The Influence of Prague on Rainer Maria Rilke’s Poetry

Rilke is known for his poignant metaphorical poetry and his lyrical prose. Like many great writers before him, Rilke drew inspiration from his surroundings. He was able to draw on his observations of the various places he visited during his life to create poems which remain widely read and loved to this day. In his...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

September 11, 2020

Czech Fairy Tales in English: Budulínek

Budulínek is a classic Czech fairytale about a little boy and a wicked fox. It is an incredibly popular story for children in the Czech Republic and in other Eastern European and Slavic countries. In this post, we will be featuring an English translation of this beloved classic fairytale, so you too can enjoy it....

ENTERTAINMENT

September 4, 2020

Mělník Castle: The First Vineyard in Bohemia

Atop a hill in a small town North of Prague, where the Labe and Vltava rivers meet, the Mělník Castle (Czech: Zamek Mělník) stands out brilliantly against a bright blue sky. Leaves fall away, clouds drift by, and yet the Castle stands still, seemingly unchanged with time, even as everything around it changes. However, despite...

Czech Republic, PLACES

August 14, 2020

The Last King of Bohemia

Charles I (Czech: Karel III) was the last Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and King of Bohemia. He was born in the beautiful Persenbeug Castle in Austria in 1887, toward the end of Summer. Though his father was an Archduke and his mother a Princess, he was not in line for the throne until...

History, PEOPLE

March 20, 2020

Anton Raphael Mengs: His Life and Work

Anton Raphael Mengs was a Neoclassical painter who gained a reputation as a great artist after painting his 1761 Fresco entitled Parnassus. This colossal work, which was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Albani, occupied the center of the ceiling in the main hall of the Villa Albani in Rome. It was in this Fresco that Mengs...

Art and Design, CULTURE

February 14, 2020

The Oldest Gothic Building in Prague

In Prague’s historic Old Town (Czech: Staré Město), situated on the right bank of the Vltava river, lies the oldest surviving Gothic building in the city of Prague. This building, known as the Convent of Saint Agnes (Czech: Anežský klášter), was founded in 1231 by the youngest daughter of King Ottokar I, Agnes of Bohemia,...

Architecture, CULTURE

November 15, 2019

The Versailles of Southern Moravia

Lednice is a Summer palace which is known as the Versailles of Southern Moravia. The palace is built in an English Neo-Gothic style and dates, as it looks today, from 1846-1858. However, its roots date back much further. The first record of Lednice dates back to 1222, when a Gothic fort with a courtyard stood...

Czech Republic, PLACES

November 8, 2019

Photographs of The Prague Spring by Josef Koudelka

In the August of 1968, crowds of Soviet tanks rolled into the shining capital of Prague, marking the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. This historical event, which would change the lives of the Czech people for years to come, has come to be known as The Prague Spring. During the invasion, one young man took to...

CULTURE, Photography

October 25, 2019

Watch This: Princezna ze mlejna or The Watermill Princess

Princezna ze mlejna (English: The Watermill Princess) is a Czech fairytale film which tells the story of a young man named Jindřich, who dreams of finding and freeing an enchanted princess. The movie begins in a sun-drenched village in Southern Bohemia, surrounded by shady woods and silvery ponds. It is in this gentle village where...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 18, 2019

Vodník: An Animation Based on The Traditional Czech Fairytale

Arguably one of the most famous characters in Czech fairytales and legends, Vodník, also known as hastrman, is a mythical water goblin who lurks in dark ponds and lakes, luring beautiful young women to their deaths. This mysterious water sprite, who is often portrayed as a hideous green man dressed in dripping coattails and riding...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 4, 2019

Behind His Paintings: The Drawings of Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Mucha was a Czech artist whose contributions to the Art Nouveau movement are incredibly vast, including multiple stunning paintings of ethereal figures circled with delicate flowers and shady leaves. His works are famous around the world and his unique style makes his paintings and posters instantly recognizable. He is known for his striking paintings...

Art and Design, CULTURE

September 27, 2019

When Wenceslas Square was a Horse Market

Václavské náměstí (English: Wenceslas Square) is known as one of the main city squares in Prague. The rectangular square is lined on both sides by art nouveau style buildings which house various department stores, hotels, cafés, restaurants, and modern shops. Its streets have carried thousands of people through parades, celebrations, protests, political demonstrations, and through...

History

February 8, 2019

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic is an inspiring and informational book which shares a unique perspective on the Central European country of Slovakia and its diverse people. It briefly explores the history of Slovakia and how it has shaped its people, going on to explore the circumstances which led some citizens of Slovakia to...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

January 11, 2019

How to Make Czech Linecké Cukroví

Linecké cukroví are a type of classic Czech Christmas cookie which are incredibility popular throughout the Czech Republic, especially around the holidays. These delicious jam filled cookies can be spotted on almost every Czech table at Christmas time and if you have ever tried one, it is not hard to see why. These traditional cookies...

Food, Holidays, Recipes

January 4, 2019

How to Make Czech Vanilkové Rohlíčky

Vanilkové rohlíčky are a type of traditional Czech Christmas cookie which has a mild vanilla flavor and a slightly nutty texture. They are very fragile cookies, with a fine flavor and a pretty appearance. Vanilkové rohlíčky are usually shaped into tiny delicate crescents. This is where they get their name, which translates to “Little vanilla...

Holidays, Recipes

December 28, 2018

How to Make Czech Pracinky

Pracinky are traditional Czech Christmas cookies with a rich chocolate flavor and a delicate, buttery texture. Due to the inclusion of cinnamon and clove, the cookies have a pleasant and mild spiced taste. The addition of these spices also provides a delightfully festive fragrance whilst the cookies are baking. Ingredients 3 1/2 cups all purpose...

Holidays, Recipes