The capital of the Czech Republic and a cultural, historical and architectural gem, Prague is one of the best loved cities in the world and is visited by tens of millions of tourists, business men and globe-trotters each year.

History

The area where modern Prague lies today is said to have been settled as early as the Paleolithic age. Legend has it that the city of Prague was founded by the mythical Libuše and her husband Přemsyl during the 8th century. The city flourished during the 14th century under the reign of the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. Under his rule the New Town was built adjacent to the Old Town along with a number of important buildings and monuments and in 1355 the city was crowned the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 16th century under the rule of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II Prague became the capital of European culture seeing a number of famous astronomers, artists and poets reside in the city. 1618 saw Prague enter the Thirty Years War then 1689 saw a great fire devastate the city. During the 18th century Prague was boosted by an economic rise and saw the creation of its world famous Baroque architecture. The Industrial Revolution had a great effect in the city and at the beginning of the 20th century the Czech lands were the most productive in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. WWI ended with the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the creation of Czechoslovakia with Prague as the capital. Post WWII Prague was under the military and political control of the Soviet Union until 1989 where the Velvet Revolution saw the overthrowing of the communist government. In 1993 Czechoslovakia was peacefully split (the Velvet Divorce) and Prague was crowned the capital of the Czech Republic. Towards the end of the millennium Prague was once again an important cultural centre in Europe and is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and the world, as well as a major business hub. 

Getting In & Getting Around

Ruzyně International Airport is the main airport in the Czech Republic and one of the busiest in Central and Eastern Europe serving a number of international airlines. The airport is located 20km (12 miles) northwest of the city centre and is connected by a number of bus and shuttle services.
There are two international train stations in Prague – Hlavní Nádraží (central station) and Praha Holešovice. Direct links connect Prague with a number of European destinations including Munich, Berlin, Vienna and Paris. Prague benefits from an inexpensive and efficient transport network consisting of metro, tram and bus services. There is also a funicular train service on Petrín Hill.

Culture, Sights & Attractions
 
Prague is abounded with famous sights, attractions, museums, galleries and shops – you’ll be spoilt for choice. A good place to start is Václavské Námestí (Wenceslas Square) in the centre of Nové město (New Town), the most famous square in Prague, then through to the Old Town Square then to the top of the Old Town Hall for unrivalled views over the city. The Staré město (Old Town) is one of the major spots in the city, home to the Orloj (Astronomical Clock), the stunning Gothic Týn Church and the mural covered Storch building. The Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) over the river Vltava is one of the city’s definite must-sees linking the Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and Pražský Hrad (Prague Castle) with the Old and New Towns. Katedrála sv Víta (St Vitus Cathedral) -the largest church in the Czech Republic and the Prague Dancing House, or the Fred and Ginger Building as it is also known, are some of the finest examples of the city’s impressive architecture.  A great way to get a feel for Prague is to take a boat along the River Vltava or take the funicular up to the top of Petrín Hill.

Eating Out

Prague is jam-packed with restaurants and eateries ranging from small and authentic serving traditional Czech cuisine to novel and modern offering fusion food and other contemporary gastronomic delights. From fine dining to street vendors selling Czech style hotdogs and mulled wine there is something to suit every taste in Prague. Enjoy some authentic Budweiser in one of the city’s many beer halls or sip some of the world’s finest teas in one of Prague’s excellent tea rooms.

Outside The City

There are a number of towns and villages within easy reach of Prague. Benesov is a town located 40km south of Prague famous for Konopiště Castle – the chosen residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – is just a short train ride away. Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, is approximately 250km from Prague but is connected with good train and coach links. There is much to see and do in Brno including the many sights and attractions of the city centre, the Grand Prix circuit and Tugendhat Villa - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a classic example of Bauhaus architecture and the setting for the meeting which decided the Velvet Divorce. Písek, a south Bohemian town surrounded by beautiful Písek Mountains (Gem Mountains) and home to the oldest bridge in the Czech Republic, is connected by a freeway to Prague.

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