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Prague Czech: Praha
Panoramic view of Prague Castle
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae (Prague, Head of the Republic; Latin)
Prague
Coordinates: 50°05′N 14°25′E / 50.083°N 14.417°E / 50.083; 14.417Coordinates: 50°05′N 14°25′E / 50.083°N 14.417°E / 50.083; 14.417
Country	Czech Republic
Founded	c. 885
Government
- Mayor	Pavel Bém (ODS)
Area [1]
- City	496 km2 (191.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation	399 m (1,309 ft)
Population (2009-06-30)[2]
- City	1,242,002
- Density	2,504/km2 (6,485.4/sq mi)
- Metro	1,900,000
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	1xx xx
NUTS code	CZ01
GDP per capita ([nominal])	$ 42,983 (nominal) (2008)[3]
Website	www.praha.eu

Prague (pronounced /ˈprɑːɡ/; Czech: Praha pronounced [ˈpraɦa]  ( listen), see also other names) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Nicknames for Prague have included Praga mater urbium/Praha matka měst ("Prague – Mother of Cities") in Latin/Czech, Stověžatá Praha ("City of a Hundred Spires") in Czech or Zlaté město/Goldene Stadt ("Golden City") in Czech/German.^[4]

Situated on the Vltava River in central Bohemia, Prague has been the political, cultural and economic centre of the Czech state for more than 1100 years. For many decades during the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was the permanent seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus was also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

Today, the city proper is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 1.9 million.^[5]

Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, making the city one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009.^[6]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Ancient age 2.2 The era of Charles IV 2.3 Habsburg era 2.4 20th century 2.4.1 The First Republic 2.4.2 Second World War 2.4.3 Cold War 2.4.4 Era after the Velvet Revolution 3 Main sights 4 Geography 4.1 Location 4.2 Topography 4.3 Climate 5 Culture 6 Economy 7 Colleges and universities 8 Science, research and hi-tech centers 9 Transport 9.1 Public transportation 9.2 Cars and trucks 9.3 Rail 9.4 Air 9.4.1 Ruzyně 9.4.2 Other airports 9.4.3 Aeroclub airfields 9.5 Ships and ferries 9.6 Taxis 9.7 Funiculars 10 Sport 11 Miscellaneous 12 Prague as a venue 13 International relations 13.1 Twin towns — Sister cities 13.1.1 Partner cities 14 Namesakes 15 See also 16 Further reading 16.1 Guides 16.2 Culture and society 17 References 18 External links

Etymology

The name Prague comes from an old Slavic root, praga, which means “ford”, referring to the city's origin at a crossing of the Vltava River.

The native name of the city, Praha, is also related to the modern Czech word práh ("threshold"). A legendary etymology connects the name of the city with duchess Libuše, prophetess and a wife of mythical founder of the Přemyslid dynasty. She is said to have ordered "the city to be built where a man hews a threshold of his house".

Czech práh shall be understood here as to be in the river, rapids or cataract: its edge as a passage to the other riverside. Contrarily, although there are a few weirs nowadays, there was not discovered any such geological threshold in the river under the Prague Castle. Thus some derive the name Praha from the stone of the hill, where the original castle was built: na prazě, the original term for shale rock. (In those days, there were forests around the castle, on the nine hills of the future city: the Old Town on the other riverbank as well as the Lesser Town underneath the castle appeared later.)^[7]

History

The history of Prague spans thousands of years, during which time the city grew from a castle known as Vyšehrad to the multicultural capital of a modern European state, the Czech Republic.

Ancient age

The area on which Prague was founded was settled as early as the Paleolithic age. Around 200 BC the Celts had a settlement in the south, called Závist, but later they were replaced by the Marcomanni, a Germanic people and later by the West Slavic people. According to legends, Prague was founded by Libuše and her husband, Přemysl, founder of the dynasty of the same name. Whether this legend is true or not, Prague's first nucleus^{[citation needed]} was a castle on a hill commanding the left (western) bank of the Vltava River: this is known as Prague Castle, to differentiate from another castle, which was later, in the latter part of the 9th century^{[citation needed]}, erected on the opposite right (eastern) bank the Přemyslid fort Vyšehrad, which is now wrongly considered as the oldest one.

The city became the seat of the dukes, and later kings, of Bohemia. Under Emperor Otto II the city became a bishopric in 973. Until Prague was elevated to archbishopric in 1344, it was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Mainz.

It was an important seat for trading where merchants from all of Europe settled, including many Jews, as recalled in 965 by the Jewish merchant and traveller Ibrahim ibn Ya'qub. The Old New Synagogue of 1270 survives.

King Vladislav II had a first bridge on the Vltava built in 1170, the Judith Bridge, which was destroyed by flood in 1342.

In 1257, under King Otakar II, Malá Strana ("Lesser Quarter") was founded in Prague on a place of an older village in the future Hradčany area: it was the district of the German people. These had the right to administrate the law autonomously, pursuant to Magdeburg rights. The new district was on the opposite bank of the Staré Město ("Old Town"), which had a borough status and was defended by a line of walls and fortifications.

The era of Charles IV

The city flourished during the 14th century reign of the king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV of the new Luxembourg dynasty. He ordered the building of the New Town (Nové Město) adjacent to the Old Town. The Charles Bridge was erected to connect the new district to Malá Strana. Monuments by Charles include the Saint Vitus Cathedral, the oldest Gothic cathedral in Central Europe, which is actually inside the castle, and the Charles University. The latter is the oldest university in Central Europe. Prague was then the third-largest city in Europe. Under Charles, Prague was, from 1355, the actual capital of the Holy Roman Empire, and its rank was elevated to that of archbishopric (1344). It had a mint, and German and Italian merchants, as well as bankers, were present in the city. The social order, however, became more turbulent due to the rising power of the craftsmen's guilds (themselves often torn by internal fights), and the presence of increasing number of poor people.

During Easter 1389, members of the Prague clergy announced that Jews had desecrated the host (Eucharistic wafer) and the clergy encouraged mobs to pillage, ransack and burn the Jewish quarter. Nearly the entire Jewish population of Prague (3,000 people) perished.^[8][9]

During the reign of King Wenceslas IV (1378–1419), Jan Hus, a theologian and lector at the Charles University, preached in Prague. In 1402, he began giving sermons in the Bethlehem Chapel. Inspired by John Wycliffe, these sermons focused on reforming the Church. Having become too dangerous for the political and religious establishment, Hus was summoned to the Council of Constance, put on trial for heresy, and burned in Konstanz in 1415. Four years later Prague experienced its first defenestration (the act of throwing someone out the window as a political protest - in this case, the city's councillors out the window of the New Town Hall), when the people rebelled under the command of the Prague priest Jan Želivský. Hus' death, coupled with Czech proto-nationalism and proto-Protestantism, had spurred the so-called Hussite Wars. In 1420, peasant rebels, led by the general Jan Žižka, along with Hussite troops from Prague, defeated the Bohemian King Sigismund, in the Battle of Vítkov Hill.

In the following two centuries, Prague strengthened its role as a merchant city. Many noteworthy Gothic buildings were erected^{[citation needed]}, including the Vladislav Hall of the Prague Castle.

Habsburg era

In 1526, the Kingdom of Bohemia was handed over to the House of Habsburg: the fervent Catholicism of its members was to bring them into conflict in Bohemia, and then in Prague, where Protestant ideas were at the time having increasing success.^{[citation needed]} These problems were not preeminent under Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, elected King of Bohemia in 1576, who chose Prague as his home. He lived in the Prague Castle where his court saw invitations to astrologers and magicians, but also scientists, musicians, and artists. Rudolf was an art lover too and Prague became the capital of European culture. This was a prosperous period for the city: famous people living there in that age include the astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johann Kepler, the painter Arcimboldo, the alchemists Edward Kelley and John Dee, the poetess Elizabeth Jane Weston, and others.

In 1618, the famous second defenestration of Prague provoked the Thirty Years' War, a particularly harsh period for Prague and Bohemia. Ferdinand II of Habsburg was deposed, and his place as King of Bohemia taken by Frederick V, Elector Palatine; however the Czech Army under him was crushed in the Battle of White Mountain (1620) not far from the city. Following this in 1621 was an execution of 27 Czech lords (involved in the Battle of White Mountain) in Old Town Square and an exiling of many others. The city suffered subsequently during the war under Saxon (1631) and Swedish (1648) occupation. Prague began a steady decline which reduced the population from the 60,000 it had had in the years before the war to 20,000. In the second half of the 17th century Prague's population began to grow again. Jews have been in Prague since the end of the 10th century and, by 1708, they accounted for about a quarter of Prague’s population.^[10]

In 1689, a great fire devastated Prague, but this spurred a renovation and a rebuilding of the city. In 1713–14, a major outbreak of plague hit Prague one last time, killing 12–13,000 people.^[11] The economic rise continued through the 18th century, and the city in 1771 had 80,000 inhabitants. Many of these were rich merchants who, together with noblemen of German, Spanish and even Italian origin, enriched the city with a host of palaces, churches and gardens, creating a Baroque style renowned throughout the world. After the Battle of Prague in 1757 the city was badly damaged during a Prussian bombardment.^[12] In 1784, under Joseph II, the four municipalities of Malá Strana, Nové Město, Staré Město, and Hradcany were merged into a single entity. The Jewish district, called Josefov, was included only in 1850. The Industrial Revolution had a strong effect in Prague, as factories could take advantage of the coal mines and ironworks of the nearby region. A first suburb, Karlín, was created in 1817, and twenty years later population exceeded 100,000.

The revolutions that shocked all Europe around 1848 touched Prague too, but they were fiercely suppressed. In the following years the Czech nationalist movement (opposed to another nationalist party, the German one) began its rise, until it gained the majority in the town council in 1861. Prague had German-speaking near-majority in 1848, but by 1880 the German population decreased to 14% (42,000), and by 1910 to 6.7% (37,000), due to a massive increase of the city's overall population caused by the influx of Czechs from the rest of Bohemia and Moravia and also due to the assimilation of some Germans.^[13]

20th century

At the beginning of the 20th century the Czech lands were the most productive part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with 80% of the empire's industrial production and some Czech politics began with attempts to separate it from the Habsburg Empire.^{[citation needed]}

The First Republic

World War I ended with the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the creation of Czechoslovakia. Prague was chosen as its capital and Prague Castle as the seat of president (Tomáš Masaryk). At this time Prague was a true European capital with highly developed industry. By 1930, the population had risen to 850,000.

Second World War

Hitler ordered the German Army to enter Prague on 15 March 1939 and from Prague Castle proclaimed Bohemia and Moravia a German protectorate. For most of its history Prague had been a multiethnic city with important Czech, German and (mostly Czech- and/ or German-speaking) Jewish populations. From 1939, when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, and during World War II, most Jews fled the city.

In 1942, Prague was witness to the assassination of one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany - Reinhard Heydrich (during Operation Anthropoid). Hitler ordered bloody reprisals. At the end of the war Prague suffered several bombing raids by the U.S. Air Force. Over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of buildings, factories and historical landmarks were destroyed (however the damage was small compared to the total destruction of many other cities in that time). Once the outcome of the war was decided and it was known that Germany would surrender to the Allies, Prague revolted against the Nazi occupants on 5 May 1945 two days before Germany capitulated, on May 7. Four days later the Soviet Army entered the city. The majority of the German population either fled or was expelled in the aftermath of the war.

Cold War

Prague was a city in the territory of military and political control of the Soviet Union (see Iron Curtain). The 4th Czechoslovakian Writers' Congress held in the city in 1967 took a strong position against the regime. This spurred the new secretary of the Communist Party, Alexander Dubček to proclaim a new deal in his city's and country's life, starting the short-lived season of the "socialism with a human face". It was the Prague Spring, which aimed at the renovation of institutions in a democratic way. The Soviet Union and its allies reacted with the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the capital in August 1968 by tanks, suppressing any attempt at work.

Era after the Velvet Revolution

In 1989, after the riot police beat back a peaceful student demonstration, the Velvet Revolution crowded the streets of Prague and the Czechoslovak capital benefited greatly from the new mood. In 1993, after the split of Czechoslovakia, Prague became the capital city of the new Czech Republic. In the late 1990s Prague again became an important cultural centre of Europe and was notably influenced by globalisation. In 2000 anti-globalisation protests in Prague (some 15,000 protesters) turned violent during the IMF and World Bank summits. In 2002 Prague suffered from widespread floods that damaged buildings and also its underground transport system. Prague launched a bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics,^[14] but failed to make the candidate city shortlist. Due to low political support, Prague's officials chose in June 2009 to cancel the city's planned bid for 2020 Summer Olympics as well.^[15]

Main sights

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of Europe's (and the world's) most popular tourist destinations. It is the sixth most-visited European city after London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin.^[16] Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Nouveau to Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultra-modern. Some popular sights include:

• Old Town (Staré Město) with its Old Town Square
• The Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on Old Town Square
• The picturesque Charles Bridge (Karlův Most)
• The vaulted Gothic Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga) of 1270.
• New Town (Nové město) with its busy and historic Wenceslas Square
• Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) with its Infant Jesus of Prague
• Prague Castle (Pražský hrad - the largest castle in the world) with its St. Vitus Cathedral
• Josefov (the old Jewish quarter) with Old Jewish Cemetery and Old New Synagogue
• Jan Žižka equestrian statue in Vítkov Park, Žižkov - Prague 3.
• The Lennon Wall
• Vinohrady, a sightly quarter in the centre
• Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague - huge collections of glass, furniture, textile, toys, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Art Deco and so on.
• The museum of the Heydrich assassination in the crypt of the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius
• National Museum
• Vyšehrad Castle & Cemetery where many famous Czechs are buried including the composers Antonín Dvořák & Bedřich Smetana.
• Písek Gate, last preserved city gate of Baroque fortification
• Petřínská rozhledna, an observation tower on Petřín Hill, which resembles the Eiffel Tower
• Anděl. Probably the busiest part of the city with a super modern shopping mall and architecture
• Žižkov Television Tower (Žižkovský vysílač) with observation deck - Prague 3.
• The New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany, location of Franz Kafka's grave - Prague 3.
• The Metronome, a giant, functional metronome that looms over the city
• The Dancing House (Fred and Ginger Building)
• The Mucha Museum, showcasing the Art Nouveau works of Alfons Mucha
• The vast cemeteries that are also used for walks by the locals, such as Olšany Cemetery
• Places connected to writers living in the city, such as Franz Kafka (One popular destination is the Franz Kafka Museum, also his grave at the Jewish cemetery near the metro station želivského)
• The Prague Zoo elected as the 7th best zoo in the world by Forbes magazine

Geography

Location

On the Vltava River in the centre of the Bohemian Basin.

Topography

Similarly to Rome, the city of Prague is spread over nine hills: Letná, Vítkov, Opyš, Větrov, Skalka, Emauzy, Vyšehrad, Karlov and the highest Petřín.^[4]

Climate

The city of Prague experiences a humid continental climate with warm summers and relatively cold winters.

Climate data for Prague

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.4 (63)	18.5 (65)	22.5 (73)	28.6 (83)	32.8 (91)	37.2 (99)	37.8 (100)	36.8 (98)	33.1 (92)	27.0 (81)	19.5 (67)	17.4 (63)	37.8 (100)
Average high °C (°F)	1.4 (35)	2.6 (37)	7.7 (46)	14.0 (57)	18.8 (66)	22.0 (72)	24.2 (76)	24.4 (76)	19.2 (67)	14.2 (58)	6.6 (44)	2.2 (36)	12.7 (55)
Daily mean °C (°F)	-1.1 (30)	-0.3 (31)	3.8 (39)	8.4 (47)	13.6 (56)	16.3 (61)	19.4 (67)	19.3 (67)	14.6 (58)	8.9 (48)	4.4 (40)	0.2 (32)	8.6 (47)
Average low °C (°F)	-3.6 (26)	-3.3 (26)	-0.2 (32)	3.5 (38)	8.4 (47)	12.0 (54)	14.4 (58)	14.0 (57)	10.1 (50)	5.9 (43)	2.4 (36)	-1.7 (29)	4.6 (40)
Record low °C (°F)	-27.5 (-18)	-27.1 (-17)	-27.6 (-18)	-8.0 (18)	-1.6 (29)	3.6 (38)	7.8 (46)	6.4 (44)	0.7 (33)	-7.5 (19)	-16.9 (2)	-24.8 (-13)	-27.6 (-18)
Precipitation mm (inches)	24 (0.94)	23 (0.91)	28 (1.1)	38 (1.5)	77 (3.03)	73 (2.87)	66 (2.6)	70 (2.76)	40 (1.57)	31 (1.22)	32 (1.26)	25 (0.98)	527 (20.75)
Sunshine hours	62	92	124	192	241	254	228	219	166	117	58	43	1,796
% Humidity	87	81	79	71	68	71	73	71	80	84	88	87	78
Avg. precipitation days	14	12	14	11	14	13	18	14	12	14	13	12	161
Source: www.weatheronline.co.uk {{{accessdate}}}
Source #2: http://www.chmi.cz/meteo/ok/extrklem.html {{{accessdate2}}}

Culture

Prague is traditionally one of the cultural centres of Europe, hosting many cultural events.^{[citation needed]}

Significant cultural institutions:

• National Theatre (Národní Divadlo)
• Estates Theatre (Stavovské or Tyršovo or Nosticovo divadlo), premiere of Mozart's Don Giovanni was held there
• The Rudolfinum (home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra)
• The Municipal House (home to Prague Symphony Orchestra)
• The Smetana Theatre (home to the Prague State Opera (Státní opera))
• National Museum (Národní muzeum)
• Museum of the Capital City of Prague
• Jewish Museum in Prague
• Mucha Museum
• Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
• Náprstek Museum (Náprstkovo Muzeum)
• Josef Sudek Gallery
• National Library
• National Gallery

There are hundreds of concert halls, galleries, cinemas and music clubs in the city. Prague hosts Music Festivals including the Prague Spring International Music Festival, the Prague Autumn International Music Festival and the Prague International Organ Festival. Film festivals include the Febiofest, the One World and Echoes of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Prague also hosts the Prague Writers' Festival, the Summer Shakespeare Festival ^[17], the Prague Fringe Festival, the World Roma Festival as well as hundreds of Vernissages and fashion shows.

Many films have been made at the Barrandov Studios. Hollywood movies set in Prague include Mission Impossible, Blade II and xXx. Other Czech films shot in Prague include Empties and The Fifth Horseman is Fear. Also, the music video to "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" by Kanye West was shot in Prague, and features shots of the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock, among other famous landmarks. Prague was also the setting for the film "Dungeons and Dragons" in 2000.

Forbes Traveller Magazine listed Prague Zoo among the world's best zoos.^[18]

The Prague restaurant Allegro received the first Michelin star in the whole of post-Communist Eastern Europe.

With the growth of low-cost airlines in Europe, Prague has become a popular weekend city destination allowing tourists to visit its many museums and cultural sites as well as try its famous Czech beers and hearty cuisine.

Prague sites many buildings by renowned architects, including Adolf Loos (Villa Müller), Frank O. Gehry (Dancing House), or Jean Nouvel (Golden Angel).

Economy

The GDP per capita of Prague is more than double that of the Czech Republic as a whole, with a per-capita GDP (nominal) of $42,983 (purchasing power standard) in 2008, which is 172.6% of the European Union average and 215% of Czech average, ranking Prague among the 5 richest EU regions,^[19] However, the price level is significantly lower than in comparable cities.

The city is the site of the European headquarters of many international companies^{[citation needed]}.

Since the late 1990s, Prague has become a popular filming location for international productions and Hollywood, Bollywood motion pictures. A combination of architecture, low costs and the existing motion picture infrastructure have proven attractive to international film production companies.

Prague's economy is based on various industrial sectors. Prague's industrial sector is split into aircraft engines, diesel engines, refined oil products, electronics, chemicals, food, printing, automobiles etc. Also a significant proportion of research and development is based in Prague. Approximately one-fifth of all investment in the Czech Republic takes place in Prague city.

Almost one-half of the national income from tourism is spent in Prague. The city offers approximately 73,000 beds in accommodation facilities, most of which were built after 1990, including almost 51,000 beds in hotels and boarding houses capable of satisfying all categories of visitors.

Czech Airlines has its head office on the grounds of Ruzyně International Airport in Ruzyně, Prague.^[20]

Colleges and universities

Several universities and colleges are located in the city:

• Charles University (UK) founded in 1348 (the oldest university in Central and Eastern Europe)
• Czech Technical University (ČVUT) founded in 1707
• Academy of Fine Arts (AVU) founded in 1800
• Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (VŠUP) founded in 1885
• Institute of Chemical Technology (VŠCHT) founded in 1920
• Academy of Performing Arts (AMU) founded in 1945
• Czech University of Agriculture (ČZU) founded in 1906/1952
• University of Economics (VŠE) founded in 1953
• Anglo-American College (AAC) founded in 1990
• University of New York in Prague [2] (UNYP) founded in 1998
• University of Northern Virginia in Prague [3] (UNVA) founded in 1998

Science, research and hi-tech centers

The region city of Prague is an important centre of research:

• Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CAS) founded in 1953

...and its institutes:

• Czech Language Institute (Ústav pro jazyk český) founded in 1946
• Institute of Information Theory and Automation (UTIA) founded in 1959

Transport

Public transportation

The public transport infrastructure consists of an integrated transport system of Prague Metro (its length is 59 km with 57 stations in total), Prague Tram System (including the "nostalgic tram" no. 91), buses, the Petřín funicular to Petřín Hill, and five ferries: PID, Pražská integrovaná doprava (English: Prague integrated traffic system) Prague integrated traffic) All services have a common ticketing system, and are run by The Prague Public Transit (Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy, a.s.) and some other companies (full list). Recently, Prague integrated transport coordinator (ROPID) has franchised operation of ferries on the Vltava river, which are also a part of the public transport system with common fares, taxi.

Cars and trucks

The recent situation on the streets is very unpleasant: the main traffic stream of cars leads through the centre of the city. The longest city Tunnel in Europe with a proposed length of 5.5 km and with 5 interchanges with the surface is now being built to relieve congestion in the north-western part of Prague. The tunnel is called Tunel Blanka and it is part of the Municipal Ring Road. Construction started in 2007 and the tunnel is scheduled to be completed in 2011/2012. The southern part of the Prague Ring Road(with a length of almost 17 km) is also under construction with a proposed completion date of April 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Rail

The city forms the hub of the Czech railway system, with services to all parts of the Czech Republic and abroad. There is also a commuter rail system known as Esko Prague which serves the Prague metropolitan area.

Prague's main international railway station is Hlavní nádraží (formerly called and sometimes still referred to as Wilsonovo nádraží). Intercity services also stop at the main stations Praha-Smíchov, Praha-Holešovice, Praha-Libeň and Masarykovo nádraží. In addition to these, there are a number of smaller suburban stations. In the future rail should play a greater role in Prague Public Transport System.^{[citation needed]}

Air

Ruzyně

Prague is served by Ruzyně International Airport, the biggest airport in the Czech Republic and one of the busiest in Central and Eastern Europe. It is the hub of the flag carrier, Czech Airlines, as well as of the low-cost airline Smart Wings operating throughout Europe.

Other airports

Other airports in Prague include the city's original airport at the Kbely north-east district, which is serviced by the Czech Air Force, internationally too: The runway (9-27) at Kbely is 2 km long. The airport also houses the Prague Aviation Museum.

The close airport in Letňany is mainly used for private aviation and aeroclub aviation.

Another close airport is Aero Vodochody aircraft factory's on the north, used for testing purposes, as well as for aeroclub aviation.

Aeroclub airfields

There are a few aeroclubs around Prague: I.e. the Točná airfield is located in the south part of the city, just on the right (east) river bank, and serves mostly as an aeroclub.

Ships and ferries

• Pražská paroplavební společnost
• ferries

Taxis

Taxi services in Prague can be divided into two sectors. There are major taxicab companies, operating call-for-taxi services (radio-taxi) or from regulated taxi stands, and independent drivers, who make pickups on the street. The latter are notorious for overcharging, targeted mainly at foreign tourists and are possibly managed by (mob) crime organizations.^{[citation needed]}

Funiculars

• on Petřín funicular hill
• in ZOO

Sport

Prague is the site of many sports events, national stadiums and teams

• Prague International Marathon
• Slavia Prague -> Europa League
• Sparta Prague -> Europa League
• O₂ arena -> NHL 2008 Opening Game, 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and Euroleague Final Four
• Strahov Stadium — the second-largest stadium in the world
• Mystic SK8 Cup — World cup of skateboarding
• World Ultimate Club Championships 2010 ^[21]

Miscellaneous

Prague is also the site of some of the most important offices and institutions of the Czech Republic.

• President of the Czech Republic
• The Government and both houses of Parliament
• Czech Television and other major broadcasters
• Expats Radio Online Free online radio from the centre of Europe specifically for expatriates
• Radio Free Europe — Radio Liberty
• Prague Institute for Global Urban Development

Prague as a venue

Recent major events held in Prague:

• NATO Summit 2002
• International Monetary Fund and World Bank Summit 2000
• International Olympic Committee Session 2004
• International Astronomical Union General Assembly 2006
• EU & USA Summit 2009

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Prague is involved in a number of official as well as unofficial partnerships with other major world cities.^[22] The city of Prague also maintains its own EU delegation in Brussels called Prague House.^[23]

Partner cities

official: Berlin, Germany (June 10, 1995)[24] Tunis, Tunisia[25] Brussels, Belgium (2003) Madrid, Spain (October 23, 1989)[26] Chicago, Illinois, United States (1990) Frankfurt am Main, Germany (1990)[27] Hamburg, Germany (1990) Teramo, Italy (2005) Kyoto, Japan (1996)[28] Moscow, Russia (2000) Nuremberg, Germany (1990) Paris, France (1997) Phoenix, Arizona, United States (1991) Trento, Italy (2002) Saint Petersburg, Russia (1992)[29] Tirana, Albania[30] Taipei, Taiwan (2001)[31] Jasło, Poland (2008) (only with the Prague 10 district)[32]

unofficial: Baghdad, Iraq Beijing, China Birmingham, England, United Kingdom Bratislava, Slovakia[33] Istanbul, Turkey Budapest, Hungary Copenhagen, Denmark Helsinki, Finland Melaka, Malaysia Jerusalem, Israel Lisbon, Portugal Riga, Latvia Rome, Italy Rotterdam, Netherlands Seoul, South Korea Sofia, Bulgaria Shanghai, China Vienna, Austria Vilnius, Lithuania

Partner cities in the future: Athens, Greece Baku, Azerbaijan Ljubljana, Slovenia Luxembourg, Luxembourg Porthmadog, Wales, United Kingdom Warsaw, Poland Stockholm, Sweden Turin, Italy Miami, Florida, United States

Namesakes

Czech emigration has left a number of namesake cities scattered over the globe, though more heavily concentrated in the New World.

• Praha, Slovakia
• Praha, Texas, United States^[34]
• Prague, Oklahoma, United States^[35]
• Prague, Nebraska, United States^[36]
• New Prague, Minnesota, United States^[37]

See also

• Bethlehem Chapel
• Infant Jesus of Prague
• Golem of Prague
• Districts of Prague
• Famous people connected with Prague
• Prague uprising
• Prague Zoo
• International Youth Leadership Conference (IYLC)

Further reading

Guides

• Prague (Eyewitness Travel Guide by DK Publishing) (2009) excerpt and text search 2006 edition
• Prague (City Guide) by Neil Wilson (2009) excerpt and text search
• Rick Steves' Prague and The Czech Republic by Rick Steves and Honza Vihan (2009) excerpt and text search
• Wilson, Neil. Lonely Planet Prague (2007) excerpt and text search
• Wilson, Paul. Prague: A Traveler's Literary Companion (1995)

Culture and society

• Becker, Edwin et al., ed. Prague 1900: Poetry and Ectasy. (2000). 224 pp.
• Burton, Richard D. E. Prague: A Cultural and Literary History. (2003). 268 pp. excerpt and text search
• Cohen, Gary B. The Politics of Ethnic Survival: Germans in Prague, 1861-1914. (1981). 344 pp.
• Fucíková, Eliska, ed. Rudolf II and Prague: The Court and the City. (1997). 792 pp.
• Holz, Keith. Modern German Art for Thirties Paris, Prague, and London: Resistance and Acquiescence in a Democratic Public Sphere. (2004). 359 pp.
• Iggers, Wilma Abeles. Women of Prague: Ethnic Diversity and Social Change from the Eighteenth Century to the Present. (1995). 381 pp. online edition
• Porizka, Lubomir; Hojda, Zdenek; and Pesek, Jirí. The Palaces of Prague. (1995). 216 pp.
• Sayer, Derek. "The Language of Nationality and the Nationality of Language: Prague 1780-1920." Past & Present 1996 (153): 164-210. Issn: 0031-2746 Fulltext: in Jstor
• Spector, Scott. Prague Territories: National Conflict and Cultural Innovation in Kafka's Fin de Siècle. (2000). 331 pp. online edition
• Svácha, Rostislav. The Architecture of New Prague, 1895-1945. (1995). 573 pp.
• Wittlich, Peter. Prague: Fin de Siècle. (1992). 280 pp.

References

Notes

External links

• Official Website
• Prague City Hall Website
• Prague Information Service
• Prague travel guide from Wikitravel

Districts and cadastral areas of Prague  Former names shown in italics Administrative districts Prague 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 (Radotín) · 17 (Řepy) · 18 (Letňany) · 19 (Kbely) · 20 (Horní Počernice) · 21 (Újezd nad Lesy) · 22 (Uhříněves) Municipal districts Běchovice · Benice · Březiněves · Čakovice · Ďáblice · Dolní Chabry · Dolní Měcholupy · Dolní Počernice · Dubeč · Kbely · Klánovice · Koloděje · Kolovraty · Královice · Křeslice · Kunratice · Libuš · Lipence · Lochkov · Lysolaje · Nebušice · Nedvězí · Petrovice · Přední Kopanina · Řeporyje · Satalice · Slivenec · Suchdol · Šeberov · Štěrboholy · Troja · Újezd (u Průhonic) · Velká Chuchle · Vinoř · Zbraslav · Zličín Cadastral areas Běchovice · Benice · Bohnice · Braník · Břevnov · Březiněves · Bubeneč · Čakovice · Černý Most · Chodov · Cholupice · Čimice · Ďáblice · Dejvice · Dolní Chabry · Dolní Měcholupy · Dolní Počernice · Dubeč · Háje · Hájek · Hloubětín · Hlubočepy · Hodkovičky · Holešovice · Holyně · Horní Měcholupy · Horní Počernice · Hostavice · Hostivař · Hradčany · Hrdlořezy · Jinonice · Josefov (Jewish Quarter) · Kamýk · Karlín · Kbely · Klánovice · Kobylisy · Koloděje · Kolovraty · Komořany · Košíře · Královice · Krč · Křeslice · Kunratice · Kyje · Lahovice · Letňany · Lhotka · Libeň · Liboc · Libuš · Lipany · Lipence · Lochkov · Lysolaje · Malá Chuchle · Malá Strana ("Lesser Town") · Malešice · Michle · Miškovice · Modřany · Motol · Nebušice · Nedvězí · Nové Město ("New Town") · Nusle · Petrovice · Písnice · Pitkovice · Podolí · Přední Kopanina · Prosek · Radlice · Radotín · Řeporyje · Řepy · Ruzyně · Satalice · Sedlec · Slivenec · Smíchov · Sobín · Staré Město ("Old Town") · Štěrboholy · Stodůlky · Strašnice · Střešovice · Střížkov · Suchdol · Točná · Třebonice · Třeboradice · Troja · Uhříněves · Újezd nad Lesy · Újezd (u Průhonic) · Veleslavín · Velká Chuchle · Vinohrady · Vinoř · Vokovice · Vršovice · Vyšehrad · Vysočany · Záběhlice · Zadní Kopanina · Zbraslav · Žižkov · Zličín

Regions of the Czech Republic  Central Bohemia · Hradec Králové · Karlovy Vary · Liberec · Moravia-Silesia · Olomouc · Pardubice · Plzeň · Prague · South Bohemia · South Moravia · Ústí nad Labem · Vysočina · Zlín

Administrative seats of Czech regions  Brno • České Budějovice • Hradec Králové • Jihlava • Karlovy Vary • Liberec • Ostrava • Olomouc • Pardubice • Plzeň • Prague • Ústí nad Labem • Zlín

World Heritage Sites in the Czech Republic  Český Krumlov · Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž · Holašovice Historical Village Reservation · Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc · Jewish Quarter and St. Procopius' Basilica, Třebíč · Kutná Hora · Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape · Litomyšl Castle · Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk · Prague · Telč · Tugendhat Villa, Brno

Capital cities of the Member States of the European Union Amsterdam · Athens · Berlin · Bratislava · Brussels · Bucharest · Budapest · Copenhagen · Dublin · Helsinki · Lisbon · Ljubljana · London · Luxembourg City · Madrid · Nicosia · Paris · Prague · Riga · Rome · Sofia · Stockholm · Tallinn · Valletta · Vienna · Vilnius · Warsaw

Capitals of European states and territories Capitals of non-sovereign territories or constituent nations shown in bold italics Western Northern Central Southern Eastern Amsterdam, Netherlands Andorra la Vella, Andorra Brussels, Belgium 5 Douglas, Isle of Man4 Dublin, Ireland Lisbon, Portugal London, United Kingdom Luxembourg, Luxembourg Madrid, Spain Monaco, Monaco Paris, France 1 Saint Helier, Jersey4 Saint Peter Port, Guernsey4 Copenhagen, Denmark Helsinki, Finland Longyearbyen, Svalbard Mariehamn, Åland Islands Oslo, Norway Reykjavík, Iceland Riga, Latvia Stockholm, Sweden Tallinn, Estonia Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Vilnius, Lithuania Belgrade, Serbia Berlin, Germany Bern, Switzerland Bratislava, Slovakia Budapest, Hungary Ljubljana, Slovenia Prague, Czech Republic Vienna, Austria Warsaw, Poland Vaduz, Liechtenstein Zagreb, Croatia Ankara, Turkey 1 Athens, Greece Gibraltar, Gibraltar4 Nicosia, Cyprus 2, Northern Cyprus 2, 3 Podgorica, Montenegro Pristina, Kosovo 3 Rome, Italy San Marino, San Marino Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Skopje, Macedonia Tirana, Albania Valletta, Malta Vatican City, Vatican City Astana, Kazakhstan 1 Baku, Azerbaijan 1 Bucharest, Romania Chişinău, Moldova Kiev, Ukraine Minsk, Belarus Moscow, Russia 1 Sofia, Bulgaria Sukhumi, Abkhazia 3 Tbilisi, Georgia 1 Tskhinvali, South Ossetia 3 Yerevan, Armenia 2 1 Transcontinental country.  2 Entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe.  3 Partially recognised country.  4 Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.  5 Also the seat of the European Union, see Location of European Union institutions and Brussels and the European Union.

European Capitals of Culture 1985 Athens · 1986 Florence · 1987 Amsterdam · 1988 West Berlin · 1989 Paris · 1990 Glasgow · 1991 Dublin · 1992 Madrid · 1993 Antwerp · 1994 Lisbon · 1995 Luxembourg City · 1996 Copenhagen · 1997 Thessaloniki · 1998 Stockholm · 1999 Weimar · 2000 Reykjavík · Bergen · Helsinki · Brussels · Prague · Kraków · Santiago de Compostela · Avignon · Bologna · 2001 Rotterdam · Porto · 2002 Bruges · Salamanca · 2003 Graz · 2004 Genoa · Lille · 2005 Cork · 2006 Patras · 2007 Luxembourg City and Greater Region · Sibiu · 2008 Liverpool · Stavanger · 2009 Linz · Vilnius · 2010 Essen · Istanbul · Pécs · 2011 Turku · Tallinn · 2012 Maribor · Guimarães · 2013 Košice  · Marseille