Prague Blog

Of course I am talking about the exhibition of exotic butterflies in Botanical Garden in Prague, to be more precise in Fata Morgana Greenhouse. And it is really worth seeing because you are walking among those flying beauties, and they may even sit on you!! It is fantastic! Have your camera ready!

Fata Morgana is not a typical greenhouse – it has not only the hot and humid section, but also a dry semi-desert section and a mountain section. For only 90 CZK (children and students for 45 CZK) you will take a tour around the world – you will stop by in dry Australian bush, in Madagascar, Polynesia, Africa and other countries.

You get to see not only the marvelous butterflies, but also tropical and subtropical plants, meat-eating plants or romantic waterfall. Butterflies are not the only animals you will come across – tropical fish and frogs from South America are also very nice.

Those butterflies that are now awaiting you in Fata Morgana feel at home in Africa, Philippines, Thailand, South and North America.

You will probably not have better chance to see exotic butterflies in Prague any time soon because Prague is located in temperate zone, so meeting an exotic butterfly is a real specialty to locals. So hurry up! Exotic butterflies are here for you only till April 29!!

To get there, use subway to the station Nadrazi Holesovice (red line C), then bus number 112 to the station “ZOO Troja”, and then just follow the signs for “Fata Morgana” or “Botanicka zahrada”. Open is daily from 9am to 6pm.

Probably the most spectacular and beautifully decorated halls at Prague Castle complex can be found in New Royal Palace, that, together with St Vitus Cathedral, surrounds the III courtyard of Prague Castle. The palace served as the dwelling place for many rulers in the past. Now it is used by the office of the president of the Czech Republic and its administrative. The exclusive halls inside New Royal Palace are used for the receptions of diplomats and statesmen officially invited by the president. They are open to the public only during two Czech national holidays or special events… (read more)

The lovely Neo-Classical building of the State Opera cannot go unnoticed. The style is recognizable thanks to the frieze decorating the triangular pediment above the loggia with characteristic columns. Dionysus, a promoter of theatre, and a muse of comedy Thalia sit majestically on the very top of the opera and overlook the busy street underneath.

The “occupations” of the mythological figures bring us to a rather surprising fact that opera has been opera only for less than a half of its over hundred years long history – to be more precise since the end of the Second World War. If you are asking about its former destiny, we have to travel into the past… (read more)

This is no joke – John Lennon is in Prague – well, to be precise, his wall is in Prague although John Lennon himself never visited Prague in his short life. Are you confused? Let me explain it to you then.

In Mala Strana, near the French Embassy, you’ll see the John Lennon Wall. The wall that was formerly an ordinary wall in Prague has been called Lennon´s since the 1980s, when people have filled it with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs. Why? (read more)

It may sound crazy to you – a house that dances? Impossible! But it is real! Located on the corner of Rasinovo Nabrezi and Resslova street, alongside the Vltava River.

The Dancing House is the nickname given to a building designed by Croatian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunic in a co-operation with Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Built between 1994-1996, Dancing House is a strikingly modern contrast to Prague’s historic attractions… (read more)

Langweil’s model of Prague is one of the most extraordinary and most admired exhibit in the Museum of the City of Prague. What is it so special about it? Many things! Langweil’s model of Prague is a paper and wood model that shows Prague what it looked like about 150 years ago. Many buildings in the model cannot be found in present Prague any more. It’s especially in the Jewish quarter and Old Town where many building were demolished. Langweil’s model is in many cases the only witness of these buildings and it serves as a study material for many Prague’s historians and lovers of art… (read more)

Now it seems more like a wild dream, but the dream is not too far from the truth! Not long time ago, Prague Town Hall approved the proposal that the city seek candidacy as a host of the Summer Olympic Games in 2016! The only thing that separates Prague from being the candidate is sending the applications to the International Olympic Committee. The deadline is in September. The Committee will then announce five contenders, and in 2009 the winner!

How exciting, right? We would have the great opportunity to see all the worlds’ best sportsmen and sportswomen right in the centre of Prague! However, is Prague capable of hosting such a massive event?

There are pros and cons, like with any other issue. The improvement of the country’s prestige and tourism promotion were named as the biggest advantages. But does Prague really need any more advertisement? If you take a walk through the city centre any time of the day, I would call the streets rather crowded. And now imagine how it would look like during the Olympics! Charles Bridge would collapse!!

Well, maybe I see things too dark. I am only worried where to put all those new tourists and fans. Prague is not inflatable!

Supporters say that Olympic Games in Prague would help build new stadiums, boost Czech sport, raise the publicity of Prague and the whole of the Czech Republic, secure revenues and upgrade local infrastructure. Opponents talk usually about financial problems that hosting the Olympics may bring.

The real outcome we will know only if we try and make the bid! This will mean that the Czech capital will compete with cities like Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dilli and Tokio for the honor of hosting the games in 2016!

And if 2016 Olympics are not in Prague, maybe in 2020 they will! Who knows?

Are you one of those who do not really like visiting museums? Is it boring for you? You have to be silent, serious, and, hey, don’t touch anything!!!! Well, forget about museums like that! There is a fun interactive exhibition right now running in Czech Museum of Music. It is called Orbis Pictus and it is nothing like regular museums!!

The name of the exhibition may help you to see the point of this exhibition. Orbis Pictus, which can be translated as World explained in pictures, was a textbook written by Czech thinker, philosopher and educator Jan Amos Komensky in 17th century. What is so special about this book is that it was written specially for children and is considered to be the first picture book for children.

Komensky was well known for his ideas about educating children – he thought that teachers should use audio-visual techniques in the classroom. Nothing new, you may say, but back then it was revolutionary idea!

The exhibition Orbis Pictus takes many of Komensky’s ideas. Visitors can not only touch but are also invited to participate on playing the musical instruments!! And it is to say that the musical instruments are rather unusual, such as the water organ in the central part of the exhibition.

Every day, visitors turn this museum into one great symphonic orchestra. Apart from sounds, most of the instruments can also produce colors, lights and shadows!! This exhibition will be loved by any child but it is well-suited for the whole family.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm. From 6:30pm there is sometimes an additional musical program for everybody with a valid ticket for the exhibition. The Czech Museum of Music is near Helichova tram station (trams 12, 20, 22, 23). But hurry up, the exhibition runs only until April 30!!!

Did you like Christmas markets in Prague? Do you miss them now? Cheer up! You don’t have to wait till December. There are markets in streets of Prague again, though not Christmas markets but with Easter motives.

You will not find many differences there – the Christmas tree is only replaced by the birch tree, symbol of spring. No, I am kidding – of course you will find many new things there!

The Prague Easter markets run from March 24 to April 15. You will find them at the same places where there were Christmas markets. But the most beautiful ones, whether Christmas or Easter is not important at this moment, are traditionally at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.

The stands display some typical Czech souvenirs, such as fine hand crafted goods. You can find there wooden toys, crystal glasses, candles or puppets, all manner of food and drink, but also show off some of the nice old customs that make up a traditional Czech Easter!

Czech Easter would not be complete without Easter eggs, in Czech kraslice. There are many Easter egg decorating techniques. Different materials can be used, such as bee’s wax, straw, watercolors, onion peels or stickers. There are no limitations to your imagination!

For children, there are creative workshops that they can visit and make their own Easter decorations – paint eggs or make traditional Easter whip, in Czech pomlazka. They can also visit a small zoo and pat little sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens since symbols of Easter in Czech Republic, besides Easter eggs, are baby animals.

For adults or everyone who love to eat there is a special service this year – from 4th to 9th April stands will offer traditional Czech Easter food!! Don’t miss that! It will be delicious!

The stands will be open from 9:00 to 19:00 during weekdays and from 9:00 to 20:00 at weekends.

This year, Easter Monday falls on April 9. This day is traditionally a public holiday in Czech Republic since there are many things one has to do on this day!

Everything starts the day before – so on Sunday. Czech girls decorate Easter eggs to give them to boys on Easter Monday. Easter eggs are painted hard-boiled eggs and then hand decorated. Boys make a special handmade whip, in Czech called pomlazka, and decorate it with colored ribbons at the end. This whip consists of eight, twelve, or even twenty-four willow twigs, depending on the skills of the boy. Surprisingly enough, the more twigs, the more difficult it is to braid the whip. They are usually from half a meter to two meters long!

On Easter Monday it gets more interesting. In the morning, boys walk from door to door to spank the girls on the legs with their whip. It is to say, that the whipping is rather symbolic. The symbolism is easily traced from the Czech name of the Easter whip – pomlazka, which comes from the world pomladit or “make younger” in English.

It is believed that the freshness, youth and strength of the twigs is passed to the women on this day. Every woman thus wants to be whipped in order to keep her health and beauty during the whole next year. Unvisited females can even feel offended. It is therefore almost a duty for all boyfriends and husbands to whip their loved ones with Easter whip!

The boys accompany the whipping with a special Easter carol, usually asking for an egg or two. The girls “reward” them with an Easter egg or tie a ribbon on their whip. The more eggs or ribbons boys have, the better.

For older boys or for men the treat, instead of eggs, is a shot of a harder alcohol, mostly home-made brandy. And of course, the point is to visit possibly all girls in the town! So around noon, groups of happy men can be seen in the streets singing Easter carols and chasing girls.

In the afternoon, girls can get revenge by pouring a bucket of cold water on any male.

Easter traditions are especially practiced in villages and small towns. You will not see many boys with Easter whips walking through the streets of Prague. It is understandable – Prague is a big city and people don’t open their doors to strangers.

But everyone in Prague celebrates Easter. Girls decorate Easter eggs; bake a special Easter cake in shape of a lamb, and boys from family or friends whip girls with bought Easter whips since boys from big cities usually don’t know how to make it.

So if you are a man, don’t forget to whip all girls around you, otherwise their beauty will fade away! And an advice for females, have an Easter egg or two ready to “reward” them.