CITY of PRAGUE
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The capital of the Czech Republic and home of the Czech Government.
The town developed from a settlement around the Prague Castle (founded in the second half of the 9th century), as written in the journal of Abraham ben Jacob, a Jewish Arab merchant. Originally divided into several autonomous “towns”: Old Town (known already before 1280 as Caput Regni – Capital of the Kingdom), Lesser Quarter, New Town and Hradcany. A predominant feature of the Prague skyline is Saint Vitus Cathedral on the grounds of Prague Castle, the last resting place of Saint Wenceslas and other Bohemian rulers and the repository of Bohemian crown jewels.
The most popular sight is the Charles Bridge (its foundation stone was laid on July 9, 1357, at 5:31 a.m. chosen by astrologers.
The Old Town Hall with the world famous astronomical clock is located on the Old Town Square, originally
the central marketplace.
Wenceslas Square is the main square with its well-known equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas.
Prague ‘s historical center was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. Other sights include Jan Zizka`s monument on Vitkov Hill (one of Europe ‘s largest equestrian statues); the Petrín Lookout Tower on the Petrín Hill (a steel structure resembling the Paris Eiffel Tower, accessible by a funicular); the Municipal House an Art Nouveau building where the independence of Czechoslovakia was declared in 1918, today serving as a multi-functional building with a concert hall, gallery, café, restaurant, and lounges; the Old Town’s Jewish cemetery and synagogue associated with Rabbi Loew and his Golem; the National Museum (the country’s largest museum, located on Wenceslas Square; and the National Technical Museum (a very popular museum with some unique collections.
Prague is home to Charles University (a symbol of Czech learning, the third oldest university in Europe founded in 1348) and to several other well-ranked schools offering university education in technical fields, the arts, economics and agriculture.
Major art galleries are the National Gallery and Prague Castle Gallery, the Czech Museum of Fine Arts and the Rudolfinum Gallery. There are many theaters like the National Theater, the Archa Theatre and many others where drama and musical events as classical, jazz and the experimental are performed.
With regular flights to nearly seventy destinations, Vaclav Havel International Airport in Prague is one of the major European transport hubs. The Prague Metro has been in operation since 1974.
Flowing through the Czech capital for a length of 19 miles, the Vltava River is used for recreational transport and pleasure cruises. The nine Vltava islands in the city are popular destinations for fun and relaxation.
Learn more about Czech Regions and Their Heritage from Czech-American TV website www.CATVusa.com
New Weekly Online Shows are at www.CATVusa.com/broadcast
For more information about the City of Prague where this place is located click here.