Prague’s old core survived the Second World War almost untouched, leaving a continuous sweep of Gothic and Baroque building fabric along the Vltava. The castle above Hradčany, the statue-lined Charles Bridge, and the working Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square give the city a medieval skyline that few European capitals can still show intact.
At a glance
The Historic Centre of Prague was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992, covering Hradčany with the castle, Malá Strana, Staré Město, Nové Město and Vyšehrad as a single zone. The area escaped the bombing that reshaped many other Central European cities, so the medieval street pattern and much of the original building stock remain in place.
The city carries a dense cultural history alongside its architecture: Franz Kafka was born here in 1883, Mozart conducted the world premiere of Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in 1787, and the Velvet Revolution of 1989 unfolded on Wenceslas Square and Národní Třída, bringing Václav Havel to the presidency.
Key facts
- Astronomical Clock: installed in 1410 on the Old Town Hall, it is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation, showing solar and lunar position against the zodiac and a calendar disc with saints’ name-days; on the hour, figures of the Twelve Apostles pass two small windows and a skeleton figure tolls the bell.
- Charles Bridge: commissioned by Charles IV and begun in 1357; tradition holds that the foundation stone was laid at a time chosen to form a numerical palindrome with the date. Thirty Baroque statues were added between 1683 and 1714, including the bronze relief of St John of Nepomuk, which visitors traditionally touch.
- Prague Castle: the walled complex covers around 70,000 square metres and includes nine palaces, four churches and three streets.
- St Vitus Cathedral: begun in 1344 under Charles IV and only completed in 1929; its twin towers rise 99 metres and it holds stained-glass windows designed by Alfons Mucha. The Wenceslas Chapel, containing the saint’s tomb, has walls set with some 1,300 semi-precious stones.
- Velvet Revolution: the protests that began on 17 November 1989 led, forty-one days later, to the resignation of the communist government on 28 November; Václav Havel was sworn in as president on 29 December 1989.
History
Prague Castle was established around 870, and the Přemyslid dynasty ruled Bohemia from it until the male line died out in 1306. Charles IV, who reigned from 1316 to 1378, made Prague the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and set in motion the building of Charles Bridge, St Vitus Cathedral and the New Town.
Later, Rudolf II moved his imperial court to Prague and assembled an extensive collection of art and curiosities in the castle, a period often remembered as one of the city’s cultural high points.
The most recent turning point came in 1989, when the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule; three years later, in 1992, the historic centre was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What you see
Hradčany holds Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, entered through the main gate on Hradčanské Náměstí; the Golden Lane within the castle walls preserves a row of small sixteenth-century houses, one of which, No. 22, is linked to Kafka.
Across the river in Staré Město, the Astronomical Clock draws crowds to Old Town Square on the hour, and the Jewish Quarter of Josefov holds the Old Jewish Cemetery, used continuously from 1478 to 1787, where the ground was built up in layers as burial space ran out, leaving gravestones packed and tilted against one another.
Practical information
- Layout: the UNESCO zone spans Hradčany, Malá Strana, Staré Město, Nové Město and Vyšehrad, and is generally covered on foot over a couple of days.
- Passes: a multi-day Prague Card is sold covering entry to a number of attractions, including parts of Prague Castle and Strahov Monastery; check current inclusions and validity with the official vendor.
- Astronomical Clock: the hourly show draws crowds, so arriving a little early or visiting earlier in the day gives a clearer view.
- Old Jewish Cemetery: opening arrangements are set by the Jewish Museum in Prague, which should be checked directly before visiting.
Getting there
Václav Havel Airport lies north-west of the city; public transport connects it to the centre via bus route 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín and then Metro line A. Night trains run from Vienna, Munich and Berlin, and a high-speed rail link between Berlin and Prague is planned from December 2026. Current timetables and fares should be checked with the relevant rail operators.
Nearby
- Český Krumlov — around 175 km south of Prague, reachable by direct bus from the Florenc terminal; a UNESCO World Heritage town centred on a large castle complex of some 40 buildings across seven courtyards, with a Baroque castle theatre whose original stage machinery still operates.
- Kutná Hora — about 70 km east, a UNESCO World Heritage town known for the Sedlec Ossuary, where human bones are used as interior decoration, and St Barbara’s Cathedral, built with wealth from the local silver mines.
- Vienna — roughly 300 km south-east, its own UNESCO-listed historic centre built around Schönbrunn Palace, the Ringstrasse and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Sources
- UNESCO, Historic Centre of Prague, WHS reference 616, inscribed 1992
- Angelo Maria Ripellino, Magic Prague, Macmillan, 1994
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →Events here — now on & upcoming
- Birth Anniversary: Alphonse Mucha — July 24, 186024 Jul 2027See the event →
- Death Anniversary: Alphonse Mucha — July 14, 193914 Jul 2027See the event →
- Day of Architecture 2026: I dwell, therefore I am30 Sep 2026 — 03 Dec 2026See the event →
📷 Become a Cultural Heritage Online photographer
Share your photos of places: they stay published under your name as the author. The more they're seen, the more you get noticed — and soon a contest will reward the most appreciated photos.
Log in or sign up free to add a photo