Prague, sometimes called the "Golden City," is the capital of and largest city in the Czech Republic. Prague is located in the central Bohemia region in a valley by the Vltava River, Prague contains many beautiful old buildings.

The largest city in the Czech Republic, Prague is the commercial and industrial centre and the cultural capital of the country. Machine tools, electrical machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, textiles, clothing, leather goods, food and alcoholic beverages, and glassware are manufactured there. The city is also the centre of book publishing in the country. With the fall of Communism, Prague has become a popular tourist destination, bolstering the city's economy. The city has an efficient transport system, including the Metro, trams, and buses.

One of the most picturesque cities in Europe, Prague is sometimes called The City of One Hundred Spires. It was built in a broad valley along the banks of the River Vltava and on the surrounding hills. The river is spanned by many bridges, of which the most famous is the Charles Bridge, built in the 14th century and later embellished with statues of saints. The eastern bank of the river is the site of the Old Town, dating from the 13th century, and the New Town, built about a century later. The traditional heart of the city is the cobbled Old Town Square, which is surrounded by historical buildings that include the 14th-century Týn Cathedral, the Town Hall with its famous 15th-century clock whose mechanical figures of the Apostles bow to waiting onlookers every hour, the National Gallery, and the 18th-century St Nicklaus' Church. Dominating the Square is the monument to Jan Hus, the 15th-century religious reformer. The district also contains the University of Prague and the Municipal House. The New Town, primarily a commercial and industrial quarter, contains many public buildings, museums, and banks. On the western side of the river is the part of the city called the Lesser Town, with a number of Baroque palaces. Above this district and dominating the entire city is Hradcany Castle; formerly the home of the kings of Bohemia, it is now the residence of the President of the Czech Republic. Next to this vast structure is the Gothic-style Cathedral of St Vitus, which contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings.

Educational institutions in Prague include Charles University (1348), the oldest university in Central Europe, and the Technical University of Prague (1707). The city also has many art, music, and professional schools, as well as museums, libraries, and theatres.

The 2016 European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium follows the previous successful symposia held in Edinburgh (2013), Bergen (2010), Montreux (2007) and Salzburg (2004).

The event will be held in Prague, Czech Republic from 9-13 May 2016 and is organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and the local support from Charles University in Prague.

In particular during the symposium, we aim to show with this comparison of images between Sentinel-1 (radar SAR instrument) and Sentinel-2 (optical sensor), the field of applicaton with these satellites relative to Copernicus project can be used.

Read more on the Living Planet Symposium website.

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View Sentinel-2 high resolution image (JPG 2.1 MB)

View Sentinel-1 high resolution image (JPG 1.4 MB)

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