Is this Turenská? Perhaps it’s just a simple residential street. But even seemingly ordinary streets hold echoes of Prague’s extraordinary past.
Prague’s history stretches back into the mists of time. The land where Prague now stands was settled in the Paleolithic Age. Trade routes connected southern and northern Europe. They followed the river’s course.
Around 500 BC, the Celtic tribe of the Boii were here. They gave their name to Bohemia and the Vltava River. Later, Germanic tribes migrated here. Still later, came the West Slavs.
Around 900 AD, the Czech P\u0159emyslid dynasty gained control. Prince Bo\u0159ivoj moved his seat to Prague. He built Prague Castle around 880. Since then, the area has been the seat of Czech rulers. Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in the world. It is now the seat of the Czech president.
By the early 10th century, Prague was a major trading center. Merchants from all over Europe gathered here. An Arab merchant wrote that Prague was built of stone and lime. He noted it was a large trade center.
Prague became a bishopric in 973. The first Czech bishop was Vojt\u011bch. He later became a patron saint of Czechs, Poles, and Hungarians.
Across the river, another settlement grew at Vy\u0161ehrad. It became a temporary seat of Czech rulers. In 1170, the first stone bridge was built over the Vltava. It was called the Judith Bridge.
In 1212, Bohemia became a hereditary kingdom. German colonists were invited to Bohemia and Moravia. In the 13th century, towns grew around Prague Castle. The Old Town gained town privileges in 1230.
During the reign of Charles IV, Prague flourished. The bishopric became an archbishopric. Charles founded Charles University in 1348. He also founded the New Town. Charles rebuilt Prague Castle. He built the Charles Bridge. Prague became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.
All that changed during the reign of Wenceslas IV. Master Jan Hus preached in Prague. His execution led to the Hussite Wars.
In 1526, the Habsburg dynasty began. Emperor Rudolf II made Prague the cultural center of the Holy Roman Empire again. Astronomers and painters lived here.
In 1618, the Second Defenestration of Prague led to the Thirty Years’ War. Twenty-seven Protestant leaders were executed in the Old Town Square. Prague declined.
The 17th century was the Golden Age of Jewish Prague. The Jewish community was the largest in Europe. The Maharal served as Prague’s chief rabbi.
In 1784, the four towns of Prague were merged into a single entity. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Prague grew thanks to the Industrial Revolution. Nobles built palaces and gardens.
After World War I, Czechoslovakia was created. Prague became the capital. In 1939, Nazi troops occupied Prague. During World War II, most Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
In 1945, Prague citizens revolted against the Nazi occupiers. Soviet tanks reached Prague. After the war, Prague was under Soviet influence.
In 1968, the Prague Spring aimed at democratic reform. The Soviet Union occupied Czechoslovakia. In 1989, the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule. In 1993, Prague became the capital of the Czech Republic.
Even here on Turenská, you stand on layers of history. The stones beneath your feet have witnessed centuries of change. Consider the people who have walked this path before you. Think of the stories they could tell. Prague’s past is not just in its castles and cathedrals. It is also in its streets and homes. It is in the very ground we stand on.