Prague has acquired several names throughout the centuries:
The Golden Prague - under the reign of Rudolph II and Charles IV
Prague – the city of 100 spires (presently there are over 500 of them)
Prague – the heart of Europe – distance of the city to the seas
Prague, the capitol of Czech Republic, is one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities in the world, with the magnificent panorama of the Prague Castle and many old bridges reflecting in the Vltava River. The oldest one, the Charles Bridge, was commissioned by the Czech king Charles IV in 1357 and for 450 years it was
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| Bridges over Vltava River |
the only bridge connecting two banks of the river. The story goes that when the bridge was being built the builders put raw eggs in the mortar to make it hold together. And sure enough, after 6 centuries, the bridge is still standing!
Prague is the real center and heart of Europe. The city is famous for its historical sights but it is also an ideal place for rest and relaxation, for business activities, for fun and entertainment. Prague offers its visitors unforgettable views of the hundreds of golden towers and turrets and views of charming red roofs of the Lesser Town houses. Prague invites guests to its streets and parks and attracts them by many exciting walking and boat trips, splendid cuisine and wonderful services. The residents of Prague are very hospitable and will delight admirers of all good food and drinks.
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| Hradcany panorama |
The history of the Czech lands goes back to 512 when Slaves were first mentioned living there. In the second half of the 9th century the first Czech farmer-prince Borivoj Premyslovec ruled, after he married his wife Princess Libuse. She had many visions and in one of them she prophesied of the glory of Prague:
"I see a vast city, whose glory will touch the stars! I see a place in the middle of a forest where a steep cliff rises above the Vltava River. There is a man, who is chiseling the threshold (prah) for the house. A castle named Praha (Prague) will be built there. Just as the princes and the dukes stoop in front of the threshold, they will bow to the castle and to the city around it. It will be honored, favored with great repute, and praise will be bestowed upon it by the entire world.”
I must agree that her prophesy came to past.
The city itself was found in 10 century, when Vysehrad and later Prague Castle was built. The golden age of Prague dates to the 14th century when Bohemia was ruled by the son of John of Luxemburg - Charles IV, the Czech king and the Holy Roman Emperor.
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| Charles IV |
He spoke fluently 5 languages in times when many crowned heads could not read and write. He is known as the Father of the Czech Nation.
He was a lover of arts and a great diplomat. Under his rule Prague became one of the most prosperous city of Europe as the capitol of the Holy Roman Empire. He initiated many building projects which we can still admire today, like CharlesBridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. He also planned the New Town district where Charles Square, named after him, lies. He is remembered as the most beloved Czech King. He was good to his people and commissioned the building of the "Hunger Wall" (remnants of which still stand today on Petrin Hill in Prague) which is thought to be the first works-project in the world, as he had it built to create employment for the poor and hungry masses (hence the name). Charles IV also founded Charles University, the first center of higher education in all of Central Europe. Still today, students from all over the world can get their education there. It was Charles who brought the cultivation of the grape and the wine industry to the beer-drinking Czechs.
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| St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle |
The history of Prague and Czech lands is rich and another golden era worth mentioning was the time between 2 great wars. For 20 short years, from 1918 to 1938, the country became an independent democratic Czechoslovakia under the leadership of Tomas G. Masaryk. He was Czechoslovakia's first beloved president. He was a friend of America and had an American wife. The country was prosperous and exported many products to many countries of the world, including America.
After the long rule of communism, Czechoslovakia finally became a free country, and in 1989 elected a former dissident and famous playwright Vaclav Havel as its president.
Next time we will explore the places to see in Prague. Until then enjoy traveling!
