Prague

The largest city and the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague is located in the north-west part of the country on the Vltava River. The permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, the city has been a political, cultural and economic centre of central Europe during its 1,100 year existence. For centuries, it was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

Prague was also an important city during the Habsburg Monarchy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, the city became the capital of Czechoslovakia. It gained recognition, owing to the role played in the Protestant Reformation, both World Wars, the Thirty Years' War, and the post-war Communist era. UNESCO has included the historic centre of Prague in its list of World Heritage Sites, since 1992.

Located in the centre of the Bohemian Basin, it has emerged from a settlement stretching from Prague Castle in the north to the fort of Vysehrad in the south, to become a global city. The origins of civilisation in the region date to as early as the Palaeolithic Age. The Celts established an oppidum (settlement) in the south, now called Zavist, at around 200 BC.

Libuse and her husband, Premysl, founded the Prague Castle in the year 885, which led to the growth of the city. Thereafter, it became the seat of the dukes, and later, of the kings of Bohemia. On the site of an older village, known as the Hradcany (Prague Castle) area, or Mala Strana, King Ottokar II founded Prague in 1257.

The city flourished during the reign of Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor and the king of Bohemia of the new Luxembourg dynasty in the 14th century. Owing to the presence of mints, the city became a centre of trade for German and Italian bankers and merchants. The coal mines and ironworks of the nearby region allured many industries to the destination, marking its importance in the Industrial Revolution.

With uprising protests from the year 1618, the Dark Age began in Prague. At that time, the Thirty Years’ War, and the ‘Second Defenestration of Prague' occurred. The Protestants were defeated in the Battle of White Mountain in 1620. After the loss of its independence, Prague was occupied by the Saxons.

Post the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the destination became the capital of independent Czechoslovakia. The Velvet Revolution was instrumental in ending communism and making Czechoslovakia a democratic country.

Praga, which means 'ford' is an old Slavic root, from which, the name of the city has been derived. This derivation refers to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava River. The Old Town (Stare Mesto) with the Old Town Square, the New Town (Nove Mesto) with Wenceslas Square, and the Jewish Quarter, are all situated on the eastern bank.

The mediaeval castle region (Hradcany) is home to the famous Prague Castle, while below the Lesser Town, the little quarter of Mala Strana forms the west bank. Residents of the city include Roma and Slovak communities, along with expatriates such as Germans and Americans. Vinohardy, Bubenec Dejvice, Zizlov, Karlin, Holesovice, as well as the industrial area of Smichov are the neighbourhoods outlining the city centre.

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is home to many ancient structures that spell its more than 1000 years old history. Tourists throng the city to get an insight into the pivotal role it has played in the development of Central Europe, since the Middle Ages.

In this 'Jewel in the Crown' of Central Europe, visitors can enjoy varied events like Tanec Praha that has been a major dance festival since its inception in 1989. Prague Proms annual music festival, opera, ballet and concerts also attract tourists to the destination.