Compact archive October 30, 2006

Even though Prague is beautiful throughout the year the coming winter brings some changes that Prague tourist should be aware of.

The funicular railway changes its timetable for the winter one. From today the railway takes the visitors to Petrin with the intervals of 15 minutes from 9:00 to 22:00 and 20 minutes from 22:00 to 23:20.

The end of October also means the end of tourist season in Czech castles. Except Karlstejn, which closes with exhibitions on 26th November, will be most castles in the Czech Republic closed to the public and open again in April next year.

Prague Castle Administration announced that Castle complex will be open in the winter season from 6:00 to 23:00. The Prague Castle tours will be open from 9:00 to 16:00. The exhibition “The Story of Prague Castle” will be closed at 17:00. Prague Castle Gardens will be closed, except the Garden on the Bastion which is open during the opening hours of the Castle complex.

Wallenstein Garden closes on 1st November and open its gate on 31st March 2007. The garden is closed for winter because of its annual upkeep.

Popular show of motorist acrobatics Nokia Freestyle Motocross 2006 takes place for the sixth time in Prague. Like last year there will be two shows to satisfy the demands of the fans.

This exhibition of adventure sport promises a stormy atmosphere and brilliant performances of the top riders. The visitors can expect back flip on the snow scooter for the first time in the Czech Republic.

The two shows are identical. The first show start at 19:00 and the other one (additional) at 14:00. Both are held on 2nd December. The tickets cost from 350 CZK to 750 CZK. Children smaller than 130 cm can ask for a discount of 20%. Tickets are available at Sazka terminals or on internet.

Prague will host XVI. International Trade Fair for Languages, Cultures and Education EXPOLINGUA Praha. This fair is meant for everybody who wants to make a good use of their language skills or who wants to learn more about culture and education in other countries.

Visitors can get information about study programmes and work abroad, language courses, e-learning, publications and textbooks and other related products and services. Accompanying programme will offer a lot of lectures, workshop and mini-language courses.

Expolingua Praha 2006 takes place in Narodni dum na Vinohradech (Namesti Miru 9 street, metro green line A, station Namesti Miru) on 10th and 11th November from 10:00 to 18:00. Entrance fee for students is 25 CZK, for others 50 CZK.

Expolingua Praha 2006 is held under the auspices of the Czech Ministry of Education and is supported by the European Commission. Here you can click for more information about the programme and themes.

Last weekend was full of important events. Not only was there the second round of Senate elections but also people celebrated the national holiday commemorating the foundation of former Czechoslovakia.

Senate elections proved that the strongest party in the Czech Republic is still Civic Democrats whose candidates won in 14 out of 27 election districts. President Vaclav Klaus takes this result as a guide who to appoint to the post of prime minister and make him responsible of creating new government.

President Klaus also decorated 22 personalities on the occasion of the national holiday. Among 22 decorated people were 2 men fighting in France and Great Britain during the World War II, the chairwoman of Political Prisoners Confederation, sport celebrities Katerina Neumannova and Josef Masopust, celebrities from TV and films and many others.

Prague visitors have a last chance to see a great open-air exhibition called Land of the Beautiful Unknown (Zeme krasna neznama) at Kampa Island in Lesser Town in Prague.

120 large-format images made by Yann Arthus Bertrand from a helicopter bring unique view of many parts of the world. This exhibition is very popular and has been already seen by 1 300 000 people.

The photo exhibition which is open 24 hours a day lasts until tomorrow 31st October. There is no entrance fee.