Basic information about Prague

Basic information about the destination

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Prague is a magical city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church spires, whose image has been mirrored in the surface of the Vltava River for more than a millennium. Prague cherishes the reputation of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

• Capital of the Czech Republic
• Surface area of: 496 square kilometres 
• Altitude: 235 meters (average)
• Population: 1 226 697
• Major river: the Vltava runs through Prague 
• Time: Central European (GMT+1), summer time - Central European +1 (GMT+2)
• Geographical position: 50°05'19''; N (city centre), 14°25'17''; E 

History

• The year 870, when Prague castle was established and became the chief seat of the Premyslid dynasty, is regarded as the beginning of the city’s existence. However, people inhabited the area in the early Stone Age.

• In the 13th century the agglomeration of Prague was transformed into a town - the Old Town of Prague and later on the Lesser Town of Prague were established. In the 14th century the other two towns of Prague were established – Hradcany and the New Town of Prague.

• A period of great prosperity and growth came in the 14th century with the rule of Roman Emperor Charles IV (1346-78) who made Prague the greatest centre of the European empire. After Rome, it was the second Christian metropolis in Europe, fully deserving its epithet, “Rome of the North“.

• In 1526, the Kingdom of Bohemia was handed over to the House of Habsburg. The Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II chose Prague as his home. Prague became the imperial seat of the Holy Roman Empire and centre of European social and culture life.

• In 1784, under Joseph II, the four municipalities, formerly independent urban units, of Lesser Town, New Town, Old Town and Hradcany were merged into a single entity.

• On October 28, 1918, Prague became the capital of the newly independent Czechoslovakia.

• Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

• In 1993, after the split of Czechoslovakia, Prague became the capital city of the new Czech Republic.