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Bed艡ich Smetana and the Prague Spring ...

The Prague Spring International Music Festival (not related to the 1968 Prague Spring) is a festival established by the Czech Philharmonic Rafael Kubel脥k to commemorate the death of Czech composer Bed艡ich Smetana. Every opening night for the last 80 years, Smetana鈥檚 national masterpiece M谩 Vlast is played by a different orchestra. Smetana鈥檚 music life began in his youth, developed further by collaboration with one of his inspirations, Liszt. This 2025, Semyon Bychkov will conduct the next opening.

Bed艡ich Smetana and the Prague Spring International Music Festival
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Frantisek Kupka: Orphism

Bohemian artist Frantisek Kupka is the forefront mind behind the art form of Orphism. Orphism focuses on color and abstraction, similar to Cubism but also an 鈥渆volution鈥 where abstract shapes are given precedence in contrast to solid, known geometric shapes. There are many examples of Orphism to see, spanning many years.

Frantisek Kupka: Orphism
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Czech Beer : A Brief History

From the Brevnov Monastery to the modern-day Pilsner, the Czech people have been enjoying beer for over a thousand years. Known as the beer of tradition, Czech beer is ingrained into history itself. When beermaking was banned. the Brenov Monastery, as the first-ever Bohemian brewery, was exempt. Initially, after the ban on brewing ended, only noble families or homeowners were allowed to brew beer. It was in 1842 that the famous Pilsner was created.

Czech Beer : A Brief History
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Eliska Junkova: Racing into History

Eli拧ka Junkov谩 is the first woman to win the Grand Prix, in 1927. Even before, Junkov谩 was 鈥淨ueen of the Steering Wheel,鈥 a well-earned title that she worked towards since 1922. Her dedication to racing began with her dedication to her husband, Vincenc 鈥溎宔n锚k鈥 Junek, whom she met at her job at the Prague Credit Bank.

Eliska Junkova: Racing into History
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Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)

After the death of Samo, there was uncertainty about the Czech and Moravian lands, but after the rise of Charlamange of the Frankish Kingdom, Moravians were able to recover. The princes of Moravia consolidated their power, and one in particular Mojmir I, rose beyond tribal institutions to establish Great Moravia. After Mojmir I's deposition, his nephew Rostislav became Louis the German's loyal vassal. In secret, however, Rostislav had ambitions beyond this.

Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)

Czech

Czechs and Coffee

Czechs and Coffee

Although Prague is known for its beer, another important stable of Czech culture includes coffee and coffeehouses. Coffeehouses provided a place for the poor, men, and particularly women to congregate, discuss, organize, and entertain. Although the use of coffeehouses by women was mired in controversy due to brothels attached to some of them, coffeehouses still provided a place for women to discuss societal emancipation. The Caf茅 Louvre is one such coffeehouse that has served as a bedrock for many historical figures to organize and entertain and continues to do so to this day.

Czech Dogs and their History

The Czech Republic is home to seven different dog breeds with a storied history. The Bohemian Shepherd, for example, is the oldest breed, developed to guard the Kingdom of Bohemia. Most of these breeds were developed for rescue missions and hunting, either with a human companion or on their own. These Czech dog breeds have shaped the nation and continue to provide companionship and support to this day.

Brief History of Pankr谩c Prison

In the late 19th century, Pankr谩c Prison was built to replace the old St. Wenceslas Prison. Built with what many considered to be modern amenities for a prison of its time, Pankr谩c Prison would go on to be used through the Habsburg monarchy, Nazi occupation, and communist rule, up until today where it is still in use.

Brief History of Czech Bunkers and Their Future

In the Czech Republic, many bunkers were built during the Interwar Period and Communist rule. today, these once state-of-the-art fortifications lay abandoned. In response, the Ministry of Defense in the Czech Republic has decided to sell the bunkers to private investors.

Daliborka Tower and the Legend of Dalibor

Descend into the legend of the Daliborka Tower and its namesake, Dalibor of Kozojedy, where he was imprisoned. You will learn about Dalibor and his violin, the structure of the tower, and what it is used for today. For example, you鈥檒l learn how his placement inside the tower began due to a dispute between him and a Czech noble due to the treatment of peasant serfs.

Epidemiologist Ervin Adam helped eradicate polio in Czechoslovakia

Ervin Adam, a world-renowned Czech epidemiologist, died on March 21, 2023, at the age of 101 in Houston, Texas. The doctor, who was instrumental in Czechoslovakia being the first country in the world to eradicate polio, went through several concentration camps during World War II because of his Jewish origin and survived a death march. From 1968, he lived in exile 鈥 first in Canada and later in the United States. In 2013, he received the prestigious Czech Head Award.

The Hussite Reformation: The Council and Trial of Jan Hus

Following his continued preachings of reform and his various excommunications, Jan Hus was called by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to come to the Council of Constance as part of his plan to resolve the issue centered around Czech heresy. The Council of Constance, which was convened in 1414 to solve the Western Schism, succeeded in its goal of doing just that. However, the council鈥檚 handling of Jan Hus and his growing Hussite following would prove far from successful. Imprisoned and put on trial, Jan Hus鈥檚 fate was in the hands of those who would make a disastrous mistake in the long run and unleash war in Bohemia.

The Hussite Reformation: Life of Jan Hus and the Church

In 1414, a Czech theologian named Jan Hus was called before the Council of Constance for heresy against the Catholic Church and Pope. Jan Hus had preached about the need to reform the corruption within the Church, desiring to adhere more to a more communal Christianity that he believed the New Testament spoke of, and for that he had been excommunicated numerous times. His life up to this point set the groundwork for the eventual history of the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire to change forever.

Czech Video Games

The Czech Republic鈥檚 video games industry has become one of the country鈥檚 major exports in recent years, with a diverse range of successful game development studios, publishers, and startups. The origins of the Czech video game industry can be traced back to the country鈥檚 rich cultural heritage in arts and animation.

Jan 碍辞迟臎谤补: Founder of Modern Czech Architecture

Jan 碍辞迟臎谤补 was an important figure in Czech architecture for his use of modern elements in his works, earning him the title of 鈥渇ounder of modern Czech architecture.鈥 碍辞迟臎谤补鈥檚 career began with the renovation of 膶erven媒 Hr谩dek, using both neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau elements outside and inside, respectively. Despite being controversial in terms of culture and architectural style, 碍辞迟臎谤补鈥檚 life and career continued in success, culminating in the creation of his 1913 鈥渕asterpiece鈥 the Museum of Eastern Bohemia. Throughout his life, Jan 碍辞迟臎谤补 continued to create and build works of great architecture.

Vlasta Adele Vraz: A Czech-American during Communist Czechoslovakia

Vlasta Adele Vraz was a Czech-American who served as the director of American Relief for Czechoslovakia after World War II and was arrested as a spy by the Communist government in Czechoslovakia. She was released, becoming the president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America. She spent most of her life before World War II surrounded by writers and writing for her family鈥檚 newspaper, the 鈥淪vornost.鈥 After her release, she continued as an editor for the American Bulletin and Vestnik before her passing in 1989.

Tom谩拧 Masaryk and the United States

Tom谩拧 Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, was inspired by the freedom and democracy of the United States. While negotiating for Czechoslovakia鈥檚 independence, Masaryk developed not only a political relationship but also a personal and intellectual one with the United States. During the First World War, he was exiled after siding with the Allied Powers, but did not give up on garnering support from his fellow Czechoslovakians. The Lansing Declaration of May 1918 was one of many important moments in the future creation of the Czechoslovak Republic.

Czech Cottage Culture

Czechoslovakia has a rich history of cottages and cabins that began at the end of the 19th century and during the Communist regime. However, the popularity of these homes decreased and then during COVID-19 a resurgence of cottage culture appeared.

Czech Spa Cups

Spa cups were created for drinking natural spring water, supposedly endowed with healing properties. This cultural sipping cup began with a pig and its broken leg, which apparently recovered after rolling around in the mud from spring water, inspiring Teplice locals to soak in the water to cure their ailments. By the 19th century, the spa scene became popular enough to inspire studies and university courses. The spa cups themselves appeared in the early 17th century, made to taste the spring water and benefit from its healing properties.

A History of Czech Feminism

The once egalitarian, agrarian society of Bohemia became ruled by the Hapsburg Dynasty, causing a regression in women鈥檚 rights until Christianity helped improve their lives. The National Revival brought the creation of Czechoslovakia and greater rights for women. When communism came, rights improved in some ways and did not in others. The change to a capitalistic democracy brought further changes.

Czech National Revival

A response to increased Germanization, the Czech National Revival revived Czech literature, language, history, and politics. Increased nationalism marked this period of cultural revival. The movement started before the 19th century with Czech intellectuals such as Josef Jungman and Josef 顿辞产谤辞惫蝉办媒 becoming more discontent with the decrease in Czech culture, language, and national identity. Czech national identity also involved realism, rejecting the romanticism of the past, which was considered 鈥渁nti-nationalist.鈥 With the end of the Great War, the goals of the National Revival movement were successfully met.

The Legend of Lech, Cech, and Rus

The legend of the three brothers Lech, Cech, and Rus, who became the ancestors of the Polish, Czech, and Rus, explains how these cultures were created. The legend involves the brothers being the son of prince Pan and leaving the Pannonia empire. Some accounts don鈥檛 involve Rus, rather just Lech and Cech, who are the sons of Jan and not Pan.

Czech Wine: A Brief History

From legends to wine festivals, Czech wine has a rich history. Various rulers implemented regulations for viticulture, and it eventually grew to a large scale operation in the Czech Republic. Although many vineyards were left abandoned after the revolution, through the 19th and 20th centuries, Czech viticulture bounced back to the point of becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Mushroom Foraging

Picking mushrooms is one of the most popular Czech Traditions, and is considered by some to be a national sport. It is often a family activity and rich with cultural traditions. In fact, over two-thirds of the population forage for mushrooms at least once a year. As fun as mushroom foraging is, it can be dangerous if one picks the wrong mushrooms, so there are experts to help the less-experienced, such as international visitors.

The Forced Exile of Refugees

The Forced Exile of Refugees

From the Bolshevik Revolution to the Invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Republic has been a haven for refugees for over 100 years. For example, the Bolshevik Revolution was a terrible period in Eastern European history, one that caused two to three million people to leave Russia, with 15 thousand of those who left becoming Czechoslovakian refugees.