Prague

Prague is the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic . It’s situated in the centre of Bohemia , on Vltava/Moldau river and has a population of about 1.3 million people.   According to legends, Prague was founded in 8^th century by the legendary Duchess Libuše, who was also a seer, and her peasant husband, Přemysl, founder of the dynasty of the same name. The archeologists and historians confirm a fortified settlement in the area of today’s Prague Castle around the year 800 and a merchants’ settlement beneath Prague Castle area in the second half of 9^th century.  

Prague was the seat of Bohemian dukes, later kings of Bohemia , as well as the bishop (since 973). Since its beginnings, it has been an important trade centre – merchants from Eastern Europe sold furs, amber and even slaves here, while those from the West and South brought luxurious goods such as fabrics, jewelry or Southern fruits.    

The historical centre of Prague is composed of four cities – Prague Castle (Hradčany), Lesser Town (Malá Strana), Old Town (Staré Město) and New Town (Nové Město). While Prague Castle and Old Town grew rather spontaneously, the Lesser Town was founded in 1257 under the rule of the perhaps mightiest king of the Přemysl Dynasty, Přemysl Otakar (Ottokar) II. The founder of the New Town of Prague was Bohemian King and Roman Emperor Charles IV, who was a grandson of the last Přemysl king and most important member of the second royal dynasty of Bohemia , the Luxembourgs .  

Under the rule of Charles IV, Prague received several of its most famous monuments – the king founded Charles University , the oldest university to the East of Rhine and to the North of Alps (1348), Charles Bridge (1357) and St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle (1344). The built of the new cathedral in the modern Gothic style was started in the same year when Prague was elevated to an archbishopric.     

In the years 1419-1436, the Bohemian religion wars brought a decline to the whole Kingdom of Bohemia . The revival started only in the second half of 15^th century, under the rule of the kings of the Polish Jagiellon Dynasty. During their reign, the famous Wladislaw Hall at Prague Castle as well as other late Gothic monument were created.   

In 1526, Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg was elected to the new king of Bohemia . Since then, the Habsburgs (with two short interruptions in 1618-1620 and 1740-1743) ruled the country till 1918.  

The reign of the House of Habsburg brought the recatholisation movement to the country. In 16^th century, the Jesuits settled down in Prague , in the area of today’s Klementinum (seat of the National Library of the Czech Republic ). In 17^th century the order overtook the university. The majority of churches in Prague were rebuilt in Baroque style in late 17^th and 18^th century.  

In 1618, the defenestration of Prague started the Thirty Years’ War. The Bohemian uprising against the Catholic House of Habsburg was however defeated as soon as in the year 1620 in the Battle of White Mountain by Prague . 27 leaders of the uprising were executed on Old Town Square in 1621 and many others took refuge in exile. The place of the execution of 1621 is today marked by 27 white crosses in the pavement of Old Town Square , just next to the tower of the Old Town Town Hall .  

During the Thirty Years’ War, the cities of Prague suffered several attacks by Saxons (1631) and Swedes (1648). The Swedish army also took many of the treasures collected by the last Habsburg king who took residence in Prague , Rudolf II, to Sweden .   

The war, a great fire (1689) and repeated outbreaks of plague and other epidemics were a reason to a big decline in the population of Prague . At the end of the Thirty Years’ War there lived only about 20,000 people in the cities of Prague , while in 1618 the population was about 60,000. The population increased again in 18^th century – in 1771 the municipalities of Prague had 80,000 inhabitants.  

The four municipalities of Prague were merged into one single city in 1784 under the rule of Joseph II. Other municipalities, such as the Jewish quarter called Josefov or the first suburbs (Karlín, founded in 1817) were included during 19^th century. At that time, the city of Prague was steadily growing due to the Industrial Revolution and creation of many factories in Prague and the surrounding region.  

In 1918, the independent Czechoslovakia was established. Prague became its capital and Prague Castle seat of the president. Since 1993, Prague is the capital of Czech Republic . In 1992, the historical centre of Prague was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

There are numerous monuments in Prague . Especially recommended is the visit of Prague Castle Area (Prague Castle including its gardens, St. Vitus Cathedral, Loreta and Strahov Monastery), Lesser Town (St. Nicholas Church, palace gardens such as Vrtbovská Garden or Wallenstein Garden, Wallenstein Palace, Church of Our Lady Victorious with Infant Jesus of Prague wax statuette), Old Town (Charles Bridge, former Jesuits’ college Klementinum, Charles University historical seat Karolinum, Old Town Square with the Old Town Town Hall and its Astronomical Clock, Obecní dům/Municipal House, Jewish Town) and New Town (Wenceslas Square). Aside of the city centre, the former fortress Vyšehrad and the local cemetery of famous Czechs is well recommended for a visit.