PRAGUE

History of Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, the historic capital of Bohemia. Situated in the middle of Bohemia on the Vltava river, within the Central Region, which is the administrative center. It’s home to a large part of state institutions and many other organizations and companies.

The present form evolved eleven centuries. At present, covers an area of ​​496 square kilometers and has 1,186,618 inhabitants.

The historic city center with a unique panorama of Prague Castle from 1992 conservation area of ​​UNESCO.

Since 1920 the official name of the city Prague, since 1784 before the Royal City of Prague. In other languages ​​the name is usually Praga Prag or Prague.

Prague is traditionally the name derives from the word threshold. Historians generally say that Prague is named after the river threshold or weir, which was located somewhere on the site of today’s Charles Bridge. Despite this people passed the ford across the river. Since the city began to grow just over the Ford, a threshold in the river, was called Prague. Legend of the founding of Prague explains the name of that Princess Libuse had found the city where the settler in the woods sculpted threshold to his cabin.

History
The origins of the castle and city of Prague
On the territory of today’s Prague housed in prehistoric times many different tribes – the latest findings in Křeslice local settlement date until seven years ago. At the same place is also documented much later Germanic settlement. In the 6th century began to colonize the Prague basin Slavs. An important cult place became a promontory above the river Vltava called Zizi, where later there was obřadnímu raising princes „tribe“ Czechs. At this point let Prince Borivoj built late 9th second century Christian church in Bohemia, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. During the reign of his son Bořivojova Spytihnev I in the early 10th century, the entire platform promontory surrounded by defensive ramparts, and there was a princely palace. Thus were laid the foundations of the Prague Castle, where he moved with his entourage, Prince of Left Hradec. Prague became the center of the emerging Czech state. From the Prague Castle and other strongholds in central Bohemia přemyslovští rulers began to manage the surrounding area, where you gradually subordinated local people and prompt them to remove benefits. The existence of a royal castle brought to his castle artisans and merchants – began to give birth to the medieval city.

Middle Ages
Early 12th century, Prague was thriving city, over which is overlooked by stately royal castle. At that time Prague was situated in what is now Old Town. Naming the Elderly or the Greater City of Prague gained after Premysl Otakar II. granted city rights in 1257 the Prague castle, osídlenému for at least from 10 century. Thus arose the Lesser Town of Prague – Mala Strana. The influx of artisans and merchants in both cities was strong, especially when during the reign of Charles IV. Prague became the imperial residences and the emperor intended to make it the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The space defined by the walls of Prague’s towns, however, began to be numerous incoming soon too tight, and so generous monarch came to the company – in 1348 founded the New Town of Prague and proclaimed to them a large area extending between Vysehrad, catchment and Old Town. It was gradually filled the towns burgher houses, spacious market place, beautiful buildings, churches and monasteries. The size and splendor of Prague, this time could rival the most famous cities of Rome, Florence, Paris or Cologne.

Unification of cities of Prague
The first attempt to unite the Old and New Town was in 1518 at the instigation of the Old Town citizens led by John Gates of the Strap. In 1523 King Louis Jagiello confirmed the unified city council, and the link Prague towns legalized. Uniform Prague, however, has been divided again in 1528.

Unify the Prague town permanently in 1784 succeeded to the reign of Emperor Joseph II. The Royal Capital City of Prague then formed New and the Old Town of Prague, Mala Strana and Prague Castle. It was gradually annexed Town, Vysehrad and Grounds.

At the end of the 19th century, Prague was already industrialized and rapidly developing city with railway and factories. In 1893 Joseph began redevelopment and began to develop the electric railway. In 1901 the city joined by Liben.

Great Prague
At the end of World War II was declared the independence of the Czech state, which are then joined and Slovakia. In Prague, there to destroy the symbols of the Austrian Empire, which were destroyed at some sites, such as with Marian column to Old Town Square, which was erected as a thank burghers Virgin for saving the Swedes. In its place stands a statue of Jan Hus.

As a newly established capital of Czechoslovakia, Prague was still modernized and expanded. Founded in 1922, Great Prague, which was included in all suburbs, including the then separate cities such as nurseries or Košíře. Prague, in which lived side by side Czech, German and Jewish population, became a remarkable cultural center. Historicist style in which it was built as the National Theatre, St. Pseudo temples. Prokop in Zizkov and St.. Ludmila at Namesti Miru, or rebuilt Vyšehrad basilica vigorously expelled secession turn of the century (the Municipal House, the new building of the Central Station, the Hotel Central in Hybernská, Petrin Tower and Industrial Palace in Holesovice, Hus Monument in Old Town Square). Ten-year Art Nouveau period was interrupted by the first World War II. At the end of the 20th century, began to manifest in the architecture of functionalism. At that time, was also completed Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus.

The world is unique Cubist architecture – only in Prague he moved from painting canvases cubism into architecture. Ambitious plan was the establishment of settlements in Vysehrad Cubist.

Under the influence of Nazism in the upcoming second half of the 30th years of Prague began to leave the first inhabitants.

The Second World War
During the war was from Prague transported to concentration camps, the Jewish population, as well as Gypsy (then current designation) and its other inhabitants of „inferior races“. Were common, execution and imprisonment of opponents of the Nazi regime. Notorious in this respect was such as chambers of Gestapo Petschek Palace or shooting in Kobylisy.

Damage to Prague’s estate during the war were minimal to slight damage occurred only under bombardment by U.S. aircraft at the end of the war (the tower of the monastery at Emmaus) and the planned disposal was not at that time weakened and retreating to the Nazi regime. 5th May 1945 Prague Uprising broke out, however, the agreements between the anti-Hitler coalition allies, U.S. Army had to stand near Pilsen, while the Red Army arrived in Prague to 9 May.

Prague as the capital of socialist Czechoslovakia
In February 1948, the Communist Party seized power Czechoslovakia. Planning and construction of the city began to take place in a spirit of „socialist realism“. This resulted in the first settlement, and later the first settlement on the panel Petřiny. In the years 1960, 1968, 1970 and 1974 were attached to Prague additional total of more than 60 villages. In the 60 and 70 years, important traffic modernized buildings such as airports and main railway station, began to build a subway and called ZÁKOS – urban road system capacity, one of which severed the National Museum from Wenceslas Square. For the people were in the green meadows around Prague built housing panel.

The continuing economic decline hit the country and Prague, which resulted in a neglected appearance of the city and the deterioration of services. Communist Party’s monopoly on power ended the Velvet Revolution.

Prague after the Velvet Revolution
The introduction of standard relations with Western countries opened Prague tourism. The development of private property and entrepreneurship ultimately reflected in the improvement of services and also to repair dilapidated buildings in the historical heart of the city.

Prague is currently the main transportation hub in the Czech Republic and a major hub in Central Europe. He has an extensive transport infrastructure, both public and automobile traffic.