Picturesquely sited on the banks of the Vltava (Moldau) River, Prague has always played an important part in the history of Europe.

It is noted for magnificent Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Belle Epoque/Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, as well as its cultural scene of elegance. Since the fall of Communism, Prague has rapidly regained its cafe culture and is again very much the ‘Paris of the East’. The city’s historical centre, never bombed in World War II, is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Key places to visit are the Hradcany complex of Prazsky hrad (Prague Castle), including Palace rooms like the Vladislavsky sl (Vladislav Hall) which was once used by Bohemian knights for jousting, the Katedrla sv Vta (St Vitus Cathedral) and the Basilica of sv Jir (St George Basilica).

Views over the Vltava, spanned by many bridges, including the famous medieval Karluv most (Charles Bridge), contribute to Prague’s reputation as a ‘fairytale city’. The Lesser Town (Mala Strana) beneath the castle is a quarter of winding, narrow streets with palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries and small artisan houses. The Old Town (Stare Mesto) across the Charles Bridge includes important tourist sites like the Old Town Hall (Staromestska radnice) with its astronomical clock, the Gothic Tyn Church behind the square and the Jewish Town with its old cemetery and six synagogues. The area around Vaclavske namesti (Wenceslas Square) is the principal shopping area of the city. To the south is Vysehrad with its Slavin Cemetery honouring the intellectuals and artists, and its Cubist villas.

Excursions
Near to Prague is a grim reminder of the horrors of World War II – the site of the ‘show’ concentration camp at Terezin, which is now a museum. Also in the area are the castles of Karlstejn, Krivoklat and Konopiste. Near Karlstejn is the Cesky kras (Bohemian Karst), a region of limestone caves, of which Koneprusk jeskyne is open to the public. The historic silver mining town of Kutna Hora with the dominating Gothic cathedral of sv Barbora (St Barbara) is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. North of Prague, at the confluence of the Vltava and the Labe rivers, is Melnk, with its Zamek (Castle), built by the Lobkowitz family; this area is now returning to its former role as an important wine-making region.