Prague
Overview
 
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava
Vltava
The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník...

 river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...

 is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million. The city has a temperate oceanic climate
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...

 with warm summers and chilly winters.

Prague has been a political, cultural and economic centre of Europe and particularly central Europe during its 1,100 year existence.
Timeline

1348    Charles University is founded in Prague.

1348    Charles University in Prague (Universitas Carolina/Univerzita Karlova) is established as the first university in Central Europe.

1357    Emperor Charles IV assists in laying the foundation stone of Charles Bridge in Prague.

1419    First Defenestration of Prague: a crowd of radical Hussites kill seven members of the Prague city council.

1620    The Battle of White Mountain takes place near Prague, ending in a decisive Catholic victory in only two hours.

1621    Execution of 27 Czech noblemen on the Old Town Square in Prague as a consequence of the Battle of White Mountain.

1631    A Saxon army takes over Prague.

1787    Mozart's opera ''Don Giovanni'' receives its first performance in Prague.

1848    The Slavic congress in Prague begins.

1905    František Pavlík is killed in a demonstration in Prague, inspiring Leoš Janáček to the piano composition 1. X. 1905.

 
x
OK