Holy Week is called pašijový týden or also svatý týden in Czech and it’s the last week of the 40 day fasting period. Each day of this week was given special names because of the very specific traditions. Let’s learn more about Blue Monday. “Blue” is actually the name of the so called “Blue Mondays” which were Mondays on which people didn’t work. It’s a day of worship and honoring. People are supposed to be calm, collected and silent. Another theory says that the name is a literal translation of the German expression Blauer Montag which means a Monday on which one is hangover and unable to work (which was surely quite fitting also because people liked to drink a celebrate the night before knowing that they wouldn’t have to work the next day). For school children and students the Blue Monday was the beginning of the Spring break. The name for vacation back then was vakace which sounded way more international than today’s word prázdniny. In the morning we are supposed to be thankful for our lives and place wheat sprouts on the table as a gesture of gratitude. We also salute the sky and the weather. In the mass the Gospel of Mary is read and Christians remember...
Sloup Castle is a rock castle located in the northern part of the Czech Republic. The castle dates all the way back to the 14th century AD when the area it is in was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Due to its strategic position, Sloup Castle was a formidable stronghold. Nevertheless, the castle did not serve this defensive function throughout its history, having undergone several transformations. Most recently, Sloup Castle was acquired by the House of Kinský, who turned the landmark into a tourist attraction. The Historical Origins Of Sloup Castle Sloup Castle is situated in the town of Sloup v Čechách (meaning “Sloup in Bohemia”), in Liberec, the northernmost part of Bohemia. The castle lies about 117.5 km from Prague. Sloup Castle sits on top of a 33 m high sandstone rock column, providing its long-dead occupants with a commanding view of the surrounding alluvial valley. Incidentally, the word “sloup” means “column” in Czech, an apt description of the outcrop on which the castle stands. Although Sloup Castle was founded during the Middle Ages, the rocky outcrop on which it was built was already occupied during the prehistoric period. The archaeological evidence from the site includes artifacts from the Globular...
The former Smíchov distillery in Prague will be the site to a new permanent exhibition of David Černý’s work. The new 5 storey, 1,200 square metre museum will be opening on April 1, and will provide space for additional exhibitions alongside Černý’s work. Opposite to the MeetFactory, the distillery has remained vacant for over 20 years. Although construction has been approved for the cultural moment, the new building will be required to preserve the factory chimney as well as parts of the brewery. With architectural design by Černý studio Black n’ Arch, Development company Trimega has invested 4 billion crowns into renovations, and the first apartments will be completed by the end of the year. “The building is a listed monument, so it was not possible to knock it down and build a normal house here. So we decided to preserve it, and finally the decision was made to make it a cultural institution. Somehow, over time, it became the David Černý museum. Then I found out that it is not a museum, but more like a mausoleum,” Černý told ČTK. “Partly it came about due to the fact that a few years ago I was approached by the National...
Palác Archa, the iconic office building built in the rondo-cubist design, is marking its 100th anniversary. To commemorate Archa Palace’s centennial, a limited edition A3-size graphic of the structure was made using risograph printing technology, an ecologically beneficial procedure. The inks used are made from soy and rice, and the paper for the printing grid is produced from banana peels and sustainable farming. Furthermore, the printing procedure consumes less energy than other forms of printing. “We are extremely proud to be present as this unique building commemorates its centennial,” says David Votel, Head of Asset Management at CPI Property Group. “Archa Palace is an important part of our cultural heritage,” he adds, “and we are pleased to work with our tenants to ensure its preservation for future generations.” “The Risograph gives the impression of handmade traditional printing by making small mistakes,” says the graphic’s creator, Eugen Finkei. There are color changes, different spots, and the dotting that is characteristic of risograph printing. This is what distinguishes the images; each one is an individual.” Only 300 paintings will be offered for purchase at the Black Madonna Café in the royal structure on March 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. Each artwork...
The Canadian singer is widely regarded as one of the most influential rock artists of his time. Bryan Adams will be in Prague on December 16 to launch his album “So Happy It Hurts” as part of a global tour of the same name. The well-known Canadian guitarist has established himself as one of the world’s most exciting live performers over the last 40 years. Many admirers have been wowed by his energetic singing and stage demeanor. Bryan Adams has published 18 solo albums in his career, with four new records released last year, including “So Happy It Hurts,” which was nominated for a Grammy. In addition, a new collection of his best hits was released, which is available on BMG. For his music, Adams has already been honored with numerous prizes and awards, such as three Oscar nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, 20 Juno Awards, and two Grammy Awards. Bryan Adams has established himself as one of the most influential rock artists of his age. He rose to worldwide prominence in the 1980s with tracks such as “Summer of ’69” and “Heaven.” He has sold over 100 million albums globally, making him one of the most famous artists of...
The story of what we can possibly call Prague’s longest existing pub; a place full of legends, stories, and crime. Jedová Chýše, also known as the Poison Hut, is probably the oldest and most legendary pub in Prague. It has a fascinating history dating back to the 13th century when it was originally established as a pub for locals and travelers. It was located in shadow of the St. Apollinaire Church in the New Town, and is surrounded by countless myths and legends. One of the most popular rumors surrounding Jedová Chýše concerns Wenceslas IV, who supposedly visited the pub on a regular basis. Legend even suggests the pub was named after an incident involving two of Wenceslas IV’s enemies, who were allegedly poisoned after their attempt to kill Wenceslas IV in Vienna. However, other probable rumors suggest Jedová Chýše’s name was derived from the 19th century and was based on the pub’s reputation as a place where medical students would go to drink and socialize after their studies. Jedová Chýše did not have a great reputation, and often attracted crime. According to legends, one of the pub’s owners used to tie spoons to chains attached to the table to...
Step into the Retro Muzeum Praha and find yourself transported back in time to the Czechoslovakia of the 70s and 80s. The museum, located on the top floor of the iconic Kotva department store, offers visitors a fascinating look into the daily life and culture of Czechoslovakian times. The museum’s 2500 square meter area will be filled with 12000 unique exhibits. The exhibits cover a wide range of topics, from fashion and technology, to housing, leisure, as well as communist propaganda. For some the museum will awaken a familiar feeling, for the younger visitors it will be a new world to discover. The museum will open on May 19th, and promises to be an experience for all to discover. “Several years we attended auctions and contacted various organizations, while in 2018 we announced a collection for design objects from the 1970s and 1980s in Czechoslovakia. We managed to gather an impressive 12,000 exhibits. 12,000 pieces of history and memories. I am pleased that thanks to such support and enthusiasm, we can remember this time for the ‘Husak’s children’ and their parents, and also present it to young people in the most authentic way possible,” says Robert Vujtek, Chairman of the...
Enjoy the true Czech Easter! The traditional markets in cities, at castles, and châteaux will take you back a few centuries and the festive Easter dishes will expand your gastronomical horizons. In short, the program for this year’s Easter festivities is quite rich again. In Brno, you can look forward to forty stands with the most diverse products, such as wicker baskets, whips, pottery, jewelry, decorations or Easter painted eggs. This year’s program will be rich in cultural events full of dance and singing, performed by Moravian folklore groups and bands. In Český Krumlov, the local farmers and artisans will offer stylish products, Easter whips, or painted eggs. You can admire wooden products or fur sheep, as well as spring flowers, decorations and seasonal goodies. The tourist season at many landmarks often starts at Easter. The Křivoklát Castle in Central Bohemia will celebrate the Princely Easter in the middle of April. The festival will start with a historical costume show and you can look forward to medieval jugglers, a series of concerts and a theatre performance. In Moravia, Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm is also bringing the traditionally rich, three-day Easter program. The Museum will be open from...
The popular medieval festival Středověké slavnosti is relocating from the courtyard of the Břevnov Monastery to the Maxe van der Stoela Park, near Prague Castle. The family-friendly event is scheduled to take place on May 27th from 10:00 to 19:00, according to the event organizers. The festival promises to transport guests back in time with musketeer battles, dueling knights, live medieval music, dancers, acrobats, and fakirs. Various workshops, refreshments, and souvenirs will also be available at a themed fair. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site, with prices to be announced at a later date. Last year’s tickets cost 180 CZK for adults and 100 CZK for children, while guests in medieval costumes were admitted for free. The historical and stage fencing group Allgor is organizing the event. For more information, visit their Facebook page, where additional details will be announced in the future.
The Oscar-winning director Agnieszka Holland received the biggest production grant of 22 million CZK for her new project Franz in the latest session of the Czech Film Fund. The results were announced on 8 March 2023. Inspired by Franz Kafka’s life and work, the film produced by German Xfilms and Polish Metro Films will also involve production companies. A total of 24 feature film projects applied and seven projects were selected, including new films by Jitka Rudolfová, Šimon Holý, Vojtěch Strakatý and Adam Martinec. Šárka Cimbalová is set to produce the feature. “‘Franz will be a dazzling kaleidoscopic mosaic of a film that dramatizes the famous writer’s life and imagination in a series of standalone vignettes that span Kafka’s life from his birth in pre-war Prague, up to his tragic death in Austria in 1924 and into scenes from the future he envisioned,” the trio said in a statement. Holland has previously been nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film for In Darkness and last year her feature Charlatan, about Czechoslovak healer Jan Mikolášek, was shortlisted in the same category. “Kafka was a man of great sensitivity and ill-suited to his time,” Holland said in a statement. “We have a...
by Eryn Taylor-Freeme – Anglo-American University The exhibition “Well Hidden Photographs” at Leica Gallery includes never-before-seen photographs in an unassuming compilation of one of the best, but often overlooked, Czech humanitarian documentary photographers. Aulehla captures scenes of everyday life spanning the 1950s-1980s, primarily in Krnov but also in Olomouc, Ostrava, Brno and Prague, that are shot with a purity that is lightly poetic- a refreshing change in a modern art world obsessed with saturated motifs. He was born in Olomouc in 1931 to a housemaid who later gave him up for adoption. He apprenticed as a bricklayer before being hired by a construction company and later concluded his education at an industrial construction school in Brno. He took up photography as a hobby after he was gifted his first camera at 16 by his grandmother and only abandoned it in 1989 to move into his passion of design. Aulehla was not the only documentary photographer to focus on daily life in the Communist era, as it was a popular topic for Czech and Slovak artists, including Jan Lukas, Erich Einhorn and Karol Kálay. Themes in photojournalism transitioned from the heroic content from the period of social realism to the calm...
“Some like it Czech” project is thrilled to finally introduce to the international audience the iconic movie The Firemen’s Ball, directed by a genius of cinema – Miloš Forman. “We decided to open Forman’s archive with a comical satire which will reveal a lot about the nature of Czech people. So, on the 15th of March, we will show you everything you wanted to know about Czechs but were afraid to ask,” add the founders of the project. Made in 1967, The Firemen’s Ball is the third feature film by Miloš Forman, one of the leading representatives of the so-called New Wave of Czechoslovak cinema. He is also known for his work on other notable films such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” with Jack Nicholson and “Amadeus.” The film was made in a Czechoslovak-Italian co-production with the participation of the famous Italian producer Carlo Ponti. Yes, the same one who worked with stars like Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni on some of the most Italian classics. So any fellow Italians who wish to attend… Sì? The plot of The Firemen’s Ball (watch the trailer) revolves around a group of volunteer firefighters. The film takes place at the annual...
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