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Prague - the heart of Europe |
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Written by jane69
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Tuesday, 27 September 2005 |
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Page 1 of 2  | | Statues on Charles Bridge |
A thousand years of history, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Neo Classical, Art Nouveau – all of this is Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic.
Euphoria accompanied the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 was destroyed in 1939 when the country became Hitler’s occupied territory. Liberation in 1945 was quickly followed in 1948 by a communist coup, beginning forty years of totalitarian rule from Moscow. The brutal Stalinist repression of the fifties gave way to reform in the sixties and hope during “the Prague Spring” for “socialism with a human face”, only to be crushed in 1968 by the tanks of the Warsaw Pact. The 1989 Velvet Revolution brought new hope once again, and paved the way for the nation to return to democratic Europe.
 | | Astronomical clock |
The visit of Prague begins almost on Old Town square (Staromestske namesti) with the famous Astronomical Clock (Orloj) adorning the Old Town Hall (Radnice). Next the turbulent events of Czech history are described in the buildings and monuments that circle the square.
 A visit to the Jewish quarter (Zidovska ctvrt - Josefov) leads you to its tragic history. The history of Prague’s Jewish Quarter is full of captivating stories of its inhabitants. The Jewish community in Prague can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Learn about Rabbi Loew and his famous Golem, Mordecai Maisel and his great wealth. You can discover the destiny of Prague Jews living behind the wall of the former Ghetto and explore the Old-New Synagogue (Staronova synagoga), the Old Jewish Cemetery (Zidovsky hrbitov) or the Jewish Museum (Zidovske muzeum). Visit the places where the fabulous Golem was created and follow the footsteps of the famous Jewish writer Franz Kafka.
 | | National Museum |
Crooked lines lead you from the Jewish quarter into Prague’s past: the medieval courtyard of Ungelt or the Charles University (Karlova Univerzita) since 1348. The Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti) in the New Town, the heart of modern Prague, gives you a testimony of the year 1968 when the Soviet tanks came to stabilize the communism regime until the year 1989 when the Velvet Revolution brought democracy again. The Wenceslas Square dominates the National Museum, an enormous Neo-Renaissance palace.
 | | Charles Bridge by sunset |
After visiting the Bethlehem Chapel (Betlemska kaple), preaching church of medieval reformer Jan Hus, the narrow streets take you to the Charles Bridge (Karluv most), the real “open gallery under the sky”. The Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with Lesser Town. The first bridge over the Vltava River,  | | Certovka |
named Judith Bridge, was built in the 12th century. This bridge was destroyed in in 1342. In 1357, the King Charles IV started the construction of a new bridge. The Charles Bridge is 1,650 feet long and rest on 16 arches. The statues were placed on the bridge in the 17th century; the statue of St. John of Nepomuk was the first one. Today about 30 sculptures decorate the Charles Bridge. From Charles Bridge you view the spectacular panorama formed by Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad) and the Lesser Quarter. Visit also the 155 feet high Charles Bridge Tower. From here you will have a great view over the most beautiful parts of Prague.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 November 2005 )
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A visit to the Jewish quarter (Zidovska ctvrt - Josefov) leads you to its tragic history. The history of Prague’s Jewish Quarter is full of captivating stories of its inhabitants. The Jewish community in Prague can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Learn about Rabbi Loew and his famous Golem, Mordecai Maisel and his great wealth. You can discover the destiny of Prague Jews living behind the wall of the former Ghetto and explore the Old-New Synagogue (Staronova synagoga), the Old Jewish Cemetery (Zidovsky hrbitov) or the Jewish Museum (Zidovske muzeum). Visit the places where the fabulous Golem was created and follow the footsteps of the famous Jewish writer Franz Kafka.;)
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