Compact archive April 2007

Celebrations of 1st May in Prague

Monday 30 April 2007 17:11

Splendid gardens on Petrin Hill Many events are planned for 1st of May, the Labour Day, in Prague. A big concert will take place in Letna Plateau. You can listen to many famous Czech music bands, watch film projections and theatre performances, etc. The programme starts at 11:00. Letna Plateau will be also a meeting place for anti-communists.

Several political parties organize celebrations of the 1st May. The Communists invite their supporters and friends to the Prague Exhibition Ground in the morning, Social Democrats to the same place in the afternoon. Civil Democrats will meet near the funicular railway in Petrin.

On the 1st and 2nd May you can also take part in the student festival Majales. The main programme in Prague takes place in Prague Exhibition Ground. As 1st of May is also connected with love in the Czech Republic, you can visit a traditional meeting place of lovers on Petrin Hill near the statue of Karel Hynek Macha.

The police are also preparing for an expected march of the nationalists through the city. Their way may be crossed by the extremists. The police will be in position till late night.

Jiri Kolbaba photographs at Prague International Airport

Monday 30 April 2007 15:24

Exhibition of Jiri Kolbaba photos in Prague airport Jiri Kolbaba is a world famous photographer who has visited more than 120 countries all around the world. His photographs are known for the richness and the contrast of colours, as well as details of geological structure of the Earth and human faces.

His new exhibition called The World Withing the Reach is now held in Prague’s International Airport Ruzyne on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the airport.

Visitors can see the exhibition in the departure and arrival halls of Terminals Sever I and Sever II, in the passage way between the two terminals and in the transit areas. The exhibition containing more than 200 photographs from 6 continents will be at the airport until 26th August 2007. If you want to know more about Jiri Kolbaba and his work, visit his web pages www.theworld.cz.

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Important Freemasons met in Prague

Monday 30 April 2007 12:48

Last weekend Prague hosted very important Freemasons from all over the world. More than 20 Masters of Grand Lodge met in Prague to discuss several topics, such as how to cooperate with new lodges being founded in Eastern Europe or whether to be more open to the public.

In the Czech Republic there is the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic approved by the United Grand Lodge of England and many others Grand Lodges all around the world. According to Mlada Fronta DNES there is about 600 Freemasons in the Czech Republic. Famous Freemasons were ex-president Edvard Benes, Jan Masaryk, Alfons Mucha or Karel and Josef Capek.

According to the ex-Master of the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic, Petr Jirounek, Freemasons can be characterized as knights in the modern times or gentlemen. The Freemasonry is still surrounded by many mysteries.

The Burning of the Witches in Prague

Monday 30 April 2007 11:26

Witch flying on broom One of the popular Czech traditions is The Burning of the Witches Night on the 30th April when people make bonfires and burn witches made from straw and old cloth to end the long winter that the witches keep around. There are many bonfires throughout the country, accompanied with roasting sausages and singing favourite songs.

There are several places where to go in Prague and join this tradition. One of the places is the sport and recreation area Zlute Lazne. The programme is prepared from 18:00 to 22:00, there is no entrance fee. You can get there from metro station Karlovo namesti (exit to Palackeho namesti) by trams no. 3, 16, 17, 21, 52, stop Dvorce.

Another place where you can enjoy the atmosphere with many witches around (there will be a competition for Miss Witch) is the park Ladronka. You can ‘improve’ yourself in the special Witch Beauty Parlour at the venue. You can get there from Hradcanska metro station by tram no. 25, stop Vypich.

Witches will also meet in the centre of Prague. Their meeting is in Malostranske namesti at 19:30. They will walk with Chinese lanterns along Mostecka street, Charles Bridge, Kampa to Sovovy mlyny near the Vltava River.

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The National Gallery in Prague will be open for free

Monday 30 April 2007 09:53

Trade Fair Palace in Prague The National Gallery in Prague will be open this Wednesday between 15:00 and 20:00 for free. Visitors can see all the permanent exhibitions in any of the buildings of the National Gallery in Prague.

The gallery will be also open on Tuesdays 1st and 8th May, which are officially the national holidays in the Czech Republic. People can visit the gallery between 10:00 and 18:00, however, this time they have to buy a ticket.

The most visitors are expected in the Trade Fair Palace where is now a contemporary exhibition of furniture design and architecture. The Trade Fair Palace also contains two significant paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (until 17th July 2007). Vlado Milunic, the co-author of the Dancing House, will talk about the construction of the famous building in Trade Fair Palace on Wednesday 2nd May at 16:00.

Travel in time at Tocnik Castle this weekend

Friday 27 April 2007 17:37

Tocnik Castle near Beroun Visitors of old castle Tocnik near Beroun can experience the life people lived thousands years ago. Tocnik Castle which stands really close to another castle Zebrak, will “travel in time”.

Bronze casting, fires, period costumes, historical ceramics and cuisine and many attractions for children will brighten up the castle area this weekend. Visitors can try to make old tools and cast bronze themselves.

The castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 in April, from 10:00 to 17:00 in May and June and from 9:00 to 18:00 in July and August. The full entrance fee is 50 CZK.

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Bodies exhibition soon in Prague

Friday 27 April 2007 16:12

According to MS DNES, Prague will host a travelling exhibition of preserved human bodies and its parts and organs. The exhibition is called Bodies… The Exhibition.

Visitors can learn about human body in several sections devoted to different organs or systems in the human body. They can see the different lawyers of the body (muscular, nervous, etc.) and the body in motion.

The exhibition will be in Prague between 5th May and 10th October 2007. It will take place in the Large Hall of Lucerna Palace. We’ll inform you as soon as we have more information.

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New extreme experience in Prague

Friday 27 April 2007 14:28

Prague now offers another adrenalin sport. All those who want to experience something extreme, may visit the sport ground in Prague-Prosek. The new attraction will be open from tomorrow.

The attraction offers a 180-meter-long speedy ride on a cable line with a steep incline in the height of 6 meters above the ground. The ride is accessible for people older then 15 years and at least 150 cm tall only.

The ride on the cable line costs 150 CZK and includes also a ride on the nearby bob-sleigh track (more info here) and rope climbing . The sport ground is open Mo – Fr 12:00 – 20:00 and Sa – Su + holidays 10:00 – 22:00.

You can get there by buses no. 187 and 233 from metro station Palmovka (yellow line B) and get off at Kelerka stop (it is a request stop!).

Marathon Weekend in Prague starts in two weeks

Friday 27 April 2007 12:57

Runners of Hervis Half Marathon 2007 in front of the Dancing House Drummers and dancers will join the Prague International Marathon in Old Town Square that starts in two weeks. The ‘Weekend Marathon’ (12th and 13th May 2007) offers many activities both for runners and the onlookers.

Besides the Volkswagen Prague Marathon (42.195 km) on Sunday 13th May (start in Old Town Square at 9:00), there are other disciplines, such as Caddy City Run 8 km, Golf Plus Family Run 4 km, Algida In-line Race 10 km or Walk for Health 2 km through the historical centre of Prague.

The competitions are accompanied by a sport trade fair in the Industrial Palace at Prague Exhbition Ground in Prague-Vystaviste. Visitors can buy there sport cloths with great discount or get autographs of many sportmen. The entrance to the trade fair is free the whole weekend. For more information about the Marathon Weekend, click here.

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Injured British tourist will get 560,000 CZK in compensation

Friday 27 April 2007 11:09

Christmas tree in the Old Town Square in 2006 British tourist Malcolm Tuffin that got injured in Prague in 2003 will receive, according to the court, at least 560,000 CZK (about £13,580) in compensation. Malcolm Tuffin was badly injured by a fallen Christmas tree on Prague’s Old Town Square.

The court also decided that the city together with the organizing company Folk Art Production are both responsible for the fallen tree. According to the experts, the tree fell due to its bed quality and a gust of wind. The organizers now take extra care to make sure that it will not happen again.

The falling tree broke Tuffin’s spine and thigh-bone. After many operations he had to stay on the wheelchair for 4 months. Now he walks with a walking stick. It’s probable that Malcolm Tuffin will get more money for the expenditure for medical treatment and the loss of earnings.

Exhibition of Hunters of Mammots in Prague National Museum prolonged again

Friday 27 April 2007 09:47

Impressive staircase in the main building of the National Museum in Prague One of the most popular exhibitions of the National Museum in Prague The Hunters of Mammoths can be visited in the main building of the museum, on the top of Wenceslas Square. That the exhibition is still very popular proves the number of visitors since 11th October – almost 400,000 people.

At first the exhibition was supposed to be open until the end of April, then it was prolonged until the end of June. As people still want to see the models of mammoths and the Venus of Dolni Vestonice, the National Museum decided to prolong the exhibition until 2nd September. The 500,000th visitor, that is expected in June, can expect a nice surprise.

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Trade fair EduSummit 2007 in Prague

Thursday 26 April 2007 17:42

Soon Prague will host the biggest trade fair in the Czech Republic about working and studying opportunities in Australia. On the EduSummit 2007 you can meet and talk with many representatives from 37 schools in Australia.

Each of the school prepared a special coupon that entitles to enroll on the school without any enrollment fees. Students can save up to 4,000 CZK. Stanislav Vlasak, famous traveller and photographer, will show there his photos from his travels in Australia.

The trade fair takes place in Jalta Hotel in Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske namesti 45) on Friday 27th April between 12:00 and 18:00 and on Saturday 28th April between 10:00 and 18:00 (consisting of two blocks starting at 10:00 and 14:00). There is no entrance fee.

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Big plans for Klementinum in Prague

Thursday 26 April 2007 15:51

View of Klementinum from the Old Town Bridge Tower Klementinum is now the seat of the National Library in Prague. At least until the new building designed by Jan Kaplicky is built and approved. Then millions of book will move to the new building. Also the State Technical Library will leave the building in 2009. The director of the National Library Vlastimil Jezek still have big plans with Klementinum.

The building, the former Jesuit college, will be completely restored. Newly there could be an underground parking-site and a Baroque garden. New spare spaces could be used by The Association of Czech Booksellers and Publishers, Czech Centre of the International PEN Club, Vaclav Havel Library or Writers’ Guild of the Czech Republic.

But the most interesting news is that people could visit not only Astronomical Tower, The Baroque Hall or Mirror Chapel, but also the Astronomical and Mathematical Halls which serve now as library offices.

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Walking Bruce and Suzanne by Julian Opie in Prague

Thursday 26 April 2007 14:09

There are two figures walking on the Vltava River near Charles Bridge in Prague. The are walking up the river and they measure about 2 meters. They are a part of a new Julian Opie’s exhibition called Walking on the Vltava, which opens today in the Museum Kampa (U Sovovych mlynu 2) in Prague.

The figures called Bruce and Suzanne are a lighting installation on the barrage near Charles Bridge. The models for this figures were real people. Their movements were scanned into a computer and redrew.

The exhibition Walking on the Vltava in Kampa museum will be open every day from 10:00 to 18:00 until 24th June 2007. There is a free entrance for everybody every Monday.

Rare Komodo Dragons were born in Prague

Thursday 26 April 2007 12:39

Prague Zoo is very proud of three new babies lizard born behind their gates, the offspring of the largest lizard in the world – Komodo dragons. The Prague Zoo got their parents as a gift from the President of Indonesia. The President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus himself had to guarantee that Prague Zoo will take a good care of them.

Only 12 zoological gardens in the world have managed so far to reproduce the Komodo Dragons. There are about 150 Komodo Dragons in human care in the whole world. Prague Zoo has to build a new exhibition for the young as their parents are very aggressive.

Adult male can be up to 3 meters long and weigh 100 kilograms. They can prey on deers, pigs or even buffaloes. Their victims die of blood poisoning, as Comodo Dragons are twice as dangerous as Cobras.

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Wanted: Neptune fountain, reward: 50,000 crowns

Thursday 26 April 2007 11:14

Havlickovy sady in Prague Havlickovy sady, a lovely park in Prague, used to be decorated with a large statue of kneeling Neptune with shells. The statue has been stolen recently. It is about 4 meters tall and 3 meter wide. It was made by Bohuslav Schnirch and Jan Vorlicek between 1875 and 1877.

The town hall will give 50,000 CZK to anybody who will give the information that will lead to the location of the statue. The police evaluate the statue for 1.5 million CZK, the sculptors for 3 million CZK.

The town hall wants to renovate Havlickovy Sady and make it look the way it did at the beginning of the 20th century. Havlickovy sady will offer theatre performances, a cafe and a restaurant. The total park’s renovation should be finished next year.

Reading marathon of German language books today

Thursday 26 April 2007 10:06

Do you like works by Rilke, Brod, Kish, Kafka, Kohout and many other authors who spent some time in our country and wrote in German language? Then we inform you about the Prague Theatre Festival of German Language that starts today.

‘Knihobrani’ is a project when famous Czech, German, Austrian and Swiss people read the great literature works. The festival in a way of a reading marathon starts today at 10:00 in Manes cafe (Masarykovo nabrezi 250) and finishes today at 22:00.

At the festival visitors can meet representatives of such institutions as Goethe-Institute, Writers’ Guild of the Czech Republic, Czech Centre of the International PEN Club, the Department of Germanic Studies of Faculty of Arts of Charles University Prague, etc.

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Czech people like Tony Blair and the Slovaks

Wednesday 25 April 2007 17:45

According to the survey of STEM agency, Czech people have the most positive attitute to the Slovak Republic, France and the Netherlands. ‘Good marks’ were given to the Slovak Republic by 83% of the respondents, to France and the Netherlands by 82% of the respondents.

These states are followed by Sweden and Denmark (80%) and Italy (76%). The least good marks were given to Serbia (36%), Russia (29%), Ukraine (27%) and China (24%). From the long-term view, the positive attitude of Czech people to other countries have a rising tendency.

Speeking about politicians, Czech people like British Prime Minister Tony Blair (67% of respondents with positive attitude), French President Jacques Chirac (65%) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (62%). The least popular politicians are Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi (34%), Russian President Vladimir Putin (31%) and American President George W. Bush (29%).

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'Open door day' at the palaces of the Czech Parliament and at the state rooms at Prague Castle

Wednesday 25 April 2007 16:08

On the occasion of the ‘Liberation Day’, the Czech Republic national holiday commemorating the end of the European part of the World War II, several institutions will be open to the public.

On 8th May people can visit the seats of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, namely Thun, Sternberg, Smiricky and Auesperg palaces. The palaces will be open to the public between 9:00 and 16:00. They are located in the Lesser Town. Wallenstein Palace, the seat of Czech Senate situated in Waldstejske namesti, will be open that day between 9:00 and 17:00.

The state rooms at Prague Castle, the most beautiful rooms where the top diplomats are welcome by the Czech President, will be open on Saturday 12th May between 9:00 and 17:00.

Concert of Nine Inch Nails in Prague this August

Wednesday 25 April 2007 14:37

American band Nine Inch Nail is right now on the European Tour 2007 via more than 40 cities of West and North Europe. Their web pages inform about their planned concert in Prague (Slavia stadium) on 13th August 2007.

During this year’s summer tour they will introduce their latest album ‘Year Zero’. Their debut album ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ was issued in 1989. The only permanent member of the group is Trent Reznor. Visitors of the Prague’s concert can look forward also to Jeordie Osborne White, Allesandro Cortini, Aaron North and Josh Freese.

Nine Inch Nail visited Prague 13 years ago, when he performed in Lucerna Palace. Tickets for the 2007’s concert will be on sale from 3rd May 2007.

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Charitable Buy-a-Brick Action in Prague

Wednesday 25 April 2007 12:51

Buy-a-Brick Action is a traditional project to help people with mental handicap be more independent and integrate fully in the society outside large care-taking institutions.

Everybody who wants to support such a project can buy a special brick for 100 CZK in four outlets in Prague (street Na Prikope, Knight of the Cross Square, Franciscan Garden and Andel). Donors will get together with the brick a donation certificate.

Donors may sign the brick or write a message on it and help create a brick tower which will serve as a original advertisement for the action. The project in Prague will take place from 2nd May to 13th July 2007.

Prague-Brevnov celebrates the 100th anniversary

Wednesday 25 April 2007 11:38

Brevnov celebration of 100 anniversary near famous Brevnov Monastery One of the Prague’s districts Brevnov in Prague 6 is going to celebrate 100 years from the promotion to the town status. Locals are going to celebrate it this weekend and everybody is welcome.

A rich cultural programme is prepared for this weekend in front of the Brevnov Monastery. Visitors can look forward to imperial markets with the period goods and also to a traditional fair with a historical shooting range.

Old photographs and period artifacts illustrating the life of the local people during the century can be seen in a tent in front the ‘Kastan centre’. The tent will be there until 5th May.

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Through Prague in the footsteps of Antonin Dvorak

Wednesday 25 April 2007 09:53

Admires of the compositions of Antonin Dvorak (among the most famous are as ‘Rusalka’ or ‘From the New World’) can learn a lot about the life of this famous Czech composer in the Museum of Antonin Dvorak (Ke Karlovu street 20). The museum now opens a new exhibition called Through Prague in the Footsteps of Antonin Dvorak (Prahou po stopach Antonina Dvoraka).

Many photographs show the favourite places of Dvorak, where he used to go to in Prague. We can get to know his favourite cafes, pubs, parks and other places where he spent much of his time. The exhibition also shows Dvorak’s personal belongings and one of his manuscripts devoted to Prague. Antonin Dvorak lived in Prague for 47 years, most of the important moments in his life took place there.

The museum can be found in the building called ‘Amerika’ where Antonin Dvorak lived with his family after his arrival from the USA. The exposition is open until 13th April 2008.

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