City of A hundred Spires: Prague

Prague, City of a Hundred Spires, a UNESCO monument and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Largest city of the Czech Republic, situated on the Vltava river, founded during  the gothic era, the capital of The Holy Roman Empire, now the capital of  Czechoslovakia . Prague has been the political, cultural, and economical centre of the Czech state for over 1100 years. Prague is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is among the most visited cities on the continent. Since 1992, the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of  World Heritage Sites. Nicknames for Prague have included “the mother of cities”, “city of a hundred spires” and “the golden city”.

Prague, Czech Praha, city, capital of the Czech Republic. Lying at the heart of Europe, it is one of the continent’s finest cities and the major Czech economic and cultural centre. The city has a rich architectural heritage that reflects both the uncertain currents of history in Bohemia and an urban life extending back more than 1,000 years.

The physical attractions and landmarks of Prague are many. Among the finest is the Charles Bridge (Karlův most), which stands astride the Vltava River. The winding course of the Vltava, with its succession of bridges and changing vistas, contrasts with the ever-present backdrop of the great castle of Hradčany (Prague Castle), which dominates the left-bank region of the city from behind massive walls set high on a hill. The narrow streets and little taverns and restaurants of the older quarters contrast with the broad sweep of Wenceslas Square and modern parks and housing developments, while the great 18th-century Baroque palaces have their own elegance and splendour. Seen from the surrounding hills, the many church towers make up a unique perspective, giving Prague its description as the “city of a hundred spires.” This architectural harmony was enhanced by post-1945 planning, which preserved the ancient core of the city as a major monument and carefully supervised all modern building. In 1992 the historic city centre was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Prague is famous for its cultural life. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived there, and his Prague Symphony and Don Giovanni were first performed in the city. In addition, the lyric music of the great Czech composers Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and Leoš Janáček is commemorated each year in a spring music festival. The U kalicha (“At the Chalice”) beer parlour, which is still popular with local residents and tourists alike, provided the setting for the humorously antiauthoritarian activities of Schweik, immortalized by the novelist Jaroslav Hašek in The Good Soldier Schweik. The writings of Franz Kafka, dwelling in a different way on the dilemmas and predicaments of modern life, also seem indissolubly linked with life in this city. Pop. (2011 est.) 1,234,037.

The Old Town Hall with the famous Prague Astronomical Clock. The winding lanes of the Jewish Quarter, which you know from the novels of Franz Kafka, steeped in the legend of the Golem. Cafes enticing you to come and have a seat, boutiques and sight-seeing cruises on the Vltava. The Gothic Charles Bridge and Church of St. Nicholas in the Lesser Town, the most beautiful Baroque church in Prague. The Palace Gardens set away from the bustle of the city, Petřín with a lookout tower reminiscent of a small Eiffel Tower and Prague Castle … Each of Prague’s districts has its own characteristic atmosphere and unique charm. Prague presents itself to you as a changeable city, which likes to alternate styles: it is romantic and successful, ancient and modern, but above all it is a city that is cosmopolitan through and through, and is used to welcoming foreigners.

This magical city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, has been mirrored in the surface of the swan-filled Vltava river for more than ten centuries. Almost undamaged by World War II, Prague’s compact medieval centre remains a wonderful mixture of cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires all in the shadow of her majestic 9th century castle that looks eastward as the sun sets behind her. Prague is also a modern and vibrant city full of energy, music, cultural art, fine dining and special events catering to the independent traveller’s thirst for adventure.

Soaring cathedral spires, red-tiled roof tops, green copper domes, and narrow cobbled laneways; Prague is a city of atmosphere and history. It’s smorgasbord of architecture style — Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Neogothic, Art Nouveau, Cubist, Communist and the list just continues. There’s something for everyone in Prague. In Prague, there seems to be a different style of church or cathedral every block, lending the city to it’s nickname “the city of a hundred spires.”

Built on the Vltava River in central Bohemia, Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic center of central and eastern Europe for over  1,100 years. The cities list of achievements is long. Capital of the Holy Roman Empire for two emperors, an important Habsbug city, important player in the Protestant Reformation and the 30 years war, the largest and oldest Jewish Quarter in Europe, the largest castle in the world, one of the best preserved cities in Eastern Europe, and most recently the historic center of Prague has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Part of what gave Prague its unique history and melting pot of architectural styles is it’s location as a crossroads between different groups. It was at the crossroads between the Germanic and Slavic groups, between Catholicism and Protestantism, and between the Cold War East and West. Prague means “threshold” in Czech, given it’s history and unique location as a buffer between differing groups and regions the name is very fitting.

Walking around Prague I could feel the history around every corner. It is a beautiful city to photograph with well-preserved, excellent examples of nearly all of European styles of architecture. The Czech people, who often refer to Prague as their soul, have done a marvelous job keeping the paint fresh, building facades maintained, and the cobblestones clean.

Prague has a homogeneous population. There is a small Slovak community, but the overwhelming majority of residents are Czechs. The city has a number of demographic peculiarities stemming mainly from the effects of World War II; there are more women than men, and a sizable proportion of the female population is past the age of fertility. The natural rate of population increase is very small. A tendency toward small families is a reflection of both difficulties in housing and increased participation by both parents in the workforce. Migration into the city has continued.

As the capital city, Prague contains some of the country’s main health facilities. These include hospitals, specialized medical clinics, and outpatient clinics. The most noted facilities are those that specialize in plastic surgery, orthopedics, and urology.

Prague has a renowned and active musical life, which reaches a high point each year in the internationally known spring music festival. The city’s fine orchestras—the Prague Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic—have won reputations abroad. Theatrical traditions are also strong, with more than 20 well-attended theatres in the city. There are also many museums and galleries, and a Palace of Culture was completed in 1981.

Perhaps the greatest treasures of the city, however, are the 2,000 officially recognized architectural and artistic monuments, ranging in period from the Romanesque through the Gothic to the Baroque, Rococo, Classical, and Neoclassical. The interiors of the buildings, which often house major art collections, have been restored since 1945. The most notable Romanesque monument is probably the 10th-century Church of St. George, behind the north wall of Hradčany. To the west is its more massive successor, the basically Gothic St. Vitus’s Cathedral, the twin spires of which dominate the city skyline. Other Gothic monuments include the Týn Church on Staroměstské (“Old Town”) Square; the elegant Powder Tower, marking the former city walls in what is now the busy Příkopy shopping area; the restored Bethlehem Chapel, where Jan Hus preached in the 15th century; and the St. Agnes Convent, built in 1234 and notable for its collection of 14th-century paintings. The Old-New Synagogue and the tumbling, crowded gravestones of the Old Jewish Cemetery—Europe’s oldest—betoken the strong Jewish tradition in Prague life.

Highlights of Prague

• Explore St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle, the largest in Europe.
• Catch the astronomical clock’s hourly show. Climb to the top of the clock tower for the best 360 degree view in town.
• Walk through a 1,000 years of history in Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery and Jewish Quarter, the oldest Jewish area in Europe.
• Take a pub crawl sampling Prague’s best beer.
• Catch a black light show. It’s weird and quirky and very Czech.
• Enjoy bohemian sweets (especially the dumplings!), art and cafes.
• Watch the sunrise over the iconic and atmospheric Charles Bridge, one of the best examples of Gothic Architecture in Europe.
• Take a city walk in Prague. It’s a great way to get up close and personal with the cities history.
• Don’t miss the dancing lady building, it’s just plain cool (and was designed my the guy who designed the famous EMP building in my hometown of Seattle).
• Learn about Mucha and his famous art at the Mucha Museum.
• Photograph sunset over Prague on Letna Hill.
• Get lost in the twisting, turning cobbled laneways of Prague’s medieval Old Town.

Prague is the ideal city for taking your TEFL course and for teaching English abroad!
Below are some reasons why to consider Magical Prague.

The Czech Republic is one of the safest countries in the world.

• It’s ranked sixth in the world on the Global Peace Index, meaning there is little violent crime in Prague. 

Prague has a low cost of living.

• You’ll spend less money day-to-day while staying in Prague. A meal and a drink in a typical restaurant costs around €6. A beer ranges from €1.50 in a pub to €3 in a nightclub. 

The public transportation is amazing.

• Prague’s 24-hours-a-day public transportation system is one of the best, cheapest, cleanest, and safest in the world. A one-month unlimited transit pass is only about €23 per month, and takes you not only around the city, but to the countryside and nearby villages, at no extra cost! Plus, Uber is huge here, and taxis are affordable (and they speak English!)

Prague is a foreigner-friendly city.

• Locals are used to foreigners being around, and most city services are also provided in English to help all of the expats, international exchange students/interns, and tourists.

Prague is a good starter city for international travel.

• Because Prague is easy to navigate, and English is widely-spoken, it’s a soft landing for those without international travel experience. But don’t worry – there’s plenty here for seasoned travelers, too!