Prague, Czech Praha, city, capital of the Czech Republic. Lying at the heart of Europe, it is one of the continent’s finest cities and the major Czech economic and cultural centre. The city has a rich architectural heritage that reflects both the uncertain currents of history in Bohemia and an urban life extending back more than 1,000 years.
The physical attractions and landmarks of Prague are many. Among the finest is the Charles Bridge (Karlův most), which stands astride the Vltava River. The winding course of the Vltava, with its succession of bridges and changing vistas, contrasts with the ever-present backdrop of the great castle of Hradčany (Prague Castle), which dominates the left-bank region of the city from behind massive walls set high on a hill. The narrow streets and little taverns and restaurants of the older quarters contrast with the broad sweep of Wenceslas Square and modern parks and housing developments, while the great 18th-century Baroque palaces have their own elegance and splendour. Seen from the surrounding hills, the many church towers make up a unique perspective, giving Prague its description as the “city of a hundred spires.” This architectural harmony was enhanced by post-1945 planning, which preserved the ancient core of the city as a major monument and carefully supervised all modern building. In 1992 the historic city centre was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Prague is famous for its cultural life. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived there, and his Prague Symphony and Don Giovanni were first performed in the city. In addition, the lyric music of the great Czech composers Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and Leoš Janáček is commemorated each year in a spring music festival. The U kalicha (“At the Chalice”) beer parlour, which is still popular with local residents and tourists alike, provided the setting for the humorously antiauthoritarian activities of Schweik, immortalized by the novelist Jaroslav Hašek in The Good Soldier Schweik. The writings of Franz Kafka, dwelling in a different way on the dilemmas and predicaments of modern life, also seem indissolubly linked with life in this city.
Gastronomy
Traditional Czech food is not exactly what one would call dietary, however it perfectly goes with the flavourful Czech beer.
It mostly consists of pork or beef meat with sauce and a side dish, the most common and liked being dumplings. Dumplings (“knedliky”) are the Czech traditional side dish made from wheat or potato flour, boiled in water as a roll and then sliced and served hot.
Other side dishes are: rice, potatoes (boiled, baked or fried).
Czech people love Svičková (read “svitch-co-va”) or Rajská (read “raiska”), a somehow interesting combination of meat with sauce and whipped cream.
Chicken, duck, turkey, fish, rabbit and lamb are also used in some very tasteful Czech dishes. A good choice can be the Guláš (read like in English, “goulash“), even though it basically belongs to traditional Hungarian cuisine.
If you are in a restaurant and you aren’t really in the mood to spent hours studying the menu, you can chose another Czech classical, that is Fried Cheese (Smažený Sýr, read “smazhenee seer”) garnished with potatoes (I recommend baked potatoes) and Tatarská Omáčka , read “tatarska omachka (Tartar sauce).
Soups
The most appreciated Czech soups (polévka) are onion (Cibulačká, read “tsibulachka”) and garlic soup (Česneková polévka, read “Chessnekova polevka”), but the speciality for Christmas is the fish soup (Rybí polévka), made out of Carp, the Czech traditional Christmas delicacy. Also very tasty is Goulash Soup (Gulášová polévka), a spicy thick (creamy) soup, served with brown bread.
Salads
Czech salads contain delicious mayonnaise or dressing-sauce. Some salads contain also sugar, so if you’re not a fan of sweet salads, just ask them not to put any…. In general Czech salads are not only really tasty but also huge, so you can served as the main course without worrying that you will be hungry immediately after.
Beer delicacies
Czech beer is perfect; nothing to say, but what if you are in a pub or beer hall, and all of the sudden you would feel hungry? Nothing to worry about.The good old Czech people had the problem solved centuries ago…
Don’t be surprised to find in the menu special offers like “Against great thirst & hunger” (“Proti velké Žízeni”, read “proti velke zhyzeny). That means food or snacks that particularly go with beer.
As French invented all sorts of cheese combinations to go with their fine wines, the Czech people have their own delicacy: nakládaný hermelín , read “naakladanee hermeleen” (“pickled ermine”). “Hermelín” (“ermine”) is a special type of cheese, very soft inside, covered in a thin white film.
Another beer delicacy are Utopenci, read “utopentsee” (“Drowned”), a somehow funny name for sausages, I would say, but at the same time a very practical one. Utopenci are sausages pickled in vinegar, oil, onion, red pepper, and different spices.
As said before, they go perfectly with beer and are usually made by the house or beer hall itself.
If neither of the above raised your interest, our last but not least recommendation are Klobásy (“Grilled sausages”).
They come with mustard, horseradish, brown bread and are guaranteed to satisfy your stomach needs at least for a while, if not for the whole evening.
You will most probably find all sorts of Grilované Klobásy (Grilled Sausages) at food stands on tourist tracks. Not only do they smell irresistible, but they taste addictive as well.
Desserts
Famous are the Czech Pancakes (Palačinky – read “Palachinky”), filled with ice-cream, jam or fruits and coated in whipped-cream, almonds or sugar.
Try also the traditional Fruit dumplings (Ovocné Knedlíky, read “ovotsne knedliky”) and the various forms of tasteful Czech cakes (Kolač – read “Kolach”) filled with different fruits, jams or curds.
Climate
The best time to visit Prague is in late spring or early fall, just before and after the peak summer tourist season. Plan to arrive in May or September for comfortable temperatures around 18 to 20°C, ideal for sightseeing without having to battle big crowds.
The summer months bring the warmest weather with high temperatures around 21 to 23°C, but this time also brings a bit more rain. For the driest weather and mild temperatures, plan your visit in the second half of April or between mid-September and mid-October which tend to experience less precipitation and comfortable temperatures ranging from 14 to 19°C.
