Czechia celebrates its birthday on 28 October every year. It was on this day in 1918 that the independent Czechoslovak state was established, and although Czechoslovakia no longer exists, it is still an important day that the Czechs see as a great national holiday. We present some of the buildings inextricably linked to the Czech nation.
The theatre and the national collection to fund its construction
The National Theatre, which stands on the banks of the Vltava River in Prague, is rightly considered a national treasure and symbol. The Czechs had longed for it since the late 18th century, but their wish did not come true until decades later. Unfortunately, shortly after its completion, it was burned to ashes, but thanks to a huge wave of solidarity, an incredible one million gold coins were raised across the Czech lands in just 47 days to fund the repair of the theatre. This makes our National Theatre a theatre that “everyone” has contributed towards, meaning it belongs to the whole nation. It is still going today, with several art stages and specialised tours.
The memorial Mount Říp
In Central Bohemia, about an hour's drive from Prague, you’ll find a small but majestic memorial mountain. It’s called Říp. And what makes it so memorable? It is linked to the oldest Czech legends about the time the Slavs arrived in the Czech lands, in around the 6th century. And according to one myth, praotec Čech, the forefather of Bohemia and the first leader of the Bohemian tribe, ascended it, looked around the region and deemed that it was there, in this land of good pastures and forests, that he wanted to settle. Říp is still a popular place associated with national pride.
The National Gallery, the pride of the nation
If it's art you’re after, visit the National Gallery in Prague! It was founded in 1796 by members of leading Czech noble families, to house parts of their art collections. The National Gallery has come a long way since then and its collections have grown so much that if you wanted to see all the exhibition spaces and all the works of art, you’d need several days in a row to do so!
The Museum as a protector of heritage
For more than 200 years now, the National Museum, located on Wenceslas Square in Prague in an impressive renovated neo-Renaissance building, has been guarding the nation’s treasures - ranging from amazing natural and mineralogical collections to artifacts associated with the nation itself. Such as the clothes of the first Czechoslovak president. Today, the museum has many exhibition spaces and you can choose whether to go around the main historical building to explore the exhibition Miracles of Evolution. or visit the Czech Museum of Music and admire the musical genius of our ancestors. The exceptional exhibits include a hammer piano played by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Halls designed for the classiest occasions
And we mustn’t forget the grandeur of Prague Castle. It is there that Czech presidents host state visits or appoint governments. And, during the Czech national holiday on 28 October, you have the unique opportunity to see it free of charge! Or, on St. Wenceslas Day, the national holiday on 28 September, you get to see the Czech Crown Jewels.
Municipal House - the place that hosted the declaration of independence
The Municipal House on Prague's náměstí Republiky is a beautiful piece of Art Nouveau architecture that is more than 100 years old. A tour of this beauty, with its original paintings by Alphonse Mucha, is an unforgettable experience. It gives you an idea of what the place must have looked like back on 28 October 1918, when the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic was officially proclaimed!
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