in the 12^th century. It is now the Museum of Czech Literature. Nearby there is the Petřín Observation Tower. Along Nerudova Street we can go from the Castle to the Lesser Town. It is a poetic quarter with crooked streets, stylish taverns, old houses and palaces and romantic gardens. The jewel of Baroque architecture is St. Nicholas Church in the Lesser Town Square. From the square we can easily get to Charles bridge over the river Vltava. This is the oldest bridge in Prague. It is decorated with Baroque statues. It is the most famous and beautiful bridge. Its construction began in 1357. It is 10 m wide and 520 m long. A part of the bridge are three bridge towers: one at the Old Town side and two at the Lesser Town side. Along Charles Street we can get to the Old Town Square, the centre of the Old Town, where a large number of memories are situated. In the middle there is a monument to Master Jan Hus. There is the Týn Church. The Old Town Hall was built in the 14^th century. In the 15^th century a horolgical clock, much admired by turists, was added to the City Hall´s Tower, in the second half of the 19^th century a circular calendar disk by Josef Mánes was added to it. Prague boasts many more places, for example: Charles University, the oldest university in Central and Eastern Europe, Jewish Town, the Powder Tower which forms a monumental entrance to the Old Town, Vyšehrad castle with the Slavín Cemetery, the burial place of famous personalities of our cultural and political life, the National Theater, Wenceslas Square, the heart of the New Town. There are many banks, department stores, boutiques, shops, hotels, restaurants, cafés, theatres and cinemas. In the upper part stands the St. Wenceslas Memorial and the National Museum. Many memorials can be founded along the so-called Royal Way. The way begins at the Powder Tower, Celetná Street, crossing the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, along Nerudova Street all the way up to Prague Castle.

Prague is not only historical city. Now residential areas have been built on the outskirts. It is an important road, rail, air (Ruzyně Airport) and river transport junction and industrial centre of the Czech Republic.

Old Prague is very beautiful and I can say that it is really the most interesting part of our beautilul city.