Today’s
The World Around Us
will be presented in Czech,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Japanese,
Korean, Malay,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish,
Italian, and Thai.
Enlightened viewers,
welcome to
today's episode of
The World Around Us.
Prague, the capital
of Czech Republic, is
one of the most beautiful
cities in central Europe.
Situated on
the Vltava River,
the city of Prague is also
known as Zlatá Praha
(Golden Prague)
and is inhabited by
approximately
1.3 million people.
Historically,
Prague was the capital of
the Holy Roman Empire
during the reign
of two Roman Emperors,
Charles IV
of the new Luxembourg
dynasty in 1355
and Rudolf II,
the elected King
of Bohemia in 1576.
Most of the fascinating
buildings and
baroque architecture
that exist today
were built in large part
during the reign
of Charles IV.
Besides being the center
of political, social,
economical and
cultural activity,
the city of Prague also
played an important role
in the development
of Christianity
during the Middle Ages
in central Europe.
According to legend,
the city of Prague
was founded
around the year 885
by Princess Libuše
and her husband Premysl,
founder
of the Premyslid dynasty.
It is believed
that Princess Libuše
reigned from the fortress
of Vyšehrad, which is
one of the most important
historical sites in Prague.
The history of Prague
begins at Vyšehrad, one
of the two Prague castles.
The Bohemian princess,
Princess Libuse protected
the glory of Prague
from here.
The period of greatest fame
of Vyšehrad came during
the rule of Charles IV,
when its premises
included 14 churches.
In the middle
of the 17th century,
the castle was changed
into a citadel,
forming part of Prague's
new fortification system.
The strong and immense
structure of Vyšehrad
is the church
of St. Peter and Paul.
Originally Romanesque,
it was reconstructed
in Gothic style by
Czech King Charles the IV.
It acquired its present
neo-gothic appearance
during the turn of
the 19th and 20th centuries.
The oldest structure
of Vyšehrad is
the Saint Martin rotunda,
dated probably from
the end of the 11th century
and renovated in 1878.
This type of round chapel
with an apse
was originally designed
as the court sanctuary
of Princess Castle.
Now it is
the only intact part of
Romanesque Vyšehrad.
At Vyšehrad is also
the most meaningful
Prague cemetery
called “Slavin”
where many of
the Czech nation’s greatest
cultural personalities
have been laid to rest.
One of most popular
historical sites in Prague
is the Prague Castle.
With a length
of about 570 meters,
and average width
of 128 meters,
the Prague castle holds
a Guinness records as being
the largest ancient castle
in the world.
For many centuries
it was the official
residence and seat
of the Bohemian Kings,
Holy Roman Emperors
and the Czech rulers.
Due to reconstructions
by many rulers
at different times,
the Prague Castle
shares a mixture
of the 12th century
Romanesque style,
14th century Gothic style,
and the 15th century
Renaissance style
of architectures.
Prague Castle,
according to legend,
was founded by
Princess Libuse, but
Archeologists maintain
that it originated
in the 6th century
as a Bohemian
border fortification.
It entered into history
in the second half
of the 9th century
when Prince Borivoj
founded on that site,
the first Christian church
in Prague.
The castle became
the main seat of
the Bohemian Přemyslids,
the Czech tribes
ruling family.
In 1135, during the reign
of Sobeslav I, the castle
acquired new fortifications
with two entrance towers.
The eastern one called
"The Black Tower"
still stands today.
Prague was established
as bishopric
in the year 973.
The St. Vitus’s Cathedral,
located within
the Prague Castle,
is a Roman Catholic
cathedral and was built
by Charles the 4th
after Prague was elevated
to an archbishopric
in 1344.
The St. Vitus’s Cathedral
is the biggest and
the most important church
of the Czech Republic.
It also contains the tombs
of many Bohemian Kings
including Rudolf II.
who was also
the Holy Roman Emperor
during the 16th century.
Viewing
St. Vitus’s Cathedral
from the castle courtyard
is an unforgettable
experience and makes
many tourists return
to see Prague again.
The construction
of the present cathedral
was ordered by
Emperor Charles IV,
who made the decision
after the Bishop of Prague
had been elevated
to Archbishop in 1344.
The Cathedral’s eastern side
is the work
of Mathias of Arras
and Peter Parler.
And the western side
of the Cathedral
was completed
in the years 1860
until 1929, mainly by
architects Joseph Mocker
and Kamil Hilbert.
This cathedral is
one of the most outstanding
structures in Europe.
The cathedral’s nave is
124 meters long,
60 meters wide
and 38 meters high.
The main tower is
nearly 100 meters high.
Our visit to the historical
city of Prague
in the Czech Republic
continues when we return.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
The World Around Us
as we visit the historical
city of Prague, capital
of the Czech Republic.
One of the most
beautiful attractions
of Prague Castle
is Golden Lane.
It's houses whose color
shine brightly
in the sunlight awaken
the curiosity of visitors
and the wish to peep just
for a moment
into medieval life
at Prague Castle.
The narrow Golden Lane
of Prague Castle
was renamed
after the goldsmiths
who have been living in
the houses that were once
inhabited by the guards
of Emperor Rudolph II.
The 520-meter-long famous
Gothic Charles Bridge,
constructed by Charles IV,
is a historical bridge
that runs over
the Vltava River.
This bridge served as
an important connection
between Eastern
and Western Europe for
more than six centuries.
Because of its original
Construction from
Bohemian sandstone,
it was also called
the Stone Bridge
or the Prague Bridge.
In 932, the bridge was
only a wooden structure.
During the reign
of King Vladislav I,
a new bridge was built.
It was the second oldest
stone bridge
in Central Europe,
bearing the name
of Queen Judith.
After it was damaged
by flood in 1342,
Charles IV had
a new stone bridge
built by only 27-year-old
Peter Parler
and his workshop.
Construction work
was started in 1357 and
the bridge, today called
"The Charles Bridge,"
was finished before
the end of the 14th century.
A few years ago,
all traffic was prohibited
across the Charles Bridge.
Pedestrians are
absolutely safe there and
tourists find themselves
in a photographer's paradise.
The bridge is
520 meters long
and 10 meters wide
and it's made of
sandstone blocks.
It introduces us to one of
Europe's most beautiful
art galleries displayed
in the form of 30 statutes
and groups of statuaries
dating from 1683
until 1714.
Located in the historic
Old Town of Prague
between the Charles Bridge
and the Wensesla´s Square
is the Old Town Square.
The Old Town Square
contains many
famous historic sites
like Tyn Cathedral,
St. Nicholas Church,
and the Prague
Astronomical Clock.
Old Town Square,
the center of Prague's
historical old town quarter
and one of the city’s
most remarkable areas,
ranks next to the castle
in terms of
historical importance.
Perhaps Prague's
main attraction is the old
town astronomical clock
on the Old Town hall Tower.
This masterpiece
accomplished by
clock Master Hanus
in 1490
was damaged in 1945,
but has been repaired
and it's now again
in full working order.
Every hour,
throngs of people gather
to watch the succession
of apostles.
The Old Town Square is
a huge asymmetrical
quadratic area
of 9,000 square meters
with buildings
on all four sides.
These buildings reflect
the century old
development of the Square
and entire city.
The main structure is
the Tyn Church
whose towers are
a colossal 80 meters high.
The northwestern part
of the Square is dominated
by the Baroque Church
of St. Nicholas
built in the first half
of the 18th century.
Named after
the Saint Wenceslas, who
was the Prince of Bohemia
at around 907
and the main patron saint
of the Czech Republic,
the Wenceslas Square
is yet another
historic center of Prague.
It is also the main cultural
and commercial city center
in the New Town area
of Prague.
Wenceslas Square,
Prague's main boulevard,
is three quarters
of a kilometer long
and 60 meters wide.
It is the city’s center
of traffic, shopping and
social activities, and also
the site of the largest
public manifestations
of Czech national,
political and cultural life.
The Square's upper end
is enclosed by
the National Museum.
At the top end stands
Myslbek´s statute
of St. Wenceslas
dating from 1912.
The city of Prague
has treasured the legacy
of history, art
and architecture
for the past 1,100 years
and is one of
the most famous tourist
destinations in Europe.
Due to
its historical importance,
the Historic Center
of Prague was enlisted
as a World Heritage site
since 1992
by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization.
May the beautiful city
of Prague and her people
flourish, watched over
by St. Wenceslas
and graced by Heaven.
It’s been a pleasure
having you with us
as we explored
the historic city of Prague,
Czech Republic
on today’s
The World Around Us.
Up next is
Words of Wisdom, right
after Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
Wishing you
and your loved ones
blessed days
in the Divine’s presence.
Two-time
Grammy nominated
Mr. Rahim AlHaj
is one of the finest oud
musicians of our time.
Iraqi music is so sacred;
it's so soulful,
because it has to come
with your heart.
He composes
for the world’s oldest
stringed instrument with
sounds across cultures,
to unite humankind.
It’s for oud
and string quartet,
so I’m the oud; you are
the string quartet.
We have the same music.
You have seven notes
and I have seven notes.
And let's share
whatever we have
to make the world
a better place to live.
Watch
“From Iraq to the World
– Rahim AlHaj,”
Friday June 11, on
Enlightening Entertainment.