GUIDE
5. Orientation
Prague sits amid the gentle landscapes of the Bohemian plateau, straddling the Vltava (Moldau in German), the Czech Republic’s longest river. At Mělník, 30km downstream (north), the Vltava joins the Labe, which drains northern Bohemia and then crosses Germany (as the Elbe) to the North Sea.
Central Prague consists of five historical towns. On a hill above the western bank of the Vltava is Hradčany, the castle district. Between the castle and the river is Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter). The fines panoramic views of the city are from Petřín Hill, south and west of Malá Strana. On the Vltava’s eastern bank, and linked to Malá Strana by the Charles Bridge is Staré Město, the Old Town. This maze of Gothic and Baroque streets surrounds the huge expanse of Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). In the northern part of Staré Město is Josefov, the former Jewish ghetto. Nové Město the New Town – new in the 14th century, that is – wraps around Staré Město to the east and south, with the broad avenue of Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) as is centre. Within these historical districts lie most of the city’s attractions. The whole compact maze is best appreciated on foot, aided by good public transport.
