The threshold

On your left side you see a rapid across the river. At first it was a natural threshold, then it was made artificial. Previously, people settled precisely at river rapids so that they could ford the river.

The scientists say, that Prague got its name from this threshold. Because the word "threshold" sound in Czech language as "prah".

The same thresholds on a rivers were everywhere previously in all old European cities. They didn’t built up to the banks of the river, empty places were left there, and the water could flowed faster there. And wheels of water mill could spin faster too.

Also, on a left side, on the distance, you can see the roof on National Theatre, decorated with golden crown. Why such decoration is there? When Bohemia was part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the official language was German. The Czech of course didn’t like this. And around the end of the 19th century, a movement for the restoration of national culture was formed here. The Czech people begin to raise money to build a national folk theater, where Czech actors would perform, and Czech writers write plays and the performances would be held in Czech.

That’s why the roof was decorated with a golden crown like a symbol of victory Czech culture over German.

Photo: Alesia - guide in Prague