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The Vltava draws a wide waterway through the city, on whose banks the dense rows of houses rise. Above the rooftops stretches the massive arch of Charles Bridge, a band of stone connecting the two banks. Behind it thrones Prague Castle, a fortress of towers and palaces dominating the horizon.

The city landscape rises steeply from the riverbank, making the different architectural eras appear staggered. Below are the robust pillars of the bridge, above them the small-scale development of the Old Town, and at the very top the imposing silhouette of the castle, watching over everything. This vertical arrangement creates a clear hierarchy in the cityscape.