Prague for All Seasons

If ever there was a city to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain like it was taking the stage for a grand performance, it was Prague. Far from the archetypal grim, twilight and concrete wastelands one might imagine, Prague is a city whose rich culture and history has burst forth once again, ready to show the world beauty and a good time in equal measure.

Few cities can have enjoyed a richer history. Like Vienna and Budapest its setting on the banks of the Danube provides a focal point, one delightfully enhanced by its many elegant bridges. But it also hints at the origins of the city back in prehistory. Europe's earliest Neolithic civilizations migrated from the fertile crescent up the Danube, with a Celtic tribe known as the Boii, after whom Bohemia is named, becoming dominant.

The settlement remained through the centuries, but the city became truly established in the ninth century when the high castle was built at Vltava. This was followed by Prague Castle, which still stands today and became the seat of Bohemian kings. The middle ages saw the Old Town established as the city grew in importance as a trading area, with the city also being upgraded from Bishopric to Archbishopric status.

A result of this last development was the commencement of the gothic Cathedral of St Vitus in 1344, which took until 1929 to complete. Yet for all the time it took the results are spectacular, not least inside, where the towering arches, intricate stained glass windows and the richly decorated St Wenceslaus Chapel.

St Wenceslaus is of course one deeply associated with Prague. Apart from his mention in a Christmas Carol, (where he is incorrectly called a king) the square bearing his name is at the heart Prague's more recent history.

In a land that had been first under the yoke of the Nazis and then the communists, desire for change grew in the late 1960's, culminating in the Prague Spring of 1968. Alexander Dubcek, leader of the communist party in Czechoslovakia, set in train a programme of liberalisation. The tantalizing hope of better things was quickly crushed by the reality of Russian tanks, but the hope was reborn in more promising circumstances 21 years later, when Wenceslaus Square became the focal point of the Velvet Revolution.

With huge public gatherings in the square defiance of the law, a tidal wave of peaceful agitation fed off the opening of the border in nearby Hungary, the success of Solidarity in Poland and the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. This time Vaclav Havel, a playwright and opponent of communism, was able to address the thousands with utterly different consequences to Dubcek, emerging as the elected president of a free Czechoslovakia and then Czech Republic after the 1993 Velvet Divorce with Slovakia. Dubcek himself, however, was at least able to make his own appearances overlooking the square in the knowledge he was on the winning side this time.

Since those political upheavals, Prague has enjoyed parading itself to visitors now free to come and stay in cheap hotels and revel in its many delights. Prague Castle remains a huge landmark in a city whose charms have yet to be (and hopefully never will be) overwhelmed by a glut of steel and glass skyscrapers. One of the largest castles in the world and now the official home of Czech heads of state once more, it epitomises the beautiful and historic charms of Prague that have never faded. The skyline retains an attractive sea of red brick, Charles Bridge, a gathering place for artists and entertainers, tops the long list of beautiful bridges across the Danube and the Old Town enjoys UN world heritage status.

In what is literally a Bohemian capital, Prague has certainly emerged as a city of freedom and the ability to have a good time. Some of this has focused on the city's new status as a stag night destination, but there is far more to it than that. The old bars and restaurants also offer a leisurely and cultured experience as well as a range of local beers and cuisine. The freedom of the city has also led to a flowering of the arts, with many festivals taking place.

Prague is a city whose history, architecture and people have all shown a resilience and sense of self identity to emerge strongly from decades of dictatorship and become a beacon of freedom, fun and beauty all at once. It survived what the 20th century threw at it and emerged with its glories intact. The Prague Spring was but one season. At any time of the year, the Bohemian spirit is alive and well.

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Prague

Updated: Tue, 01 May 2007 14:37:30

Related Links:
Prague Tourist Board
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