Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to Prague
Prague is the equal of Paris in terms of beauty. The history goes
back a millennium. And the beer? The best in Europe.
European Hotspot
The 1989 Velvet Revolution that freed the Czechs from communism bequeathed to
Europe a gem of a city to stand beside stalwarts like Rome, Amsterdam and London.
Not surprisingly, visitors from around the world have come in droves, and on a hot
summer's day it can feel like you're sharing Charles Bridge with half of humanity. But
even the crowds can't take away from the spectacle of a 14th-century stone bridge, a
hilltop castle and a lovely, lazy river - the Vltava - that inspired one of the most haunt-
ingly beautiful pieces of 19th-century classical music, Smetana's 'Moldau'.
Art All Around
Prague's art galleries may not have the allure of the Louvre, but Bohemian art offers
much to admire, from the glowing Gothic altarpieces in the Convent of St Agnes, to
the luscious art nouveau works of Alfons Mucha and the magnificent collection of
20th-century surrealists, cubists and constructivists in the Veletržní Palác. The weird
and witty sculpture of David Černý punctuates Prague's public spaces, and the city it-
self offers a smorgasbord of stunning architecture, from the soaring verticals of Gothic
and the exuberance of baroque to the sensual elegance of art nouveau and the chiselled
cheekbones of cubist facades.
Where Beer is God
The best beer in the world just got better. Since the invention of Pilsner Urquell in
1842, the Czechs have been famous for producing some of the world's finest brews.
But the internationally famous brand names - Urquell, Staropramen and Budvar - have
been equalled, and even surpassed, by a bunch of regional Czech beers and microbrew-
eries that are catering to a renewed interest in traditional brewing. Never before have
Prague's pubs offered such a wide range of ales - names you'll now have to get your
head around include Kout na Šumavě, Svijanský Rytíř and Velkopopovický Kozel (try
ordering that after a few pints).
