PRAGUE The city of hundred spires

Prague is a true cultural treasure trove, bursting with fascinating museums, galleries, theaters, and music venues. The city regularly plays host to numerous prestigious exhibitions, events, and more international festivals than you can shake a very large stick at. In a historical sense, Prague has always been a cultural city of influence: Mozart wrote "Don Giovanni" here, the great Czech composer Antony Dvorak spent most of his life here, and Franz Kafka is one of the city's most famous sons.

The most important cultural institutions in Prague are the National Gallery with its extensive art collections spread throughout the city in six locations and the National Museum hosting historical and natural history exhibits. Prague's other fine museums are definitely worth a visit: the Jewish Museum with the world's largest collection of Judaic art, Rudolfinum which hosts contemporary art temporary exhibitions, and House of the Black Madonna, one of the rare Cubist buildings in Europe itself, with exhibitions of Czech Cubism.

As any visitor to the city will know, tourism is an absolutely huge industry in the Czech capital Prague. Millions of people from all around the world visit the city every year - almost three and a half million in 2006, according to figures just released by Czech Tourism. Prague was the sixth most visited city in Europe last year, with the greatest number of tourists coming from the United Kingdom. And it is a great pleasure for such a huge amount of tourist to view a culture side of Prague, without any difficulties, because even Prague accommodations: Prague hotels, YMCA's, hostels suggest a wide choice of different culture and entertainment program. Depending on the season of the year some Prague accommodation offers you such programs free of charge.

Much of this cultural dominance is due to the early establishment of a University in Prague. In 1348, the Charles University became the first such institution in central Europe, and it immediately began attracting great minds to the city.

Prague is unquestionably a musical city. Prague Spring Festival is one of the major world-class festivals which is visited by crowds of tourists staying in Prague hotel during it, but concerts abound throughout the year. And this is not the end of the matter - buskers are found everywhere and the streets, squares and bridges echo to everything from talented students from the Conservatoire, to Dixieland jazz, folk and world music and pop.

Prague's strong tradition of theatre has played a significant part in preserving and developing the Czech cultural identity. Today the National Theatre consists of three artistic ensembles devoted to opera, ballet and drama, who alternate their performances between the historic buildings of the National Theater, the Theatre of the Estates and in the Kolowrat Theatre. The venues select their repertoire from the rich Czech heritage as well as modern local and international works.

The Czech Republic and especially Prague is a top destination for foreign movies production. Prague was a carefully chosen shooting location for Amadeus, Mission: Impossible with Tom Cruise (the movie opening scene takes place in the National Museum), The Bourne Identity, Shanghai Knights starring Jackie Chan, Les Miserable's and many others.

Prague is called 'the city of a hundred spires'. Now it has around 500, in fact. Gothic, Renaissance, baroque, rococo, art nouveau and cubist styles sit here side by side, creating an aesthetic and cohesive unit. You can find here tens of museums, which hold the spirit of Prague and its history.

For example the Jewish Museum has one of the most extensive collections of Judaic art and culture in the world, It is unique not only in terms of the number of its exhibits, but because they are from a single territory (Bohemia and Moravia), presenting an integrated picture of Jewish life and history in this region. The exhibitions of the museum are in six historic locations; the Maisel Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery, Klausen Synagogue and the Ceremonial Hall.

The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in the first half of the fifteenth century, with the oldest surviving tombstone marking the grave of the poet and scholar Avigdor Karo who died in 1439. The cemetery was in use until 1787 and contains almost 12,000 tombstones, although many more burials took place on the site in successive layers.

If you want to know something more about the city Prague, you should visit the Museum of the City of Prague. The museum's permanent collection documents the history of the city from its foundation in the ninth century to the present day. The most famous exhibit is a 20-square-foot (two square-metres) model of Prague constructed over an eleven-year period in the early nineteenth century by Antonin Langweil, which provides visitors with a glimpse of the beautiful, inaccessible architecture that is hidden behind high walls.

The National Museum stands in the centre at the top of Wenceslas Square and contains extensive collections of prehistoric artefacts, mineralogy and petrology, palaeontology, zoology and anthropology. The permanent exhibition of the Prehistory of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia is divided into two sections. One depicts the concurrent development of the varied cultures in the area and the other contains archaeological discoveries and models of fortified dwellings and ritual burials.

The Department of Zoology has more than 5000 creatures exhibited, including a giant sea sponge from Java, the world's largest-known butterfly and a varied collection of shells from the giant clam to the sea mollusc.

From 1960 to 1990, Prague was divided into 10 districts, Since 1992, the city has been divided into 57 self-governing municipal districts, since 2001, these 57 self-governing municipal districts have been grouped into 22 numbered administrative districts for national-government purposes. Castle being the historic area surrounded by Lesser Town, an Old Town and a New Town, as well as the old Jewish Town. All these districts have plenty of attractions, historical places and cultural monuments, magical bridges above Vltava River, pleasant parks and recreation zones. The places of interest that should be seen are so many that they make tourists hungry and thirsty. Some of the sights not to be missed include:

One of Europe's finest medieval bridges, which was the only means of crossing the river Vltava to the Old Town and Prague Castle until 1841. The kiosk owners, painters and other traders who seek the attention of the many tourists that cross the bridge daily can be a distraction. Instead, perhaps you should consider crossing the bridge at night, whereby you get to fully appreciate the spectacular views of Prague Castle, which is tastefully lit on the hill overlooking Prague.

Charles Bridge leads you to Prague's Old Town Square, which started life as the central marketplace in the late 12th century. It's most notable site includes The Astronomical Clock or Oloj, which is mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall. Popular with tourists who come en masse to witness the hourly mechanical clockwork show of figures and other moving sculptures known as "The Walk of the Apostles".

Prague Castle is one of the world's biggest, at around 570 metres in length and 130 metres in width. The castle district's main attraction is St Vitus Cathedral, considered to be the most important church in the country and also an excellent example of Gothic architecture that took nearly six centuries to build. The castle is also home to several museums.

There are many places of note in Prague Castle. Located near Powder Bridge in Prague Castle is the Imperial Stables. It was converted into an exhibition room to display works of creative art. Golden Lane is an area used as dwellings by castle servants in the past. Great care has been exercised to avoid too much change to ensure that the character of the area is unchanged.

Here you will find an abundance of the hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. Renowned historically for events such as the Velvet Revolution that saw half a million protestors succeed in overthrowing the socialist government in 1989. Nowadays, the square is popular amongst tourists attracted by its vibrant nightlife. There are also many strip clubs located on and around the square, which helps make Prague the stag party magnet that it has become today.

Not so long ago Prague was still under a communist regime making traveling to Prague very difficult. However all that has changed, especially just after the fall of the iron curtain finding accommodation in Prague was very difficult. Nowadays the number of Prague hotels has soared, estimates run into 400 hotels and pensions. Back in the early nineties the quality of the hotels in Prague was questionable but at the moment all international hotel chains have their own hotels in Prague. There are a wide range of hotels in Prague, you can choose among depending upon your budget. Some of the best Hotels in Prague:

Andel´s Hotel

Residence Santini

Hotel La Palais Prague

Hotel U prince

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Crazes and fads come and go but the food is something that is directly attached to a culture's history. In fact, food is often what defines an entire culture.

The city itself is beautiful, with old meeting new in an array of amazing architecture and design. Like every global city, you will always find something familiar to tickle your taste buds. If it something like pizza or McDonald's you are after then you will find it. Over the past few decades the city of Prague has seen more western influence than it did during the Cold War. Although western culture was initially seen as a sign of progression and freedom, there is still a strong Czech culture which is unique in every respect. More recently, the Czech culture has become cool again.

Even though you will be able to find western-style food in Prague, the point of a holiday is to try something new and the best way to do this is to get immersed in the culture is through your stomach. If you are looking to lose weight, then Prague is not the place for you. One thing about the locals is that they love their meat and vegetarians are looked at with strangely. In fact, the idea of a plate of vegetables stops with a side order of potato. This, of course, is traditional Czech cuisine. With the influx of tourists the restaurants and pubs have had to alter their offerings slightly and now offer their patrons a healthier alternative to just meat.

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Prague has now become one of everyone's favorite Stag and Hen party destinations. With a wide range of great activities, a lively atmosphere, friendly locals and amazing prices. Most of the Prague sex clubs offer theme rooms that can turn your stag party in Prague into a Roman feast or a erotic sauna. Dance, drink and be merry - for tomorrow, one of your brave lot faces the ball and chain, never to enjoy again. little wonder Prague is the destination of the new millennium.

Prague is also Europe's strip-capital and if your into lap dancing and strip clubs there are some very classy clubs that have a strict no-touch policy which is great for stag or hen parties which are a common occurence in Prague all year round.

Prague's main shopping area covers Wenceslas Square and Republic Square and offers everything from local shops to international department stores. Smaller boutiques, souvenir, and art shops can be found in the Old Town Square and Mala Strana.

The Cerna Ruze Shopping Center near Wenceslas Square contains several shops, restaurants, and cafes for the casual shopper. International stores such as Adidas, Dolce & Gabbana, and Bang & Oulfsen can be found here.

Other familiar department stores of interest would include Debenhams, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Kotva, Moser Praha, and C&A Department Store. The famed Bohemian crystal, porcelain, and hand-blown Moser glass can be found in stores in Old Town. There are also a large number of antique stores offering antique watches and jewelry, paintings, historical glass and china.

Handcrafted jewelry can be purchased at specialty stores like Blue Rabbit, where it is said that no two pieces look exactly alike. Czech garnets, which should come with a certificate of authenticity, are easily available at stores around the city.

Another interesting Prague souvenir is the marionette. They come in all manner of sizes and quality and the prices vary accordingly. They can be gifted as toys to children or even as showpieces to adults since they make good conversation starters.

The open air market in Holesovice is a shopper's paradise due to the wide availability of bargains in a single location. Heavy bargaining will solicit some major discounts, particularly if more than a single item is being purchased. The stalls offer watches, clothing, shoes and boots, handbags, knives and swords, perfume, and jewelry. A number of Chinese takeaway stalls offer good food at low prices here.

For those interested in wrought iron handicrafts, blacksmiths in the Old Town Square work within view of the public. One simply has to make a request and the item will be forged right there. Prices vary according to the item.

For a glimpse of art in action, take a walk down Charles Bridge, where artists have their works on display. The most popular of these are the watercolor renderings of the landscape, all of which are done in minute detail. Best of all, you can bargain for and buy your favorite paintings.

And of course, the mandatory souvenir shops selling plastic replicas of Prague buildings can be found throughout the city. Take home cheap mementos ranging from T-shirts with cute slogans to small cardboard calendars depicting famous Prague landmarks.

Prague entertainment really is second to none. Whether you want to shopping, sightseeing, party the night away, go to a shooting range or even take a trip on the river, you will be guaranteed an amazing experience in this popular destination.

Getting there is easy and if you book early you can easily get a cheap flight to prague. You can fly to Prague with British Airways, Easyjet, Expedia, Opodo and many more travel companies and you'll discover why so many people come to this great european city.

Why is Prague so popular? There's something magic about that city. We don't know if it is Franz Kafka who's attracting many Jewish to see Old Synagogue. We don't know if it is a view from famous café Slavia over river and castle where former president used to go. We don't know if it is inexpensive sort break offered in some travel agents shop. We don't know if it is a desire to see post communist city witch has been barred from visitor for many decades. We don't know if it is strolling over Charles Bride at dawn. Maybe this Prague guide. We don't know but what we know, you will fall in love with Prague.