PRAGUE PRAGUE the capital of the Czech Republic

PRAGUE

PRAGUE the capital of the Czech Republic the largest city in the CR, 15 th largest in the EU it is also the historical capital of Bohemia situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava River the city is home to about 1. 24 million people the seat of the president, government, parliament political, cultural, economical centre of the CR divided into many administrative districts (The Old Town, The Lesser Town, The New Town, Vyšehrad, Hradčany, …)

FOUNDATION OF PRAGUE according to legends, Prague was founded in the 8 th century by the Czech duchess Libuše and her husband, Přemysl, founder of the Přemyslid dynasty the oldest settlement goes back to the Stone Age, the Slavs came to the Prague valley in 6 th century

PRAGUE CASTLE • the official residence and office of the president • located in the Hradčany district of Prague • dating back to 9 th century • the castle has been a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia

PRAGUE CASTLE • the Guinness Book of Records lists Prague castle as the largest ancient castle in the world

VLADISLAV HALL, SPANISH HALL • the Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside

ST. VITUS CATHEDRAL • Gothic style • Roman Catholic metropolitan cathedral in Prague • the seat of the Archbishop of Prague • the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Charles IV, Rudoph II, …)

ST. VITUS CATHEDRAL • perhaps the most outstanding place in the cathedral is the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, where the relics of the saint are kept • the room was built by Peter Parler between 1344 and 1364

GOLDEN LANE • part of Prague Castle • connected with 16 th century alchemists, who had to look there, according to legends, for a reaction to produce gold • consist of tiny colored houses • nowadays there are many souvenir shops • house no. 22 is connected with Franz Kafka, Czech-Jewish writer, who lived there for 2 years

DALIBORKA TOWER • at the end of Golden Lane • cylindrical tower built at the end of 15 th century • used to be a prison

PARTS OF PRAGUE CASTLE Churches Basilica of St George The Czech Crown Jewels are the fourth oldest in Europe Katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha (St. Vitus Cathedral) Bazilika svatého Jiří (St. George's Basilica, Prague) and Klášter svatého Jiří (St. George's Convent, Prague), it is the oldest surviving church building within Prague Castle. Chrám Všech svatých (All Saints Church) Kaple svatého Kříže (Holy Cross Chapel) Palaces Starý královský palác (Old Royal Palace) Letohrádek královny Anny (Belvedere or Royal Summer Palace) Lobkovický palác (Lobkowicz Palace, not to be confused with the German embassy in Malá Strana) Nový královský palác (New Royal Palace) Halls Sloupová síň (Column Hall) Španělský sál (Spanish Hall), Rudolfova galerie (Rudolph's Gallery) and Rothmayerův sál (Rothmayer's Hall) Vladislavský sál (Vladislav Hall)

Other buildings Daliborka (Dalibor Tower) Prašná věž or Mihulka (Powder Tower or Mihulka) Zlatá ulička (Golden Lane) Purkrabství (Supreme Burgrave's House) Míčovna (Ball Game Hall) Jízdárna Pražského hradu (Riding School) Staré proboštství (Old Provost Residence) Mockerovy domy (New Provost Residence) Gardens Svatováclavská vinice (St. Wenceslas' Vineyard) on east Královská zahrada (Royal Garden) Zahrada Na terase Jízdárny (Riding School Terrace Garden) Zahrada Na Baště (The Garden on the Bastion) Jižní zahrady (South Gardens) Rajská zahrada (Paradise Garden) Zahrada Na Valech (Garden on the Ramparts) Hartigovská zahrada (The Hartig Garden) Jelení příkop (Deer Moat)

PETŘÍN LOOKOUT TOWER • used as an observation tower as well as a transmission tower • on Petřín Hill, today the major tourist attraction • built for the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a copy of the Eiffel Tower

STRAHOV MONASTERY • a Premonstratensian abbey founded in 12 th century • is located in Strahov • museum of Czech literature

THE LESSER TOWN • a district of the city of Prague • one of the most historic regions • was founded in 1257 • the market place, now known as Lesser Town Square, was a center of the town • the famous Czech novelist Jan Neruda was born, lived in and wrote about Malá Strana; Nerudova Street is named after him

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH • the Baroque church in Lesser Town Square • was built between 1704 -1755 on the site where formerly stood a Gothic church from the 13 th century also dedicated to Saint Nicholas • it has been described as "the most impressive example of Prague Baroque" and "without doubt the greatest Baroque church in Prague "

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH • Mozart's spectacular masterpiece, Mass in C, was first performed in the Church of Saint Nicholas shortly after his visit

CHARLES BRIDGE • its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV • finished in the beginning of the 15 th century • originally called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870

CHARLES BRIDGE • 621 m long and nearly 10 m wide • protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side • decorated by 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroquestyle by M. Braun, J. Brokoff • originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas

OLD TOWN SQUARE • located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge • various architectural styles • at the Christmas and Easter there are placed markets • the Christmas Markets on the Old Town Square the largest Christmas markets in the Czech Republic and are visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors from the CR and abroad • there is annually placed tall decorated tree and a musical stage

ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK (HOROLOGUE) • a medieval astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall • the clock - first installed in 1410, it was the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working • show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures • first, it was believed that the it was constructed in 1490 by clockmaster Hanuš, this is now known to be a historical mistake • made by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel

OLD TOWN SQUARE – JAN HUS MEMORIAL • a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who for his beliefs was burned at the stake in Constance

OLD TOWN SQUARE • the square is also home to a memorial to martyrs (e. g. : Jan Jesenius and Maxmilián Hošťálek) beheaded on that spot during the Old Town Square execution after the Battle of White Mountain • twenty-seven crosses mark the pavement in their honour

WENCESLAS SQUARE • one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town

WENCESLAS SQUARE • the square is named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia • the statue of St. Wenceslas is the most famous work by J. V. Myslbek • many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings

WENCESLAS SQUARE National Museum • prepare and exhibit natural scientific and historical collections • founded in 1818 • houses almost 14 mil. items from the area of natural history, arts, music and librarianship • formerly known as Horse Market, for its periodic accommodation of horse markets during the Middle Ages • part of the historic centre of Prague, a World Heritage Site

NATIONAL THEATRE • interior artwork was done by M. Aleš and F. Ženíšek • architect Josef Zítek • neo-renaissaince building on the banks of the Vltava River • first opened in 1881 by Smetana’s Libuše, burnt down, then opened in 1883

CHARLES UNIVERSITY • founded in 1348 as the first university in Central Europe • the historical main building from the 14 th century is called Carolinum • the seat of the rector, the Academic Senate and is also the venue for official academic ceremonies such as matriculations or graduations