Geography

Prague

Basic information

Area: 496 km²
Number of inhabitants: 1 170 000
Geographic position: 500 05' latitude north, 140 27' longitude east, 235 m height above sea level (average)
Time – Central European (GMT + 1), summer time – Central European + 1 (GMT + 2)
Climate: annual average temperature 9,0 C, in summer season - July 19,0C, in winter season - January -0,9 0C
Waters: The Vltava flows through the city in the length of 30 km, its widest span is 330 m
Historical centre: Hradcany, Mala Strana, Stare Mesto including Josefov, Nove Mesto and Vysehrad
Administrative parts: 22 districts, 57 municipal areas

The capital city of the Czech Republic is our most important urban conservation area. Since 1992, the historical city centre covering the area of 866 hectares is put in the UNESCO List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

„Praga caput regni“ – these words are there in the coat of arms of Prague, and rightly so. It has always played  an important role in the history of the nation, country and Europe. Since the Middle Ages it was called one of the most beatiful cities in the world and was given adjectives like „golden“, „of hundred spires“, „the crown of the world“, „a stone dream“. World-known personalities like W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, G. Apollinaire, P. I. Tchaikovsky, F. M. Dostoevsky, A. Rodin, O. Kokoschka and British Queen Elisabeth II., Pope John Paul II. etc. were enchanted by its beauty and imposing architecture. It is the native city of Jan Neruda, Jaroslav Hasek, Jaroslav Seifert, Franz Kafka, Max Brod or Egon Erwin Kisch. Prague is a unique complex of sigths dominated by the Prague Castle. There you can find all styles and movements of art. The historical centre is located on both sides of the Vltava River and consists of 6 parts, originally independent towns, united in 18 century.

The Old Town Square

The most important square of the historical Prague. It dates back to 12 century and witnessed many historical events.

The Old Town Hall with astronomical clock

Built in 1338 as the residence of local authorities of the Old Town. On the astronomical clock from the early 15 century, 12 apostles appear on each hour between 9.00 - 21.00 o´clock. The eastern neo-Gothic part of the town hall was destroyed on 8 May 1945 and has not been rebuilt.

Tyn Church

The most impressive sacral Gothic building in Prague.

Theatre of the Estates   

The first night of the opera Don Giovanni by W. A. Mozart was held there on 29 October 1787.

National Theatre

The neo-Renaissance building from 1868 - 1881 that the whole nation collected money for is the foremost Czech theatre. Drama, opera and ballet are played there.

The Carolinum

The seat of Charles University from 14 century – the oldest university in Central Europe.

St Venceslas Monument

The monument dates back to 1912 and its author is the well-known Czech sculptor J. V. Myslbek.

The New Town Hall

Gothic building complex from the turn of 15 century.

Vysehrad

According to the old legends the oldest residence of Bohemian princes. At the local cemetery, great personalities of the Czech nation are being burried since 1869.

Ctenice –Castle

An originally Gothic fortress from 14 century.

Industrial Palace

Originally an exhibition building shaped for the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. One of the most valuable Art Nouveau sights in Prague.   

Petrin Lookout Tower

The 60 m high iron tower built for the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a free copy of Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Labyrinth

Exhibition hall of the former Czech Tourist Club built for the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891, transferred to Petrin.

St Nicholas´ Church

One of the most important buildings of the Prague baroque with the dominant dome and bell tower (architects K. Dienzenhofer, K. I. Dienzenhofer, A. Lurago, 1704 - 1756).

Charles Bridge

The oldest Prague bridge, founded in 1357 by Charles IV at the point of Judith´s Bridge destroyed by flooding. The bridge is 515 m long and 10 m wide.

Prague Castle

National cultural sight, symbol of more than one-thousand-year-old development of the Czech state. Since its emergence in the last quarter of 9 century , it has been developing for all the eleven hundred years. It is a monumental complex of palaces, offices, church buildings, fortifications and residential buildings of all style periods. It is located around three courtyards on the area of 45 hectares. It was originally the residence of Bohemian princes and kings, since 1918 the residence of the president.

The Old Town Bridge Tower

The entrance tower to the Charles Bridge from the Old Town, the most beautiful tower of Gothic Europe. It was finished before 1380. It has a rich sculptural decoration.

St Vitus, St Venceslas and St Adalbert Cathedral

A Gothic cathedral, the spiritual symbol of the Czech state, founded in the place of the original Romanesque rotunda by John of Luxemburg and his sons in 1344. It had been built for nearly 600 years and was definitely finished as late as 1929. There are the St Venceslas Chapel, the crypt of Bohemian kings and the crown juwels.

The Gardens of Prague Castle

Bedricha Smetana Museum

The permanent exposition shows the life and work of Bedrich Smetana (1824 - 1884), the well-known Czech composer and conductor.

Antonin Dvorak Museum

The permanent exposition shows the documents about work and life of the well-known Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841 - 1904). It is located in the baroque summerhouse built by K. I. Dienzenhofer called America.

National Technical Museum

Strahov Monastery

The monastery of the order of Premonstratensians was founded by Vladislav II in 1140.

St Agnes Convent

There is the permanent exhibiton of medieval Bohemian and Middle European art in the period between 1200 and 1550 in the convent.

Troja Castle

The summer residence of Earls of Sternberk, built in the style of an Italian baroque villa, surrounded by vineyards, between 1679 and 1685.