Tourist Information for Prague

Thunovská 14, Prague 1, 118 00
Phone: 257 402 111

The Czech Republic is situated approximately in the geographical centre of Europe. It is a landlocked country, sharing boarders with; Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. Since ancient times, the Czech lands have been the crossroads of European cultures and continues at present, to be a source of inspiration to weekend holiday guests from all corners of the world. Today, Prague is one of the biggest destinations for, a weekends break, romantic getaways, tours and short breaks abroad in Europe. And it is not hard to understand why. The overwhelming wealth of natural beauty the Czech Republic posses and the sheer quantity of famous monuments of national heritage, contribute greatly to the countries global prestige as a major city breaks destination in Europe. The Czech Republic is not only adored for its breathing taking capital, Prague, but it’s also loved for its charming towns, castles and Chateaux’s. There are so many delightful experiences to be had in this wonderful country, from bathing in luxurious spas and visiting countryside villages to skiing in the mountains and white water rafting along the Vltava River, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The Czech Republic is a Land of fascination and pristine beauty and is the land of diverse culture and heritage that is able to reveal new sides of interest upon each visit. Whether you’re deciding to try one of our Prague tailor made tours or to escape for a short weekend break holiday in Prague, the Czech Republic will be the ideal holiday destination. “The Czech Republic is still all things to all people” (Lonely Planet)

Celtic Tribes were the first people to settle within the Czech lands around the 4th century BC, later to be replaced by the Germanic tribes and around the 6th century AD, the Slavs finally reached the territory from the east. In the 7th century, a Frankish merchant Samo succeeded in uniting the Slavic tribes under his empire and defeating the tribe of the Avars that occupied today's Hungary. Around 830, the Great Moravian Empire was established, which expanded to include; Slovakia, southern Poland and western Hungary. Around 880, Prague Castle was founded by prince Borivoj and the seat of power was moved there. Several churches, such as the St. Vitus rotunda, were built and foundations of the Vysehrad Castle were laid in the 10th century. During this time, the Czech lands became politically, culturally and economically important. Prague began to flourish, as its geographical positioning made it an ideal crossroads for trade routes, and the Old Town was founded in 1234. When the Premyslid dynasty ended in 1306, the Czech throne was taken by John of Luxembourg who ruled the country from 1310 to 1346. During his reign, the territory of the Czech lands expanded and Prague continued to grow. However, it was during his son’s reign, that the Czech Republic experienced the Golden Age of their history. King Charles IV was a highly educated man, an excellent diplomat and a respected king. He established Prague as the cultural capital of central Europe and made it one of the most prosperous European cities at the time. In 1348, Prague's New Town was founded, the Charles University was established to become the first university in Central Europe and the Karlstejn castle was founded to protect the imperial jewels and other treasures. The construction of the famous Charles Bridge began in 1357 at the place where Judith Bridge once stood. Charles IV is remembered as the most beloved Czech king and the "father of the Czech nation". The 15th century is marked by conflicts between the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church. During the religious Hussite wars (from 1420 to 1434) many historical artifacts & valuable literature was destroyed. After some 20 years without a ruler, the Hussites elected a Czech Protestant, George of Podebrady (Jiri z Podebrad), as the country's new king in 1458. The Hussite king Jiir became another beloved king in Czech history. He led a policy of peace and wished to unite the whole Europe in one peaceful nation. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned the Czech king in 1576 and moved his court back to Prague in 1583, thus promoting Prague to the imperial seat of power again. This era is sometimes referred to as Prague's Second Golden Age. Rudolf was obsessed with art and science, not spending much time on his royal duties, and made Prague the centre of science and alchemy. A nationalist movement called the National Revival started at the end of the 18th century, attempting to bring the Czech language, culture and national identity back to life. Czech institutions were established to celebrate the Czech history and culture. With the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I, the Czech lands and Slovakia jointly proclaimed the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918. Prague became the capital of the country and the Prague Castle became the seat of the first president of Czechoslovakia. In September 1938, Germany, Britain, France and Italy signed the Munich Pact, giving Hitler the right to invade and claim Czechoslovakia's border areas. The end of the war came with the Prague Uprising on May 5, 1945 and the subsequent liberation of Prague by the Soviet Red Army on May 9. Soon after WWII, the power in the country went largely to the hands of the Communist Party. The Communist Party seized complete power after the coup d'etat on February 25, 1948. This event marked the start of the Communist totalitarian regime that lasted until the Velvet Revolution of 1989. The economy went steadily down under the socialist regime. Basic human rights were suppressed. The 1960s were a time of greater political and cultural freedom and changes were made in the Communist Party itself. The Communist Party attempted to create a more humane version of socialism, 1968, five Warsaw Pact member countries invaded Czechoslovakia and Soviet troops continued to occupy the country until 1989. The late 1980s are characterized by public demonstrations. A week after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, the Velvet Revolution brought an end to communism. On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two independent countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Havel was elected the first president of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and was approved to become a member of the European Union in 2002. On May 1, 2004 the Czech Republic joined the EU along with 10 other nations. However, the only way to truly discover Czech Republic’s fascinating history, culture and general way of life is to book a citybreak holiday. Contact the Prague Travel experts or browse on-line through our Czech city break deals and luxury short break packages. Enjoy our passionate and professional holiday services. Travel with the Prague breaks experts, a company that dedicates itself to its valued clients.