About Prague, Czech Republic
This historic city has been the center of Eastern European civilization for over a millennium, and also served as the seat of the Holy Roman Empire during the Renaissance. Prague was fortunate to avoid much of the devastation of the two World Wars, and so boasts some of the oldest and most beautiful architecture in Europe - in fact, the entire city center is a World Heritage Site.
Prague is located on the River Vltava, and indeed the city's very name means 'ford.' The area has been inhabited since the early Paleolithic age. It became the seat of the kings of Bohemia during the middle ages and the home of the House of Habsburg in the sixteenth century.
When Czechoslovakia was created after World War I, Prague was chosen as its capital. The country was under the control of the USSR until the Velvet Revolution of 1989, an historic non-violent protest that resulted in the overthrow of the Communist government. In the late 1990s, Prague and the new Czech Republic began to thrive economically.
Today Prague is a major tourist destination, not only for its incredible historic sights and its vibrant cultural life, but also for its affordability compared to Western Europe. It is the sixth- most visited city in Europe; tourists come from all over to see one of the world's best-preserved examples of historic architecture.
As a Prague Semester or Prague Summer student, there will be no end to your choices of entertainment and culture, from historic city tours to shows at the National Theatre, the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the National Museum. Prague is also constantly hosting arts and culture festivals that draw musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, writers and more from around the world.
Enjoy!
