Prague
4. Prague
Prague
is the capital of the Czech Republic. It spreads out on both banks of the river Vltava in the cetre of Bohemia. It covers
an area of almost 500 km2 and it has
1.2 million inhabitants. The whole
city consist of 10 administrative districts. The oldest parts are the Old Town,
The Lesser Town, the New Town, Josefov, Hradčany and Vyšehrad.
History
- the foundation of
the city is connected with a legend. Princess
Libuše of the Přemyslid dynasty prophesied the future glory of Prague which
woud touch the stars.
- the oldest settlement
of this area goes back to the Stone Age
- the Slaves came to the Prague valley in the 6th century
- in the 9th
century Prince Bořivoj founded a castle above the Vltava valley
- Prague became the
imperial residence of Charles IV and
during his reign it flourished
- in the 15th
century Prague was the centre of the
Hussite movement
- at the 16th
century Prague became the seat of Rudolph
II, many scientists and alchymists came to Prague and set here.
- at the beginning
of the 17th century after the Battle of the White Mountain, 27 representatives
of the uprising were executed in the Old Town Square (Kryštof Harant, Jan
Jesenius – first autopsy)
- during the period
of re-catolization it wasn´t the capital of the monarchy
- in 1918 Prague
became the capital of the independant Czechoslovak Republic and in 1993 of the
independant Czech Republic
some
legends about Prague: About Bivoj, About name of the city ® treshold, Aboiut Horymír and Šemík (Horymír was
imprisonned in Vyšehrad and his last wish was to ride his horse on which he
escaped, Šemík was injured and died)
§ the political and cultural centre, centre of economy,
transport and so on. It is the seat of the President, government and
praliament.
® President – Prague castle
® Parliament – 7 buildings:
The
Chamber of Deputies – Tůnovský palace and some others
The
Senate – Valdštejnský palace
® Government – Straca´s academy
® The Prime Minister – Kramář villa
All the seats are historical buildings, located on the
centre of the city, espicially in the Lesser Town.
§ scientific institutions
§ Charles University, University of Agriculture,
Economy, Chemistry, Academy of Art, Film, Theatre
§ culture:
theatres: National Theatre , Estate Theatre,
Vinohradské theatre, Theatre in the Long Street, Semafor, ...
museums: Náprstek museum – shows exotical exhibits,
Wax Museum, Museum of the capital Prague, Technical museum
galleries: The National Gallery (has permanent
expositions in mayn places – one on Vyšehrad square, in Anežský monastery)
concert halls: Rudolfinum (Dvořák´s hall), Municipal
house (Smetana´s hall)
cinemas
monasteries: Anežský, Strahovský, Břevnovský
§ churches and temples: Týn´s Church, St. Paul´s and
Peter´s church, St. Nicolas (one in tghe Lesser Town Square – largest baroque
in our country, one in the Old Town Square)
transport underground (since 1976, leads to edges)
busses, train ® the Main Station, the Masaryk Station
plane – airport Ruzyně –
two parts
trams, taxis
boats, liners
sport places
- big stadium ® Letná, Strahov (used also for concerts of pop and
rock music)
- Sazka Arena ® for all shows, T-Mobile Arena – ice ring
- Swimming pool in
Podolí
- Tennis ® Štvanice
- Riding the horse ® Chuchle
- Many park
suitable for jogging, roller skating
factories, companies
® headquarters of companies, but they don´t have their
factories there
® CKD, The transport corporation
- Processing plants
- Milk factory – Trója
- Brewery – Smíchov,
Bráník
- Orion (chocolate
products) - Modřany
- Avia (car
production) – Letňany
- Aircrafts – Kbely
® shopping areas (centres) – Anděl, Flŕa, Zličín,
Letňany, Štěrboholy, Průhonice,....
Historic
buildings and some places of interest
The Prague castle
- consists of
several courtyards and many palaces
- is guarded by the
soldiers of the Castel Guard
First
courtyard ® official visitors are accepted there with the president and with
guards
Old Palace:
Vladislav´s hall – open to he public;
presidentila election takes place there
President´s office
New Palace:
The Saloon of Mirror – used for official visitors
Spanish hall – open only for some special ceremonies ® concerts, special occasions
St.
Vitns´cathedral – in gothic style,
finished in the 20th century
- founded by
Charles IV in connection with the establishment of the Prague Archbishopic
- architects: Petr
Parléř, Matthias of Arras
- the most admired
part of the cathedral is St.Wenceslas Chapel decorated with semi-precious
stones
- in basement,
there are tombs of members of Přemyslid dynasty
- The Bohemian coronation
jewels (St.Wenceslas crown, the sceptre and the orb) are deposited in the Crown
Chamber, closed by 7 locks
Statue of St. George, fighting the dragon
St. Georges´
Bazilika ® tombs of members of Přemyslid dynasty
The Royal Summer Palace Belveder – a house in the area of the royal garden. Outside of
it, there is the Singing Fountain (gained its name due to the falling drops of
water)
The Loretto – it is situated not far from the castle and there is
famou carrllion in the steeple
Riding school – close to the castle, place of exhibitions
Golden Lane – picturesque historical place, leading from castle,
now there are souvnir shops
Neruda street – beautiful houses: At the two Suns, At the three
small violins (they didn´t use to have numbers, so they had some sights). This
street leads to the Lesser Town Square ® there is the biggest baroque cathedral – St. Nicolas
Charles Bridge – replaced wooden Judith bridge, there are statues
baroque style by Braun and Brokof. Opposite the bridge, there is Klementinum,
the accademical library. Along Charles
Street we can get to the Ol Town Square.
Old Town Square
- statue of Mister
Jan Hus
- Týn´s church
- The Old Town Hall
o astronommer clock
by Mister Hanuš ® horloge
o 12 apostles in 2
small windows
- markets,
exhibitions
- celebration of
New Years Eve
From this square one well-known street leads, it is
Celetrná street, which leads to the Powder
Tower which forms monumental entrance to the Old Town. Close to the Tower,
there is the Municipal House (built
in the style of art nouveau)
St. Wenceslas Square
- typical statue ® the biggest statue of the man on the horse in our
republic. The main statue is surrounded by smaller statues of 4 Czech saints –
Prokop, Vojtěch, Ludmila, Anežka
- used to be called
Horse square
National
Museum – archeological findings,
animals, minerals
National theatre
- on the bank of
the river
- started in 1868
- collection –
Národ sobě – written in golden letters abovr the curtain
architect: Josef Zítek, style: neoranessance
- many famous
artists took part in the decoration of the theatre ® ceiling – Fr.Ženíšek, paintings – V.Brožík, M.Aleš
- 1881 – opened by
Smetana´s opera Libuše
- 1883 – opened
once more after the fire
- in the basement,
there are stones from mountains which have special meaning for our nation.
Next
to the National Theatre, there is the
New Scene, built in totally modern style.
Jewish town
- not far from the
Old Town
- there are several
synagogues: The Maisel Synagogue, The Spanish S., the Pinkas S.
- museum ® show Jewish habits and life
- cemetery
Petřín hill
- view towel ® built according to the plans od the Eiffel Tower
- mirror labyrint
- observatory
near the hill, there is Strahovský monastery
ZOO – it´s situated in Trója, opposite Trója castle. The Zoo was badly
demaged in floods in 2002. Near the zoo, there is the Botanic Garden.
Some
outskirts are suitable for specail sports ® Šárka –
crosscountry skiing