Prague

Prague, the historical pearl of Europe, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has always played an important role in the history of Czech Republic (formerly Bohemia) and of Europe.

Since the Middle Ages, Prague’s beauty has been described with expressions such as "golden", "hundred-spired" and "the crown of the world".

The unique character of the city is also partly a consequence of its natural environment. Similarly to Rome – built on seven hills – Prague was built on nine hills, along the Vltava River, which flows through the city for a distance of 31km and forms a perfect unity with the city.

The dominant features of the city’s architecture are reflected in the river: the towers, the church spires and cupolas as well as palaces and town houses, along with the greenery of gardens, parks and islands.

The history of the city began with the founding of Prague Castle in the ninth century. At the time of the founding of the Old Town of Prague at the start of the 13th century, the Romanesque style began to be replaced by the Gothic. The oldest structure in this style is the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia (or the Old-New Synagogue), while St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn are examples of this style’s prime.

The greatest flourishing of the Czech state occurred at this time, which will eternally be connected with the monarch Charles IV, who founded the famous Charles University in 1348, the first university in Central Europe.

Nowadays, Prague is an important European city that attracts visitors not only by the abundance of architectural gems the generations of our ancestors left us. It is a place where cultural, social and political events of international importance are held as well as being a popular destination for trade fairs and congresses.