II.

Prague and Its Metropolitan Area

Greater Prague, which covers an area of 496 sq km (192 sq mi), was formed in 1920 by the incorporation of 37 nearby towns and villages. Greater Prague also includes numerous new suburban developments dominated by high-rise apartments that date from the Communist era.

The historic center of the city developed in a broad valley on the banks and surrounding hills of the Vltava River. Many bridges link the two parts of the city. The most famous of these is the Charles Bridge, commissioned in the late 14th century by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, completed in the early 15th century, and later embellished with statues of saints. Old Town, founded in the 13th century, and New Town, which developed in the 14th century, lie on the eastern bank of the river.

Old Town contains many important architectural and artistic monuments, several of them situated on Old Town Square. A statue of Jan Hus, the Bohemian religious reformer who instigated the Protestant Reformation in the 15th century, dominates the square. Other attractions are the 14th-century Týn Church, a center of the Hussite movement; and the astronomical clock, or Orloj, of Old Town Hall (Staroměstská Radnice), which is adorned with statues of the 12 apostles that rotate each hour. Old Town also encompasses Josephov, the city’s Jewish quarter. Dating from the 10th century, Josephov contains the Old-New Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery, which is the oldest in Europe. Many of the buildings of Charles University are in Old Town, as are several concert halls and museums.

New Town, which is adjacent to Old Town on the eastern bank of the Vltava, has remained an industrial and commercial center over the centuries. Many of the area’s buildings date from the 18th century. There are also numerous examples of art nouveau architecture. The famous Wenceslas Square, or Václavské náměstí, is presided over by a statue of Saint Wenceslas, the 10th-century nobleman celebrated in the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas.” The National Museum, built between 1885 and 1890, lies at one end of the square. The National Theater, completed in 1881, is located on Národní třida, or National Street. Both buildings were constructed during the period of resurgent Czech culture and nationalism in the 19th century.

The Hradčany, or Castle, district is on the western side of the Vltava and dominates the city. Situated on a hill, Hradčany constitutes a walled city dating back to the 9th century and is Prague’s most visible symbol. Within its walls are a number of palaces and churches, including the 14th-century Gothic cathedral of Saint Vitus, which overlooks the city. Formerly the residence of the kings of Bohemia, Prague Castle now houses the offices and official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. Zlatá ulička, or Golden Street, is just inside one of the castle’s walls and includes the tiny shops and small homes of the artisans who once served the castle’s occupants.

At the base of the castle hill is the Lesser Quarter, or Malá Strana, which lies between the hill and the Vltava River. Malá Strana contains many of the Baroque palaces that lend distinction to Prague.

Residential and industrial areas surround the historic sections of the city. The older neighborhoods close to the center contain many fine residences built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Industrial zones to the east and south of the city grew significantly under Communism. The greater metropolitan area includes suburbs of low-quality high-rise apartment complexes built after World War II. Agricultural areas and small villages also dot the metropolitan area.