Prague

How many Prague nicknames do you

know?

• golden city
• magic city
• the city of one hundred spires
• the mother of cities
• the heart of Europe
• the Rome of the north
 Libuše´s legendary words
fortelling the future of the city:
„I see a large city the fame of which touches the stars.“

The name of the city comes from:

According to one legend, Prague was established on a
site where a man hewed a threshold, „práh“, hence
the name Praha – Prague.
Another interpretation of the city´s name says it is
derived from the arid or parched site, „vyprahlý“.
 Population

The city has been home to many nationalities, not

only to the Czechs. The Germans and the Jews
have resided there since the earliest times.
People from other countries have settled there
as well, like the Italians, the French, the Spanish
and recently the Russians.
Nowadays the city houses more than 1,2 million
people.
 Prague´s bridges through centuries

12 th Judith bridge (1172)

14 th
Charles bridge (1357 -1402)
Palackého most
19 th Most císaře Františka Josefa I. → Štefánikův m.
Zbraslavský most → Most závodu míru
Rudolfova lávka → Mánesův m.
Negrelliho viadukt
 Prague´s bridges in the 20th century

1. Most závodu míru 8. Mánesův most

2. Barrandovský most 9. Čechův most
3. Most na Císařskou louku 10.Štefánikův most
4. Most na Veslařský 11.Hlávkův most
ostrov
12.Libeňský most
5. Jiráskův most
6. Most na Slovanský
13.Holešovský železniční m.
ostrov 14.Most Barikádníků
7. Most legií 15.Trojská lávka
Do you know these bridges?
8. Mánesův

15. Trojská lávka

11. Hlávkův

12. Libeňský
 Sights on the Royal Route
• the Powder Tower
• Celetná Street – in Art Nouveau style
• the Old Town Square
- statue of Jan Hus
- Old Town Hall and its astronomical clock
- Church of our Lady before Týn
- Church of St. Nicolas
• Charles Street and Charles bridge
• The Lesser Town Square
- Church of St. Nicolas and Lichtenstein Palace
• Nerudova Street
• Hradčany Square
 Prague´s heydays
• during the reign of Charles IV
– he turned Prague into the capital of the Holy Roman Empire
– he had the New Bridge built = Charles bridge
– the New Town of Prague, boundary of the Lesser Quarter, the
Hunger Wall
– he had the St. Vitus Cathedral rebuilt in gothic style
• during the reign of emperor Rudolf II
– he had vast collections of art brought
– he attracted many scientists and artists to settle there
(Jan Kepler, Tycho de Brahe, Jan Jesenius)
• the end of 19th century – the National Revival Movement
– opening of the National Theatre and the National Museum