Prague

Prague
Prague; Praha
	Capital city
	Capital City of Prague; Hlavní m?sto Praha
	Montage of Prague, clockwise from top: Old Town Hall, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Malá Strana, the Dancing House, St. Vitus Cathedral
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Motto(s): "Praga Caput Rei publicae" (Latin); "Prague, Head of the Republic" other historical mottos "Praga mater urbium" (Latin); "Praha matka m?st" (Czech); "Prague, Mother of Cities" ; "Praga Caput Regni" (Latin); "Prague, Head of the Kingdom" ;
	Prague Location of Prague in the Czech Republic Prague Prague (Europe)
	Coordinates: 50°05?N 14°25?E? / ?50.083°N 14.417°ECoordinates: 50°05?N 14°25?E? / ?50.083°N 14.417°E
Country	Czech Republic
Founded	7th century
Government
• Mayor	Adriana Krná?ová (ANO)
Area
• Urban	496 km2 (192 sq mi)
Highest elevation	399 m (1,309 ft)
Lowest elevation	177 m (581 ft)
Population (2018)
• Capital city	1,294,513
• Metro	2,594,325
Demonym(s)	Praguer
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	100 00 – 199 00
Vehicle registration	A
GDP(nominal)	2016
– Total	€44 billion($85 billion, PPP)
– Per capita	€34,700($67,000, PPP)
Website	praha.eu

Prague (/pr???/; Czech: Praha ( listen), German: Prag) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, the 14th largest city in the European Union and the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of 2.6 million. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.

Prague has been a political, cultural and economic centre of central Europe complete with a rich history. Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras, Prague was the capital of the kingdom of Bohemia and the main residence of several Holy Roman Emperors, most notably of Charles IV (r. 1346–1378). It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city played major roles in the Bohemian and Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War and in 20th-century history as the capital of Czechoslovakia, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.

Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Pet?ín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The city has more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas and other historical exhibits. An extensive modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, it is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University in Prague, the oldest university in Central Europe.

Prague is classified as a "Beta+" global city according to GaWC studies and ranked sixth in the Tripadvisor world list of best destinations in 2016. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination and as of 2014, the city receives more than 6.4 million international visitors annually. Prague is the fifth most visited European city after London, Paris, Istanbul and Rome.

History

The mythological princess Libuše prophesies the glory of Prague.

During the thousand years of its existence, the city grew from a settlement stretching from Prague Castle in the north to the fort of Vyšehrad in the south, becoming the capital of a modern European country, the Czech Republic, a member state of the European Union.

Early history

The Prague astronomical clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.

The region was settled as early as the Paleolithic age. A Jewish chronicler David Solomon Ganz, citing Cyriacus Spangenberg, claimed that the city was founded as Boihaem in c. 1306 BC by an ancient king, Boyya.

Around the fifth and fourth century BC, the Celts appeared in the area, later establishing settlements including an oppidum in Závist, a present-day suburb of Prague, and giving name to the region of Bohemia, "home of the Boii". In the last century BC, the Celts were slowly driven away by Germanic tribes (Marcomanni, Quadi, Lombards and possibly the Suebi), leading some to place the seat of the Marcomanni king Maroboduus on the southern Prague's site Závist. Around the area where present-day Prague stands, the 2nd century map of Ptolemaios mentioned a Germanic city called Casurgis.

In the late 5th century AD, during the great Migration Period following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the Germanic tribes living in Bohemia moved westwards and, probably in the 6th century, the Slavic tribes (Venedi) settled Central Bohemian Region. In the following two centuries, the Czech tribes built several fortified settlements in the area, most notably in the Šárka valley, Butovice and later in Levý Hradec.

The construction of wha

Release Date :

12:00am on Friday 27th September 2013