A guide through Prague,its rich history and heritage Research Paper

A guide through Prague,its rich history and heritage - Research Paper Example A guide through Prague, its rich history and heritage The scenario of national and international travel and tourism is undergoing rapid change due to the rapid development in transportation and communication facilities. Within this context, travel guides play a vital role because the same provides firsthand experience to those who wish to have deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of world societies. Travel guides are generally considered as the window to the historical and cultural heritage of a society, which is most helpful for international tourists. Within the context of tourism in Czech Republic, Prague has a unique place because Prague is the meeting place of history and cultural heritage. Thesis statement: The travel guide to Prague proves that its rich history and cultural heritage, including historical buildings and significant artifacts, act the role of an innovative medium to exhibit and share its secrets with tourists, especially international tourists (special r eferences to the history of Prague, historical monuments, and significant artifacts). General information: Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic is generally considered as the historical and cultural hub of Central Europe. Besides, Prague is the largest city in Czech Republic, a former communist ally in Europe. ... During the Renaissance era, the cultural context of Prague underwent rapid transformation. Besides, Prague was the renowned capital of the Holy Roman Empire in central Europe. On the other side, Prague was an important city during the reign of Habsburg Monarchy. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was an alliance between Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary, provided ample importance to Prague. One can see that the interaction with these empires deeply influenced the cultural context of Prague. During the modern age, especially after the WWI, Prague underwent another change due its position as the capital of Czechoslovakia. On the other side, most of the cities in Europe were destroyed by WWI. But WWI did not hinder cultural change in Prague. Within the context of religion, Protestant Reformation influenced Prague to an extent. For instance, the Protestant believers constructed a number of independent churches in Prague. Besides, the Thirty Years War deeply influenced the politi cal context of Prague. One can see that the Thirty Years War was the end result of the difference in religious belief (Protestants and Roman Catholics) in Europe. Later, this religious conflict in the Central Europe developed into an internal conflict among the major nation states in Central Europe. To be specific, Prague was one of the cities in Central Europe which was influenced by religious and political transformation of Europe. During the time of Communist influence in Europe, Prague accepted the basic elements of Communism. But historical events never hindered the cultural development of Prague. For instance, there are a number of major museums and galleries in Prague, symbolic of the cultural heritage of Central Europe. So, one can