The Golden City of Prague in the Czech Republic

Prague is the capital and most populous city of the Czech Republic. Prague is the historical capital of Bohemia and was a significant royal and imperial residence in the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, especially among Luxembourgans and Habsburgs. Prague was first mentioned in the 10th century.

The historical center of Prague is recognized by UNESCO as one of the 12 World Heritage Sites of the Czech Republic. The "Golden City" today shows a closed cityscape characterized by Gothic and Baroque.

Under Emperor Charles IV and his son Wenceslaus IV, Prague, as the imperial seat of the Holy Roman Empire, flourished economically, culturally, politically and in many other areas in the second half of the 14th century.

The nickname “Golden City” refers to the sandstone towers, which shimmer in shades of gold when exposed to sunlight. Another explanation for this name is that Emperor Charles IV had the towers of Prague Castle gilded. The city was also a magnet for alchemists during the time of Rudolf II.

The name “City of a Hundred Towers” has also been known for several centuries and comes from the numerous towers that shape the historic cityscape.

In the second half of the 10th century, the merchant Ibrahim ibn Yaqub described Prague as “the city built of stone and lime” or “Stone Prague”.