History
by starstudio
The city flourished during the 14th century during the reign of Charles IV, of the Luxembourg dynasty. Charles was the oldest son of Czech Princess Eliska Premyslovna and John of Luxembourg. He was born in Prague in 1316 and he became the King of Bohemia upon the death of his father in 1346. Due to Charles' efforts, the bishopric of Prague was raised to an archbishopric in 1344. On April 7, 1348 he founded the first university in central, northern and eastern Europe, which is today called the Charles University, which is the oldest Czech university and was the first German university . At the same year he also founded New Town (Nové Město) adjacent to Old Town. Charles rebuilt the Prague Castle and Vysehrad, and a new bridge was erected, now called the Charles Bridge. The construction of St. Vitus' Cathedral had also begun. Many new churches were founded. In 1355, Charles was crowned the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in Rome. Prague became the capital of Holy Roman Empire. Charles wanted Prague to become one of the most beautiful cities in the world. He wanted Prague to be the dominant city in the whole empire, the Prague Castle the dominant site in the city and the stately Gothic Cathedral to be more dominant than Prague Castle. Everything was built in a grandiose Gothic style and decorated with an independent art style, called the Bohemian school. During the reign of Emperor Charles IV, the Czech Lands were among the most powerful in Europe.
Kamzik Cafe
by Imbi
I believe that by just going to nice posh wine bar or restaurant does not guarantee that you will have a good time out. When Iwas strolling through the narrow winding streets of old Prague, I come across to that small pub. It has a unique quality, which really caught my eye. That special thing was a settee. It was the first time I experienced such a thing in Prague otherwise it is always a horrible looking wooden chair that welcomes you.
Speaking the language, or NOT!
by KalamazooJohn
I read lots of things here on VT about problems with menus and such, but on my trip, never had a problem not finding someone who spoke English. Every restaurant we went in had English on the menu, and someone who spoke the language well, usually the first person we met there. Tourism is important and as their language is not much like what tourists speak at home, it is important for businesses to have German, English, French, Japanese speaking staff.
Geriatric football in an odd atmosphere...
by RockTadgers
Prague is home to three main football clubs: Sparta Prague, Viktoria Zizkov and my team, Slavia Prague. The standards aren't great. An average league game looks like a replay of a Second Division relegation dogfight, played in slow motion.
Currently playing second fiddle to the fascists of Sparta, Slavia draw in piffling crowds of about three thousand for an league game. The atmosphere is pretty sedate, apart from derbies and European matches, when drums, airraid sirens and trumpets intimidate the opposition.
Other highlights include fights breaking out among their own supporters, fireworks raining down on the running track, and more riot police than fans. Unreconstructed football! Bring an umbrella if you sit on the lower tier, because the hardcore on the upper level sometimes celebrate a goal by chucking their beer around.
Also, bring some lubrication if you're travelling by bus to a big match - you'll need it to squeeze into one on the journey back into town!
There was a club called Bourak...
by marciaca
There was a club called Bourak which some local girls took me to. It was interesting, because it was strictly a czech club. It wasn't a super huge, but was different, because there were no other tourists and it had an interesting combination of techno and traditional music.
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Faceless statue of Don Giovanni
Wenceslas Square
National Museum / Narodni muzeum
Prague - Czech Republic
