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1. INTRODUCTION
Prague (in Czech, Praha; in German, Prag), city in west-central
Czech Republic, the capital of the country. Prague is located in
the central Bohemia region, situated on both sides of the River
Vltava (in German, Moldau). Population 1,193,270 (1999 estimate).
2. ECONOMY
The largest city in the Czech Republic, Prague is the commercial
and industrial centre and the cultural capital of the country. Machine
tools, electrical machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, textiles,
clothing, leather goods, food and alcoholic beverages, and glassware
are manufactured there. The city is also the centre of book publishing
in the country. With the fall of Communism, Prague has become a
popular tourist destination, bolstering the city's economy. The
city has an efficient transport system, including the Metro, trams,
and buses.
3. PLACES OF INTEREST
One of the most picturesque cities in Europe, Prague is sometimes
called The City of One Hundred Spires. It was built in a broad valley
along the banks of the River Vltava and on the surrounding hills.
The river is spanned by many bridges, of which the most famous is
the Karlsbrcke (Charles Bridge), built in the 14th century and later
embellished with statues of saints. The eastern bank of the river
is the site of the Old Town, dating from the 13th century, and the
New Town, built about a century later. The traditional heart of
the city is the cobbled Old Town Square, which is surrounded by
historical buildings that include the 14th-century Tyn Cathedral,
the Town Hall with its famous 15th-century clock whose mechanical
figures of the Apostles bow to waiting onlookers every hour, the
National Gallery, and the 18th-century St Nicklaus' Church. Dominating
the Square is the monument to Jan Hus, the 15th-century religious
reformer. The district also contains the University of Prague and
the Municipal House. The New Town, primarily a commercial and industrial
quarter, contains many public buildings, museums, and banks. On
the western side of the river is the part of the city called the
Lesser Town, with a number of Baroque palaces. Above this district
and dominating the entire city is Hradčany Castle; formerly the
home of the kings of Bohemia, it is now the residence of the President
of the Czech Republic. Next to this vast structure is the Gothic-style
Cathedral of St Vitus, which contains the tombs of many Bohemian
kings.
Educational institutions in Prague include Charles University (1348),
the oldest university in Central Europe, and the Technical University
of Prague (1707). The city also has many art, music, and professional
schools, as well as museums, libraries, and theatres.
4. HISTORY
The settlement of Prague dates from the 9th century, when it was
the site of several Bohemian castles. The city began to grow in
the 13th century with the establishment of German communities by
Wenceslas I, King of Bohemia. The German colonists developed the
city rapidly, building the Altstadt (Old Town) as a trading centre
in 1232 and, expanding to the south-east, establishing the Neustadt
(New Town) a century later. Prague prospered as the capital of the
powerful province of Bohemia and during the 14th century became
the largest European city after Paris. In 1442 it was conquered
by the Hussites yet continued to grow in wealth and power. It was
severely damaged during several wars, notably in the Thirty Years'
War. In 1744 the city surrendered to Frederick II, King of Prussia,
who, during the Seven Years' War, defeated the Austrian forces at
Prague. In 1848, Prague was bombarded by Austrian troops used to
quell a Czech revolution, and in 1866 the city surrendered to Prussian
forces during the Seven Weeks' War. Upon the establishment of the
republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Prague became its capital. During
World War II the city was occupied by German forces from March 1939
until May 1945 but escaped major damage. The city was again the
scene of turmoil in 1968 during the Prague Spring, when Soviet troops
invaded Prague and massive demonstrations ensued. Prague, and especially
Wenceslas Square, was also the site of massive non-violent demonstrations
that led to the downfall of Czechoslovakia's Communist regime in
1989. When the country divided into two republics on January 1,
1993, the city became capital of the independent Czech Republic.
In 2000 Prague was the scene of violent demonstrations by anti-capitalist
and anti-globalization activists against the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and World Bank who were meeting in the city.
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