Prague was founded during the 9th century when a series of settlements began to form around two massive castles known locally as the “Vyšehrad” and the “Hradčany” (now named “Prague Castle”). A family of powerful nobles called the Přemyslids supervised the development of the area at the time, although historical records remain few and far between in relation to their story. Yet, many local oral traditions stipulate that Přemysl—the founder of the Přemyslid dynasty—and his wife, Libuše, constructed the two castles and their respective settlements. Nevertheless, the Přemyslids governed both communities for generations, gradually consolidating their base of power over the next five centuries. The protection that the two castles afforded made the locale a safe place for central European brokers to trade, giving rise to a prosperous market town that hugged the right side of the river. Known as the “Staré Mesto,” (or “Old Town” today), the new settlement formed the nucleus of modern-day Prague. The influx of new trade from across the continent also spawned a second town in the shadow of the Hradčany, which locals referred to as the “Malá Strana.” A massive series of fortifications defined by a ring of stone walls and towers enclosed the area, as well, affording more protection for the inhabitants. Commerce continued to flow into the community, too, inspiring foreign merchants from Germany and Italy to relocate into the either the Staré Mesto or the Malá Strana. The region had, thus, become a major European city by the start of the 1300s, complete with its own form of currency and powerful town guard. The Přemyslids had even made the settlement the official seat for the Kingdom of Bohemia, which they ruled as a semi-autonomous fiefdom within the much larger Holy Roman Empire.

The House of Luxembourg succeeded the Přemyslid dynasty during the mid-14th century, when John of Luxembourg inherited the Bohemian throne. His own son, Charles IV, eventually became the Holy Roman Emperor and used Prague as the official imperial capital throughout his reign. He subsequently oversaw the massive expansion of the locale, going on to establish such magnificent structures like Charles University, the Carolinum, and St. Vitus’ Cathedral. Perhaps the greatest construction project conducted at the time was the creation of the neighborhood “Nové mesto” (or “New Town”) right next to the Staré Mesto. But despite Charles’ careful administration, simmering social and political tensions fomented among the populace. Bitterness among competing religious sects born of the Protestant Reformation intermixed uneasily with different ethnic groups to create a remarkably explosive environment. The hostility finally erupted at the beginning of the 15th century when a segment of the population revolted under the direction of priest Jan Želivský. While Želivský and his fellow “Hussites” were eventually subdued, periodic warfare affected the location for the next two centuries. In fact, the destructive Thirty Years’ War began, in part, after Protestant residents threw three Catholic officials from the windows of the Hradčany. (No serious injury befell any of the victims, though.) The subsequent fighting that spread across Central Europe amid the Thirty Years’ War reached Prague, too, culminating with the Battle of Prague in 1648. Swedish troops had attempted to capture the area in July, resulting in a prolonged siege that lasted for five months. Ironically, it was the last major confrontation of the war.

In the wake of the Thirty Years’ War, the region reemerged once more as one of Europe’s most economically affluent. Save for a brief moment when Frederick the Great of Prussia invaded in 1744, the area enjoyed years of peace and prosperity. Its population grew significantly as such, numbering some 80,000 by the start of the 1770s. Local officials even decided to unite all the disparate communities into one single city that they officially christened as “Prague.” The new wealth flooding into the city led to a great real estate boon that saw most of its brilliant Baroque-themed buildings open for the first time. By this point, the Kingdom of Bohemia had long since been absorbed by the Habsburg monarchs of neighboring Austria, forming an important part of the Austrian Empire and its successor, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Rising nationalistic sentiment caused revolts to break out across Prague in 1848, driven by harsh working conditions that had arisen during the Industrial Revolution. Over time, local Czechs began to gain more independence, although Prague itself remained a multiethnic enclave characterized by its many different people. Prague eventually became a capital city once more after World War I, when the Allied powers created Czechoslovakia from the now-defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire. Prague subsequently remained the capital for the rest of the century, save for a seven-year period when Nazi Germany had seized control over the entire country in 1930s and 1940s. Today, Prague is the political, economic, and cultural center of the Czech Republic, which formed following the collapse of the Iron Curtain in the 1990s. It is home to many outstanding cultural attractions, as well, including Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, and of course, the Hradčany (Prague Castle). The entire Staré Mesto has even been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer known for the likes of The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.

Giacomo Casanova, author of the Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life).

Richard Wagner, composer and conductor known for productions like Die Walküre and Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung).

Alphonse Mucha, artist regarded for his decorative theatrical posters, specifically those of actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic (1989 – 1992; 1993 – 2003)