Prague (« Praha » en tchèque), le capitale de la République tchèque, a reçu de nombreux surnoms, tels que « La ville aux 100 tours », « Le toit de l'Europe », « Le cœur de l'Europe », « La ville dorée » et « La mère des villes ». Et la magnifique ville, où l'histoire se rencontre aujourd'hui, les mérite pleinement et bien d'autres encore.

Prague, la plus grande ville de la République tchèque (et la 15e plus grande ville de l'UE), revêt une grande importance d'un point de vue historique, politique et culturel, entre autres. Non seulement précieuse pour les Tchèques, la capitale de la République tchèque est également un important centre européen. Si vous n'avez pas encore visité Prague, vous devez absolument l'inscrire sur votre liste des « incontournables ».

Géographie et démographie

La République tchèque est un pays enclavé, en plein cœur de l'Europe. Sa capitale, Prague, est située au nord-ouest du pays, sur la rivière Vltava. La ville couvre une superficie de près de 5 000 km² (environ 50 000 ha) et l'altitude de Prague est de 177 à 399 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer.

Prague se trouve dans la région climatique tempérée de l'hémisphère nord de la Terre, d'où le le climat est doux, avec des températures moyennes légèrement supérieures à celles d'autres régions situées à la même latitude géographique. Trouvez plus d'informations sur le Météo à Prague.

Prague appartient à CEST (heure d'été d'Europe centrale) fuseau horaire, soit 2 heures d'avance sur le temps universel coordonné, et le système de l'heure d'été (DST ou « heure d'été ») y est pratiqué.

Comme les autres grandes villes, Prague est souvent confrontée à une légère dégradation de la qualité de l'air et parfois à du smog. Néanmoins, le taux de pollution est régulièrement contrôlé et les citoyens sont toujours informés, les mesures appropriées étant prises si nécessaire.

Le La population de Prague est de 1,4 million citoyens, et environ 2 millions de personnes vivent dans sa plus grande zone urbaine. Plus de 230 000 étrangers vivent à Prague, soit plus du tiers de tous les étrangers enregistrés en République tchèque.

Autres caractéristiques de base

Les Tchèques en général sont probablement les plus connus au monde athées, mais les Praguois sont très tolérants à l'égard de toutes les religions.

Le monnaie officielle de la République tchèque (et donc, bien sûr, de Prague) est le »Couronne tchèque», parfois appelée »Couronne tchèque» (« Koruna česká » en tchèque). Le symbole de la monnaie est « Kč » en tchèque et « CZK » en anglais et à l'international. Même si la République tchèque n'a pas accepté la monnaie unique européenne, il est possible de payer en euros dans certaines zones touristiques de Prague.

Découvrez tout ce que vous devez savoir sur Monnaie tchèque dans notre guide détaillé.

Les Praguois, comme tous les Tchèques, appartiennent au groupe ethnique slave occidental originaire de la République tchèque. Le la langue officielle de Prague est donc le tchèque (« čeština » en tchèque), comme dans le reste de la République tchèque. C'est une langue slave occidentale (fortement influencée par le latin et l'allemand), très difficile à apprendre et utilisée officiellement nulle part ailleurs dans le monde. De nombreux mots sont également empruntés à l'anglais. Le langue tchèque est très similaire à la langue slovaque (utilisée dans la République slovaque voisine).

Consultez notre article complet pour en savoir plus sur langue tchèque.

L'histoire

À l'époque préhistorique, un certain nombre de tribus vivaient sur le territoire de ce qui est aujourd'hui Prague. Vers 200 avant JC, il y avait une colonie celtique et au IIe siècle après JC, il y avait une ville germanique. C'est lors de la migration des peuples au VIe siècle de notre ère que le bassin de Prague a commencé à être peuplé de Slaves.

Selon un légende, Prague a été fondée au VIIIe siècle par la princesse et prophétesse Libuše et son mari Přemysl, à l'origine laboureur. Libuše, l'ancêtre légendaire de la dynastie Přemyslid, aurait escaladé une falaise au-dessus de la rivière Vltava et aurait prophétisé sur la future ville magnifique : »Je vois une grande ville dont la gloire atteindra les étoiles.” On the site she ordered the building of a castle and a town, which she called “Prague”.

There are many hypotheses about the origins of Prague’s name. The legend of Libuše tells that the princess had the city founded on a spot where a settler was carving a threshold for his cabin. Because in Czech the word for threshold is “práh”, she called the city “Praha”. But the most probable theory is that Prague was named after a river crossing place under today’s Charles Bridge, which is also called “práh” in Czech.

The factual history of Prague started at the end of the 9th century, when Bořivoj, the first historically documented Duke of Bohemia, had a Christian chapel built above the Vltava river. During the reign of his son Spytihněv, the point was surrounded by a defence wall and a princely palace was built there. That is how Prague was founded.

Prague grew fast, and in the 12th century it was already a flourishing city, above which the princely castle grandly towered. The history of the Czech Republic’s capital is long and rich, so let us just mention the most significant milestones of it. At the end of the 10th century, Vyšehrad castle was built, and it was between the two Přemyslid castles (Prague Castle and Vyšehrad) that the Slavic settlement, gradually developing into a city, originated.

At the beginning of the 13th century, the oldest part of Prague (nowadays called “the Old Town”) was founded, and soon after that the banks of the Vltava river were connected with the first bridge. At the other side of the river, Ottokar II of Bohemia founded the second Prague city in the half of the 13th century, later called “the New Town” and nowadays named “Malá Strana”. In the 14th century, today’s “Hradčany” quarter was founded, and in 1348 the celebrated King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV founded the fourth part of the city, “the New Town”.

All the parts were finally united in 1784, during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. After this, the royal capital consisted of the New Town, the Old Town, Malá Strana, and Hradčany. More quarters were later connected, for example Josefov and Vyšehrad. At the end of World War I, the Czech (and soon after, Czechoslovak) independent state was declared, with Prague as its capital.

Nowadays, after a lot of dramatic historical turbulence, Prague is a magnificent, significant European metropolis, popular tourist destination, and a beautiful and charming place. It unites echoes of ancient history with a modern, big city bustle.

Significance and Preeminence

Prague is the seat of many state institutions and other significant organizations (including a number of international ones). The Czech president, parliament, government, other central government entities, and the supreme court reside in the Czech Republic’s capital city. Also, it is the seat of the head offices of most Czech political parties and, last but not least, churches.

At the same time, Prague is a highly economically mature city, and a rich region with a high standard of living. It is the 9th richest region of Europe with a high level of employment, and more than 10 universities can be found in Prague. The unique town is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful European cities. Its historical centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and every year millions of tourists from all around the world visit it. Prague belongs among the TOP 5 most visited cities in Europe.

Prague is considered very safe by both locals and tourists. According to the study from November, 2024, Prague placed as 8th safest city according to research using data from TripAdvisor and Numbeo.

But be aware of various tourists scams and traps. The most common are shown in the great Honest Guide video below.

Prague is also a very important cultural, academic, scientific, and business centre of Europe. Every year, countless conferences, cultural events, and fairs of great international significance take place here.

Tourist Information

When you travel to Prague, Czech Republic, the essential rules of your entry and stay vary based on the country you are coming from. The most important factor is whether your country is part of the European Union or the Schengen area. You can find detailed info on entering the Czech Republic, duties, and length of stay on the web pages of the Ministry of the Interior.

If you travel to Prague by plane, you will enter the country via Prague Airport (Václav Havel Airport Prague). To travel from the airport and also through the whole city, you can either hire cabs or use the public transportation system. Prague’s integrated public transport is one of the best in Europe.

What to See in Prague

Prague offers countless sights to its visitors. Among others, you should definitely not miss the following places: The famous Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Square (which is the oldest and historically most significant Prague square, according to many people one of the most beautiful European squares); Prague Castle with its amazing gardens; Charles Bridge; the Jewish Quarter with its Old Jewish Cemetery and synagogues; Wenceslas Square with the National Museum at the top; and Prague ZOO, one of the best zoological gardens in the world.

Apart from its sights and world famous nightlife, traditional Czech cuisine is one of the top reasons why tourists travel to Prague. Countless restaurants and pubs offer marinated sirloin with special sauce (“Svíčková” in Czech) and famous Czech dumplings, roast duck with braised red cabbage, strudel, ham, and other Czech specials. And we must, of course, mention the famous Czech beer, too.

To explore everything Prague has to offer in an outstanding, maximally comfortable and financially effective way, one can use a sightseeing pass, called a “Prague Visitor Pass”. The card offers a rich variety of benefits, such as free public transport, free entries to selected sights, and many discounts. Prague Visitor Pass is the only official Prague card operated directly by the city and can be purchased at one of many sales points around the city, or online.

5 Honest Tips for Tourists Visiting Prague

1. Avoid Currency Exchange Scams: While the Czech Republic is part of the EU, it uses the Czech Koruna (CZK), not the Euro. Be cautious with currency exchange offices, especially those offering "zero commission"—they often have unfavorable rates. It's safer to withdraw cash from reputable ATMs or use credit cards where accepted.
2. Utilize Public Transportation: Prague boasts an efficient and affordable public transport system, including trams, buses, and the metro. Consider purchasing a short-term pass for unlimited travel. Seniors aged 65 and above can travel for free but should carry identification.
3. Stay Vigilant Against Pickpockets: Tourist hotspots like Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are prime areas for pickpockets. Keep your belongings secure and be wary of distractions that might be tactics for theft.
4. Respect Local Customs: Czechs may appear reserved, but they are generally polite. Don't expect overt friendliness from strangers. Learning a few basic Czech phrases can go a long way in showing respect.
5. Explore Beyond the Tourist Centers: While Prague's main attractions are captivating, neighborhoods like Vinohrady and Letná offer a more authentic experience with local cafes, parks, and fewer crowds.