Prague Spirit

PRAGUE: The Fairy Tale Capital at the Heart of Europe

Those of you who have not visited Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, have missed one of the crown jewels of Europe. The "City of One Hundred Spires" is a source of endless inspiration for those who are intrigued by architecture and history.

A walk through Prague is like reliving the history of Europe, as well as the evolution of culture brought about by various reformers, artists, rulers and politicians. One can wander through European cultural history in the footsteps of Mozart, Liszt, Dvorak and Kafka, to name a few. Yet although the history of Prague has been intertwined with that of Europe for eleven centuries, despite its cosmopolitan character, seen in the broad range of architectural styles, the city has maintained its purely Czech nature.

As the capital of one of the European Union's newest members, Prague is rapidly undergoing a period of great changes and enjoying an unparalleled cultural renaissance, that began in 1989 when students took to the streets to help bring down the 40 year-old communist regime.

This magical city of just over a million inhabitants is situated on both banks of the Vltava river, which flows northward through the heart of town and since medieval times, it has continually been know as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which is well-known for these celebrated landmarks: In Prague Castle's St. Vitus Cathedral lies the tomb of "Good" King Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.

The centerpiece of the Old Town is the famous Prague Astronomical Clock on the original Old Town Hall at the Old Town Square. From the wide Old Town Square extend numerous narrow streets and alleys full of remarkable sights, including churches, cathedrals, museums, antique shops and centuries old wine and beer cellars.

An important part of the Old Town is also the Jewish Town or Prague Ghetto. With its origins dating back to the 9th century, the ghetto's most impressive buildings and historical monuments still remain to this day: one of the oldest synagogues in Europe as well as the Old Jewish cemetery, with more than 200,000 graves, houses the remains of many of the most significant members of Prague's former Jewish community.

Nearby stands Charles Bridge, acclaimed by experts as the most beautiful bridge in the world. This gothic structure, adorned with a unique open-air gallery of baroque sculpture creates a harmony between two distinct periods and an integrated whole set, against the unrivalled backdrop of Prague Castle and the Lesser Town.

Very close to Charles Bridge is Mala Strana, probably the most romantic quarter in Prague with beautiful architecture and gardens. Further away from the bridge lies Malostranske Square, followed by Nerudova Street and the Castle Stairs, which lead to the gates of Prague Castle. From here, all of Prague and its multitude of beautiful spires lie spread out at your feet.

Prague's historic center, featuring all architectural styles of the last millennium, is included in the UNESCO List of Heritage Sites, for while the capitals of other Eastern European nations were decimated or heavily damaged during World War II, Prague survived intact, preserving the richest architectural heritage in Europe with Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Art Nouveau, and yes, Stalinist constructions.