Prague, the capital of the Czech republic, is the most valuable historical city reserve in Czech republic. In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.
"Praga caput regni" has been inscribed in the Prague´s coat of arms. And rightly so. Since its beginnings Prague has always played an important role in the history of the nation, the country and Europe.
Since the Middle Ages Prague has been famous as one of the most beautiful cities of the world, and has been attributed adjectives such as "golden", "hundred-spired", "the crown of the world", "a stone dream". Throughout centuries prominent personalities paid homage to it. W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, F. M. Dostojevsky, A. Rodin, G. Apollinaire, P. I. Tchaikovsky, O. Kokoschka and also the British Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II professed their beguilement by its attractiveness and architectural beauty. The native town is reflected in the works of Jan Neruda, Jaroslav Hasek, Jaroslav Seifert, Franz Kafka, Max Brod or Egon Erwin Kisch.
Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle which towers high above the city. It is a specimen of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava river and consists of 6 parts - formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century. They are as follows:
- Stare Mesto (Old Town)
- Josefov (Jewish Town)
- Nove Mesto (New Town)
- Mala Strana (Lesser Town)
- Hradcany and Vysehrad
Naturally, most of the historical monuments, museums and galleries are concentrated right there.