Performing Arts Festivals

With good reason, Prague’s major performing arts stages - the Prague State Opera and the National Theater - regularly salute home-grown composers - Bedrich Smetana and Leos Janacek, while the 19th century Dvorak Hall honors the great Antonin Dvorak with his very own venue. Music also fills the air in the cherubim-filled Theater of the Estates where Mozart held court, while dozens of churches offer a year-round roster of heavenly choral and string-quartet groups and soft-jazz combos.

Prague: International Prague Spring Music Festival (May/June). The grande dame of all Czech music festivals, attracting star performers and music fans from around the world. Be sure to order tickets early.

Litomysl: The International Classical Music Festival (June/July) Held in the charming town of Litomysl, the birthplace of composer Bedrich Smetana, the festival takes place at a variety of venues centered around the splendid castle and features mostly Czech ensembles and soloists.
Locator: 100 mi. east of Prague

Cesky Krumlov: The International Music Festival (July/August), takes place each summer in the picturesque Renaissance town of Cesky Krumlov. The town’s castle, gardens and square all serve as atmospheric concert venues, with genres ranging from classical to rock.
Locator: 105 mi. south of Prague, near the German border

Prague: International Prague Autumn Music Festival (Sept/Oct) The younger sibling of the Prague Spring Festival, the highlight of the fall music season.)

Brno: International Music Festival the Brno festival is among the region’s most important cultural events, with a wide range of guest performers from all over the world.
Locator: 130 miles from Prague

Traditional Events

Beroun Potters Market, the most important pottery and ceramic fair in the country, plus a full program of cultural events.
Locator: 25 mi. west of Prague

Vlcnov (southern Moravia) celebrates the Ride of Kings Folk Festival (May) an ancient ritual that forms the basis of a unique and colorful celebration.
Locator: Vlcnov is about 56 mi. east of Brno

Cesky Krumlov turns back the town clock to Renaissance times of knights and noble ladies, jugglers and costume parades during the Festival of the Five-Petalled Rose (June).
Locator: Cesky Krumlov is 113 mi. south of Prague

Straznice International Folklore Festival (June) Straznice celebrations with almost 30 events. Folklore of this micro region involving mainly folk songs, folk dances and flush customs is specific.
Locator: 177mil south east of Prague. South east Moravia

Plzen Pilsner Fest (Sep./Oct) Come and celebrate more than 165 years of the brewing of the first batch of Pilsner Urquell beer. Days full of fun, great food and the famous Pilsen beer.
Locator: Plzen is 58mi. west of Prague

Slavkov u Brna Act of remebrance celebrates every anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz  that took place on Dec, 2, 1805 (Nov/Dec).  Events taking place in Austerlitz (Slavkov u Brna) -in the chateau park, historical fair, tours of the chateau in period costume and firework display.
Locator: Slavkov u Brna is 138 mi. east of Prague. Surrounding of Brno.

Bear Festival in Cesky Krumlov: Come to celebrate Christmas and feed bears in Cesky Krumlov !The Bear Festival takes place each year on Christmas Day at the Cesky Krumlov castle. Children come to the castle from early morning and bring honey, sweet bread and fruits for the bears.Christmas atmosphere is emphasized by singing carols in the castle’s courtyard.
Locator: Cesky Krumlov is 113 mi. south of Prague

Mikulov, a charming historical town in the heart of Moravia’s winemaking country, celebrates its traditional Palava Vintage Festival in September. Costumed parade, live music, plenty of great food and wine.
Locator: Mikulov is 48 mi. north of Vienna, 35 mi. south of Brno.

Roznov pod Radhostem: While the country’s largest Christmas market is held in Prague, starting the first weekend in December, Christmas in Wallachia is celebrated with a traditional market, concerts, a live nativity scene and demonstrations of local crafts; the setting is outside Roznov at the Wallachia Open Air Museum (a skansen or recreation of a traditional village), the oldest in Europe. (December)
Locator: 50 mi. east of Olomouc, 100 mi. from Brno.

Capitals & Elsewhere

Prague: It's hard to think of a European city that has become so popular, so fast as Prague, where essential historic sights include the Old Town Square, the landmark Charles Bridge, the National and Estates Theaters, St. Vitus Cathedral with its stained-glass windows, and the Prague Castle complex, which dominates the city and the 1,100-year history of the Czech nation. The huge castle houses superb artifacts, such as the burial crown jewels of King Premysl Otakar II, and is surrounded by beautiful gardens offering splendid views. Prague's many museums hold other treasures: the St. Agnes Convent concentrates on Central European art from the Middle Ages; the Museum of Decorative Arts highlights the craftsmanship of masters of Czech crystal, porcelain and woodcarving; the Jewish Museum, which includes the Old Jewish Cemetery and collections installed in four surviving synagogues, houses a superb collection of European Judaica.
Locator: 183 mi. from Vienna; 208 mi. from Bratislava; 223 mi. from Berlin

Cesky Krumlov: Considered a Renaissance jewel, Cesky Krumlov is ringed on three sides by the Vltava River. The picture-perfect hilltop town is crowned by Krumlov Castle , both a UNESCO-designated monument and the jewel in the crown of the country's Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Below the castle, the medieval town square is surrounded by red-tiled-roof buildings and colorful facades, often decorated with frescos and sgraffiti. The steeple of the 15th century St. Vitus's Church dominates the town center, while the Regional Museum , occupying a former Jesuit seminary, provides a useful overview of this fairytale town.
Locator: 105 mi. from Prague

Karlovy Vary: Otherwise known as the world-class spa town of Karlsbad, this Bohemian town of colonnades and boulevards has a definite Belle Epoque air; however, its roots thread back much farther, to its 14th century founding by Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV. Today, it is 19th century landmarks that set the architectural style, such as the Mill Colonnade, the Municipal Theater and the House of the Three Moors where Goethe "took the waters." More historic is the Baroque Church of Mary Magdalene, and the Karlovy Vary Museum displays the panorama of local and natural history.
Locator: 82 mi. west of Prague

Olomouc: On triangular-shaped Horni Namesti (Upper Square) in this northern Moravian town, UNESCO has designated the 18th century Trinity Column - the granddaddy of all baroque columns - a World Heritage monument. Other town glories include a bevy of churches and Baroque public fountains, built between the 14th and 17th centuries. However, pride of artistic place goes to the frescoes adorning the rooms of 12th century Premysl Palace. From the 20th century, works of modern painters and sculptors are the stars of the Olomouc Museum of Art. This university town, yet to be discovered by many, is refreshingly laid-back and "untouristy".
Locator: 156 mi. east of Prague; 155 mi. from Krakow; 130 mi. from Vienna

Brno: The country's Second City, Brno has its own UNESCO-listed monument: The Tugendhat Villa, a shrine for Modernist mavens. This vastly influential building is the work of Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Other town superlatives include the Spilberk Castle housing the Municipal Museum, a 13th century Town Hall, and the Capuchin Monastery. The famed Austerlitz battlefield lies just outside the city limits, as does a system of underground caves and the wine country of South Moravia.
Locator: 50 miles from Olomouc; 130 mi. from Prague; 93 mi. from Vienna

Special Museums

Prague: The National Gallery boasts several different venues featuring a variety of periods and styles. The Sternberg Palace displays a fine range Old Masters’ works dating from the 14th to 18th centuries; particularly well-represented are Flemish and Dutch artists, including Rubens, Rembrandt and Frans Hals. The St. Agnes Cloister features Czech and Central European art from the Middle Ages, while the Center of Modern and Contemporary Art (at the Veletrzni Palace) offers a wonderful collection of Czech and European 20th and 21st century art and design.

Prague: The Mucha Museum is dedicated to the life and work of Alfons Mucha, affirming that the artist was indeed the master of European Art Nouveau. On display are not only the well-known decorative prints and posters, but also some surprisingly “modern”-looking sketches and fascinating photographs the artist took of his models.

Prague: The Kampa Museum focuses on Central European modern art, including collections of work by pioneering abstract painter Frantisek (Franz) Kupka and the Czech Cubist sculptor Otto Gutfreund. The works’ effect is enhanced by the spare, modern venue housed in a former mill overlooking the river Vltava.

Cesky Krumlov: The Egon Schiele Art Center, named after the Austrian artist whose frequent visits to the town inspired some of his artwork, is one of the most ambitious art centers in the country. Focusing on predominantly 20th-century and contemporary art, it offers exciting, internationally attended exhibits in the historical building of a former brewery.

Nelahozeves Castle: The Renaissance castle houses one of the finest private collections of Old Master paintings, including masterpieces by Pieter Breughel the Elder, Rubens, Velazquez, and Lucas Cranach the Elder and Younger. The paintings are well complemented by rare antique interiors, a massive collection of Delft porcelai, and a valuable collection of musical memorabilia featuring manuscripts by Beethoven and Gluck.
Locator: 15 mi. north of Prague

Regal Sites

Cesky Krumlov Castle: Perched high above the Vltava River, the castle’s 300 rooms spread over 40 buildings, connected by courtyards and passageways. Started in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 16th, this is the second largest Czech castle, after Prague’s. It is also the site of the important International Music Festival, held in July/August.
Locator: 105 mi. from Prague

Pernstejn: Built over seven centuries, this Gothic-cum-Renaissance stronghold is one of the most valuable historical monuments in the country. Spaces in the inner castle are connected by a system of twisting passages and spiral staircases, and 16th century astrological signs remain inscribed on the walls.
Locator: 110 miles southeast of Prague; 27 mi. from Brno

Becov nad Teplou: The Gothic-cum-Renaissance stronghold dominates this West Bohemia town, whose architectural mix also includes a Renaissance palace and Baroque chateau. Its greatest rarity, however, is the Romanesque reliquary of St. Maur, a rare example of medieval craftsmanship, worked in jewels and gold.
Locator: 93 mi. from Prague; 15 mi. from Karlovy Vary

Kromeriz: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is dominated by an early Baroque palace, former seat of the archbishops of Olomouc; its large park and unique flower garden is the best example of Baroque landscaping in the Republic. The castle’s distinguished picture gallery includes works by Tizian, Cranach, Breughel and van Dyck.
Locator: 40 mi. from Brno

Litomysl: Located in the birthplace of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, the Litomysl Castle is considered the most beautiful chateau in East Bohemia. Honored by UNESCO and built in the 16th century, the castle’s restoration over the centuries has preserved the Renaissance period, sgraffiti plaster exterior; within is an 18th century theater.
Locator: 100 mi. east of Prague

UNESCO World Heritage Sites (12 sites nationwide)

Kutna Hora: The second most important town in Bohemia during medieval times, Kutna Hora's silver mining riches financed the magnificent Cathedral of St. Barbara; the Royal Mint is now a museum. Another remarkable monument is the Church of All Saints in nearby Sedlec, with its famous ossuary chapel (www.kostnice.cz) decorated with tens of thousands of human bones and skulls dating to the Thirty Years' War.
Locator: 43 mi. east of Prague

Telc: Located halfway along the ancient Kings' Way from Vienna and Prague in South Moravia, Telc's historic town center treasures include a picturesque main square lined with Renaissance and Baroque houses, decorated with frescoes and gables, as well as a venerable Renaissance castle.
Locator: 100 mi. southeast of Prague

Prague: The historic town center is a unique symbiosis of all architectural styles: Romanesque rotunda, Gothic towers, Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches and Art Nouveau apartment houses. An absolute must for anyone remotely interested in architecture.

The Lednice-Valtice Landscape Complex: Located in the country's southernmost corner, the "cultural landscape" of Lednice-Valtice includes two stately chateaux, a conservatory, and a vast landscape park dotted with romantic structures - follies. Ideal for exploration on foot or on a bike, the landscape was created by the Liechtenstein aristocratic family over several centuries.
Locator: 50 mi. south of Brno

The Trinity Column and Fountains of Olomouc: The inclusion of the Olomouc Holy Trinity Column onto the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage was chiefly due to its unique construction.

Dating from 1716 - 1754, it ranks among the last examples of the wave of Baroque plague columns, but differs from others by its artistic conception, rich figural decorations and monumental proportions. The city itself is a treasury of Baroque architecture, from sculptural fountains to grand palaces and churches.
Locator: 156 mi. east of Prague; 155 mi. from Krakow; 130 mi. from Vienna

Other UNESCO sites:

The Historical Town Center of Cesky Krumlov
The Castle of Litomysl
The Chateau and Gardens of Kromeriz
The Village of Holasovice
The Tugendhat Villa in Brno
The Basilica of St. Procopius and the Jewish Quarter of Trebic
The Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelena Hora near Zdar nad Sazavou