Dear friends We have prepared this booklet as a brief introduction for you – guests and collaborators of ITI, DIMATIA, and KAM as well as the participants of the Doccourse – to the place of your staying. By no means comprehensive, it should, however, answer at least some of the questions that you might have in mind, and assist you in finding your bearings in Prague – both in the geographical and social ways. The topics are many and sundry, spanning from a concise description of the hosting institutions to the most practical issues, such as guest computer accounts. Also included are a small dictionary and a little guide to the Czech pro- nunciation, or a general list of the jazz clubs and muse- ums. We hope that you will find the booklet helpful, and that you will enjoy your stay. If you have any questions or comments, please write to us. Veronika Douchová and Jaroslav Nešetøil
[email protected] [email protected] hosting institutions CHARLES UNIVERSITY The oldest university in central Europe, Charles University was founded on April 7th 1348 by Charles IV, then Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. From its foundation it was devoted to stu- dia generalia and it was endowed by the emperor with all the privileges enjoyed by older European universi- ties. The newly established univer- sity had four faculties – Theology, Law, Medicine and Arts. Soon after its foundation Prague university developed links with the medieval intellectual movements which were calling for reform in church and society. The destiny of Prague university has always been closely connected with the destiny of the Czech state and people.