Prague, Czech Republic,
March 23-25, 2009
Prague:
is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Its official name is
Hlavní město Praha, meaning Prague - the Capital City.
Prague is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe
and is among the most visited cities on the continent. Though it suffered
one large bombing raid during the Second World War, it largely escaped the
utter destruction which befell so many European cities during that period
and emerged largely intact. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of
Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
According to the Guiness World Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient
castle in the world. Nicknames for Prague have included "the mother of
cities" (Praga mater urbium, or "Praha matka měst" in Czech)", "city of a
hundred spires" and "the golden city".
History of the City of Prague:
The capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague, is situated in the very
heart of Europe, on a place that has been an intersection of continental
merchant routes since time immemorial. It was the seat of Czech princes and
kings from the tenth century A.D. In the mid-14th century, Prague was the
centre of the Holy Roman Empire and Europe’s third largest city in terms of
population. As part of the Hapsburg monarchy, Prague remained the capital of
Czech lands, which became the strongest part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
in terms of economy during the 19th century. Prague was developing as an
important centre where Czech, German and Jewish cultures met and mingled.
Following the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, Prague
became the metropolis of the new country. It experienced a growth of its
territory and a great building boom. Currently, Prague is a large city of
more than one million people, spreading over almost 500 square kilometres.
Following the social and economic changes in 1989, Prague enhanced its
historically strong ties with other cities in Central Europe, and has
gradually been gaining a continuously improving position within the
continental structure of big cities. Prague therefore deserves its
recognition as being a high quality city.
Centuries of construction gave rise to an exceptional integrated
architectural complex, unique in the world as regards its size and
concentration of cultural heritage. Different architectural styles mingle
and intertwine here, and their symbiosis creates the city’s unique
atmosphere. The most valuable part of the city’s centre was declared the
Prague Heritage Reserve in 1981, which was included in UNESCO’s world
cultural heritage list in 1992.
Prague is the seat of the top-level legislative, administrative and
political bodies of the country - the parliament, government, and president;
and the most important social, cultural and educational institutions reside
here. The city is the entrance gate to the Czech Republic.
Useful Links about Czech Republic and Prague:
http://www.czech.cz/
http://www.prague-info.cz/
http://magistrat.praha-mesto.cz/default.aspx?l=2
http://www.czechtourism.com/
Visa Information:
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/embassy_visa/czech_embassy.html
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