coll. - Prague

How To Use This E-Book

This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With top-quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the worlds most exciting destinations.

Best Routes

The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destinations many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also excursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments options are shown in the Food and Drink box at the end of each tour.

Introduction

The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

Directory

Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised AZ of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafs and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

Getting around the e-book

In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

Maps

All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

Images

Youll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

2017 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

Table of Contents

Recommended Routes For...

Architecture buffs

Wenceslas Square () add to the mix.

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Art enthusiasts

The citys major showcases for art include the National Gallery ().

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Classic cafs

Take time out at a traditional caf in the Old Town (); check out such classic institutions as Caf Slavia, Caf Louvre and Caf Imperial.

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Children

Children can marvel at the albino peacocks and owls at the Waldstein Palace ().

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Czech beer

Those eager to check out the local brew should head for Smchov (), home to the famous Staropramen Brewery, which holds hour-long guided tours (with tastings).

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History hunters

Start at the Castle (), where its said the city was founded.

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Music lovers

Follow in the footsteps of Smetana ().

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Parks and gardens

The citys green spaces include the gardens of the Waldstein Palace ().

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Explore Prague

Prague is one of the most beautiful and intriguing cities in Europe, justly famous for its Old Town and Castle. Yet beyond the crowds is another equally fascinating city of galleries, gardens and iconic design.

Located at the heart of Europe, Prague (Praha in Czech) has been the capital of the ancient realm of Bohemia for centuries. During the Middle Ages it rose to prominence as the capital of Charles IVs vast empire. As Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of much of Western Europe, he was probably the most powerful man in the world at the time (131678).

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries the city was the seat of the Habsburg Court and it became the capital of the newly independent country of Czechoslovakia in 1918. After a coup dtat in 1948, Czechs chafed under the yoke of Communist rule; but when the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, it unveiled Pragues wealth of cultural treasures.

Into Mal Strana

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Geography and Layout

Prague used to be known as the Five Towns, and although it has now been divided into 10 separate districts, most visitors concentrate on the five historic towns: Hradany; Star Msto (Old Town); Mal Strana (Lesser Quarter); Nov Msto (New Town); and the former ghetto of the Jewish Quarter, known as Josefov. The citys administration was finally unified under the rule of Joseph II (178090), and the separate town halls are now merely reminders of previous autonomy.

In earlier times, the inhabitants of the congested Old Town and Jewish Quarter must have felt envious when they looked across to the New Town, where the far-sighted designs of Charles IV (134678) and his architects had created broad open spaces and avenues such as the Charles and Wenceslas squares. Today, however, the Old Town has been beautifully restored and the Jewish Quarters Pask is a chic avenue lined with expensive shops.