Spring in Prague 2015

Spring in Prague 2015

Spring in Prague 2015 Kokoschka and Prague

20 February – 28 June / National Gallery in Prague – Veletržní Palace / This exhibition of the Austrian artist, considered to be one of the most distinctive Expressionists, presents the works he created in Czechoslovakia between 1934–1938.

Oskar Kokoschka, View of Prague © www.ngprague.cz

St Matthew’s Fair – Matějská pouť

28 February – 19 April / Prague Exhibition Grounds (Výstaviště) – Holešovice / Hundreds of thousands of visitors head to the entertainment park each year to enjoy the numerous attractions, including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and various adrenalin packed attractions from the Netherlands.

The Best of Czech Press Photo

3 March – 11 April / Old Town Hall / This selection of the best works from previous years of the photo competition offers not only a pictorial history of the past two decades but also an overview of the art of photography as it was.

European Athletics Indoor Championships

5 – 8 March / O2 arena / After thirty-seven years this prestigious sporting event returns to Prague. Come and watch Europe’s top athletes in action.

Spring at the Prague Botanical

6 – 22 March / Orchids / Orchid exhibition in the Fata Morgana Greenhouse.

7 – 19 March / Alpine Plants / Photographs taken by Petr Hanzelka during his journeys across Asia, Europe, and North America.

4 April – 10 May / Butterflies / Exhibition of exotic butterflies in the Fata Morgana Greenhouse.

15 – 24 May / Bonsai / Outdoor bonsai exhibition, including an extensive accompanying programme.

Gateway to Space

12 March – 28 June / Prague Exhibition Grounds (Výstaviště) – Holešovice / The largest international travelling exhibition delving into the history of human endeavours in space provides a unique opportunity to, amongst other things, touch the Moon, try on a spacesuit, and land a space plane.

Paul Simon & Sting on Stage Together

14 March / O2 arena / These two famous singer-songwriters, who are longtime friends, will perform their best-known compositions individually and together.

Febiofest

19 – 27 March / CineStar Praha – Anděl / The 22nd year of this international film festival introduces a broad selection of the best and the newest from around the entire world, with high-quality screening and famous guests.

Mysterious Distances: Symbolism in the Czech Lands 1880–1914

19 March – 27 September / National Gallery in Prague – Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia / The exhibition presents the segment of the Czech art scene that was influenced by symbolism and includes famous and acknowledged artists such as Alfons Mucha, Max Švabinský, František Bílek, Josef Váchal, Bohumil Kubišta, and Jan Zrzavý to name but a few.

Easter Markets

21 March – 11 April / Old Town Square 21 March – 12 April / Wenceslas Square 21 March – 12 April / Republiky Square 21 March – 6 April / Míru Square

Mercedes Benz Prague Fashion Weekend

21 and 22 March / Charles University Faculty of Law / This largest fashion event in the Czech Republic presents the creations of selected designers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia who will unveil their newest collections for the 2015/2016 season.

Art Prague 2015

24 – 29 March / Kafka’s House and 30 Prague galleries / The 14th year of this international contemporary art fair features works from nearly all artistic fields – painting, drawing, graphic arts, installation arts, video projection, etc.

Johann Sebastian Bach — Mass in B minor — Easter Concert Collegium 1704

30 and 31 March / Rudolfinum / To celebrate the first ten years of their existence, Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 will perform this famous work, whose unsurpassable quality has fascinated musicians and listeners alike for over 250 years.

Prague in Motion

12 April / Old Town Square / Prague City Tourism invites all Praguers and visitors to the city to participate in this event, packed with entertainment and movement, on the second Sunday in April.

Prague Fashion Night

16 April / various locations / This Prague version of the popular international initiative Fashion’s Night Out celebrates the achievements of all of the world’s major fashion capitals and transforms the city centre into a catwalk for one whole evening.

Music of Hollywood – Film Music Prague

23 April / Rudolfinum / The gala concert kicking off the fourth year of the Film Music Prague charity festival presents a programme of the most well-known film tunes composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell.

Bonnie Tyler

25 April / Forum Karlín / Fans can enjoy the unmistakable gravelly voice of the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler singing her greatest hits when she arrives on tour in the Czech Republic.

Avishai Cohen Trio

27 April / Rudolfinum / The live performance of Avishai Cohen’s latest album From Darkness sees the Israeli composer, bass player, and singer return to the very core of his musical expression and creation.

Strings of Autumn – Spring Strings Gala: Daniel Hope

29 April / Prague Castle – Spanish Hall / Those attending this concert performance by the brilliant violinist Daniel Hope will enjoy the extremely well-received project Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter and other musical jewels.

Václav Cigler

From 30 April / Troja Chateau / This exhibition of works by the famous glass artist Václav Cigler may be enjoyed in the beautiful setting of the Troja Chateau interior and its gardens.

2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2015

1 – 17 May / O2 arena / The 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will take place in Prague this May. This is the tenth time that our country has hosted this key ice hockey event.

Licence provided by Česká televize © Vladimír Jiránek

Vittorio Grigólo

2 May / Municipal House / One of the best tenors of his generation, who performs in all of the world’s major opera houses, brings his spellbinding concert performance to Prague.

Volkswagen Prague Marathon

3 May / Old Town Square / Considered to be one of the world’s most picturesque marathons, the race starts and ends in the famous Old Town Square. The course goes through the heart of the metropolis, along the Vltava, and traverses Prague’s various quarters.

Czech Beer Festival

7 – 23 May / Letná Park / Prague locals and visitors alike have the opportunity to quench their thirst at the Czech Beer Festival. More than 100 brands of Czech beer are on offer as well as local meat and bakery products.

Prague Spring

12 May – 3 June / various locations / The Prague Spring International Music Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2015. It is the oldest, best-known, and, as far as the number of concerts is concerned, the largest classical music festival in all of the Czech Republic.

St John’s Navalis

15 May / Vltava River / The best-known Czech saint and acknowledged “Praguer” St John of Nepomuk, the patron of all things water-related, is celebrated at this Baroque water concert, complete with Venetian gondolas and historical boats under the festively lit Charles Bridge.

Prague Fringe Festival

22 – 30 May / various locations / The Prague Fringe Festival is a cultural event that is defined as “a mix of theatre, comedy, music, and entertainment”. Actors from around the world travel to Prague to demonstrate their talent in Prague’s numerous small theatres.

Khamoro

24 – 30 May / various locations / The Khamoro World Roma Festival is one of the world’s largest Roma festivals and a showcase for the culture and traditions of the Romani peoples.

Dance Prague – Tanec Praha

25 May – 25 June / various locations / The Tanec Praha international festival of contemporary dance and movement theatre is the annual highlight of the season.

Prague Food Festival

29 – 31 May / Prague Castle Gardens / The largest culinary arts event in the Czech Republic supports high-quality Czech cuisine and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Every gourmet is sure to enjoy the treats offered by the tasting stands set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Royal Garden.

Night of Churches

29 May / various locations / The Night of Churches is an annual event that provides the general public with an opportunity to come face to face with Christianity without any commitment. Certain parts of churches generally not accessible to the public are opened during the event.

Ratolest Fest

30 May / Rašínovo and Hořejší Embankments / A family-oriented sports, culinary, artistic, and hands-on festival to be enjoyed by parents and children alike and sure to be a source of inspiration for leisure time activities.

Raw Fest

6 – 7 June / various locations / This festival presents the best from the world of raw foodism – ranging from dried foods to a fresh raw menu prepared onsite by the leading chefs in the field of raw “cooking”.

Bobby McFerrin

7 June / Forum Karlín / The singing of ten time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin combines jazz, classical music, world music, ethno music, and folk with his original musical ideas.

Microbrewery Festival at the Prague Castle

12 and 13 June / Prague Castle Gardens / This exceptional tasting event offers beer lovers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the variety available in the beer brewing world, to enjoy memorable taste experiences, and to discover the imagination of the head brewers who have selected only the best of their products.

Prague Museum Night

13 June / various locations / This unique evening has become one of the most popular events in Prague and brings the opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the Czech metropolis at an untraditional time – during the evening hours.

Kašpárkohraní

14 June / Letná Park / This year’s large family festival offers a fun-filled afternoon of music, theatre, entertainment, games, and sport.

UEFA European U21 Championships

17 – 30 June / various locations / The Czech Republic is this year’s host for the final European tournament for players under the age of 21. The matches will be played in Prague, Olomouc, and Uherské Hradiště.

Prague Quadrennial 2015

18 – 28 June / various locations / This is the fifteenth year of the world’s largest theatre exhibition that covers all of the various aspects of scenography – the dramatic arts, costumes, lighting and sound design, and new approaches in the field.

United Islands of Prague

18 – 20 June / various locations / Prague’s largest multi-genre music festival will once again be held on Prague’s islands, the nearby parks, and the surrounding streets.

Beer on the Embankment

19 – 20 June / Rašínovo Embankment / For the third year in a row, this tasting event presenting the products of Czech small breweries and microbreweries will be held on the Rašínovo Embankment. Various culinary treats will also be available.

For more information, please see www.prague.eu

Events not to be missed this year Jan Hus Festival 2015

5 – 6 June / Old Town Square / The festival is dedicated to, and celebrates the life of, John Hus. This June marks the 600th anniversary of his martyrdom.

Bohemia Jazz Fest

12 – 14 July / Old Town Square / One of Europe’s largest summer openair jazz music festivals takes place over the course of three days on the Old Town Square. All of the concerts are free of charge.

Summer Festivities of Early Music

13 July – 6 August / various locations / The only international festival in Prague presenting the leading interpreters of music from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The artists, dressed in period costumes and playing historical instruments, perform against the magical backdrop of Prague’s landmarks.

Prague Pride

10 – 16 August / various locations / The colourful Pride March is the highlight of the week-long Prague Pride festival, which is the largest event bringing together the LGBT community in Central Europe.

Opera Barocca

15 August – 6 September / Clam-Gallas Palace / This unique festival celebrating early music, carefully maintaining an authentic style, will, as has become tradition, take place in the incomparable setting of the Clam-Gallas Palace – one of Prague’s most beautiful Baroque buildings.

The Dvořák Prague Festival

7 – 22 September / various locations / This international music festival is not only a celebration of the musical genius of the world’s most famous Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, but also an important social event.

Designblok

5 – 11 October / various locations / This annual international presentation of innovative ideas from the world of furniture design, lighting, home accessories, fashion, and lifestyle takes place throughout all of Prague in selected showrooms, galleries, and shops.

Signal festival

15 – 18 October / various locations / This is the third year that this international light festival will illuminate Prague during the autumn season. For four days the historical city centre will once again become the backdrop for new technology, captivating ideas, and unbounded creativity.

Andrea Bocelli – Christmas Romance

28 November / O2 arena / At his romantic pre-Christmas themed concert Andrea Bocelli will perform not only classical arias from the most famous Italian and international operas, but also compositions that are closely linked to the Christmas mood.

Gardens and parks in bloom are at their most beautiful in the Spring Prague Castle Gardens The Royal Gardens are historically the most valuable of all of the castle gardens. The southern gardens (Rajská, Na Valech and Hartigovská) offer striking views of the Lesser Town, Old Town, and nearby Petřín.

Palace Gardens below the Prague Castle This complex of interconnected historical gardens (Ledeburská, Malá and Velká Pálffyovská, Kolovratská and Malá Fürstenberská) is situated on the southern slopes below Prague Castle and all of them offer many hidden romantic corners.

Wallenstein Garden When visiting this early Baroque garden, with its strict geometric design, one’s eyes are first drawn to the massive sala pavilion, which, at the time of its construction, was unprecedented, and to the artificial cave with stalactites (grotto).

Vrtba Garden One of the most important and beautiful Baroque gardens is actually one of the city’s smaller green spaces. However, its unique architectural design on an irregular slope, as well as the artistic and historical value of its decoration, ranks it high in importance in Europe.

Petřín Gardens Petřín Hill is one of the largest urban green areas and its slopes offering extraordinary views of the city’s historical centre are popular for walks.

Franciscan Garden This unique natural oasis in the city centre is furnished with a number of benches, over which arches laden with roses span. Lawn areas are separated by low yew hedges, and the garden is completed with several interesting sculptures, fountains, a gazebo, and a playground.

City of Prague Botanical Garden The Botanical Garden offers almost thirty hectares of landscaped exhibits, including the historical St Claire’s Vineyard, the Japanese Meditation Garden, and the unique Fata Morgana Greenhouse.

Charles University Botanical Garden This garden, which was opened in 1898, provides a relaxing green corner in the centre of Prague that is steeped in the atmosphere of times gone by.

Prague Zoo Thanks to its unique location, the Prague Zoo is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful zoological gardens. The rugged terrain offers ten kilometres of walking trails, and provides an opportunity to enjoy an exotic stroll through exhibitions such as the African House, the Indonesian Jungle, and the Valley of Elephants.

Prague in Motion Prague offers numerous active leisure time options.

This year in particular they include a number of important sporting events. The city’s distinctive geography, full of hills, valleys, and vista points, provides ideal opportunities for combining physical exercise with exploring the metropolis.

Prague in Motion is a new project organised by Prague City Tourism.

The project aims to familiarise you with the various indoor and outdoor sporting opportunities to be found in Prague, and also with the new and unusual walking trails, both independent as well as guided.

We should like to cordially invite you to the one-day Prague in Motion festival, which will take place on 12 April 2015, starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Old Town Square. Come and see for yourself and take advantage of the opportunity to try out new and non-traditional sports during a day full of entertainment and physical activity in the very heart of the Czech capital.

The following activities will be available: – – – – – –

Slacklining Running school Running poles Nordic walking Climbing wall Martial arts

www.pragueinmotion.eu

– – – – – –

Surfing Golf Canoeing Paddleboarding Motorised bicycles and more

Prague City Tourism Tourist Information & Services in 6 Information Centres – Old Town Hall – Staroměstské náměstí 1 – Rytířská Street 31 – Wenceslas Square (upper part) - corner of Štěpánská Street – Lesser Town Bridge Tower (April to October) – Václav Havel Airport Prague – Terminals 1 and 2 contact us: tourinfo@prague.eu, tel. +420 221 714 714

General and Special Tours of the City Book a guide – Old Town Hall tel. +420 221 714 569, +420 236 002 569 / GSM: +420 775 855 037 email: guides@prague.eu

More about us on www.praguecitytourism.com or www.prague.eu

© Prague City Tourism, 3/2015