Czech Republic - Cities

Prague is the Czech capital and, above all, a city of global renown. As one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, it is also known as the "Golden City". In Prague, many historically valuable buildings are gathered along the Vltava which runs through Prague for 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) and is serviced by 18 respectable bridges. The highlight of the city, however, is certainly the Hradcany, the fortress quarter above the historical city centre.

The Hradcany, a part of the city's core which was strongly shaped by Karl IV, was in 1992 included in UNESCO's list of Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites. This core includes the Old Town with its winding streets, the former "Jewish Quarter" which was the precursor to Josef's Quarter (Josefov), the New Town, Lesser Town, and the Vyšehrad castle. Numerous places of interest compete with rich cultural offerings for the attention of visitors.
After Prague, the city of Plzeň is the second-largest city in Bohemia. It is known for its very large central square along which rows of houses from the time of the Renaissance and the Baroque era are situated. However, the city is even more famous for its beer - not just for "Urquell", but, as many maintain, the name "Pils" which can be traced back to this city.

Brno is the former capital of Moravia and is some thousand years older than Prague. This history expresses itself in entire rows of older buildings whose prominent works feature a late gothic Jacobian church, the old town hall, and the cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. In the meantime, the history of the city has changed somewhat and industry is indeed present, but it does not detract from the unhurried core of the city.

Of course, there are still further cities in the Czech Republic well worth discovering.