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Prague - the romantic city of hundred spires - is the living soul of the Czech Republic. Founded at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, and now the cultural and economic centre of the Czech Republic, Prague is an art-filled jewel in the heart of Europe. As history passed through Prague it left indelible mark everywhere, as well as many cultures that had met in Prague during past times. This beautiful mixture of many styles from Gothic and Baroque to Art Nouveau, cubism and contemporary styles together with the Jewish Quarter and innumerable entertainment opportunities has created the unforgettable atmosphere and made Prague one of the worthiest places in the world to visit. Due to its extraordinary character, the historical heart of Prague has been ranged amongst world´s UNESCO listed monuments, along with the cities of Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Kromeriz, Lednice-Valtice and others.
Today Prague is a lively and sophisticated metropolis, drawing on its centuries-old tradition of breakthrough thinking in literature, music and architecture - a city that never ceases to amaze, a city quite impossible to forget once you visit.
Metropolis
People travel to Prague to explore, for the culture, for tourism … and to shop. It´s pleasant to learn that brand name goods are somewhat cheaper here than in many other West European cities. Dozens of large shopping centres are open 24 hours; others close as late as a couple of hours after midnight. Prague´s historic centre includes occasional and daily open-air markets with artwork, wooden toys and souvenirs. Cut glass, painted porcelain, and precious stones including Czech garnets remain quality, time-tested, typical Czech goods.
Architecture
Prague is home to buildings that carry man across time. The symbol of the Czech state, Prague Castle, reaches back deep into the country´s history. The castle complex features a mixture of a Romanesque basilica, a Gothic cathedral, and a Baroque palace, in addition to modern representative interiors from the 20th century. The medieval Charles Bridge joins the king´s Castle with the residential area, Old Town. Floods, wars, even fires have taken nothing from these sites. The cobblestones that pave the roads on which Prague citizens walk have lasted ages. In the Mala Strana area, just below the Castle, lies a Baroque town with dozens of awe-inspiring palaces, impressive churches, and picturesque, little streets. On the other side of the river sits the well-preserved Gothic Old Town with the sharp lines of its town hall and church spires and its silent little squares.
Music
People tend to describe musical interests in the Czech Republic by exclaiming a phrase known all over Europe: "If he´s Czech, he´s a musician." The most prized music in Prague is classical music, which is played in concert halls adapted to project the sound of symphony orchestras. The historic Rudolfinum, the Art-Nouveau gem, Obecní dum (Municipal House), and the modern Prague Congress Centre host the best artists each year. Music fans from all over the world flock to the Prague Spring Festival. Artists such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana lived, composed and directed their most famous works in Prague.
Mystery
Prague is above all else a city of secrets and mysteries. Each street in the Old Town has its ghosts. Around midnight a headless knight allegedly rides on his horse in one street. Somewhere else a fiery man moves about and a woman in white walks along the walls of the castle fortifications in the light of a full moon. Author, genius of secrets of the modern world, and analyst of its relations and mechanisms, Franz Kafka, lived in this environment. The hardworking office employee absorbed the Czech, German, and Jewish soul of the city. His home was built literally on the border between two Prague quarters called the Jewish Town and Old Town. Today a small square named after the famous author and the Franz Kafka Centre occupy this site. The Centre houses Kafka´s written works and the story of his life.
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