ArtandCulture, Prague

The tour begins with a giant kaleidoscope. Thanks to the rear projection and countless mirrors, the 70-meter-high imaginary sphere brings a unique spectacle. You will look into the lives of craftsmen, potters, armourers and the legendary rat. You will see the medieval prison with your own eyes, you will peek under the executioner's arm and you will envy the White Lady that she can disappear from these horrible places at any time. On the contrary, the exposition full of well-being is the part dedicated to the founders of the castle and many other important monuments of Charles IV, who is cheered up by a traditionally dressed clown. Everything is watched indulgently by four of Charles's wives, including Elizabeth of Pomerania, who is said to have been able to break iron with her bare hands. You will discover the secrets of the alchemical court in the part where Rudolf II. oversees astronomer Tycho de Brahe, Yehuda Lowe works on a giant Golem and the legendary Sirael seduces poor men with a look. Then a newer time awaits you. Maria Theresa, Napoleon or Francis Joseph I will appear in front of you. In the final hall, you will meet Masaryk, Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana and Mother Tereza. http://www.waxmuseumprague.cz/wax-museum-karlstejn

The Museum of Nativity Scenes is located on Karlštejn Square. On the ground floor of the building, you can see a quality collection of Czech historical nativity scenes carved from wood, complemented by nativity scenes from period rare materials such as wax, sugar or bread. The attraction for children is several mechanical nativity scenes, which run on their own. Directly under the roof, the most spectacular building is hidden in the audience - the Karlštejn Royal Nativity Scene. It is the largest puppet nativity scene in the Czech Republic, covering 80 m 2. The several-meter scenery of Karlštejn Castle is equipped with 46 puppets carved from wood and dressed in period suits. Santa Claus brings gifts from the 10 most important Czech monarchs, led by Charles IV, who brings him gifts from Karlštejn Castle. In the lowest part of the house, there are two floors of Baroque cellars, where a permanent exhibition on the history of viticulture in Karlštejn and the Sklep exhibition hall are installed. The mysterious figure of the White Lady attracts children's attention in the cellars, to whom a somewhat morbid story from the history of Karlštejn Castle relates. http://www.muzeumbetlemu.cz/

The collection of over 10,000 exhibits (currently the most comprehensive exhibition of clocks in our country) presents clocks from all over the world. The European "watchmaker" powers, which include England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria-Hungary, are the most represented. We will also find clocks from China, Japan and America in the sample. You can see clocks and timing machines of all types and sizes, from pocket or wrist chronometers, through alarm clocks, table and wall clocks to so-called floor clocks and tower machines. You will see the works of important watchmakers and inventors as well as nameless watchmakers. You will get to know simple all-wood mechanisms, but also carillons, various so-called automatic machines and the most precise machines, which we call regulators. You will enjoy painted clocks from a country cottage, decorated from a burgher's household or from aristocratic residences. We will also show you a well-equipped ancient watchmaking workshop with various period machine tools, measuring instruments and work aids that used to be necessary in the production of any type of clock or watch. http://www.muzeumhodin.eu/cs/

Dačický House, located on a sloping square in sight of the Stone Fountain, is a unique exhibit in itself. At its core is a pre-Hussite house, which was generously reconstructed after 1500 for the Utraquist bishop Filip de Villanuova, and was the birthplace of the chronicler Mikuláš Dačický of Heslov in the mid-16th century. http://destinace.kutnahora.cz/d/dacicky-house-interactive-exposition-about-kutna-hora-and

This historical building is, as its name suggests, associated with Josef Kajetán Tyl, an important figure of Czech theatre and the National Revival movement. J. K. Tyl, a native of Kutná Hora, was the first person to publicly formulate the idea to build an independent theatre in Kutná Hora for the then Tyl Amateur Theatre Company, which was based in Kutná Hora and of which Tyl was himself a member. http://destinace.kutnahora.cz/d/kutna-hora-tyl-municipal-theatre

The oldest spa in Czechia and one of the oldest spas in Europe is located in the valley between the Central Bohemian Mountains and the ridges of the Krušné Mountains. Come visit the “little Paris of Bohemia” with attractively built spa buildings, parks, gardens, fountains, a long pedestrian zone and a Baroque Marian column. http://www.czechtourism.com/t/teplice/

The Baroque Duchcov Chateau is situated in North Bohemia near the spa town of Teplice. It was here where world renowned lover Giacomo Casanova worked as a librarian, wrote his memoirs and later died in 1798. http://www.czechtourism.com/c/duchcov-castle/

Pilsen's main square of the Republic is dominated by the beautiful Gothic cathedral of St. Bartholomew with the highest church tower in the Czech Republic. You will find many beautiful historic houses, lots of cafes and restaurants. During the year there are dozens of cultural events, festivals and festivals. https://www.plzen.eu/turista/poznej-plzen/to-nejlepsi-z-plzne/namesti-republiky/namesti-republiky-2.aspx

In September of 1881 the foundations were laid for a new theatre and the City Theatre was ceremonially opened in September 1883. The building was cosntructed in Neo-Reneissance style. http://www.visitliberec.eu/en/kultura-a-zabava/divadla/?view=min&cat=kultura_a_zabava&detail=1091

In the Middle Ages, knightly games and tournaments took place in the Stallhof (Stall Courtyard), which is part of the big Royal Palace complex. Today, the court between the Johanneum and the "Langer Gang" (Long Arcade) is used for cultural events. The Procession of Princes is located on the outside of the Stallhof, on Schlossplatz Square. https://www.dresden.de/en/tourism/attractions/sights/old_town/stallhof-and-procession-of-princes.php

Dresden’s Royal Palace was once the hub of power for the Saxon princes and kings. First mentioned in the 14th century as a castle complex, the four-wing palace structure was developed in the 15th century. After it was destroyed by fire in 1701, the palace was reconstructed under Augustus the Strong. After air attacks during the last few months of the Second World War, the palace – with its approximately 500 halls and rooms – once again burned down to its foundations. Most of the valuable interior furnishings were lost. In 1985, reconstruction began on the palace to create a museum complex for the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections). The first museum to move into the Royal Palace was the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs); it has been displaying its treasures there since April 2004. The New Green Vault was opened in September 2004. Since September 2006, the Historic Green Vault can once again be admired in its original rooms. Today, the exterior of the Royal Palace is decorated in Neorenaissance style, while the large courtyard of the palace displays Renaissance-style sgraffito paintings. The Hausmann Tower overlooks the whole ensemble, offering a wonderful view of the Old Town. Starting in 2010, after five years of construction, the English Stairway in the Dresden Royal Palace is once again accessible. The Baroque stairway was reconstructed at a cost of four million euros, following its original historic pattern. In the future, it will serve as the main entrance for the museums of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen. The Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber) was also opened in March 2010, containing countless small treasures that were not open to the public for more than seventy years. The renovation of the Palace is completed since 2013. https://www.dresden.de/en/tourism/attractions/sights/old_town/royal-palace.php

Dresden’s Semper Opera House is the most famous opera house in Germany; it houses the Saxon State Orchestra, one of the world’s oldest and best-known orchestras. Built by Gottfried Semper between 1838 and 1841, the Semper Opera House was closed in August 1944 and was destroyed six months later by the Allied air attacks. https://www.dresden.de/en/tourism/attractions/sights/old_town/semper-opera-house.php

Exiting Břežanova Street, we find ourselves on the western side of Masarykovo Square, just across from the castle gate with the Rožmberk coat-of arms. The rectangular shape of this small square comes from its former function as a marketplace, and the burgher houses were gradually built around it. The square is lined on each side with thirteen burgher houses built on extended Gothic sites with typical Renaissance and Baroque gables. On the right hand are two buildings (no. 106 and 107) that belong to the Zlatá Hvězda Hotel. They are connected with three illusive neo-Baroque gables which give the impression of three adjacent buildings instead of two. House no. 107 has a renovated original arcade and decorated semicircular and cross vaults. http://www.visittrebon.cz/en/trebon-places-of-interest/21/

The new Castle Museum exhibition was opened in 2011 by the National Heritage Institute. Museum visitors have a unique opportunity to peek into the secrets of the castle depositories relating to the most important events connected with the Rožmberk, Eggenberk and Schwarzenberg owners of the Krumlov estate. Entry to the Castle Museum exhibition is individual, without a guide but with the option to rent an audioguide. This rounded six-storied tower, surrounded by the residential palace of the Little Castle, is situated on a narrow rocky promontory towering above Latrán and the Vltava River between the Ist and IInd Courtyard of Český Krumlov Castle. The origins of this structure are partly Gothic and partly Renaissance, as is evident from the tower's external appearance. The tower as well as the Little Castle is a segment of a structure dating from the first half of the 13th century. Castle Tower The oldest part of it is the groundfloor and first floor. The origin of the second floor is around the 14th century, while the third floor is part of the Renaissance belfry. We can not eliminate the Gothic origin, however, due to the bell dated 1406. Under the architect Baldassare Maggi of Arogno, the castle was remodelled and converted from a plain Gothic palace into a Renaissance residence, and the tower was provided with an arcaded gallery at the top in 1581. In 1590 the tower was decorated with mural paintings and figural and architectural motifs by Bartoloměj Beránek - Jelínek. Castle Tower The Tower is the symbol of the town of Český Krumlov, of its history and beauty. It is "The towerest of all towers" as once characterised by Karel Čapek. The tower is publically accessible and offers a beautiful view over Krumlov and surroundings. https://www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.cz/en/visitors-information/tours/1077-castle-museum-and-castle-tower

The castle was held in possession of various noblemen and its history is interwoven with a number of myths and legends. Today it is a venue of various cultural and social events. At the foot of the castle there is a steamboat stop. http://www.czechtourism.com/c/brno-veveri-castle/

Enjoy a degustation session of quality wine in the cool cellars of the monastery in Louka, where the largest producer of wine in the Czech Republic, the joint stock company Znovín Znojmo, is currently located. http://www.czechtourism.com/c/louka-monastery/

The Brno Dragon and Brno Wheel are well-known symbols of the city and are linked with several legends. You can only see them with your own eyes in the building of the former Town Hall in the Moravian Capital near to Zelný trh. http://www.czechtourism.com/c/brno-old-town-hall/

Once a small Romanesque Basilica on Petrov Hill, later rebuilt in the Gothic style, the cathedral was built in 1777 after the Brno bishopric was created. Now its two tall towers, together with Špilberk Castle , form the characteristic silhouette of the city of Brno. In addition to the interior, the Romanesque-Gothic crypt and view from the two towers are a must. The Diocesan Museum and Information Centre is located nearby. The noon ringing at 11 o’clock is part of the legend of the Swedish siege during the Thirty Years War. http://www.czechtourism.com/c/brno-st-peter-and-pauls-cathedral/

Let's set off up Linz's local mountain! An excursion to Pöstlingberg is an unforgettable experience – not only for children! Whether families visit the pilgrimage basilica, the viewing platform, the Hartlauer Photo Gallery, the zoo or the realm of fairy tales and dwarves – the Grottenbahn, they're sure to have a great time high above Linz. Or you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the city by the colourful Danube as a cosy twosome! Change your perspectives on Linz! https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/adventure-world-poestlingberg/

About one hundred Graffiti, some of them of monumental size, decorate the facades of the old industrial constructions and offices at the harbor of Linz. Artists from about fifty nations transformed the beautiless docklands of Linz to an art hotspot. There are different ways to visit all the artworks in the area as for instance by boat or by foot. A professional will guide the visitors through the open-air-gallery. Every tour ends with a graffiti crash course for each guest. In the harbor of Linz are a lot of huge warehouses, containers, cranes and railways. By general desire of the habitants and the workers in the area, it has been decided to pimp up the buildings. Out of that project emerged one of the biggest coherent Graffiti-Galleries in Europe. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/mural-harbor/

Do you want to research, discover, experiment and investigate? Then Linz's museum of the future, Ars Electronica Center (AEC), is the perfect place for you. The UNESCO City of Media Arts at the heart of Europe offers technological pioneering combined with visionary media arts by the Danube. AEC is the gravitational centre of Linz, with its annual festival in September and the renowned Prix Ars Electronica. The striking building situated directly by the Danube houses impressive exhibitions on art, technology and society. Here, you can watch artificial intelligence thinking, train self-driving cars, program robots, print in 3D or process your own DNA with the gene scissors. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/ars-electronica-center/

Lentos Art Museum (Lentos Kunstmuseum) is situated directly by the Danube in Linz. Its impressive architecture shapes the city's image distinctly. The modern, transparent glass facade illuminates Lentos and the Danube in many colours at night. The oversized "picture frame", which pierces the building, is also striking, revealing a wonderful view of Urfahr district and Pöstlingberg, Linz's local mountain. Lentos Kunstmuseum offers modern and contemporary art in a very special ambience. Works of art from the 19th century, classical modernity (Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka) and Expressionism are presented, as well as current, contemporary artistic directions. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/museums-and-exhibitions/lentos/

The Main Square (Hauptplatz) forms the centre of Linz. The city center offers lots of shops and culinary highlights. The whole year it is a location for versatile events.The Main Square of Linz is, with an area of roughly 13,200 m2, one of the largest urban squares in Europe since the 13th century. Thanks to the main square’s function as a market place, Linz soon experienced an economic boom. In the center of the main square is an impressive Trinity Column located. It is 20 metres high and made of white marble. The column is a typical symbol of the baroque period and was erected in gratitude by those who had survived a variety of disasters. The column should also protect the citizens from war, fire and plague. Many attractions of Linz are easily accessible from the main square. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/historical-sites/main-square/

The castle of Linz is the heart of the historical center of Linz. In the 17th century, Rudolf II had the castle built, which today is home to the Upper Austrian provincial Museum. The south wing was destroyed in the City Fire of 1800, and was rebuilt in modern glass-and-steel architecture for the Capital of Culture year 2009. It now constitute the largest universal museum in Austria - the Castle Museum. The wings of Linz Castle contain the history of culture collections of the Upper Austrian Provincial Museum. The permanent exhibitions present a walk through the artistic and cultural history of Upper Austria from the Neolithic Age up to the 20th century. The new South Wing contains the permanent exhibitions on nature and technology in Upper Austria. There is a continuous programme of special exhibitions. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/historical-sites/linz-castle/

OK – Offenes Kulturhaus is complex of buildings comprises the art collection of Upper Austria, the Moviemento arthouse cinema and diverse gastronomy. The „Kulturquartier“ is, because of its exhibitions and events a popular meeting point for guests and residents of Linz. The OK provides space for contemporary art trends in Linz. Regional and International Art- and Festivals, like the Crossing Europe Filmfestival choose the OK as their venue. The peculiarity of the OK lies in the longstanding experience in the sector of art production with a strong emphasis on artistic work. The OK invites young artists to use the provided rooms to give vent to their creativity and realize their ideas. The OK provides infrastructure like a music- or video-studio, ateliers and a hall for events. Visitors of the OK can expect tensing group- and solo-projects, symposiums and programs for communication of art and music. Multimedia-projects and art exhibitions that capture social aspects, let art-lovers feel the pulse of the time. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/kulturquartier-und-ok-zentrum/

Musiktheater am Volksgarten in Linz is one of the most modern opera houses in Europe. Built according to plans by the London architect Terry Pawson, its opening ceremony was on April 11th, 2013 and it has been one of the cultural highlights of the UNESCO City of Media Arts by the Danube ever since. The Musiktheater, situated at the end of Landstraße, offers a wonderful ambience for operas, operettas, ballet and musicals. These are staged using multimedia and accompanied by the latest technology – you'll be fascinated by the multifaceted programme. You are guaranteed an unforgettable evening of theatre in a lovely atmosphere right at the heart of Linz's city centre. Europe's most modern opera house has plenty to offer, and the main auditorium, the Foyer Stage, the BlackBox and the BlackBox Lounge offer an uninhibited view of the performances on the stage. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/musiktheater/

Voestalpine Stahlwelt (steel world) in Linz presents a globally unique adventure world dedicated to steel. Austria's largest industrial site invites you to discover the latest technologies for producing steel. This interactive exhibition uses multimedia to show you what lies behind the Austrian group. The latest technologies and innovative production processes of Linz steel are presented, right through to the finished product. Experience spherical production sounds from the Linz site, the play of light and exhibits to touch. The construction of voestalpine Stahlwelt itself is also spectacular. The exhibition takes you through a giant crucible, a replica of the one used to produce steel. Oversized chrome balls, hanging from the middle of the building's ceiling, are not only an impressive eye-catcher, but also partially integrated into the exhibition. https://www.linztourismus.at/en/leisure/discover-linz/worth-seeing/top10/voestalpine-stahlwelt/

1236 received the Dominicans of Duke Leopold VI. the order to set up a branch in Krems an der Donau. At about the same time, the Minorites were called to Stein. As early as 1240, the construction of a church was begun , which was vaulted around 1265. It was then built outside the city walls, the so-called Predigertor led through the city wall to Passauerhof with the Ursula chapel. The chancel of the church dates back to 1330. The impressive sacred space was initially painted colorful, well-preserved remains of which can still be seen today. The monastery and the church were one of the largest and most representative meeting rooms in the country at the time of construction , serving as a meeting place for the regional parliaments and for meetings of the handicraft mints of the region. The monastery itself was built in the Baroque style and the Gothic cloister was overgrown. A partial reconstruction in the eastern area of ​​the courtyard refers to the disappearance of the gothic colonnade of the complex. http://www.museumkrems.at/Dominikanerkirche.htm

This church from Margravine Wilhelmine and Margrave Friedrich in which the Prince wanted to be buried later was built in the centre of Bayreuth from 1753 – 1758. Fulfilling their desire, they were buried in a tomb with their daughter Frederike, Duchess of Württemberg. https://www.bayreuth.de/english/sights/

The most beautiful boulevard in the world is home not only to many of Vienna's best-known sights, such as the Imperial Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural History Museum, the Vienna State Opera and Parliament. Magnificent palaces, extensive parks and important monuments also line the "display window" of the former Danube monarchy. Vienna's Ringstrasse is 5.3 kilometers long. Long enough to provide space for numerous monumental buildings, which were built during the period of Historicism in the 1860s to 1890s. Today, the buildings that stand there – from the Vienna State Opera to the Museum of Fine Arts – are among the most important sights in the city of Vienna. Nobles and rich citizens hurried to build pompous palaces along this magnificent boulevard. Many of these former private homes can still be admired today (mostly, however, only from the outside). The style in which the buildings were built went down in history as the Ringstrasse style (a type of Historicism). It is marked by a pluralism of styles: numerous architectural forms of previous epochs were imitated. https://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/ringstrasse

In the center of Krems, next to the popular pedestrian zone in the historic old town - part of the World Heritage Wachau - is the former Dominican monastery on the grain market. Today the museum krems shows its extensive collections here - in the monumental, impressive complex around the baroque inner courtyard. A representative selection from the collection of Wachaugemälden was compiled by Christian Thiery of the Schlosshotel Dürnstein. After a long time, all three self-portraits of the Baroque painter Martin Johann Schmidt, called Kremser Schmidt , will be shown from the museum's holdings. And the writer Josef Haslinger has declared his very personal approach to the museum krems. Special exhibitions of contemporary artists in the former dormitory rooms of the monks upstairs - today " Modern Gallery in the Dominican Monastery" - enrich the museum year, whereby the rooms themselves are remarkable: they provide a unique view of the city center of Krems and thus into hidden insights into the World Heritage Wachau. Since 2012, the Kremserinnen and Kremsern are also showing current works in the library gallery on the first floor of the monastery. This gallery of the museum krems is open year-round and can be visited free of charge as part of the Stadtbücherei am Körnermarkt next to the museum. http://www.museumkrems.at/Museum.htm

The cartoon museum Krems, the only Austrian museum for satirical art, is mainly devoted to political caricature, humorous drawings, comics and illustrations. Based on the plans of the architect and caricaturist Gustav Peichl/IRONIMUS, the Caricature Museum Krems was built between 2000 and 2001 at Kunstmeile Krems (Art Mile Krems). Austria’s only building to dedicate 780 m² to caricatures, cartoons, comics and satirical art is also fully wheelchair accessible. Brace yourselves for humour, jokes and satire before you even set foot in the museum. Two of Manfred Deix’ famous figures, Mr. and Mrs. Austria, greet you with big smiles in the forecourt. This small, but special museum attracts thousands of visitors to Krems every year, the city to the gateway to the Wachau region. https://www.karikaturmuseum.at/en

The Margravial Opera House is considered the most beautiful Baroque Theatre in Europe and was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on 30 June 2012. It was elected on the list of the TOP 100 attractions in Germany in 2014. http://www.bayreuth-wilhelmine.de/englisch/opera/index.htm