10. The Czech Republic - cities

10. THE CZECH REPUBLIC – CITIES

PRAGUE

• Prague isthecapital and thelargest city in the Czech Republic

• it’slocated in central Bohemia

• it’simportantpolitical, culturalandeconomic centreofthe Czech Republic

• HISTORY:

  • Prague wastheimportant centre in the pasttoo

  • duringthereinof Charles IV.itwasthecapitalofHoly Roman Empire

  • and duringthereinof Rudolf II. itwasthe centre theHabsburg monarchy

• PLACES OF INTEREST:

  • CHARLES UNIVERSITY

    • isoneoftheoldiestuniversities in Europe

    • itwasfounded in 1348 by Charles IV.

  • PRAGUE CASTLE

    • istheseatofthe Czech president

    • thereisalsoanimportantcathedralcalled St. VitusCathedral

  • CHARLES BRIDGE

    • isa largebridgeoverthe Vltava river

    • itwasfounded in 1357 by Charles IV.

    • and it’sdecoratedwithbaroquestatues

  • WENCESLAS SQUARE

    • istraditionalplace fordemonstrationsorcelebrations

    • it’snamedafterSt. Wenceslaswho has his statuethere

  • THE NATIONAL THEATREandTHE NATIONAL MUSEUM–are importantculturalbuilding

  • THE OLD TOWN SQUARE withTHE ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK

• FESTIVALS:

  • everyyearthere are many popular festival and events

  • f.ex. THE PRAGUE SPRING whichisaninternational music festivalwherethesymphonyorchestras are performed

  • orTHE PRAGUE MARATHON whichisin May and runnershave to run over a 42 kilometres

  • there are Chrismasmarkets in winterwhereyoucanbuygifts, food or drink

BRNO

• isthe second largest city in the Czech Republic

• itwasoncecalledthe „Moravian Manchester“becauseifitsarchitecture

• someofthepopularplaces are ŠPILBERG CASTLE orVILLA TUGENDHAT

ČESKÝ KRUMLOV

• is a UNESCO protected city

• thereis a beautifulcastle and historical centre

PLZEŇ and ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

• are internationallyfamousfortheirbeers → Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar

KARLOVY VARY – isa famousspatown and ithostsaninternational film festival

ZLÍN – ishome to the Baťa shoecompany

PARDUBICE – isknownforCzech gingerbread and a horseracecalledVelká Pardubická

OLOMOUC – viz 11. otázka