Prague: The City and Its River – Bečková Kateřina (2017)

The Vltava River has been a fundamental factor in the appearance, character, and life of Prague since its inception, shaping the landscape for the settlement of the Prague basin and later the formation of the city that grew into a metropolis. Throughout its history, the city has gradually tamed the river. The people of Prague learned to harness its energy in mills and later in power plants, to bridge its course with various types of bridges, to modify the banks and islands, and to build embankments. The most radical changes to the face of the river likely occurred in the 19th century. The banks of the Vltava, which had mostly been used as economic peripheries, transformed into desirable locations with impressive buildings, social centers, and elegant promenades. In the introductory part, the author shows the historical connection between Prague and the Vltava River, where the practical functions of the river were particularly prominent, now mostly perceived as an aesthetic element that completes the picturesque image of the city. In the second part, she becomes a guide commenting on contemporary photographs of interesting objects and places connecting the Vltava with Prague, whether they are historical mills, weirs, riverbanks, islands, water towers, bridges, embankments with their buildings, or the river as a place of social life in the city. In addition to photographs of exteriors, the text...