Prague Morning, Author at Prague Morning

The government has approved the cancellation of several resolutions from 1970-1982 that allowed Russians to use real estate in the Czech Republic free of charge, news site Deník N reported on Wednesday afternoon. This move opens up the possibility of demanding taxes and rent from Russia, even three years retroactively.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his Saxon counterpart Michael Kretschmer signed a memorandum of cooperation in Dresden on Wednesday that should make it possible to speed up approval processes for lithium mining in the Ore Mountains on both sides of the border.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says a horse of his that was kidnapped in Czechia is being returned to him. He said on social media that the stallion, which was being kept at a stable in Central Bohemia, had been abducted by Ukrainian secret service agents in cooperation with the Czech police.

According to a survey carried out this spring by Grafton Recruitment, 38% of Czech workers think that life is bad in the Czech Republic, and half of the respondents have had to start economising on spending due to inflation and rising prices. The survey was conducted online in February and March 2023 with 1,500 respondents.

Czech President Petr Pavel who is on a two-day visit to Denmark on Monday met for talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. They discussed security issues, migration and the protection of the EU’s outer borders as well as continued aid to Ukraine.

Do you need help deciding which buildings to visit during Open House Prague 2023 on the weekend of May 20–21, or are you just looking for inspiration?

Below is a list of carefully selected buildings and premises that offer a wide range of architecture styles. You can visit monumental, opulent constructions in the heart of Prague, see several examples of modern architecture, and visit various parts of Prague such as Holešovice, Smíchov, and Ruzyně.

Admission to all buildings is free with no need for prior registration, except for Hotel Intercontinental. Selected buildings also offer guided tours in English throughout the day – availability is indicated by an icon in the description of each building.

Representative & Historical Buildings

Adria Palace, photo: Tomáš Sysel

Adria Palace (English tour available)

This monumental palace is one of Prague’s few buildings built in the national style. This purely Czech artistic style (also called Art Deco, rondocubism, or Czech deconstructivism) incorporated references to folklore, Slavic colorfulness, and a greater amount of decorativeness. Today’s art historians agree that Adria Palace is one of the most fascinating architectural monuments in Prague, commending the decorations and details.

City Mayor’s Residence

The plain neoclassical façade of the Municipal Library in Prague hides exceptional interiors that were influenced by late Art Nouveau and Art Deco, and many significant Czech artists were involved in the decoration process. The first floor features representative rooms and reception rooms, and on the third floor, there is a private apartment of the city mayor as well as three apartments for distinguished visitors from abroad.

City Mayor’s Residence, photo: Eva Mořická

Desfours Palace, photo: Monika Švarcová

Desfours Palace (English tour available)

The palace’s plain façade may not immediately attract the attention of a casual passer-by, but the inside of the palace hides artistically valuable interiors. Now managed by the Prague City Museum, the palace is scheduled for a complete reconstruction, which should finally give it a new purpose: it will be used for exhibitions and as the museum’s office. Come see for yourself the luxurious marble staircase, stained glass, and painted ceilings while you can still experience the atmosphere of the past!

Petschek Palace

This majestic luxurious palace was built by the prominent Petschek family. There was a pneumatic tube post, a telephone exchange, air conditioning, and the famous – and still functional – “paternoster” lifts. The palace was seized from the family during World War II, and it infamously served as a Gestapo seat. Today, it is used by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. During the festival, you can visit not only the basement but also the glamorous formal halls and well-preserved vaults.

Interiors of the Petschek Palace, photo: Tomáš Sysel

A Journey Through the Last 100 Years

Interiors of the Trade Fair Palace, photo: Jakub Přecechtěl

Trade Fair Palace – National Gallery Prague (English tour available)

The year 1928 was not only the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic but also the year of the opening of the Trade Fair Palace, which was created to hold international trade fairs and presentations of Czech industry and its products. At the time, the building was absolutely unique not only because of its proportions but mainly due to being one of the first and largest functionalist buildings in the world.

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (English tour available)

Thanks to patents from the unique research of the brilliant chemist Antonín Holý, whose substances are used to treat e.g. AIDS, the institute was able to reconstruct the historical building from the 1920s and start constructing the new building. Nicknamed “cauliflower”, the modern workplace was completed in 2014. The tour will take you to selected areas of both buildings, including terraces with lovely views of the Dejvice campus. You can also visit Antonín Holý’s restored study.

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, photo: building’s archive

Congress Center Prague, photo: building’s archive

Palace of Culture – Congress Center Prague (English tour available)

Built in 1976, this gigantic neo-functionalist building was originally called the Congress Palace because it was built to host congresses of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. The public never came to like the building, even though the glass and aluminum exterior hides opulent interiors made of marble, granite, and anodized pillars. The palace is also decorated with 200 artistic works by eminent artists.

THE FIZZ Prague (English tour available)

Located near the Holešovice train station, THE FIZZ Prague is very reminiscent of the famous Goldman & Salatsch department store in Vienna designed by Adolf Loos. The building follows the most recent trends in student housing. The architects based the design on the idea that young people need both privacy and a place where they can meet others and relax – this is why you’ll see many common areas, e.g. a study room, game room, restaurant, cinema, gym, or a garden with a grill.

THE FIZZ Prague, photo: Karlin Group’s archive

PORT7, photo: building’s archive

PORT7 (English tour available)

PORT7 is a brand new multifunctional project located in Holešovice. Finished only recently, it aims to become the quarter’s beating heart, similar to the popular Náplavka in the city center. PORT7 includes offices, shops, a park with a promenade, sports facilities, a bikeway, and a boathouse. The project is also striving to achieve the LEED Platinum certification, awarded to eco-friendly buildings globally. Be one of the first visitors and enjoy beautiful views from the terrace!

Wenceslas Square Gems

EA Hotel Juliš (English tour available)

This high-rise functionalist building from 1932 originally operated as a hotel with a café, a cake shop, and a movie theater. With a huge glass-walled façade whose fourth upper floors are decorated with ledges made of milk glass, the modern construction with a steel frame still attracts attention. Aside from visiting selected interiors, you can also climb up to the terrace and see the city from above.

EA Hotel Juliš, photo: Tomáš Sysel

Forum, photo: Tomáš Sysel

Forum (English tour available)

This opulent neo-baroque building with many decorative elements is a feast for the eyes. Although it resembles a palace, it was in fact built for a wealthy Italian insurance company. The dominant feature of this cultural monument built at the end of the 19th century is not just the dome but especially the unique imperial staircase inside. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, Franz Kafka, worked here as an insurance clerk.

House of Fashion (English tour available)

In May 1945, a German bomb fell on the corner of Wenceslas Square and Krakovská Street, creating an empty space that was later taken up by the House of Fashion. With a timeless design, the new house was very far from socialist realism, the dominant style at the time. After its opening in 1956, the House of Fashion instantly became a symbol of luxurious shopping. Enjoy a unique view from the roof where private fashion shows used to take place!

House of Fashion, photo: building’s archive

2023 Highlights and Anniversaries

Branch of Komerční banka in Smíchov, photo: Martin Suchánek

Branch of Komerční banka in Smíchov

A bunker or a concrete bullet – such nicknames have been attributed to the Smíchov branch of Komerční banka, a major Czech financial institution. The octagonal pyramid with a cut-off top was designed in the style of brutalism by Karel Prager, whose 100th birth anniversary is being commemorated this year. The bank was originally a part of a bigger project that wanted to rebuild the entire Smíchov, but it was never realized.

Church of St. Wenceslas in Smíchov

Designed by Antonín Viktor Barvitius, this impressive basilica is one of the most valuable examples of Czech neo-renaissance architecture. The church is dominated by two 50-meter-long bell towers. Whether you come to see the main altar made from several types of Carrara marble, or the unusual wooden, gold-plated coffered ceiling, one thing is for sure – prepare to be mesmerized. The church is opening on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the architect’s birth.

Interiors of the Church of St. Wenceslas in Smíchov, photo: Tomáš Sysel

New Stage of the National Theater, photo: Filip Šlapal

New Stage of the National Theater

Designed by architect Karel Prager in 1983, the New Stage of the National Theater left some people horrified, others thrilled. Some appreciated the daring brutalist architecture and praised especially the unique blown-out glass blocks on the façade, others were strictly against the building. You can visit this controversial building on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its opening and the 100th anniversary of the architect’s birth.

Václav Havel Airport Prague – Terminal 4

At the time of construction, the Prague Airport in the district of Ruzyně was one of the most modern airports in Europe. Immediately after it was finished, the functionalist building designed by Adolf Beneš won a gold medal at the International Exposition of Art and Technology in Paris in 1937. During the festival, you have a unique opportunity to visit the presidential and governmental lounge and see places that welcomed President Barack Obama or Pope John Paul II!

Terminal 4 at Václav Havel Airport Prague, photo: Tomáš Sysel

Do you ever wonder where the first cup of coffee was in Prague, or how it even got there? The first Europeans to get acquainted with coffee were mostly travelers.

The first traveler from the Czech lands to mention coffee was Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice (Czech: Kryštof Harant z Polžic a Bezdružic, 1564 – June 21, 1621).

He was a Czech nobleman, traveler, humanist, soldier, writer, and composer. He joined the Protestant Bohemian Revolt in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown against the House of Habsburg that led to Thirty Years’ War. He discovered coffee on his journey to Constantinople in 1598.

Following the victory of Catholic forces in the Battle of White Mountain, Harant was executed in the mass Old Town Square execution by the Habsburgs.

History of Drinking Coffee in the Czech Republic

No one could even imagine that one day, a penniless but resourceful Armenian would make coffee accessible to everyone, also teaching people the right way of coffee drinking.

Many Czechs didn’t even realize the real purpose of the coffee beans that were sold at pharmacies for unthinkable prices, instead being assured that the beans were an effective means to fight indigestion.

Their unawareness could remain for a very long time if not for one enterprising Armenian named Georgies Deodatus. This quite unusual name was given to him in 1699 in Rome after he adopted Catholicism. As for his homeland, he was born in Syria.

In the early 18th century, Georgies arrived in Prague, having passed a long way. It was worth it though as he would eventually reach success, opening the first coffeehouse in the city. At first, penniless Georgies was strolling the streets of the city disguised as a Turk. He carried a small stove with him to make coffee on the go and sell it in small cups.

This small affair soon turned into a successful business. The Armenian merchant settled in Prague, married, and began to consider opening a permanent café in the city. In 1707, he received permission to open a coffeehouse, and in January 1708, he established the first public café in the country in a house named “U zlatého hada” (“At the golden snake’s place”) now located on Karlova St in the Old Town of Prague.

The before-unseen kind of a store immediately grabbed the attention of the locals. Georgies’ café was so popular that many of its visitors were drinking coffee outside the shop due to the huge number of buyers. Prague got addicted to coffee.

After the passing of Georgies, his coffeehouse for a short time provided his family with considerable earning. But in a year, the café would be closed down. One might consider that it was the end of the entrepreneur’s story. However, the legend of Georgies is one of the most known legends of Prague.

(Above scan from Vlastencové z Boudy: historický obraz by Josef Jiří Stankovský, 1904.)

Everyone knows that he has been an Armenian, but alas, his real name is known to none. Today, the building that used to accommodate Georgies’ shop houses a café also named “U zlatého hada”. The coffee of Georgies Deodatus even occupies an honorary spot in its menu.

Almost one-tenth of adults in the Czech Republic, around 900,000 people, drink alcohol every day, and around 1.5 million drink hazardously.

A recent report on addictions, commissioned by the Czech government and published by the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions, sheds light on the situation.

The report reveals that close to ten percent of adults over the age of 15 consume alcohol on a daily basis. Moreover, an estimated 1.5 to 1.7 million people fall into the risky drinking category.

One might assume that having a couple of beers in the evening would not pose a significant threat to one’s health.

However, for women, consuming an average of over 20 grams of ethanol per day – the equivalent of less than two small beers or three glasses of wine – is already considered risky.

Men, on the other hand, should not exceed 60 grams of ethanol. Furthermore, the act of consuming five or more drinks in a single sitting brings about additional risks. In this category, the Czech Republic ranks among the countries with the highest prevalence worldwide.

“Women are more likely to drink wine,” said Chomynova. “Drinking patterns among women are different. Women are more likely to drink alone. It starts with an innocent drink, a drink in the evening, and it turns into daytime drinking,” says Pavla Chomynova, head of the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions.

The report states, “between 17 and 19 percent of the adult population, an estimated 1.5-1.7 million people in the Czech Republic, engage in risky alcohol consumption. Close to 900,000 of them fall into the harmful alcohol consumption category. Long-term harmful drinking is two to three times more prevalent among men.”

On average, a Czech citizen consumes approximately ten liters of pure alcohol per year.

Alcohol consumption is widely accepted in Czech society, with 90 percent of individuals considering regular drinking to be acceptable.

Each year, six to seven thousand deaths in the country are attributed to alcohol. Additionally, it contributes to over 200 diseases while increasing the risks of injuries, accidents, and poisoning.

The report adds, “individuals dependent on alcohol die, on average, 24 years earlier than the general population. Nearly 83 percent of them do not live past the economically active age of 64. External causes, such as accidental injury, suicide, liver disease, circulatory diseases, and malignant neoplasms, are the most common reasons for their premature demise.”

In terms of adolescent behavior, Czech youths also top the charts in terms of alcohol consumption within the European context, as indicated by international studies conducted by HBSC and ESPAD.

Over 40 percent of 13-year-olds in the country have experimented with alcohol, while a quarter of 15-year-olds report having been drunk at least twice in their lives. By the age of 16, a staggering 95 percent of respondents have already encountered alcohol.

The National Museum is an unparalleled cultural monument and it has been guarding its current place for around 130 years.

The interiors of the largest museum in the Czech Republic are dominated by permanent exhibitions, which are visited by tens of thousands of visitors a year, and new ones are constantly being added. Every visitor will feel like in a real palace in the interiors of the National Museum.

History of the museum building

The appearance of the museum as we know it today was created at the end of the 19th century. The competition for construction took place in 1876. It was won by the design of the architect Josef Schulz, who excelled above all in the dominant elements, which was decisive.

The construction of the museum took only three years and its access, including the equipped interiors, took place in the 1990s, specifically on May 18, 1891.

Painters Bohuslav Schnircha, Antonín Wagner, Vojtěch Hynais, Václav Brožík and Julius Mařák, for example, took part in the decoration of the premises.

Like most famous monuments or cities, the National Museum in Prague was hit by fire. This happened in 2016 when a fire destroyed the attic of the right wing. Fortunately, thanks to the reconstruction, there were no exhibits in the museum. The damage was then estimated at CZK 10 million.

The current appearance of the museum

Today, the museum complex is complemented by a new building, which dates from 1936 – 1937. Since 1962, the historic building has become a national cultural monument.

In the autumn of 2018, the reconstruction of the local building was completed, which opened to the public exactly on the day of the anniversary of the Czechoslovak Republic on October 28. A thematic exhibition was also held on this occasion. During the reconstruction, both the exterior and interiors were improved.

A lookout dome called the pantheon was even made available. It also included the construction of an underground connecting corridor with a new building, where Federal Assembly used to take place.

praguemorning national museum

The Best Current Exhibitions

Numerous exhibitions take place in the National Museum. You should not miss the exhibition entitled Museum from the Cellar to the Attic (until 30/06/ 2023) that maps the history and present of the National Museum. Take a look at the life of the Museum as an institution, a historical building, a place where priceless artefacts are stored, as well as a space linked to many interesting personalities.

We also recommend visiting the Famous Czech Composers (from 03/11/2021 to 30/06/2022). The exhibition introduces four great names in Czech music that became global phenomena – Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav Martinů.

A replica of the cell where Alexei Navalny is currently detained will be installed in the heart of Prague, on Old Town Square.

The small concrete box marked with the word SHIZO (punishment cell in Russian) in giant red letters mirrors the punishment cell where Navalny has spent more than a 150 days over the past eight months.

The dimensions of the box measures 2.5 meters by 3 meters, and it will be placed adjacent to the Jan Hus monument.

Inside the dimly lit box is a little sink, a toilet on the ground and a simple bed, which is folded away during the day.

The unveiling of the installation is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, at 14:00, and it will be attended by Leonid Volkov, one of the leaders of the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

The duration of the installation’s presence in Prague’s central square has not been determined. Similar installations have previously appeared in Paris and Berlin.

The primary objective of this endeavor is to raise public awareness about the appalling conditions of Navalny’s imprisonment, which not only jeopardize his health but also pose a threat to his life.

“The SHIZO installation is an integral part of the international political campaign #FreedomNavalny. Alexei frequently discusses the tormenting circumstances of his detention during various interviews and meetings with politicians. However, seeing it firsthand is far more impactful. In our case, visitors have the opportunity not only to observe but also to enter, sit, and gain a glimpse into what Alexei is enduring,” expressed the organizers from the oppositionist’s team.

The torture inflicted upon Navalny could potentially result in permanent disability or even death.

Supporters scribbled messages of support on the outer side of the box including “Navalny out, Putin in!”

Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-made nerve agent, in 2020. He barely survived, and accused Putin of being behind the attack.

Ivan Zhdanov, head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said it was important to raise awareness of the “monstrous” conditions Navalny was being held in.

“If Alexei becomes free, Putin will not be in power,” he added.

Czech trade unions have declared a strike alert with immediate effect over the government’s budget consolidation package, said Josef Stredula, chairman of the Bohemian-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS), after the unions’ meeting yesterday.

Prague City Hall has announced plans to replace the “botched” copy of the Mánes calendar installed during the 2018 reconstruction of Prague’s famous astronomical clock. The city hall came under fire after members from the Club for Old Prague pointed out that the copy of the calendar deviated significantly from Mánes‘ original.

A Czech medic who helped save Ukrainian soldiers has died, months after sustaining a serious injury in Donbas. Known as “Taylor”, the medic was hit by shrapnel in March and later transferred back to Czechia. The volunteer was the founder of Phoenix Project, which gave basic medical training to thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

Almost one-tenth of adults in the Czech Republic, around 900,000 people, drink alcohol every day, and around 1.5 million drink hazardously, Pavla Chomynova, head of the National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions, told journalists yesterday, presenting the centre’s annual report on addiction.

Czech President Petr Pavel who is on a two-day visit to Denmark on Monday met for talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. They discussed security issues, migration and the protection of the EU’s outer borders as well as continued aid to Ukraine.

A Czech medical worker, severely injured in Donbas in March and transferred to the Central Military Hospital in Prague in April, has passed away.

“With deep sorrow, we inform you of sad news. Taylor, the founder of the Phoenix project, our friend and hero who personally saved many wounded soldiers on the eastern front and trained thousands of soldiers and civilians in combat medicine, succumbed to his severe injuries on May 15, 2023, after weeks of fighting,” said representatives of the Phoenix programme on social media.

According to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two Czech volunteers fighting against the Russian army have lost their lives in Ukraine.

One passed away in March 2023 and the other in June 2022.

The Phoenix project trains Ukrainian troops in combat medicine, while medics provide direct assistance on the front lines.

Taylor suffered shrapnel wounds (Ukr) in mid-March during an artillery shelling in Donbas while assisting in evacuating a wounded Ukrainian soldier.

At the time, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the injured individual’s condition did not allow immediate evacuation.

The medical worker was evacuated (Ukr) to the Prague Central Military Hospital in early April.

The National Theatre in Prague celebrates an important anniversary today.

On May 16, 1868, the foundation stone of the building, which became a symbol of the Czech national revival, was laid.

Much more than just one foundation stone

The National Theatre is one of the most memorable events of Czech history with dozens of thousands of people celebrating the newly born confidence of Czech culture. Every region of the nation donated a foundation stone of its own, and thus contributed to the fundament of the theatre on 16 May 1868.

The event lasted for three days and was attended by around 150,000 people.

Important figures from the Czech cultural and political sphere tapped the stone with a gilded hammer. One of them was composer Bedřich Smetana, whose opera Dalibor, composed especially for the occasion, was premiered on the day.

However, the exact number of the original foundation stones is not known today. The development of its own culture, of the Czech language and a Czech education, resulted in the formation of the independent state 100 years ago.

The decoration

A number of important contemporary artists participated in the decoration of this historic building. In the foyer on the first balcony, there are paintings by Mikoláš Aleš and František Ženíšek.

The second curtain was painted by Vojtěch Hynais and celebrates the dedication of the Czech nation that the people showed in rebuilding the National Theatre. The first curtain is iron and the third one is red, velvet and it is dilated manually.

Above the arch, there is the famous slogan that says “A nation unto itself”, which expresses the importance of the National Theater to the Czech nationhood. There is also an organ in the theater.

Fire of the National Theatre – a national disaster

On 12 August 1881, just two months after the grand opening, a fire broke out and destroyed the copper dome, auditorium, and stage curtain of the theatre. The day became the worst Friday in the history of the Czech nation and immediately induced an immense resolve for new fundraising. 45 percent of Prague’s citizens donated to help reopen the National Theatre to the public in 1883.

Four companies, four stages

The National Theatre is the prime stage of the Czech Republic. It consists of four artistic companies – the Opera, Drama, Ballet and the Laterna magika. The theatre artistically manages four stages: The National Theatre, the State Opera, the Estates Theatre and the New Stage.

The Czech government’s decision to raise the VAT on non-alcoholic beverages has sparked outrage among industry players. Manufacturers, including Mattoni 1873 and Kofola, strongly oppose this move, considering it ill-considered and discriminatory. The VAT rate for non-alcoholic beverages is set to increase from 15% to 21%

The Czech mortgage market experienced a slowdown in April as loan volume decreased by 16% compared to the previous month. The total loans amounted to 10.6 billion Czech crowns, with a decline of 2 billion Czech crowns. Additionally, average mortgage interest rates saw a slight increase of three basis points, reaching 5.89% annually

Opposition leaders ANO would have come first in general elections held at the turn of May with 30.5 percent, suggests a poll by the Kantar agency.The survey indicates that the three parties in the Together bloc, who are in government with the Mayors and the Pirates, would together have taken 25 percent of the vote.

European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová has criticized the Czech government’s plans to place newspapers in the higher VAT tax bracket of 21 percent. Jourova said the price hike would have a devastating impact on printed media, particularly the regional and local newspapers.

Czech President Petr Pavel who is on a two-day visit to Denmark on Monday met for talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. They discussed security issues, migration and the protection of the EU’s outer borders as well as continued aid to Ukraine.

Prague City Hall has announced plans to replace the “botched” copy of the Mánes calendar installed during the 2018 reconstruction of Prague’s famous astronomical clock.

The unveiling of the reconstructed Old Town Clock in 2018, was accompanied by much pomp and ceremony, but later came to light that the copy of Josef Mánes’ calendar, admired by millions of tourists all year round, is a far cry from the original, which is housed in the Prague City Museum.

A closer inspection revealed that the author of the copy – artist Stanislav Jirčík – took a lot of creative license in reproducing Mánes’ work.

According to Milan Patka, from the Club for Old Prague, which filed a complaint about it, the changes were considerable and there was no good reason for them.

In one depiction, intended to represent Virgo, the original of a girl with red hair and a distinctive ribbon is replaced with a middle-aged, modern-looking woman with grey or highlighted hair and an earring. In another instance, a smiling female Aquarius has been transformed into a man with short hair.

Jiřčík also changes Mánes’ original painting of a predominantly black dog to one with a brown and white coat and raised tail.

The city council of Prague has now approved an agreement with Subterra, in collaboration with Avers, the companies responsible for the clock’s restoration.

As per the agreement, Subterra will bear the expenses for dismantling the existing calendar and installing the new replica, including the production of a new copper base plate.

Prague City, on the other hand, will cover the costs associated with painting the new plaque, a task entrusted to the Academy of Fine Arts.

The Atelier of Restoration of Paintings and Polychrome Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague will oversee the production of the restoration, ensuring the highest quality of work.

The estimated price for the project, excluding VAT, is CZK 1 million.

The original monthly calendar, painted by Josef Mánes in 1866, has been on display since 1882.

The old calendar board suffered significant damage in 1945. From 1946 to 2017, the clock featured a replica created by restorer Bohumil Číla, based on the original design.

By Kathryn Murphy

When getting lost in a good book, I always feel more indulged while reading in the right setting.

Having that perfect reading corner in the back of a bookstore, under a blooming tree in the grass, or at a wooden table sipping on a vanilla latte while the smell of coffee consumes me.

Since moving to Prague two months ago, my first mission was to find places to both dive into my reading and find a good book to do so.

When I first arrived in Prague, I decided to read one of my favorite book series, Harry Potter. Adjusting to a new city halfway across the world from my small town in Iowa, this series brought me a sense of comfort while adjusting to Prague.

I explored my neighborhood, Vinohrady, when I arrived here first, and found a charming Italian Renaissance styled park, Grébovka (Havlíčkovy Sady) surrounded by statues and man-made stone caves.

When walking through the labyrinth of paths and staircases, benches are hidden away amongst the stonework; making for a peaceful private reading space. For a sunnier, more spacious reading area, I took to the many benches or open grasses on the hill overlooking the city by the Koi pond.

I knew once I was settled, I’d want to begin reading a book I haven’t previously read. With a quick google search, I found a few English bookstores that caught my eye. The first was a spacious brightly lit store featuring both Czech and English books located in Prague’s New Square called Academia Bookshop.

A quiet coffee shop was connected upstairs with small tables to sit and read quietly while overlooking the square with people walking along with their shopping bags. Although only featuring a small amount of English books their journal collection was booming with both colorful designs and great quality, so I ended up getting two.

The next shop I went to was by far my top choice for both their selection and reading spaces, Shakespeare a Synové by Charles Bridge. Right as you walk through the doors, the yellow light hits your face like a warm kiss from the sun.

Books were scattered all along wooden shelves and tables and even stacked in corners on the floor. It felt like I was being embraced in a hug as I walked past all their English genres from Sci-Fi to my personal favorite, Historical Fiction. As I made my way toward the back, a tall gentleman in a gray turtleneck and rounded spectacles greeted me with a large grin.

I noticed a spiral staircase with books hanging above each step and asked him where it led to. He replied “Many more options, have a look!” Before continuing to shelve a pile of nonfiction books.

I found a basement filled with older books stacked on more brown shelves, and many on the floor towering over battered couches and chairs.

In the back of the basement, a window was open and a green canal was flowing below. A seating area surrounding a glass coffee table in a corner surrounded by newspapers became my new favorite place to study.

If you’re anything like me, the right setting can turn a simple read into a story that comes to life in between your fingertips.

These places offered me the escape I indulge in every time I read a good book and the resources to continue doing so while studying abroad in Prague.

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