Poesiomat in English Debuts at Prague Airport, Showcasing Czech Culture

Prague Airport will be the first airport worldwide to feature a Poesiomat for its passengers.

Reminiscent of a submarine periscope, this unique installation activates when you turn its crank, sharing poems, songs, and stories about Czech cultural icons.

Poesiomats have been enriching public spaces since 2015, thanks to the Piána na ulici association led by café owner Ondřej Kobza. Starting July 2, travelers at Prague’s Airport can enjoy this new experience.

“Airports are gateways to and from the country and modern squares where people have time to stop and reflect. We thought it would be wonderful if people could spend this time listening to a Dvořák symphony or a Seifert poem,” explains Kobza, the project’s creator.

The Poesiomat will feature 20 recordings, introducing passengers to notable Czech figures from various fields, including culture, politics, and sports. Visitors will learn about luminaries like Václav Havel, Milan Kundera, Karel Čapek, and Eliška Junková.

“English will be the primary language, but the Poesiomat will also recite or sing in French, German, and Spanish. Our goal is to familiarize foreign visitors with Czech culture,” adds Kobza.

The poetry machines are made of steel and are about 180 cm tall, consisting of three assembled parts. Inside each of them there’s a speaker and electronic software which contains 20 different mp3 files.

Passers-by can spin a handle jutting out from one side of the machine and choose what to play.

The first one of this type was installed in Prague’s Namesti Míru in 2015 and since then they have become a common feature in other Czech cities, towns, villages and even castles.

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