Prague Old Town City Guide: The Vltava river - Travel & Discover

The river Tava flows through Prague for 31 kilometres, and at its widest measures 330 metres. The Tava has created some interesting places in Prague, islands and meanders providing many idyllic scenes. The Tava River is Prague's main waterway, around which the city has developed over the past 1,000 years. The river adds to the atmosphere of the capital and separates the city into two almost identical parts, eastern and western. The Tava rises in Sumava, where it starts as a small babbling stream. Both sides of Prague, separated by the Tava, are connected with 20 bridges. Further out, the Tava River meanders through pretty countryside, passing the occasional castle or historic building. The visitor can enjoy a privileged view of the charming embankments of Prague and admire the exceptional panorama on the castle promontory and the historic districts. This is an original way of discovering the architectural gems of the capital city, while enjoying a different viewpoint from the river. In 1992, the historic centre of Prague was added to the UNESCO Natural and Cultural World Heritage List. Almost 2,000 buildings are inscribed on the National Register of Prague Intangible Cultural Monuments, among which 1,440 are located within the conservation area. The major ones were classified as National Cultural Monuments.