Over 200 works, including prints, drawings, paintings, and even jewelry, will be showcased in a new exhibition at the National Gallery Prague (NGP). The collaboration with the Louvre Museum in Paris delves into the fascinating world of Mannerist printmaking. The exhibition will explore the evolution of this artistic style, known for its imaginative flourishes and symbolic content. It will feature works from 16th-century art centers across Europe, including Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic itself, and France. Mannerism emerged in Italy from the visual language of the High Renaissance and quickly gained international prominence. It is characterized by a refined elegance, rich imagination, and affinity for symbols and hidden meanings. Printmaking played a pivotal role in its rapid dissemination, while also establishing itself as an independent artistic discipline during this period, and attaining both technical and artistic excellence. Most of the public knew the key works of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Giulio Romano, and the magnificent decoration of the French royal residence at Fontainebleau only through the medium of prints. This exhibition traces the evolution of Mannerist graphic art, exploring its experiments, originality, and connections with other art forms, while testifying to its role in the artistic exchange between Italy...
Prague Zoo announced the arrival of two new residents: twin polar bears, Gregor and Aleut! The thirteen-year-old brothers traveled from Warsaw Zoo on the recommendation of the European polar bear breeding program. They take the place of Tom, a male bear who relocated to Almaty, Kazakhstan, earlier this year to find a mate. The playful twins have already moved into their new exhibit, formerly occupied by Tom. An official public meet-and-greet is planned for Wednesday, May 22nd, at 11:30 am, according to Miroslav Bobek, director of Prague Zoo. “Gregor and Aleut’s arrival coincides with the development of our new, state-of-the-art polar bear exhibit,” Bobek said. “This is a significant step towards our goal of becoming a successful breeding facility for these magnificent animals.” While acclimating to their new surroundings, Gregor and Aleut can already be glimpsed by visitors. Born on December 2nd, 2010, at Nuremberg Zoo, the brothers have called Warsaw Zoo home since 2013. Gregor, the larger of the two, was nicknamed “Grzes” by his Polish caretakers, while Aleut, known as “Ali,” is taller and slimmer. “Prague residents and zoo visitors now have the exciting opportunity to see polar bears up close,” said Jana Komrsková, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for...
The ARENA festival will take place from May 24th to June 1st, 2024. This year the performances will be held on both banks of the Vltava River: in the Erpet Centrum in Prague 5 Smíchov and on the ship Tajemství in Náplavka near Rašínovo nábřeží. For the first time in the Czech Republic, the French Le P’tit Cirk will present their highly successful production Les Dodos and the company La Frontera will bring their original solo performance Searching for John. The French group My!Laika will have two of their shows, La Soirée and Winter. After last year’s success, the motorcycle wall of death (Le Mur de la Mort) is again in the program. The musical climax of the festival will be a concert Blues Brothers by the soloists of the famous Jeremy Winston Chorale in cooperation with the ČNSO (Czech National Symphonic Orchestra) and The Loop Jazz Orchestra. Entrance to the festival area is free of charge. “This year’s festival program is well mixed and it will be a real circus! For the first time, we managed to bring artists from Le P’tit Cirk to Prague with a poetic show full of acrobatics Les Dodos. The ensemble My!Laika, which some...
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is no longer in a “life-threatening situation” after he was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt, a senior minister has said. As Fico remained in hospital on Thursday morning with grave injuries after hours of surgery, the attempt on his life — the first against a sitting EU leader in more than two decades — continued to reverberate across the continent just three weeks before European parliamentary elections. The 59-year-old leader was shot multiple times as he greeted people in the town of Handlová, about 190km from Bratislava, in an attack some of his allies linked to the country’s stark political polarisation. “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well, and I guess in the end he will survive,” deputy prime minister Tomáš Taraba told the BBC late on Wednesday. “He’s not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.” Taraba said one bullet went through Fico’s stomach and a second hit a joint, leaving the prime minister in what was previously described as a “very critical” situation. A 71-year old man with a gun licence was detained as a suspect over the shooting, local media reported. Footage of the incident shows the...
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,...
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured in a shooting after a government meeting, news agency TASR reported on Wednesday. LIVE UPDATES 16:29 A post by Robert Fico’s team on his Facebook page says he was “shot multiple times”. A witness at the scene earlier told Reuters he had heard several shots before seeing a man detained by police. —– 16:10 Robert Fico is in a life-threatening condition, Slovakia’s government office has said. He is being airlifted to Banska Bystrica Hospital, it said, as transport to the capital of Bratislava would take “too long”. Earlier, a spokeswoman for Handlova Hospital, where Mr Fico received initial treatment for gunshot wounds, said he was conscious when arrived there. —– TASR cited parliament’s vice-chairman Lubos Blaha as saying Fico was shot and injured. A witness said he heard several shots in the chest and stomach. The incident took place in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometers northeast of the capital. The Reuters witness said he saw security officials pushing someone into a car and driving off. The government office could not immediately be reached for comment. Denník N writes that one of its reporters did not see the incident itself but heard several shots and...
Do you ever wonder where the first cup of coffee was in Prague, or how it even got here? 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...
Gear up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for motorsport enthusiasts! The Red Bull Racing Team is bringing the Red Bull Showrun to Prague on August 17th, 2024, a unique motorsport event that showcases the raw power of Formula 1. “When we bring the whole show to a city, it’s usually the first time most spectators see a racing monoplane live. When they first see and hear it up close, they are shocked at how fast and loud it is. And we’re thrilled to bring the Red Bull Showrun to Prague,” Chris Gregory of the Red Bull Racing team said about the upcoming event. “Part of the brief is to go to places which don’t have an F1 touchpoint, somewhere which doesn’t have a race or a market where it’s much harder to actually go a race or get tickets,” explains Gregory. “We want to be connecting with that audience, we want to be showcasing what the sport can do, what the cars can do, and I think that’s really awesome, to be able to facilitate that.” The exact location of the event will be announced soon. Fans can secure their spot in the grandstand for an unforgettable close-up view. Ticket sales...
The art of the con has a long history, from the classic “rabbit in the hat” trick to more elaborate schemes. One man, Viktor Lustig, a Czech con artist, took these tricks to a new level, becoming infamous for his audacious scams. Born in 1890 in a wealthy family from the Bohemian region (former Austria-Hungary), Victor Lustig studied rather brilliantly. But work do not interest him, and the young man prefers to use his intelligence for a much more lucrative activity: swindling. Victor left Bohemia in 1909 and settled in Paris. He started out as a pimp, then embarked on Atlantic cruises and rip off wealthy old ladies. He settled for a few years in New York, gangland’s ElDorado, and returned to Paris in 1925. There came up the idea of a scam that was as crazy as brilliant. The Eiffel Tower, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, is declining. The visitors are fewer, and the criticisms still strong. To counterbalance its lack of tourists, Gustave Eiffel is trying to make it essential by carrying out scientific experiments. But in 1925, Eiffel died, and the City of Paris, owner of the monument since 1910, does not know what to...
The historic Máj department store, undergoing reconstruction since July 2022, is set to unveil its new look to the public on Thursday, June 20th. The revamped Máj won’t just be a shopping destination. It will offer a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, cafes with scenic views, and an entertainment space. The building’s facade will be adorned with an artwork by Czech sculptor David Černý, adding a touch of artistic flair to the modern design. Construction is nearing completion, with work currently focused on fitting out individual shops and creating a spectacular “crystal sky” arcade alongside a sleek white escalator hall. The first basement level will host a brand-new Tesco store. The ground and first floors will cater to restaurants, cafes, florists, accessories, drugstores, and more. Food lovers can find a food hall boasting around 750 seats and a variety of fast-food and classic eateries, including Popeyes, Burger King, and Banh Mi, alongside Prima Bastion, Misushi, and Amerikanos. The previously underutilized upper floors are being transformed into spaces for entertainment, culture, and education, offering something for everyone. Máj was built in 1973 as the second department store in the Czech Republic and has been a traditional shopping destination since then. It...
Every year in May, the season of Moravian and Czech rosé wines traditionally culminates. And, it is tied with quite a few “pink” events, which include the Pink May the degustation festival of rosé wines and clarets. The festival is a wonderful platform for winemakers to present their wines. You can make the most of the gastronomic open-air event, which will take place on Saturday, May 18, from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm at Náplavka (Rašín embankment). Visitors can expect a total of 44 stalls, 28 winemakers, rosé wine tasting, claret tastings, typical food, and a rich accompanying program. “The degustation set is made up of a 0.35l glass made from Czech glass from Crystalex (in Nový Bor), a printed catalog with an overview of wineries and other information, and a pen to make notes. You can buy this set at the festival for 100,- Kč. It will be available for purchase in advance or on the day of the festival,” described Jiří Sedláček, director of the Růžový máj festival. In addition to stalls offering rosé wines, there will be 19 stalls offering food specialties. “We always try to choose a kind of gastronomy that goes well with rosé wines. For...
The Czech Republic is among the countries most targeted by Russian hybrid activities, according to a recent study by NATO. Alongside Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Britain, the Czech Republic faces a significant threat to its security from Russian interference. NATO expresses deep concern over Russia’s use of sabotage, disinformation campaigns, violence, and cyber attacks. Recent events underscore this threat. In the UK, authorities charged two individuals suspected of ties to Russian intelligence for planning attacks on Ukrainian-affiliated businesses. In the Czech Republic, investigations into the Vrbětice warehouse explosion reveal Russian involvement. Moreover, a network dubbed “Voice of Europe” has been exposed for attempting to influence politicians and activists. Similar incidents have occurred across Europe. In April 2024, British authorities charged two individuals with aiding Russian intelligence in planning an arson attack on a facility storing aid for Ukraine. Meanwhile, in Poland, a man was arrested for allegedly spying for Russia and plotting to assassinate the Ukrainian president. In Germany, two arrests were made for planning physical attacks to disrupt German aid to Ukraine. Estonian officials have accused Russia of hybrid operations targeting the Baltic states, including facilitating refugee influxes to pressure EU and NATO borders. Allegations include jamming...
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