Archaeological trips at Prague

The area of Prague is the only archaeological site that is practically continuous and enshrines a huge amount of archaeological findings – traces of the existence and life of our ancestors from the recent and distant past which provide evidence of historical moments and events. In addition to the discoveries of prehistoric settlements and burial grounds of the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, archaeology provides irreplaceable sources of information to learn about an important milestone in the history and development of the Prague basin settlement – the origin of Prague and Prague Castle as the centre of the Bohemian state in the Early Middle Ages, the future expansion of the settlement, and finally the foundation and development of the towns of Prague – Lesser Town, Old Town, and New Town which form the heart of Prague up to the present.

The in situ (in the original place) archaeological findings which have survived are the most authentic ones. Some are open to the public while others preserved in non-public places are accessible only on exceptional occasions, and many remain hidden beneath the current surface of the city. Fragmentary remains of residential houses, production facilities, burial grounds, and sometimes constructions of medieval houses, religious structures, and fortifications remain in the historical core of Prague and its environs. Many authentic structures may still be admired at the Prague Castle and Vyšehrad compounds as well as in the remarkable compounds of prehistoric and early medieval fortification centres beyond the borders of Prague – e.g. the Šárka Valley, Zámka and Butovice hillforts, and many others. Among the less striking ones are the remains of medieval villages (e.g. the vanished Hol Village).