Prague

a) General information
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated on the Vltava River in
central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural and economic centre of the Czech
state for more than 1100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras,
Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of
the Holy Roman Empire. Today, the city proper is home to more than 1.2 million people,
while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million. Prague one of
the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.1 million international
visitors annually, as of 2009. Nicknames for
Prague have included Prague – Mother of Cities, City of Hundred Spires, Golden City.
The history of Prague spans thousands of years, during which time the city grew from a castle
known as Vyšehrad to the multicultural capital of a modern European state, the Czech
Republic.
The area on which Prague was founded and settled as early as the Paleolithic age. Around 200
BC the Celts had a settlement in the south, called Závist, but later they were replaced by the
Marcomani, a Germanic people and later by the West Slavic people. According to legends,
Prague was founded by Libuše and her husband, Přemysl, founder of the dynasty of the same
name.

b) Principal sights
Because Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities
in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the
world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Nouveau to Baroque,
Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern. Some popular sights include: Old
Town, The Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, New Town, Prague Castle, National Museum, The
Dancing House, Petřín hill, Old New Synagogue.

c) Pick out three historic personalities and give some details about them
Libuše
According to legend, she founded Prague during the 8th century. Although she proved herself as a
wise chieftain, the male part of the tribe was displeased that their ruler was a woman. They asked
Libuše to choose a male prince for the people, and she pointed to Přemysl from the village of Stadice.
Two grandees found Přemysl and brought him to the princely palace. Přemysl the Ploughman thus
became ruler; Libuše married him and became the mother of Nezamysl. This was the beginning of the
Přemyslid dynasty in the Czech lands.

Jan Hus
He was a Czech priest, philosopher, reformer, and master at Charles University in Prague. He is famed
for having been burned at the stake by civil authorities for the propagation of John Wycliffe´s theories.

Charles IV
He was born Wenceslaus (Václav), was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg,
and Holy Roman Emperor. He was the eldest son and heir of John the Blind. On 2 September 1347
Charles was crowned as the king of Bohemia. He was also crowned King of Italy on 6 January 1355
and Holy Roman Emperor on 5 April 1355. He founded the University of Prague, named after him, the
first university in Central Europe. He established the New Town of Prague and Prague became the
capital. He was a great builder, he built for example: Charles Square, Prague Castle, cathedral of Saint
Vitus.