PRAGUE
The Czech Republic's capital and international showpiece,
Prague is one of the most popular destinations in
Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical
beauty of the city with 600 years of architecture
amazingly untouched by war. The centre has been
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it demands
to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor museum of
history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.
In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being
one of the most important cities in Europe, but after
the Second World War it disappeared completely behind
the Iron Curtain. Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and
the end of Communism, Prague has thrown off the years of
repression with alacrity and is returning to its earlier
grandeur, enticing tourists with its fairytale quality
and romantic atmosphere.
The historical centre of the city is compact and its
attractions are all within easy reach. The core
comprises the Castle District (Hradèany) west of the
River Vltava, and the Old and New town (Stare Mesto and
Nove Mesto) to the east, joined by the famous Charles
Bridge. The Castle District situated on the hill
overlooking the city incorporates the main attractions,
including the Castle itself and the Cathedral. The Old
Town is a maze of alleyways, cobbled streets and
passages winding their way towards the beautiful Old
Town Square, Staromestske Námesti. Josefov Ghetto, the
old Jewish Quarter, is enclosed within the old town. The
New Town, in contrast, is modern and has been laid out
in wide boulevards, most famously Wenceslas Square, the
fashionable shopping boulevard leading up to the foot of
the grand National Gallery.
The city’s cultural scene also features high on the list
of things to do in Prague, with classical music concerts,
opera and ballet, as well as the many art galleries
around the city. It is constantly adding small new
museums to its summertime list, often strange but
curiously interesting. This beautiful city, a ‘symphony
in stone’, built along the river and on the surrounding
hills, has never ceased to capture the hearts and
imagination of visitors, painters, photographers and
poets. |