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The waters of the river reflect the spiers of a fortress that previously served as the residence of kings and now the president of the Czech Republic. Cesky Krumlov is included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. Its castle, which is the main attraction and architectural dominant of the ancient city, is inferior in its grandeur and historical significance only to Prague Castle.
Rafting on the Vltava River
Today the Vltava is a recognized world center active tourism. Alloys by stormy river popular both among professional athletes and amateurs. The route itself is very interesting and varied. Along the tourist's path there are historical monuments and amazing architectural ensembles. His eye is delighted by the picturesque nature, which is distinguished by its diversity due to the changing terrain.
Parents often take their children with them on rafting trips on the Vltava. adolescence, however, in this case there must be at least one experienced person in the group. Currently, this route has a well-developed infrastructure: there are convenient campsites, parking lots, and restaurants on the river bank where you can taste delicious, freshly prepared dishes.
The Vltava crossing the Czech Republic leaves indelible impression in the heart of everyone who met her. Thus, observing the unbridled power of the stream in the upper reaches of the river, the famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana created his work “Vltava”, which became a real pearl of the cycle “My Homeland” (in the original “Ma Vlast”). And, probably, every person should at least once visit the steep bank of the Vltava, feel the beauty and power of this beautiful mountain river.
The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, is considered the main tourist and cultural city of the country. For centuries, the city has literally attracted tourists from all over the world with its majesty, unimaginable beauty and mysterious atmosphere.
The founding date of the city and the first information about it dates back to the 6th century. And in the 10th century, Prague was already called the capital of the ancient Czech state. By the 2nd half of the 19th century, the city was a developed trading center.
Prague is located in the central Bohemia on the banks of the river Vltava. total area The area of the city is 496 km², with 49.20 km² of forests located within its boundaries. The population is approximately 1.3 million people, and the density reaches 250 people/km², which is a fairly large indicator. Official state language considered Czech, however wide use It also has Slovak, which is understood by almost every city dweller.
The national currency is the Czech crown (CZK) in the form of banknotes and small coins, it can be easily exchanged for euros, dollars and even rubles.
Region |
Central Bohemian region |
Population |
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Population density |
250 people/km² |
Czech crown |
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Timezone |
UTC+1, in summer UTC+2 |
Postal code |
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International dialing code |
Climate and weather
Prague is comfortable at any time of the year, even in winter. The city is located in the central part of Europe and has no access to the sea. The climate here has a mild transitional character - from marine to continental.
The sharp contrast between winter and summer values no temperatures are observed. Average annual temperature in Prague - +9 °C, in summer it can be quite hot (+ 20 °C average), in winter there is moderate frost (about - 5 °C). Thus, the weather in Prague is quite stable and predictable. The driest months are January and February, the rainiest months are May, June and August.
The best time of year in Prague is spring or autumn, when there is no heat, but it is quite warm.
Nature
Prague lies on the banks of the Vlatva River, the length of which within the city is 23 km. Its waters wash eight islands connected to the city by bridges. In Prague, the river makes a turn and flows into Labou. The left bank of the Vlatva is elevated and steep, while the right bank rises only slightly above the river level. On the territory of the city, the Berounka River also flows into the Vlatva.
Prague is located on nine hills (according to Prague information service), creating an impressive panorama of the unique views of the city, where last place occupy the Prague gardens - spacious green areas.
Attractions
The sights of Prague are traditionally very popular among tourists. Majestic architectural monuments and Gothic castles can turn anyone's head.
The main symbol of Prague is considered The Charles Bridge. This oldest bridge in the city connects the districts « Small Country» And « Old city» above a river. According to legend, the Dalai Lama, after walking across it, said that the bridge is located in the center of the Universe and has no negative energy.
You simply won’t have time to see all the masterpieces of the city in a short period of time. Area « Prague Castle» is the main attraction of Prague and represents a whole treasury architectural masterpieces. The most famous - St. Vitus Cathedral, royal palace And Zlata Street.
A popular place in Prague is the Old Town Square, located in the central part of the historical heart of the city (Old Town).
The hallmark of the square is the Old Town Hall, which is known for its unique astronomical clock - Prague chimes(or Orloy).
In addition, on the square there are Church of St. Nicholas, monument to Jan Hus And Tyn Church.
In addition to those mentioned above, attractions are available in every city district:
- in Hradcany - Loreta and Strahov Monastery;
- V Malaya Strana— Church of St. Nicholas;
- in the Joseph Quarter - the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Powder Tower;
- in Novo Mesto - Wenceslas Square and Novo Mesto Town Hall;
- in Vysehrad - Peter's Cathedral and an ancient cemetery.
Nutrition
The Czechs attach great importance to the issue of cuisine great importance. That is why we can confidently say that Prague is a city of restaurants. Prague restaurants are a mixture of entertainment, tasty food and pleasant company. Depending on your financial capabilities, you can easily choose an institution of the right level.
Czech cuisine is famous for its desserts, and National dishes always filling and surprisingly tasty. Here in an incredible way the traditions of Western and Eastern Europeans mixed.
National cuisine is characterized big amount meat dishes made from beef and pork, and fish is not very popular here. Traditional Czech dishes include aromatic garlic soup, dumplings and stewed pork with cabbage. For dessert, dumplings with fruit filling and pancakes are offered.
To have a snack, you don’t have to go to a cafe or restaurant. There are street vendors everywhere who sell mulled wine, hot dogs, Prague-style sandwiches (potato pancakes) and beer. By the way, Czech beer has long been considered a subject national pride. There are about fifteen most popular and famous varieties of Czech beer.
Moreover, each variety is good in its own way and differs from others. That is why an important part of the city and its culture are beer pubs (hosts), which are presented here in countless numbers. A green sign above the door to the pub tells you what's on tap here. the best varieties beer in the city. It is suggested a large number of hearty snacks - fried sausages and sausages.
Of course, Czech cuisine is not the only one in the city. Prague is ready to offer cuisine for absolutely every taste - Japanese, Chinese, British, Arabic, Cuban, Brazilian, Russian, etc.
Accommodation
In Prague almost all year round No free seats, so accommodation must be agreed upon in advance.
There are more than 300 different hotels in the city; here you can choose apartments in the center or in the business district (from $50 to $600 per day), or you can check into an economical hotel or guesthouse far from the center (from $18). The most famous and comfortable hotels in Prague are Josef, Aria, Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa and others.
Entertainment and relaxation
The issue of holidays in Prague is resolved very simply for both families and active people.
Entertainment is available literally around the clock; all kinds of festivals and fairs are held annually ( “Prague Spring”, “Music of Europe” and etc.).
Lovers nightlife will please great amount disco clubs, and fans of cultural recreation will find theaters, concerts and jazz bars.
Followers active image In my lifetime I can visit the Prague water park, numerous stadiums, fitness clubs, gyms and courts.
Swimming here is allowed directly in the city river Vltava.
In addition, the water-laser show “Singing Fountains” and the grandiose Troy Zoo make an incredible impression.
Purchases
Prague offers excellent opportunities for any type of shopping.
In addition to countless souvenir shops, the city has large modern shopping and entertainment centers ( Palac Flora, Novy Smichov), which unite various shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and service facilities. Moreover, prices are often significantly lower than in other European countries (SLEVA seasons, i.e. sales).
In the historical center of the city there are shops with famous Czech products (glass, porcelain, ceramics, Czech garnet, wooden Toys, puppets and folk art products).
Transport
The public transport system has good organization, including buses, trams, metro and funiculars.
Prague buses and trams strictly adhere to the schedule, which is posted at all stops. The numbers for daytime routes are indicated on a white sign, and for night routes - on a blue one.
The metro has three lines and operates until midnight. The direction of movement is determined by the terminal station. The name of the direction is indicated at the head of the train.
The funicular operates to ascend Petrin Hill, its length is 510 m. The route has three stations and operates from 9:10 to 20:40.
Prices for public transport tickets depend on the validity period. It is most profitable to purchase a weekly pass for all types of transport (approximately $15).
In addition, the city is filled with a large number of taxi services, the services of which can be used around the clock. Price per kilometer: $0.9-1.6.
Connection
There are four services available in Prague mobile operators GSM standard (T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and U:fon). mobile connection The Czech Republic is not very cheap, however, when connecting to one of the operators, calls abroad and within the country will cost an order of magnitude cheaper than in roaming. The most economical company is T-Mobile, where the cost of a minute of an international call will cost $0.50-.20 (25-30% cheaper at night).
There are many pay phones around the city powered by calling cards, which are sold everywhere (from $9 to $20). A call from any restaurant or hotel will cost much more. There are also a huge number of Internet cafes, and almost everywhere there are computers with a Cyrillic keyboard. The cost of one hour on the Internet varies from $0.6 to $3, depending on the location of the Internet cafe. The further it is from the center, the cheaper the Internet.
Safety
The most common crime in Prague is pickpocketing. IN in public places and the metro there are gangs of pickpockets of 3-5 people, so vigilance will not hurt. It is also necessary to avoid street currency exchangers, who often deceive tourists. Begging has become a serious problem in the city. For any security issue, you can contact the police, but they only speak Czech, so they cannot always help.
The law on drug possession is quite absurd. You are allowed to have no more than 15 grams of marijuana, 5 patches of LSD and 1 gram of cocaine on you, otherwise you become a criminal.
Business climate
Prague is a favorable platform for starting a business, because... The Czech Republic is located in the center of the European continent and shares borders with Poland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia.
There are relatively inexpensive real estate, low rental rates, highly developed industry and stable legislation.
Real estate
Real estate in Prague is a safe investment for foreigners. Prices for it always remained within reasonable limits, never fell sharply, and during the crisis they decreased by only 9% (in other European countries - by 20-23%).
Average price for square meter housing in Prague by the beginning of 2012 was $2,600, and in the center it reached $8,800. The average apartment of 60 m² now costs about $150 thousand.
The purchased property can always be rented out on very favorable terms all year round.
Residents of the city over 40 years old understand Russian perfectly, and young Czechs know English well, but it is advisable to remember a few common phrases in Czech. This will help save time when visiting various establishments and food places.
By the way, tips for waiters are not left on the table, but they say how much they intend to pay when paying the bill.
When traveling to public transport It is necessary to remember that controllers in Prague work everywhere, and the fine for traveling without a ticket is quite impressive - $27.