Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. History, sights of Prague

Ancient and mystical, unique and charming, Golden Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic. For millennia, it grew and developed at the intersection of trade routes. In her guise, you can see the whole history of European architecture: Gothic castles and arches, Baroque churches and Renaissance buildings, Rococo and Art Nouveau buildings. The historic center of Prague with its vast squares and winding and narrow streets paved with paving stones, the decision of UNESCO is included in the number of World Cultural Heritage sites.

A few words about the country

In the heart of Europe, between the hills, sheltered Bohemian forest and the Sudetenland, lies the Czech Republic. This country has no access to the seas and borders with Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, perhaps, like nowhere, you can feel the spirit of the Middle Ages, carefully preserved in dozens of cities and towns, palace and castle complexes. Beautiful natural landscapes serve as an excellent setting for architectural monuments.

Modern Czech Republic

As a result of the so-called velvet divorce (the collapse of the Czechoslovak and Slovak Federative Republics in January 1993), two sovereign states appeared on the world political scene: the Slovak Republic, the main city in which was Bratislava, and the Czech Republic, whose capital remained in Prague.
In modern European history, this is perhaps the only case when the division of the country was not accompanied by military or other military actions. The modern Czech Republic is a parliamentary republic headed by a president elected by popular vote. Today, the Czech Republic, under the leadership of President Milos Zeman selected in March 2013, is part of the European Union and NATO.

Main city

Prague is the capital, the historical, cultural and economic heart of the modern Czech Republic, located in the north-west of this country, in the very middle of the Czech Basin. A city is built on the hills along the Vltava River and is divided into two parts: the eastern and the western. On the right bank is Vysehrad, and on the left is Prague Castle. Because of the frequent shifts of the residences of Czech rulers from one settlement to another, both of them have grown strongly and almost merged into one.

But officially, the Big Prague was formed only in the first quarter of the last century, after several dozen practically merged into one settlement were included in the city limits. And earlier it was a small town that occupied only 20 km ² . Modern Prague on the map covers an area of almost 500 km ² .

Prague Legends

In the historical center of the Czech capital, every house, garden and cobblestone on its pavement can tell a lot of legends and stories. The foundation of this city is also covered with legends. After the Czech tribes under the leadership of the Forefather Cech came and began to master the lands located between the Vltava and Laba rivers, the prince became Croke, who raised three daughters, the youngest of whom, Libusa, came to power after the death of his father. It was she who, according to legend, founded the fortress of Vyšehrad on the rocky banks of the Vltava River, which later became her residence. Princess Libuša was not only clever and beautiful, but she also possessed the gift of foresight. Once, standing on the rocky bank of the Vltava River, she managed to "see" that soon the city would be laid, whose glory would reach heaven. She even managed to name the place where such a hail will be founded: the threshold of the house, which the man must make. Immediately the prince's servants rushed to find and quickly found the then-crafted prague, which in Czech means "threshold", a simple plowman named Přemysl. Libuša took him to be her husband, and in the place where he was making the threshold, the castle Grad was founded, from which grew Prague - a city that served as a residence for many generations of princes of Przemysl.

Opinion of historians

Scientists consider Libusz and plowman Přemysl to be nothing more than mythical characters. In fact, Prague was founded no earlier than 880, after Borzhiva, the first prince from the Přemyslid dynasty, moved his residence from Hradec nad Vltavou here. Information about Liboush is found in the well-known work of Cosmas of Prague "The Czech Chronicle," and he dates them 623 - 630 years. At that time, at the beginning of the seventh century, according to experts, the Czechs still did not have statehood, and the formation of the city is unlikely.

What does the name of the city mean?

As mentioned above, the most popular version says that Prague is a city whose name originated from the Czech word prah - "threshold". Some scholars believe that Praha is formed from the Old Slavonic name of the stony and rapids of the Vltava fords. There is a version that the name of the city can be associated with the word pražení - roasting, roasting, as in this region a lot of grain was grown, and bread production was developed.

All of the above versions are based only on the analysis of linguistic constructions. Modern scientists consider the most plausible hypothesis of stony river rapids, which were many on the Vltava.

How it all began

The first wooden Prague Castle was founded in the second half of the 9th century by Prince Borzhev. Vysehrad grew up on the other bank of the Vltava River at the beginning of the 10th century. Over time, around both castles began to appear merchant and craft settlements. So, on the left bank the place of Staré Město was formed, and on the right, near Prague Castle, Mala Strana arose. By the end of the XIII century, during the reign of the son of Premysl Otakar II, Prince Krakowski and King of Bohemia Vaclav II, Prague is the capital, the largest and most economically developed city, able to rise above the others.
The heyday of this city lasted almost the entire 13th century and fell during the reign of Jan Luxemburg and his son Charles IV. The latter managed to raise the status of Prague to the level of the capital of the Roman Empire, and in size it was second only to Tsargrad and Paris. Charles IV during his reign tried to do everything to prove that Prague is the capital not only economic, but also cultural. It was then that the Charles Bridge and the first university were built, the construction of the St. Vitus Cathedral began. At the same time, an archbishopric chair was created, and the Novo Mesto district emerged.

Stages of development

As a result of the Hussite wars, Prague experienced a period of devastation and recession. But by the end of the XV century, there is a gradual stabilization, and in the city begins the construction of new and restoration of destroyed buildings. It was at this time, under the direction of architect Benedict Wright, that the Old Royal Palace was reconstructed in Hradcany.

The second "golden age" for Prague came during the reign of the Habsburg dynasty, which began in 1526. The Austrian rulers invested a lot of energy and resources into the development of Prague. In 1612, after the death of Emperor Rudolph II, the city lost its status, as the royal court moved to Vienna in full force.

The next period of the heyday of Prague was the 18th century, coinciding with the national revival. At the end of this century, during the reign of Josef II, four main urban areas are united into a single administrative territory: Hradčany, Staré Mesto, Malá Strana and the New Town.

In the late XIX - early XX century, when there was a rapid development of industry and economy, as well as most European capitals, Prague is actively developing and significantly expanding. The rise of this period was interrupted by the First World War. In 1918, an independent state was formed - Czechoslovakia. During the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, Prague - the capital of this state - as well as the rest of the country, was in Nazi occupation. After the war, and until 1989, when the "velvet revolution" took place, Czechoslovakia entered the socialist camp.

Prague Districts

Modern Prague consists of a number of districts, some of which have been considered separate cities for centuries. It:

• Vyšehrad;
• Old Town;
• Mala Strana;
• Hradcany;
• New town.

In former times, they not only had different systems of governance and subordination, financing, but also quarreled with each other, sometimes reaching military action. By the end of the XIX century Old Prague was formed, the historical center of which included such areas as Stare and Nowe Place, Hradcany, Vysehrad, Mala Strana and Josefov - Jewish Quarter.

These are the main historical, architectural and cultural sights of the Czech capital. In subsequent years, the city expanded, and new areas appeared, but there were not many interesting objects for travelers.

Today it is quite difficult not only for the tourist, but also for the native inhabitant to understand how it is divided into the districts of Prague. On the map, according to the modern concept of urban development, modern areas are defined by their territorial affiliation to a particular municipality. Thus, the whole city is divided into 22 districts, which include 57 districts.

Simultaneously with the new, the old cadastral system of dividing the city operates. So, Prague is divided into 10 main regions, which unite 112 territories. This distinction is called administrative and is widely used in various aspects of urban life.