Prague (Praha) is the capital of the Czech Republic. Situated on the Vltava river in central Bohemia, Pragueis the political, cultural and economical center of the Czech state. The city proper is home to nearly 1.2 million people. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Now, Prague is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Since 1992, the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
By the early 10th century, the area around and below Prague Castle had developed into an important trading centre, where merchants from all over Europe gathered. The city flourished during the 14th century during the reign of Charles IV, of the Luxembourg dynasty. The 17th century is considered the Golden Age of Jewish Prague. In 1784, under Joseph II, the four municipalities of Malá Strana, Nové Město, Staré Město and Hradčany were merged into a single entity. The Jewish district, called Josefov, was included only in 1850.
Public transport infrastructure consists of an integrated transport system of three metro lines, tram system and buses. Prague is served by Ruzyně International Airport.
