PRAGUE

Prague is the capital city of the relatively small Czech Republic which lies in the heart of Europe, bordering Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland.

Prague is a modern European metropolis full of energy, music, and art.  It's a city of contrasts: serene green isles in the river and peaceful parks covering the city's 9 hills are just steps away from the architectural treasures and busy street life of the city center. Prague's atmosphere is both intimate and romantic, and quite impossible to forget once you visit.

Prague (Praha) has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. No other European capital contains 600 years of architecture so completely untouched by natural disaster or war. Prague 's rich collection of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance buildings stayed unharmed after centuries of conflicts.

Prague has been called 'the Rome of the North'. Rome was built on 7 hills, and Prague was built on 9 hills: Letna, Vitkov, Opys, Vetrov, Skalka, Emauzy, Vysehrad, Karlov and the highest of all, Petrin. The mountains, forests and lakes surrounding Prague are enchanting and ideal for outdoor holidays as well as winter sports.

Central Prague is made up of 4 towns, joined together in 1784. The River Vltava (Moldau in German) divides the capital into 2 unequal halves: on the steeply inclined left bank, are Hradcany, Mala Strana (the Lesser Quarter) and Vysehrad. The more gentle, sprawling right bank includes Stare Mesto, Josefov and Nove Mesto.

In Prague the European architecture left splendid representatives of various style periods. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque as well as classical buildings or various pseudo-style elements or Art Nouveau can be admired.

Prague is also a green city. The hills under the Prague Castle, for example, have been presenting the aims of Baroque architecture to combine building of palaces with creating gardens full of pavilions and arbours.

15 big bridges picture the scenery of Prague. 14 of them are located across the river Vltava; one of them runs across the Nusle valley. The eldest and the most precious one was built in 1357 and is named after its founder Charles IV. We cannot miss it if we take the Royal Route, the famous tourist route leading from the centre to the Prague Castle.

One of the breathtaking and most photogenic views at the Castle can be seen right at the bridgehead of the Charles Bridge. The effect of the Castle panorama is given by the diversity of probably all the historic styles.

Different views at the city are offered on several islands, surrounded by the river Vltava. Although these small islands are not very interesting from the geographical point of view, they play an important role with their green. These are oases for relaxation in the middle of the noisy city.

Prague also has a lot of theatres, concert and exhibition halls, museums and galleries, so there is always a lot of things to do and you will not easily get bored!