General information about Prague

Prague

The Czech Republic lies at the heart of Central Europe and at its center is the beautiful and historic city of Prague. With a population of some 1.3 million residents, the city lies on either side of the Vltava River in the middle of Bohemia that is one of the three historic Czech territories; the others being Moravia and Silesia. The city has seven "Chapter Divisions" or districts. 
The historic heart of this city right in the heart of Europe is an exceptionally valuable urban monument zone. This is why part of Prague (Hradčany and Prague Castle, Malá Strana, the Old Town including the Charles Bridge and Josefov, the New Town and Vyšehrad) was entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Prague is the sixth most visited city in Europe.

And what is so interesting about the historical center of Prague? It’s overall layout. Narrow zigzagging streets opening out into little squares dominated by religious buildings of which the oldest date back to the Romanesque period. The Old Town, however, is mainly Gothic and its majestic Gothic churches together with its magnificent town houses have led to it becoming known as ‘Stone Prague’.

In other places, we can find Renaissance palaces and Baroque, Neo-Classical; Art Nouveau as well as functionalist Cubism styles have all also had their say here. It is all sensitively melded together in one whole, which can be admired over many long days without ever becoming boring.

Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the following: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter and the Lennon Wall.

Prague boasts more than ten major museums, along with countless theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. A modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, Prague is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including the famous Charles University. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009. In 2011 Prague was the sixth most visited city in Europe.