The first demonstrations took place in January 1989. Protesters marking 20 years since Jan Palach self-immolated in protest against the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 were brutally dispersed by police. The next protest was held on October 28, 1989, the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918. November 17, 1989: the biggest protest for 20 years. On November 19, riot police blocked a bridge to prevent protesters marching to Prague Castle. On November 21, more than 200,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Prague for a fifth consecutive day of protests. Vaclav Havel addressed the massive crowd from a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square. Half a million people came to listen to speeches from Havel and other opposition leaders. Wenceslas Square, December 19, 1989. On December 29, 1989, Vaclav Havel and his wife, Olga, greeted citizens at Prague Castle after being appointed by the Federal Assembly as the new president of Czechoslovakia December 31, 1989.
In order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic is going to open for the public Liechtenstein Palace at the Kampa, a historic palace built in the late 17th century, renovated in 1864. Liechtenstein Palace is one of the most beautiful and largest palaces in Prague. It´s used for representative purposes by The Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. On the second floor, there are apartments, in which stayed, for example, Spanish King Juan Carlos with his wife Sofie, British Queen Elisabeth II, Japanese Emperor Akihito with Empress Michiko. The halls and salons in the basement are used for working meetings and friendly gatherings. Between 1979 and 1991 the palace was renovated according to the project of architect B. Fuchse jr. and adapted to serve the purposes of the Government Presidium. Its premises were enlarged by one basement level and the peripheral walls were secured against the threat of slipping down into the Vltava river From 1895 the palace belonged to the Prague Municipality, which used it for a variety of official purposes, and made several adaptations. The enclosing wall was pulled down in 1941 – 1942, and...
The exhibition delivers an overview of the remarkable career of Alberto Giacometti, a peculiar artist who has marked the world of modern art. By Sarah Duchêne – Anglo American University From Paris to Prague for the very first time ever, an impressive exhibition of Alberto Giacometti is taking place at the National Gallery Prague until the 1st of December. In collaboration with the Foundation Giacometti, more than 170 works trace the history of the artist including not only his sculptures but also paintings and drawings. Through this chronological exhibition, viewers will discover his earliest works, and then follow his progress in Paris after his encounter with the Surrealists there. The outstanding number of works also reveals the artist’s polymath and perseverance. Since his early childhood, Giacometti (born 1901 in Switzerland) was raised in art by his father, Giovanni Giacometti, who was an Impressionist painter. While most children play with toys at this age, Alberto made his first sculpture at the age of 13. He also made many Neo-Impressionist paintings in his youth. In 1922, he moved to the City of Lights to study at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière where his sculptures revealed his new interest in Cubism. His...
An excellent trip for a pleasant walk in Prague is to go to Obora Hvězda in Prague 6.
It is now 98 years since Czechoslovak national airlines launched its regular service, becoming one of the world’s first air carriers. The first flight, from Prague to Bratislava, took off on October 29, 1923. It was only 20 years after the Wright Brothers assembled the first engine-powered plane ever – finally enabling mankind to fly. “It was an Aero A-14 Brandenburg aircraft, it was an adapted military plane that the then Czechoslovak Airlines obtained from the Defence Ministry, including military pilots who remained on the ministry’s payroll. There was only one pilot in the cockpit, Sergeant Major Karel Brabenec, and there was only one passenger on board. The plane also carried a few grams of mail, so it did not have a heavy load.” The Bratislava flight should have been handled a day earlier, on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia. The weather on 28 October 1923 foiled the plans. Therefore, instead of the originally planned flight, they only performed a symbolic flight around Kbely. Czech Airlines was formed as a state airline company and was founded as Czechoslovak State Airlines on October 6, 1923. Their first chief pilot was Karel Brabenec and the ground...
In order to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the declaration of Czechoslovakia, today you can visit several galleries, buildings and museums for free. Mayor’s Residence: come and admire impressive halls, lounges and other rooms designed in Art Deco styles. You will be guided through the lounges where receptions of official guests take place. Marianske náměstí From 9 am to 6 pm New City Hall: you can see the Great Conference Hall on the first floor, where the City Council meets and seminars are held. The building was completed in 1911, its architect is Oslvald Polívka. Mariánské náměstí 2 From 9 am to 6 pm Škoda Lounges: the palace was built as an administrative building for Škoda Works, according to a design by architect Pavel Janák in 1924–26. Jungmannova 35/29 From 9 am to 6 pm Nostic Palace: This large early Baroque palace is located in Lesser Town, not far from the Charles Bridge. It is a harmonious structure, well adapted to the captivating streets of Lesser Town. Maltézské nám. 471/1 From 9 am to 6 pm Department of Agriculture Těšnov 17 From 10 am to 3:30 pm Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Na Poříčním...
Sculpture by the Sea is delighted to announce that a showcase of 10 acclaimed Czech and Slovak artists will exhibit at this year’s Bondi exhibition in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which marked the ending of over 30 years of totalitarian Communist rule. The showcase will join over 100 sculptures from around the world on Sydney’s breathtaking 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2019, the world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, running from 24 October – 10 November. “It is an honour to work with the Czech and Slovak artists to present this showcase in celebration of the end of a dreadful period of their history,” said Sculpture by the Sea founding director, David Handley. “I lived in Prague for a few years shortly after the end of communist rule. It was a time of wonderful, lively freedom. During this time, I ‘got’ the drama and theatricality of sculpture thanks to an exhibition staged by Vaclav Fiala. This led directly to the first exhibition of Sculpture by the Sea. Twenty three years later and 30 years after the revolution we are celebrating together in a happy go lucky exhibition...
From the beginning of January to the end of September 2019, castles, fortresses and other sights, which are maintained by the Czech state, were visited by the record number of 4.6 million people. The castle which was of the greatest interest among tourists this year is Lednice, with 350,000 visitors. The second most popular was Český Krumlov castle, which 330,000 people visited. Third place, with 250,000 tourist visitors was the castle Hluboka. The statistics are kept on the number of tickets sold. Which means that it can not account for all the visitors that came to look at the castles but did not go inside. The Švihov chateau has been visited by 11.5 thousand visitors more compared to last year. The chateau in Vranov nad Dyjí has also seen a significant increase (9,000 more than in 2018). TOP 10: Lednice 348 000 Český Krumlov 327 000 Hluboká 255 000 Karlštejn 184 000 Kroměříž 165 000 Valtice 153 000 Konopiště 131 000 Trosky 110 000 Bouzov 100 000 Buchlovice 94 000
Thanks, that we can – This is the message we want to spread on the 17th of November on Národní street, where things started to move thirty years ago. Thanks to the Velvet Revolution on 17th November 1989, we now live in a free and democratic society. Playfully but also with dignity, we pay tribute to the actors of the revolution and celebrate the achieved goals and opportunities that were given to us. We want to actively show and demonstrate how we really benefit from the gained freedom – in arts, civic life, public space. Come to celebrate and enjoy this day with us! What do we do? Korzo Národní Korzo Národní is the biggest and longest continually organized celebration of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day in Prague. Since 2014, it takes place on Národní street, where a massive student demonstration started the Velvet Revolution on the 17th of November 1989, which subsequently led to the fall of the communist regime. The festival program consists of various artistic performances on the street, such as music concerts, theater performances for children and adults, photography exhibitions, educational events, authors‘ readings, representation of NGOs and much more. All events run...
The painting by Oskar Kokoschka from 1934 entitled Prague - View from the Monastery of the Knights of the Cross with a Red Star was sold setting a record price of 68.25 million crowns.
It was December 4, 1989, when the so-called exit clauses—aka special permits—were finally abolished, which was not possible to leave former communist Czechoslovakia without (with the exception of several Eastern Bloc countries). For the first time in many years, Czech tourists could travel freely into the world. But at a time when they didn’t have this option, how and where did they travel? Since 1970, Czech and Slovak citizens (formerly Czechoslovaks) could travel more or less freely only to some countries of the socialist camp, namely Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, and Romania. The visit to these states was covered by a so-called permanent exit clause, which has been part of the passport since that year. To other countries (including socialist countries) it was not so easy. The Soviet Union and Poland needed a verified invitation; the journey to the West was virtually closed for most of the population. Even if one wanted to visit one of the Western European republics, they had to undergo an incredible martyrium: first, they had to process an application for a foreign exchange promise addressed to the Czechoslovak State Bank. This was the only official way to get a foreign currency (in a...
By Tony O. Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” taps into the myth of Hollywood in Los Angeles in the mid-late 60s as an idyllic oasis, but it likely was as he shows it for the hippest filmmakers, the grooviest bands and their groupies, etc. The LA bands of that era and its milieu are thus still influential and most obviously in the group Allah-Las, from LA of course, as carriers of the torch. Allah-Las are playing at Lucerna Music Bar for a night of mid-60s LA good vibrations if you seek it. The LA bands that live on, or at least deserve to live on, include most importantly The Byrds, Love, and Spirit as early and obvious influences of the Allah-Las for that lighter psychedelic rock sound. The Allah-Las are Miles Michard (vocals, guitar), Matthew Correia (percussion, vocals), Spencer Durham (bass, vocals), and Pedrum Siadatian (lead guitar, vocals), and their self-titled debut album in 2012 best captures the “60’s LA sound,” a laid-back vibe that good Southern California living still may have to offer in its shady labyrinth of smaller houses and cottages in the hills above the sprawling city. This life is harder to find as developers...
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