Special Sub-Topic: Prague Click Here To Play: Prague

Prague is the capital of which country?

Czech Republic & The Czech Republic & Czechia. The use of the name 'Czechia' is rare. The country is usually referred to as the 'Czech Republic'.

Prague is also the capital of a province and former kingdom. Which of these is it?

Bohemia. 'There shall arise a city in Bohemia whose beauty and glory will reach to the heavens' - Princess Libussa in Czech folkore.

A vast and most impressive complex of buildings dominates the skyline of central Prague. What is it?

Castle & Hrad & Prague Castle & Prazsky Hrad & Hradcany. Prague Castle is a vast complex of buildings, including a large Baroque and Rococo palace (17th and 18th centuries), the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus's Cathedral (Gothic and Neo-Gothic), St George's Basilica (Romanesque) - and much else besides. Some scholars believe Prague Castle inspired Kafka's novel 'The Castle'. As the Czech lands were under foreign rule for centuries, Prague Castle is widely seen as both a symbol of oppressive foreign rule *and* a source of national pride.

The oldest - and most famous - bridge in Prague is named after a king. Which one?

Charles IV. He was King Charles IV of Bohemia, of Germany and also Holy Roman Emperor - in all cases as Charles IV. The bridge is an ornate stone structure, with towers at both ends. On both sides of there are statues, mainly dating from the 17th century. The Czech name for the bridge is Karluv Most.

On which river is Prague?

The Vltava. Moldau is the German name. The Vltava is a tributary of the Elbe. The Danube and the Inn don't flow through the Czech Republic.

The more recent, that is late 19th and early 20th part of the city contains a well known (oblong) square, named after a medieval king. What is it called?

Wenceslas Square & Vaclavske namesti. This square, which has the dimensions of a boulevard (about 750 x 60 metres), rises towards the Czech National Museum. The square also has some fine architecture of the Central European "secession" (of 1897 onwards). The Hotel Evropa is the most noteworthy example.

How many Metro lines does Prague have?

3. These lines use the same kind of rolling-stock as the Moscow Metro.

Which group (or family) of languages does Czech belong to?

Slavonic. Other languages in the Slavonic group include: Russian, Polish, Serbian, Bulgarian.

One of the most famous and popular German-language writers of the 20th century was born and grew up in Prague. One of his novels may have been inspired in part by the complex of buildings dominating the city's skyline. What is his name?

Kafka & Franz Kafka. Franz Kafka (1883-1924) wrote in German. His best known novels include "The Trial" and "The Castle". He is almost universally acclaimed as one of the leading German-language authors of the 20th century.

After 1945 Czechoslovakia (as it then was) became part of the Soviet bloc. In which year was the Communist regime finally overthrown in the 'Velvet Revolution'?

1989. Despite the harsh repression of some of the early demonstations, this revolution, was remarkably free of serious violence: hence its name.