Prague, Czech Republic

Good King Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame, who was actually a duke, made Christianity the state religion of Bohemia (Czech Republic) during the 930's. Even today, Prague is known as the city of a thousand spires. However, a mindset of non-belief in the Czech Republic is the legacy of fifty years rule by Nazis and Communists. In 1949, the Communist government confiscated church property and arrested thousands of priests.

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Sun and Shade

During the Middle Ages, Prague experienced a golden age under the reign of Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV. During that time Prague grew into a spectacular city, larger than London or Paris.

In 1526, the Austrian House of Habsburg took control of Prague until 400 years later when Czechoslovakia gained independence on October 28, 1918, but a few short years later found itself under Nazi "protection".

Prague came out of World War II mostly unscathed by bombings, but quickly succumbed to Communist rule, which ended in 1989 with the Velvet Revolution.

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Prague, Czech Republic

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