[{"command":"settings","settings":{"basePath":"\/","pathPrefix":"","setHasJsCookie":0,"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"travelwhiz_bootstrap_v2","theme_token":"GvB6-nxvMzHi6Qp5gYxHr1QjWiE7MKDjflYqY-UxURI"},"bootstrap":{"anchorsFix":"0","anchorsSmoothScrolling":"0","formHasError":1,"popoverEnabled":1,"popoverOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"right","selector":"","trigger":"click","triggerAutoclose":1,"title":"","content":"","delay":0,"container":"body"},"tooltipEnabled":1,"tooltipOptions":{"animation":1,"html":0,"placement":"auto left","selector":"","trigger":"hover focus","delay":0,"container":"body"}}},"merge":true},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":"#body-64-4269-0","data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022body-64-4269-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrague (Czech: Praha) is the Czech Republic\u0027s capital and largest city. The medieval buildings and narrow, winding streets of the city bear witness to its centuries-long status as the capital of the historic region of Bohemia. Prague is located on the banks of the lovely, meandering Vltava River, which represents the city\u0027s golden spires and the 9th century castle that dominates the skyline.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis historic atmosphere is complemented by a certain quirkiness that pervades the entire city. Prague is a Bohemian capital in every way, from the Museum of Czech Cubism to the technicolor Jubilee Synagogue; from the castle to the river.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor more than a millennium, the surface of the swan-filled Vltava River has mirrored this city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped walls, and church domes. Prague\u0027s compact medieval core, almost undamaged by World War II, remains a wonderful mixture of cobbled streets, walled courtyards, cathedrals, and countless church spires all in the shadow of her magnificent 9th century castle, which looks eastward as the sun sets behind her. Prague is also a modern and vibrant city, full of energy, culture, cultural art, fine dining, and special events to satisfy the independent traveller\u0027s thirst for adventure.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany regard Prague as one of Europe\u0027s most charming and beautiful cities, and it has become, along with Budapest and Krak\u00f3w, the most popular travel destination in Central Europe. Every year, millions of tourists visit the area.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPrague was founded in the late ninth century and quickly became the seat of the Kings of Bohemia, some of whom ruled as Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The city flourished during the reign of Charles IV, who ordered the construction of the New Town in the 14th century, and many of the city\u0027s most important attractions date from that period. Prague became a university town in 1348, and it has remained so ever since. The University, which is often said to be the oldest in Central Europe, was split into a German and a Czech language part in 1882, with the German language part closing down in 1945, effectively ending Prague\u0027s claim to be the \u0022oldest German university\u0022 until then. The city was also ruled by the Habsburgs and became the seat of an Austro-Hungarian Empire province. It had a German-speaking majority well into the nineteenth century and retained a large German-speaking minority even after that until the expulsion of ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia following World War II. Several prominent German-language writers were born in Prague during that time period, perhaps the most notable being Franz Kafka, best known for works such as Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) and Der Prozess (The Trial). Following World War I, the city became the capital of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Many foreigners, especially young people, moved to Prague after 1989. Its historic center was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. Czechoslovakia was divided into two countries in 1993, and Prague became the capital of the independent Czech Republic.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Vltava River flows through Prague, which has a population of approximately 1.2 million people. While the capital is beautiful, smog often accumulates in the Vltava River basin.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","settings":null}]