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Prague - Czech Republic

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Barceló Praha

Na Strzi 32, 14000. zona 4
Prague | Czech Republic

www.barcelopraha.com

Information about the Country
The Czech Republic lies in Central Europe, bordered by Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland.
It covers an area of 78,864 square kilometers and has a population of around 10 million inhabitants.
The different geographical characteristics of the regions making up the country offer the visitor a wide range of landscapes to enjoy, whose common denominator is their great beauty.

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Regional Information

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Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, covering an area of 496 km² and with a population of 1,210,000 inhabitants.
Standing on the Moldava River in the heart of the region of Bohemia, it lies over seven hills that endow the city with a very special charm.
The vast number of architectural, artistic and cultural treasures that can be found in Prague, resulted in the historic old center of the city being named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, due to it's extraordinary cultural and scenic richness.
This has made the city an essential destination on any visit to central Europe.

General Information

Destination: Beautiful buildings, bargain-price beer and Bohemian beads.
Matička Praha - 'little mother Prague' - was largely undamaged by WWII, and the cityscape is stunning. Its compact medieval centre remains an evocative maze of cobbled lanes, ancient courtyards, dark passages and churches beyond number, all watched over by an 1100-year-old castle.
Kidnapped by communism for 40 years, Prague has become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Its traditional pubs and eateries have been augmented by a wave of gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafes - though you can still feast on pork and dumplings washed down with a beer.
Quote: 'Prague doesn't let us go... This old crone has claws. One has to yield or else.' - Franz Kafka
Time zones: GMT +1
Weights measures system: Metric

Location and surroundings

Latitude: 50.1059989929
Longitude: 14.4569997787
Area: 496 km2
Population: 1215000 inhabitants .
Surroundings
Prague sits amid the gentle landscapes of the Bohemian plateau, straddling the Vltava River, the Czech Republic's longest river. Central Prague consists of five historical towns: Hradčany, the castle district, on a hill above the west bank; Malá Strana, the 13th-century 'Little Quarter', between the river and castle; Staré Mêsto, the gothic 'Old Town' on the Vltava's east bank; adjacent Josefov, the former Jewish ghetto; and Nové Mêsto or 'New Town,' (new in the 14th century), to the south and east Continue reading.

Society

Official language: officialCzech

Economy

Name: Czech Koruna
Symbol:

Orientative prices

Costs of meals
Low: 150 -300
Medium: 300 -600
High: 600 -1000
Luxury: 1000or more

Eat

Ethnic restaurants are burgeoning in Prague, so your diet can stretch beyond standard meaty Czech fare. There are also plenty of restaurants and pubs that move beyond the frumpy dumpling approach to embrace top-quality local food presented in creative and international ways.

Pre-departure

Voltage: 220V
Hz: 50Hz

Destination events

Overwiew
The year begins with a festive New Year's Eve celebration, followed by holidays like Three King's Day (6 January) and the Anniversary of Jan Palach's death (19 January), which honours the memory of a Charles University student who burned himself to death in protest of the 1969 Soviet occupation.Easter Monday, which falls in either March or April, is a classic rite of spring: Czech men of all ages swat at their favourite women with willow swatches, while the ladies respond with gifts of hand painted Continue reading.
Festivities
1 Jan - New Year's Day
Mar/Apr - Easter Monday
1 May - Labour Day
8 May - Liberation Day
5 Jul - SS Cyril & Methodius Day
6 Jul - Jan Hus Day
28 Sep - Czech Statehood Day
28 Oct - Independence Day
17 Nov - Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day
24 Dec - Generous Day (Christmas Eve)
25 Dec - Christmas Day
26 Dec - St Stephen's Day

Weather

Prague lies in the transitional area between maritime and continental climates, characterised by hot, showery summers, cold, snowy winters and generally changeable conditions. A typical day in Prague from June to August sees the mercury range from about 12°C (54°F) to 22°C (72°F). Temperatures from December to February push below freezing. Wide variations are common, sometimes surpassing 35°C (95°F) in summer and -20°C (-4°F) in winter. The closest thing to a 'dry season' is from January to March, when total precipitation (mostly as snow at that time) is less than a third of that during the wettest months, June to August. And yet January averages as many 'wet' days (about two out of five) as the summer months do. The summer's long, sunny, hot spells tend to be broken by sudden, heavy thunderstorms. May and September have the most pleasant weather.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high temp.0171218212322181251
Average low temp.-5-4-138111313951-3
Average rainfall181818274854685531332021
AM Humidity848382777574778184878787
PM Humidity736755474546494851607378
Average sunshine235689886421

Activities

Intro:
Prague has plenty of outdoor activities in the warmer months. Stroll the city's high spots, paddle along the Vltava or rent a bicycle; you can always mix sightseeing with exercise. Other ways to sweat it out are swimming, tennis, squash, golf, horse riding or the Prague International Marathon.

Transport

Getting there and away
Overview
Getting in and out of Prague is a snap, thanks to the cheap and well-run trains of Czech Railways (ČD) and the buses, which are even cheaper still, run more frequently and are quite comfortable. The budget prices and convenience of these modes of transports mean that air travellers to Prague are comparatively rare; if you do fly into the city, you'll fetch up in Ruzyně, the international airport.
Getting around
Overview
Prague's compact historic centre is best appreciated on foot, with the help of cheap, widespread public transportation. To think of driving is just foolhardy - the city's not set up too well for cars (or, for that matter, for bicycles). If you take taxis, beware of inflated fares; your best bet is a radio taxi.

Culture

Pre-20th century history
The oldest evidence of human habitation in the Prague valley dates from around 6000 BC. Permanent farming communities were established in the area by Germanic and Celtic tribes around 4000 BC. Slavs came into the picture around the turn of the millennium, and by the 600 AD had settled opposite sides of a particularly appealing stretch of the Vltava River. They successfully defended the land now known as Bohemia for generations, but by the 9th century it had been conquered by the Great Moravian Empire.The Continue reading.
Modern history
The 20th century solidified the Czech nationalist movement. Czechs had no interest in fighting for their Austrian masters in WWI, and neighbouring Slovakia was equally reluctant to take up arms for their German occupiers. Leaders from both independence movements approached US President Wilson, who was actively trying to build the League of Nations, asking for his help in achieving their dream. With Allied support, Czechoslovakia became an independent nation in 1918; Prague became its first capital.The Continue reading.
recent history
The Czech Republic has become a member state of the EU, and Prague will preside gracefully as the country finds a new place in the world.In August 2002 Prague experienced the worst floods in almost two centuries, with the river Vltava sweeping the city. Sixteen people died, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, the historic city centre was closed off and there were fears - not realised - that the 14th-century Charles Bridge would be washed away. The final Continue reading.

Images

St Nicholas' church and nearby Parizka Trida (Parisian Avenue)The bright lights of Wenceslas SquareView of Vltava River and bridges from Havansky pavilion
Jonathan SmithRichard NebeskyJonathan Smith
   
Vegetarian special, with carrot goulash, at café in Melantrichova Street
Richard Nebesky
 

Points of interest

Chateau L'enfer Rouge
www.chateaurouge.cz
Category:bar/club/disco/hip hop
Direccion: Jakubská 2
Teléfono: 222 316 328
underground rail: Náměstí Republiky
Chateau is a raucous, late-night party pub where the cheap(ish) beer, table football, pinball machines and dance-club cellar never fails to pull in a huge, mixed crowd of tourists, stag parties, expats and slumming Praguers - by mid-evening it's often standing-room only. Everything in this self-consciously cool bar is backlit, including the smiles of the clientele.
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Blue Light
Category:bar/jazz/blues/chillout
Teléfono: 257 533 126
tram: 12, 20, 22, 23 to Malostranské náměstí, night tram 57
The Blue Light is an appropriately dark and atmospheric jazz cavern, as popular with locals as with tourists, where you can enjoy a relaxed cocktail as you cast an eye over the vintage posters, records and grafitti that deck the walls. The background jazz is recorded rather than live, but on a quality sound system that never overpowers your conversation.
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Cross Club
www.crossclub.cz
Category:club/disco/electronic/dance/hip hop/rock/pop/live music/DJ
Teléfono: 296 330 980
tram: night 53, 54
An eclectic programme from D&B, jungle, dub and reggae to electro, techno and live music goes on in this bar, but the main attraction is the venue itself. Both the ground floor and basement of a rundown apartment block have been transformed into a work of industrial or sci-fi art, with glowing homemade lighting installations, kinetic sculptures formed from bits of junk metal, film reels, engine parts and even a bus outside. Alternative and unique.
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Banditos
Category:Tex-Mex/business
Teléfono: 224 941 096
underground rail: IP Pavlova
Smoke, loud chatter and heavy rock accompany to your meal in this wood-floored venue also popular with the suits who work at nearby PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Service can be slow, but the food is tasty, portions usually generous and there's a good range of artery-hardening, all-day breakfasts.
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Bar Bar
Category:International
Teléfono: 257 312 246
This cosy, friendly cellar bar has a bohemian feel with its mix of antiques and contemporary arty touches, plus one of the most interesting menus in town. Delicious food runs the gamut from homemade Italian risotto and French crepes to Ukrainian vareniky (pasta-style parcels) and crème brûlee, plus there are excellent-value 100Kč daily menus.
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Aromi
Category:Italian/romantic
Direccion: Mánesova 78
Teléfono: 222 713 222
This gourmet Italian restaurant, specialising in cuisine from the Marché region, enjoys an exulted reputation and certainly the rustic setting is appealing. With chunky, polished wooden tables set well apart and a central display of imported delicacies, the place is businesslike at lunch and romantic in the evenings. Choose between the renowned seafood or rarities like Vincisgrassi alla Marchigiana (a rich lasagne).
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Nový Svět Quarter
Category:architectural feature/celebrity
tram: 22, 23 to Brusnice
In the 16th century, houses were built for castle staff in an enclave of curving cobblestone streets down the slope north of the Loreta. Today these diminutive cottages have been restored and painted in pastel shades, making the 'New World' quarter a perfect alternative to the castle's crowded Golden Lane. Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe lived at No 1 Kapucínská. Globally renowned animator and filmmaker Jan Švankmajer resides at No 5 Černínská.
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Church of Our Lady of the Snows
Category:religious/spiritual/architectural highlight
underground rail: Můstek
Horario: 09:00-18:00
The most sublime attraction in the neighbourhood is this Gothic church at the northern end of Wenceslas Square. It was begun in the 14th century by Charles IV but only the chancel was ever completed, which accounts for its proportions - seemingly taller than it is long.
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Museum of Decorative Arts
www.upm.cz
Category:art-related/museum
Direccion: 17 Listopadu 2
Teléfono: 251 093 111
underground rail: Staroměstská
This neo-Renaissance museum, opened in 1900, arose as part of a European movement to encourage a return to the aesthetic values sacrificed to the Industrial Revolution. Its four halls are a feast for the eyes, full of 16th- to 19th-century artifacts, including furniture, tapestries, porcelain and a fabulous collection of glasswork.
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Royal Garden
www.hrad.cz
Category:garden
Direccion: Mariánské Hradby, North of Second Courtyard
Teléfono: 224 373 368
train: Malostranská
Horario: Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00
The Powder Bridge (Prašný most; 1540) spans the Stag Moat (Jelení příkop) en route to the spacious, Renaissance-style Royal Garden. This started life in 1534 and its most beautiful building is the Ball-Game House (Míčovna; 1569), a masterpiece of Renaissance sgraffito where the Habsburgs once played an early form of badminton. To the east is the Summer Palace (Letohrádek; 1538-60) and to the west the former Riding School (jízdárna; 1695).
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Castle Entrance
Category:castle/architectural highlight
Direccion: First Courtyard
tram: 22, 23 to Pohořelec or Brusnice
The main gate, on Hradčany Sq, is flanked by huge, 18th-century statues of battling Titans, which dwarf the guards beneath. Playwright-turned-president Václav Havel brought some pizzazz to the castle after 1989, when he hired the Czech costume designer on the film Amadeus to redesign the guards' uniforms and then instigated a changing of the guard ceremony. The most impressive display is at 12:00, when banners are exchanged and a band plays.
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