Prague
History: Prague is the capital of what we now call the Czech republic and is renowned worldwide for it's atmosphere, history, famous people and it's glorious architecture (especially cathedrals). It managed to escape the mass-destruction that many of it's fellow cities and countries experienced in the several civil and world wars, and therefore it's buildings are even more important as they are almost unique. The imposing cliff of the Vysehrad and the winding river Vltava have inspired many a poet, painter, or composer and many famous artistic works have been created around the atmosphere these places hold. The town is now mainly divided into four sections - the Old Town, New Town, Jewish quater and Little quater. Each has it's own distinct atmosphere and attracts different sorts of people.
Places and People: Golden Lane, the Strahov Monastery, Charles Bridge, St Nicholas' Church, Vysehrad, the Vltava.... many famous places are set against the backdrop of Prague. People visit them today for their haunting, otherworldly atmosphere and serene beauty. Seen in snow in winter, the whole town appears to have emerged from a dream. Famous people include St Wenceslas (immortalised in the Christmas tune 'Good King Wenceslas') who is the town's patron, and scientist Tycho Brae who became less famous for his science and more famous for his odd company of a cleptomaniac dwarf and having a golden nose.
Myths and Legends: Prague is a city famous for its history of magic - many old writings tell of sorcerers and magicians who would work to uncover such secrets as the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life. Most of these lived just outside the castle walls on the incredibly beautiful Golden Lane - a charming series of small, colourfully painted houses that are open to public viewing today. Prague was also credited in writings with creating the mythical Golem - a creature of stone that was controlled bya wizard using a crystal ball.
In Tomb Raider: Lara's only trip to Prague occurs in the second act of Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness. The makers of the game combined elments of the real town - for example taking the name of the Strahov Monastery and turning it into a Fortress, and also taking the facades of real houses to create the street scene near Vasiley's Apartment - with it's myths and legends of magic and mythical creatures in areas such as the Lost Domain, the Sanitorium and the research centres. None of Prague's most famous landmarks appear in the game. The final level takes place underground in Prague where Lara conquers Karel to destroy the Nephilim and the Obscura Paintings.
