On the east bank of the Vltava River is Old Town dating from the 13th century. The Tyn Cathedral is located in the Old Town, as are the University of Prague, the 14th century town hall, and the Municipal House. Also on the east bank of the river is New Town, built about a century after Old Town. The New Town is basically an industrial section of Prague.

On the West Side of the river is the part of Prague called the Lesser Town. Above this section is Hradcany Castle. This takes up a large portion of the city. This castle is formerly the residence of the kings of Bohemia, and it is now the residence of the president of the Czech Republic. Overlooking the Vltava River, the spires can be seen high above the landscape.

Next to the Hradcany Castle is the Gothic Style Cathedral of Saint Vitus, with the tombs of many Bohemian Kings. The city of Prague is normally called “The golden city of one hundred spires,” but often it is called “The golden city of five hundred spires” and “The golden city of one thousand spires.” Prague is called this because of its beautiful cathedrals and their pointy spires. This wonderful city is well known because of these cathedrals and spires. The two most beautiful cathedrals in my opinion would have to be the St. Vitus Cathedral and The Tyn Cathedral.

The St. Vitus Cathedral is the most beautiful site I have ever seen pictures of in my entire life. The St. Vitus Cathedral’s foundation was in the shape of a rotunda and was started by Prince Wenceslas in the year 926. The building was completed in 1344. The most valuable sights of the cathedral include: the chapel, the grave of St. Wenceslas, the chamber of the Bohemian jewels, other relics, twenty choir chapels, and many others. The interior stained-glass windows are beautiful. The cathedral consists of an East and West Side.

The Tyn Cathedral is my second choice. Two things the St. Vitus Cathedral and The Tyn Cathedral have in common are the pointy spires. They are the most beautiful sites in my opinion.

Many other churches are shown in the pictures I have looked at such as the St. Nicholas Church and the St. Mikulas Church. Both of these churches have beautiful spires also. Now I see why they call it “The golden city of one thousand spires!” Prague is so beautiful. Every church or historical building in Prague seems to have spires on it. Most of the spires on all the building are brought to a sharp point, but some, for example, the St. Nicholas Church spires are a little rounded at the top. Some are small, some are huge, some are fat and short, and some even tall and skinny. The point is, there are a thousand spires in this wonderful, magical city. The St. Vitus appears to have the most spires, but I may be mistaken.

Now for a little history on Prague and why people say it is so magical and historical. Prague’s magical atmosphere is produced through the coexistence of the buildings, sculptures, and monuments of ten centuries. Some of the monuments include: rotundas, proud gothic cathedrals, renaissance places, and rich baroque churches up to the representative buildings in the style of “art noveau.” At the beginning of the 19th century, Bernardo Bolzano counted 103 towers and spires in Prague on all of the cathedrals and buildings. This is why people called Prague “The golden city of one hundred spires.” Now it is estimated to be about five hundred towers and spires, and this is why people call Prague “The golden city of five hundred spires.” People also say that there are one thousand spires in the city of Prague, but trough my studies of Prague, I didn’t see anything about that subject so I couldn't actually say there are one thousand spires. There are many buildings and hundreds of spires. The oldest building is Vysehrad, a castle that we can still see today. It still sits where it was built. It is still as beautiful as it was six hundred years ago. It sits on the right side of the Vltava River. The University of Prague, usually called The Charles University, has educated students since 1348.