Prague – overview

One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Prague sits on the River Vltava in central Bohemia. Its official name is Praha which simply means the Capital City of Prague. In addition to being the Czech Republic capital, Prague is the largest city in the republic. Approximately 1.9 million people call the city’s metropolitan area home. The city itself is home to about 1.2 million residents. Rich in history, Prague has been the economic, political and cultural centre of the Czech Republic for the last 100 years.

Prague is one of the most visited cities in the world. This earned it a 1992 ranking in the UNESCO listing of World Heritage Sites. Nicknames for this popular location include: “the city of a hundred spires”; “the mother of cities”; and simply “the golden city”. Legend has it that a princess named Libuse married a humble man named Premysl and together the pair founded the Premysl dynasty. From her castle in Premysl, the princess saw many prophecies. One in particular presented her with a vision of a “golden city”, the city of Prague. Placed in the centre of the forest and reaching the tips of the River Vltava, this city will receive honour and praise bestowed upon it by the entire world.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague quickly became one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. Earning it the distinct title of the sixth most visited city of Europe, after places such as London; Rome and Berlin. Minor damage was sustained during World War II. Therefore, much of the city’s historic attractions remained intact. Prague is home to some of the most pristine architecture collections ranging from Art Nouveau to Baroque and Neo-Classical. Notable sites around the city include: Prague Castle; The Lennon Wall; The Dancing House and the Metronome.

As the cultural centre of Europe, Prague is home to countless concert halls; galleries; music clubs and cinemas. Some of the most well known venues include the State Opera; the National Museum; and the Rudolfinum which the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra calls home. Since the late 1990’s, Prague has become a hot spot for international and Hollywood film production crews. The stunning architecture and existing motion picture infrastructure make Prague a desirable filming location.

Prague presents a strong economical front. In 2004, its GDP per capita exceed more than double that of the Czech Republic as a whole. This is approximately 157.1% of the European National Average. This distinction placed Prague among the twelve richest European areas. For this reason, many international companies are choosing to start business in the city. Likewise, many international companies are relocating company headquarters to Prague. Currently, Prague is bidding for the honour of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.