Regional Capital: Capital City Prague Governor:MUDr. Pavel Bém Area: 496 km2 Number of inhabitants: 1 164 108
Uniqueness of the region: Its statute of the capital of the Czech Republic, of the seat of the President
and of most public offices and of the cultural and transport centre of the Czech Republic itself makes Prague unique.
Also the well-preserved historical centre of the city with area of 866 hectares, which is listed in the UNESCO World Cultural
and Natural Heritage Register since 1992, is unique.
Significant historical event: Since its very origin, Prague played an important role in the history of both
the nation and the country, as well as Europe. It has risen on the crossroad of ancient trade routes, in a place where
antagonistic political, power and dynastic interests clashed with each other, where various intellectual and cultural streams
mingle and wherefrom also impulses enriching the contemporary Europe emanated. Considering the importance of the city, many
historical events affecting the whole country are connected to Prague. From the important events in the history of the
city, the following should be named:
after 870 - foundation of the Prague Castle
10th century - the Vyšehrad Castle founded on the opposite bank of the Vltava river
1085 - Prague became the Royal City - the seat of the first Czech King, Vratislav I.
1344 - the Prague bishopric was promoted to archbishopric and the building of the Cathedral of St. Vitus,
St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert (completed in 1929) was started
1346 - 1378 - the epoch of Charles IV. - Prague is the capital of the Czech Kingdom and of the Holy Roman Empire
1348 - establishment of the first university in the Middle Europe (the Charles' University)
1419-1437 - clergy endeavour to reform the church led to the Hussite Revolutionary Movement (Jan Hus - reformatory
preacher, martyr)
1583-1611 - Rudolf II. is the Czech King; Prague is the seat of the Emperor, the focus of the social and cultural
life
1784 - 1848 - the time of revival of the Czech nation, start of the industrial revolution, origination of the Czech
institutions
1918 - declaration of the independence of Czechoslovakia, Prague becomes the capital of the new state
1939-1945 - occupation by Nazi Germany
1945 - Prague Uprising, liberation of Prague by the Soviet Army
1948 - after the February Putsch, ascending of KSČ (the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia) to power
1968 - the Prague Spring - an attempt at "Socialism with Human Face", intervention of the five states of the Warsaw
Pact
1989 - so-called "Velvet Revolution", Václav Havel elected the president
1993, January 1 - division of the federation, origination of the independent Czech Republic
1993, January 26 - Václav Havel elected the first president of the independent Czech Republic
1999, March 12 - entry of the Czech Republic into NATO
Significant cultural monument:
The historical centre of the city listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register
The Prague Castle, historic objects of the Prague Castle:
the Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St. George, the Convent
of St. George, the Picture Gallery of the Prague Castle, the Lobkovic Palace, the Powder Tower Mihulka, the Golden Lane,
the Daliborka Tower, the Summerhouse of Queen Anna, the Ball Game House (Míčovna), the Prague Castle Riding Hall, the Prague
Castle Gardens.
The Old Town Square, the Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock (Horologe), the Charles Bridge, the Lesser-Town Bridge
Towers, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Old-New Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Jewish Museum - Synagogues, Loretta,
the Strahov Monastery, the Petřín Lookout Tower, the Labyrinth, the St. Nicolas Church, the Church of Our Lady
Victorious (the Infant Jesus of Prague), the Wallenstein Palace, the Palace Gardens bellow the Prague Castle, Clementinum,
the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the Týn Yard - Ungelt, the Powder Tower, the Municipal House, the Bethlehem Chapel,
the Estates Theatre, Rudolfinum (the Artists' House), the National Theatre, the National Museum, Carolinum, the New Town Hall,
the St. Wenceslas' Statue, Vyšehrad, the Jan Žižka of Trocnov Memorial, the Břevnov Monastery, the Industrial Palace.
Significant natural locality:
The Prague gardens and parks - total of 870 hectares
The best known include the Royal Game Preserve, which stretches on the area of 95 hectares at present and the origin of
which fall within the period of the Přemysl Otakar II. rule and Petřín with its Lobkovic Garden, Nebozízek, Rosarium,
Labyrinth Park and Seminary Garden.
The Prague Castle Gardens
The Royal Garden - founded in 1534, the South Gardens: Paradise, Hartigovská, On the Ramparts, and also gardens On the
Bastion, On the Riding Hall Terrace, the Upper and Lower Deer Gully and the Masaryk Vista.
Barrandov Rocks
Important paleontological locality rich in fossils; Prokopské údolí (Prokop Valey) - unique geological and natural formation
with area of 740 hectares.
Tourist destination:
Prague is one of the most attractive European cities for tourists. 80 % the tourists who visit the Czech Republic come to Prague.
Also the infrastructure of the city, which keeps on developing, adapts to the large number of tourists. In particular after 1989,
many new accommodation and food facilities was opened, new galleries, museums and theatres that focus also on the foreign visitors
originated, a number of travel bureaux and tourist agencies aiming at the incoming travel trade emerged. The Capital City Prague
is the promoter of the Prague Information Service (PIS), the main task of which are provision of information and travel trade
services and promotion of Prague. This is secured by 4 Information Centres in the city centre, a special Telephone
Information Centre and the PIS Website.
The historical centre of the city is listed in the UNESCO Register. There are well-preserved monuments from all architectural
periods - from Romanesque rotundas, through Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance palaces, rich Baroque, Rococo, Greek Revival,
Neo-Renaissance and Art Noveau buildings, up to the modern Cubism - open to public in the city. Also the unique buildings
from first half of the twentieth century and the contemporary modern dominants are worth seeing.
Cooperation with Japan
Cultural Co-operation of the Capital City Prague with Kyoto after the signature of the "Declaration"
The Declaration on Partner Relations between the Capital City Prague and Kyoto was signed by the representatives of both cities
in Prague on April 15, 1996.
1996 - assistance and co-operation. To commemorate the signing of the Declaration, the festival KYOTO - PRAGUE FRIENDSHIP
FESTA 96 was organised on initiative of the Kyoto artists and with assistance of both cities in Prague on November 15 through
18, 1996. The successful program of the festival was visited by 4000 spectators. The Capital City Prague participated
in the festival by continuous co-operation with its organisers, by securing the Czech cultural program on the opening of the
festival and by taking part in all program activities.
1997/1998 - reciprocal cultural exchange involving no allotment of foreign currency
In self-production of the Culture Departments of the City Councils of both cities, the following actions were carried
out:
The Week of Prague Culture in Kyoto on October 24 through 28, 1997
The Prague culture was presented on the Kyoto Festival Matsuri and the Kyoto Music Festival. The program took place with great
interest and also considerable number of visitors.
The Week of Kyoto Culture in Prague on September 2 through 6, 1998
Attractive and interesting program of the Kyoto cultural presentation, which was focused on the traditional Japanese art,
was visited by 6000 inhabitants and visitors of Prague.
Both actions, which included official social and protocol activities (press conferences, receptions), cultural programs for the
public (expositions, concerts, theatre, dancing) and visit programs for the participants (all-day tours of the cities and Parting
Dinners), were in all respects fruitful and successful. The cultural programs took place in the planned extent and
on high artistic level. The actions went on in very friendly environment, good organisation and promotion of them was secured
on both sides.
The mutual cultural presentation gave concrete content to the "Declaration" in the area of culture and contributed a great part
not only to the further development of the cultural relations of both cities, but above all to establishing more
intensive contacts between their artists, inhabitants and institutions.
2002 - Week of Japan in Prague with participation of Kyoto artists
In 2002, the Capital City Prague became the host and cosponsor of the 27th year of the Week of Japan organised by the
International Friendship Foundation under the patronage of Japan. The Week of Japan in Prague 2002, which became the
largest cultural action of the year, took place on November 5 through 10, 2002. The program of the large
multidisciplinary presentation of the traditional Japanese art was presented by 1500 both professional and amateur artists
from various Japanese cities. The opening of the action was dedicated to the Partner City, Kyoto. The artists from Kyoto
introduced to the Prague inhabitants an excellent program in Divadlo na Vinohradech (the Vinohrady Theatre) house
filled to its capacity on November 5, 2002. The Kyoto artists presented themselves also in the rest of the program.
The program of the Week of Japan in Prague was visited by almost 29 thousand inhabitants and visitors of Prague.
Jan Šrámek
Public Relations Department
Magistrát hl. m. Prahy
Mariánské nám. 2
110 01 Praha 1
Phone: +420 236 002 856
e-mail: jan.sramek@cityofprague.cz
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