Prague is both a fascinating and a fortunate city. Its rich architectural heritage, reflected in its splendid Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings and the narrow winding streets of its historic centre all escaped damage during WWII. The city was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992.
Prague became a centre of the Protestant Reformation which brought it into conflict with the Catholic rulers of Bohemia, part of the Habsburg Empire. The Defenestration of Prague sparked the thirty years war in 1618. In 1848, the Czechs briefly revolted against Habsburg rule before finally achieving independence in 1918 in the new state of Czechoslovakia with Prague as its capital.
Its new-found freedom, however, did not last long and both city and country were occupied by Nazi Germany in March 1939. Prague was liberated from the Nazis in 1945 by the Red Army and thus began 44 years of Communist rule.
Prague was once again the scene of revolt in 1968 when the city and country tried unsuccessfully to free itself from Soviet domination in the Prague Spring. The Czechs finally succeeded in November 1989 when 500,000 demonstrators forced the resignation of the Communist government and the end of Communist rule.
|
Key Study Areas
|
Location Click here to view map
|
|
History Excursions
|
Our best value sample itinerary from £399
4 Days to Prague by Air
Day 1:
Travel to Prague by air; meet your transfer to take you to your accommodation. Time permitting; spend time at leisure exploring Prague by foot or by public transport.
Day 2:
Full day guided walking tour, visiting Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica, Daliborka Tower and the Golden Lane, St Nicholas church, Charles bridge, the old town & square, the town hall, Tyn church and the Jewish Quarter.
Day 3:
Full day visit to Terzin and Lidice. Take a guided tour of the Terezin Ghetto, the prison and transit camp for Jews sent to concentration camps during WWII and then on to visit Lidice memorial.
Day 4:
Check out of your accommodation and time permitting In the morning, visit Kutna Hora for a guided tour visiting the Ossuary, Italian court and St Barbora Cathedral. Meet your transfer to the airport for your return flight.
