The magical city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, whose image has been mirrored in the surface of the Vltava river for more than ten centuries. Prague is also a modern European metropolis full of energy, music, and art. It's a city of contrasts: Serene green isles in the river and peaceful parks draping the city's seven hills are just steps away from the architectural treasures and bustling street life of the city centre. It's a place where different architectural styles stand cheek by jowl, creating an atmosphere that's both intimate and romantic, and quite impossible to forget once you have visited the city.

The 1.3 million-strong capital is among the most visited cities in Central Europe and, understandably, the most popular Czech destination. Prague is a living textbook of different architectural styles, where Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque structures stand side by side with examples of Art Nouveau, Cubist, and functionalist architecture.

Prague’s architectural heritage is also reflected in a number of adventurous modern structures. Since time immemorial, the city was a garden of Czech, German, and Jewish cultures. Their mutual symbiosis was torn apart by the events of World War II – the Holocaust, the post-war transfer of ethnic Germans into Germany, and the Cold War, which for a long time isolated the city and the country from the democratic world.

Since 1989, Prague is once again enjoying a vibrant cultural and social life. The city hosts many international cultural and sports events. Dozens of galleries and museums attract visitors to their permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, displaying artistic and craft treasures of all periods and places of origin. Prague is also a major centre of higher learning, with the illustrious Charles University (founded in 1348) ranking among the oldest universities on the Continent.

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