| Prague is a true cultural treasure trove, bursting with | | | | Prague, without any difficulties, because even Prague |
| fascinating museums, galleries, theatres, and music | | | | accommodations: Prague hotels, YMCA’s, hostels |
| venues. The city regularly plays host to numerous | | | | suggest a wide choice of different culture and |
| prestigious exhibitions, events, and more international | | | | entertainment program. Depending on the season of |
| festivals than you can shake a very large stick at. In a | | | | the year some Prague accommodation offers you |
| historical sense, Prague has always been a cultural city | | | | such programs free of charge. |
| of influence: Mozart wrote "Don Giovanni" here, the | | | | Much of this cultural dominance is due to the early |
| great Czech composer Antony Dvorak spent most of | | | | establishment of a University in Prague. In 1348, the |
| his life here, and Franz Kafka is one of the city's most | | | | Charles University became the first such institution in |
| famous sons. | | | | central Europe, and it immediately began attracting |
| The most important cultural institutions in Prague are | | | | great minds to the city. |
| the National Gallery with its extensive art collections | | | | Music has always been regarded as an important part |
| spread throughout the city in six locations and the | | | | of education here, both through the schools and |
| National Museum hosting historical and natural history | | | | through town musicians, whose jobs included teaching |
| exhibits. Prague’s other fine museums are definitely | | | | as well as performing. From its formation in the late |
| worth a visit: the Jewish Museum with the world’s | | | | 18th century, the Prague Conservatoire has been a |
| largest collection of Judaic art, Rudolfinum which hosts | | | | world-class training ground for musicians and |
| contemporary art temporary exhibitions, and House of | | | | composers. In the 1780s, Dr Charles Burney described |
| the Black Madonna, one of the rare Cubist buildings in | | | | Bohemia as ‘a nation of musicians' adding: |
| Europe itself, with exhibitions of Czech Cubism. | | | | "Bohemian nobility keep musicians in their houses; but in |
| The Czech Republic and especially Prague is a top | | | | keeping servants it is impossible to do otherwise" Dr |
| destination for foreign movies production. Prague was | | | | Charles Burney, 1780 |
| a carefully chosen shooting location for Amadeus, | | | | Prague is unquestionably a musical city. Prague Spring |
| Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise (the movie opening | | | | Festival is one of the major world-class festivals which |
| scene takes place in the National Museum), The | | | | is visited by crowds of tourists staying in Prague hotel |
| Bourne Identity, Shanghai Knights starring Jackie Chan, | | | | during it, but concerts abound throughout the year. And |
| Les Miserable’s and many others. | | | | this is not the end of the matter - buskers are found |
| As any visitor to the city will know, tourism is an | | | | everywhere and the streets, squares and bridges |
| absolutely huge industry in the Czech capital Prague. | | | | echo to everything from talented students from the |
| Millions of people from all around the world visit the city | | | | Conservatoire, to Dixieland jazz, folk and world music |
| every year - almost three and a half million in 2006, | | | | and pop. |
| according to figures just released by Czech Tourism. | | | | Today, Prague once again shines brightly and proudly |
| Prague was the sixth most visited city in Europe last | | | | as a cultural beacon. As a city to create, exhibit, or |
| year, with the greatest number of tourists coming from | | | | perform in, it knows no equal, and this is reflected in the |
| the United Kingdom. And it is a great pleasure for such | | | | vast range of events that take place here; check out |
| a huge amount of tourist to view a culture side of | | | | our culture listings for a taste of what's on offer! |