The name Prague comes from an old Slavic root, praga, which means “ford”, referring to the city's origin at a crossing of the Vltava River.
The native name of the city, Praha, is also related to the modern Czech word práh ("threshold"). A legendary etymology connects the name of the city with duchess Libuše, prophetess and a wife of mythical founder of the Přemyslid dynasty. She is said to have ordered "the city to be built where a man hews a threshold of his house".
Czech práh shall be understood here as to be in the river, rapids or cataract: its edge as a passage to the other river side. Contrarily, although there are a few weirs nowadays, there was not discovered any such geological threshold in the river under the Prague Castle. Thus some derive the name Praha from the stone of the hill, where the original castle was built: na prazě, the original term for shale rock. (In those days, there were forests around the Castle, on the nine hills of the future city: the Old Town on the other river bank as well as the Lesser Town underneath the Castle appeared later
Much has been written about this truly beautiful city and the reasons why Prague remains so popular are quite simple. You will understand simply by strolling along the cobblestone streets of the old town, observing the fantastic architecture of the buildings, the churches and the magnificent Castle. You can have a relatively cheap lunch or dinner in a pub, accompanied by a world famous Czech beer. Later on, get a half price entrance ticket to enjoy a classical music concert, or for the younger crowd there is a great clubbing scene. When you have had enough of tourist places just escape to the peaceful leafy grounds of Vysehrad, Stromovka Park or take the funicular railway to the top of Petrin Hill - no city in Europe has more rewarding views. Shopping lovers will not be left out as many excellent and reasonably priced local goods are always available. No matter if it is winter or summer, you will enjoy
Prague at its best
Prague Hotel Guide
