The postage stamp depicts Prague Castle, the undisputed landmark of the Czech capital and a time-honoured symbol of Czech statehood. However, the design offers an original composition – rather than the traditional frontal view, it shows a panorama of the castle complex from a more distant perspective, looking from the historic National Theatre building across the Vltava River. Prague Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an extraordinary architectural complex covering an area of almost 70,000 square metres. For over a thousand years, it served as the main seat of the Czech monarchs and even twice became the central residence of the powerful emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. Within its walls, the history of the whole of Central Europe was written. This fascinating complex seamlessly combines palaces and religious buildings in a variety of architectural styles – from the medieval Gothic of the reign of Charles IV, through the ornate Renaissance of Emperor Rudolf II, to the elegant alterations of the early 20th century. Today, it serves as the official residence of the President of the Republic. Why choose this stamp: Royal grandeur: The perfect memento of a visit to the most significant Czech monument and the former residence of powerful European monarchs. An original perspective: The stamp offers an unconventional viewpoint linked to another of Prague’s major landmarks – the National Theatre. A UNESCO gem: An elegant piece of history representing an architectural complex that is unrivalled in the world in terms of its scale and significance.