Compact archive March 26, 2007

Charles Bridge in the year 2007

Monday 26 March 2007 17:45

View of Charles Bridge from above The oldest bridge in Prague, Charles Bridge, was damaged several times in history because of floods, public transport and vandals. Floods in 1890 destroyed 2 pillars and 3 arches. There were cars, trams and buses going over the bridge. Because of vandals, many bridge statues are damaged. New reconstruction of Charles Bridge, which is supposed to start this June, should prevent water from going inside the bridge.

The reconstruction of Charles Bridge will take at least one year and will cost more than 100 million CZK. The bridge will be open to the public during the reconstruction. The reconstruction will coincide with the celebrations of 650th anniversary of the bridge.

A new museum of Charles Bridge will be open in the Gallery U Krizovniku on St Vitus day on 15th June 2007. It will show many items connected with the Charles Bridge, such as statues which are now at Lapidary of National Museum in Prague or found pieces of precious inscription found on the bottom of the Vltava River.

Theme:

Twelve museums in Prague with one card

Monday 26 March 2007 15:36

Lapidary at Prague Exhibition Ground If you are interested in more than one museum in Prague, we recommend to buy a ticket which enables you to go into 12 museums within 3 days. The full price of the card is 160 CZK. Students, seniors and disabled people pay 80 CZK, families 200 CZK.

With this card you can enter 12 buildings of the National Museum: the main building of the National Museum in Prague, Czech Museum of Music, Historical Pharmacy in Nerudova street, Lapidary in Prague Exhibition Ground, Lobkowicz Palace by Prague Castle, Musaion – Kinsky Folly, Antonin Dvorak Museum, Bedrich Smetana Museum, Naprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures, National Memorial at the Vitkov Hill, Frantisek Palacky and Frantisek Ladislav Rieger Memorial and Jaroslav Jezek Memorial (Blue Room).

You can visit, for example, a very popular exhbition The Hunters of Mammoths in the main building, Orbis Pictus in Czech Museum of Music, Antonin Dvorak Society – 75 years of activity in Antonin Dvorak Museum, or Bedrich Smetana Museum 1906-2006 – Uniques, News, Curiosities.

Theme:

Prague Easter markets have already started

Monday 26 March 2007 13:46

Easter markets in Wenceslas Square in Prague Easter markets in Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and other places in Prague started last Saturday. People can enjoy the atmosphere and buy traditional goods and food there until 15th April.

The most popular goods the first weekend were coloured eggs or items with Easter or Prague motives on them. The Old Town Square is decorated with four huge eggs, flowers, coloured ribbons or a ‘observation bridge’ with a bird-nest. Children can create their own egg, weave pussy willow twigs or play with animals in a mini zoo.

People can also donate to charity. There are two charity stands in both Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, as well as charity moneyboxes. Various performances on a stage are planned for every day, especially performances of music and dance choirs from all over the country.

Theme:

Almost 6,000 marathoners ran in the streets of Prague

Monday 26 March 2007 12:23

Prague marathoners in from of the Dancing House Almost 6,000 people participated in the 2007 Hervis Prague Half Marathon in the centre of Prague last Saturday. The marathon attracted many people despite unfavourable weather.

According to the organizers, the number of marathoners and watching people broke records. But unfortunately the world record for a half marathon was not broken due to strong winds.

Patrick Ivuti from Kenya won the marathon with the time 1:01:00, the best woman was Lilia Sobuchovova from Russia with the time 1:11:14. The best Czech runner Pavel Faschingbauer finish twelfth and Petra Kaminkova seventh.

Click here to watch the video recording of the marathon online.

Fights of football fans in Prague last weekend

Monday 26 March 2007 11:00

Czech football team lost to Germany 1:2 in the The European Championship qualifier last Saturday. The match that took place in Letna stadium in Prague was accompanied by many disturbances in the city.

Tens of Czech and German football fans attacked each other in Na Prikope street at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. When police came, they started to run away. One of the fans was arrested when he threw waste bins at the police officers. Another two fans tried to attack policemen in Old Town Square.

About 3,000 people came from Germany to watch the match. About 200 football hooligans were not let in the country and had to come back from the border. Nevertheless, many shop windows, waste bins and restaurant interiors were destroyed last weekend.