Prague is the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic situated in the middle of Bohemia on the Vltava River. It took the city eleven centuries to get the look we know today. Nowadays it covers an area of 496 square kilometres and has about 1 386 000  inhabitants.

Since 1920, the full official name of the city is the “Capital City of Prague”. There is also a collocation, “Prague – Heart of Europe”, which refers to the position of the metropolis: it is located both in the middle of Bohemia and in the middle of Europe.

A legend about the foundation of Prague says that the establishment of the city was predicted by the mythical Princess Libuše, who uttered the famous prophecy: “I see a great city, whose fame touches the stars. In the forest, one day’s walk from here, there is a place where you will find a man. When you arrive there, you will find him making a wooden threshold. Therefore the city you will build you will call Praha [from “práh” – “threshold”].”

Prague soon became the centre of the emerging Czech state. Rulers started to control the surrounding areas from Prague Castle. Prague flourished remarkably in the 14^th century under the reign of Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. The city was significantly expanded by the Prague New Town and the ruler established a university which is still there, bearing his name to this day.

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