Berlitz: Prague Pocket Guide

Located in the heart of Europe – perhaps a little further north and west than most people think – Prague (Praha in Czech) is set on the banks of the Vltava River (a tributary of the Elbe). The site was chosen both for its strategic advantages and for its beauty, and the heart of the old city nestles in a bowl formed by rolling hills.

‘Five towns’

Prague used to be known as the ‘five towns’, after the five historic districts at its heart. These are: Hradčany (the Castle District), the Old Town (Staré Město), the Lesser Quarter (Malá Strana), the New Town (Nové Město) and Josefov (the Jewish Quarter).