Prague- An On-line Travel Guide and Virtual  Tour
        by  Ed Prifogle

HOME
 prague photo

Featured Link: Prague marketplace panoramic view



TRAVEL LINKS

Associated Links

Street Scene B/W Photos
Mozart and Bach
Prague Virtual Tour
Czech Train Schedule
Czech Republic Travel Guide
Ceskey Krumlov Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour and City Description

Prague (Praha) is the Golden City of Towers and Spires. Listen to some basic Czech expressions. It is a vitural masterpiece of a city unspoiled by the ravages of time.   To understand the unique beauty of this city, view this virtual photo tour.  Also look at and listen to these Prague Videos. and Alone in Prague Audio. If you thought that most beautiful blonds came from Stockholm, you are wrong. They live in Prague.  When you understand that Prague has been occupied until recently by the Russians, the Germans, the Austro-Hungarians and others for the past 6 centuries, then you come to understand the excitement of being free at last. After all this is Bohemia. To learn what is currently going on in Prague read the Prague Post-English Newspaper.

A quick walk along the Vltava or Moldau River bewitches you with unexpected beauty at every corner. View these photos. A lot of unmarked buildings here have more grace to them than all of the tourist sights in Berlin and Frankfurt combined. Furthermore, the whole atmosphere of the city is light.  See these Web Cams.  One sees lovers embracing and people eating on the streets, rare sights indeed in Berlin. London and Paris. Watch  Prague TV.

The only shortcomings are the local cuisine rivals London for blandness, and the major new hotels  (Prague Hotels) think all Americans are millionaires, and charge accordingly. Both of these faults can be overcome as there many international style restaurants, and if you are not looking for every amenity during your stay, there are rooms available for less than $20.00 USD a night and include breakfast.  Read these 73 visitor reviews for detailed information about this beautiful city

Your city guide will direct you to the many points of interests including the Astronomical Clock in the old city square, the new city , the palace, the canal bridge, the National Museum, and the many glorious cathederals. For travelers who are looking for beauty, grace, and an expressive culture, Prague is the place for you.

 Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, the city has thrown off decades of oppression and is now returning to its former glory. Situated in the valley of the Vltava (Moldau) River, Prague is dominated by the castle perched on the Western bluffs. Visitors are drawn to the 'fairy tale' aspect of Prague, but this is only part of its vibrant mixture of styles. Prague is unquestionably a city best explored on foot, the entire central has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gothic churches rub shoulders with Cubist, Functionalist and ultra-modern buildings, classical music intermingles with jazz and rock, and monumental statues sit next to abstract works and even a Cubist lamppost.
Prague's present form was established by the Premyslid King Otakar II (1253-78) when the town was re-organised into three administrative districts: the Castle precincts (Hradcany), the Lesser Town below the Castle (Mala Strana) and Old Town (Stare Mesto). Across the river; the Jewish community was moved from Lesser Town to the Josefov ghetto to provide room for German traders.

The city's golden age commenced when Charles IV of Bohemia was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1346. The ambitious Gothic building programme including St Vitus Cathedral, the Charles Bridge, the University, and the New Town (Nove Mesto) centred on Wenceslas Square, transformed the city into one of the greatest and most powerful in Europe. In reaction to Hapsbrug rule, Czech nationalism re-asserted itself in the late eighteenth century. Throughout the nineteenth century, the development of a nationalistic architectural style brought further changes. Later still, the Jewish ghetto was razed to make way for Art Nouveau buildings.

At the end of World War I, Czechoslovakia gained its independence. Freed from the censorship and constraints of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Prague blossomed as new artistic styles were embraced and developed; Cubism, Art Deco and Functionalism found a niche in its arts and architecture. Strong influences came from America as Prague was ripe for the importation of Jazz Age popular culture. Parallels with the 1990s are inescapable; in both cases, Prague took what it wanted while retaining its unique identity. Not even decades of Nazi and Communist suppression successfully stifled the Czech spirit. Prague dramatically threw off stark social realism and in the 1990s has reclaimed its reputation for cultural excellence.

clockPrague remains one of the most popular destinations for backpackers, still being relatively cheap, although the gap with European prices grows less each year. Recent changes to the laws regarding foreign workers have made it difficult for non-Czechs to find work, but although the 'great days' of Prague as a centre for expatriates may have passed, still a substantial number remain, the majority of who are generally serious about work and the arts.
The best times to visit Prague are in the early spring and the late autumn after the majority of tourists have left; if the cold isn't a problem, the winter months are the quietest time. Prague has a generally mid climate, although very high and low temperatures can be encountered; autumn is the season with the highest rainfall. As one of the European cities of culture for the year 2000, Prague chose the theme of urban transformation; an idea that will continue in 2001, as it looks forward t