Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech republic,the biggest, oldest and the most important city ,the seat of parlament and of government authorities.The town covers an area 496 km2,it has 1,2 mil inhabitants,the highest point lies 399 m,the lowest 177 m above sea level.The density of population is 2438 inhabitants per 1 km2.Prague is the biggest industrial,commercial and financial centre of Czech republic too.
Of Prague´s history:
The Slav population began to seattle in Prague basin the second half of the 6th century. The history of the Prague Castle as a residence of Czech dukes and of the Přemyslid dynasty begins at the end of 9 th century.As late as in the 9th century the small Our Lady´s church was founded here,later the Basilica of St.George and the Rotunda of St.Vitus,the latter being replaced by a triple-naved Romanesque basilica at the end of 11th century.Another pricely castle Khrasten,later called Vyšehrad ,joined with the old Czech legends originated on the other bank of the River Vltava in the first half of 10th century.
During 11th century the centre of the economic life began to shift from the settlement under the Castle(today Lesser Town) to the other side of the river Vltava.The main market-square was today´s Old Town Square.The snone bridge of Queen Judita led over river in the 12th century.The Czech king and German Emperor Charles the fourth gave the world famous Gothic feature to mediaeval Prague.He built the Charles bridge and beside Old Town he founded the New Town,as well as one of the oldest universities in Europe.With the help of prominent architects and sculptors he ordered the new St Vitus ´sCathedral .founded by his father Jan Lucemburský ,to built.
Prague ´s beauty was much enriched with Renaissance and above all baroque buildings during teh next centuries.One of the most attractive Renaissance buildings is the Royal Summer Palce-called incorrectly Belveder with its singing Fountain,then Wallenstein Palace and its garden with a beautiful salla terena and with an avenue of statues by the Netherlandish artist Adrien de Vries.As to baroque buildings ,both churches of St.Nicolas by Kilian Ignatz Dientzehofer rank among the most clean –cut ones.Prague Palace ´s gardens are very attractive -e.g.Royal Garden,Kinský Garden and Vrtba Garden .Prague is also centre of the Jewish sights-here is Jewish museum,mediaeval synagogues and a cemetery.
Some monasteries and convents also rank among the historical jewels of Prague - the Monastery church of St.Margaret in Břevnov or Strahov Monastery,both with a thousand years history.
Prague had many buildings of 19th century,which are invaluable for all the Czech nation-National theatre,National museum or the House of artist-Rudolfinum.The Old exhibion Ground was originally built on the southeast periphery of the Royal Enclosure-called Stromovka for the Jubilee Exhibition 1891 and for the ethnographical Exhibition in 1895.František Křižík ´s fountain is a relic of the Jubilee Exhibition but its many coloured show of lights is most attractive even for today ´s spectator.Today is in Prague the biggest stadium of the world-the Sokol Stadium in Strahov.The best views are from Prague Castle and Petřín Hill,where there is an Observation Tower-the free copy of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The people ,who say,that Prague is the nicest city in the world,is right.