Private guide in PRAGUE

ČESKÝ KRUMLOV CASTLE

I would like to invite you to a fairy tale town Český Krumlov (situated cca 180 km from Prague), which has been part of the UNESCO cultural and natural heritage since 1992. The town is situated in Southern Bohemia in a romantic area of ponds with beautiful countryside along the river Vltava. In the centre there are 300 historical houses and the second largest castle in the Czech Republic with magnificent baroque gardens. There you will see a unique theatre with a rotating auditorium. The castle used to be place of famous aristocratic families - Rosenbergs, Eggenbergs and Schwarzenbergs. The oldest baroque theatre in the world is part of the castle as well. The historical city centre has preserved its medieval atmosphere and picturesque narrow streets. You will find lovely little shops with hand made souvenirs there.

However, the highlight of the town is the Český Krumlov castle and chateau, the second largest castle complex in the country after Prague Castle, with its five courtyards and 11 hectares of gardens. On the UNESCO world heritage and natural heritage list, the complex offers two tours of the chateau and a third of the Baroque theatre.

History of the Castle

Built by the Lords of Krumlov, the Hrádek or “little castle” in Český Krumlov dates back to before 1250. The Rožmberks, with the five-petalled red rose on their coat-of-arms, came in 1302 and stayed until the clan died out in 1602. During their 300-year reign, the chateau got a Renaissance makeover. After the Rožmberks, the chateau came into the hands of Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II, and his mentally ill son, Don Julius d’Austria, c The Eggenberg were the next aristocratic family, living there from 1622 to 1719. Culture thrived here under the rule of Jan Kristián of Eggenberg. The Schwarzenberg family obtained the chateau in 1719 and held onto it until the complex was nationalized in 1947. It was Duke Josef Adam of Schwarzenberg who transformed the chateau into Rococo style.

At the end of the route I tour is the lively, brightly colored Masquerade Hall, painted in Rococo style during 1748. This former ballroom and theatre space features murals of 135 people at a carnival: there areChinese, Turks, Moors, and commedia dell’ arte personalities such as The Doctor and The Harlequin. Two painted life-size guards donning furry hats stand at attention at the entrance to the room. Even the artist and his assistant have added their self-portraits to niches. The figures have shadows as well. Look for the man falling over the theatre balcony or the half-man/ half-woman. One figure, dressed in red with a black hat, has a huge head and a diminutive body, as if looking through a distorting mirror at an amusement park. Numerous glass chandeliers adorn the space.

The Masquerade Hall

Another highlight of the tour is the Gold Carriage dominating the Eggenberg Hall, dedicated to the Eggenberg clan that owned the castle for almost 100 years in the 17th and 18th century. The carriage is decorated in gold and carved out of nut wood. Notice the female figure in a sea shell and the ornate wheels. The carriage was constructed in Rome during 1638 for the occasion when Johann Anton von Eggenberg was announcing to Pope Urban VIII that Ferdinand III had been chosen emperor. Presents for the Pope filled the carriage as it traveled a few kilometers from Rome to the Vatican.

The Gold Carriage 

The route II tour concentrates on the 19th century, when Schwarzenberg clan lived there. Portraits of Schwarzenberg family members from the 14th century to 1918 adorn one room. Notice the portraits of Joseph Adam, who renovated the chateau in Rococo style. A marble bust depicts Frederick, archbishop of Prague and later Cardinal. Felix von Schwarzenberg, who served as Prime Minister of Austria from 1848 to 1852, can be seen here, too. The Gentleman’s Room boasts 114 English etchings of romantic landscape while the Music Salon features a 19th century Viennese piano that still works.

The Portraits Gallery of Schwarzenberg family 

The Schwarzenbergs owned 87 Dutch and Flemish tapestries, some of which are sprinkled throughout the rooms. The family’s coat-of-arms, dominated by a Turk’s head to celebrate a victory over the Turks and also adorned with white and blue stripes, is also often visible. In one room a tapestry features the clans coat-of-arms. In the bedroom of the princess, Dutch tapestries dating from 1620 to 1630 tell the tale of Aeneas, a main player in the Trojan Wars. A portrait gallery shows off the art work by German, Italian, Dutch and Flemish masters, such as “The Adoration of the Magi” by Paolo Veronese and “The Holy Family” by Peter Paul Rubens. Yet another depicts the fire of Troy, but the painter has added a Gothic cathedral to his rendition. Baroque maps line the Cloak Passage.

Dutch and Flemish tapestries

The Baroque Theatre

That is not all the castle complex has to offer. The Baroque theatre is one of the oldest Baroque theatres in Central Europe and one of the best preserved Baroque theatres in the world. Theatre in Český Krumlov has a long, rich tradition, going back to the 15th century. This theatre was built in 1682 by Johann Kristián von Eggenberg and then restored during 1766 by Josef Adam von Schwarzenberg. In 1898 it was closed, only to occasionally be used for festivals in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1966 it was closed again and did not reopen until 1997. Nowadays, performances take place here several times a year, with actors wearing Baroque attire. There are 13 basic sets, such as those depicting a forest, military camp and prison. The set of the temple features flying putti, suspended blue clouds and spiraled columns reaching into the horizon. Fifty special effect machines have been preserved. Turning a lever of one machine produces the sound of wind. Pushing another machine makes the rumble of thunder. Under the stage the visitor sees how scenery changes were made within eight to 12 seconds, incorporating winches, pulleys and ropes that were attached to the side wings. The inventory also includes 573 original costumes and 2,400 props, stage and lighting equipment. Sixty percent of stage machinery functions today.

                    The Baroque Theatre

The Chateau Garden

The Baroque Garden with ornate statuary decorating its 18th century, four-tiered, cascade fountain, Neptune perched at the top. Twenty decorated vases also adorn the park. A revolving auditorium used for performances in the summer and the Bellarie summerhouse are also on the grounds. Straight out of a Claude Monet painting, a pond covered in water lilies is another attraction.

Other Places to Visit at the Castle

On the Castle grounds it is also possible to climb the tower with the brightly decorated Renaissance facade

Official web sites of The Český Krumlov Castle : http://www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.eu/en/

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Private guide in PRAGUE

David Černý The most famous Czech Sculptor

People love him or hate him, artist David Černý has a way of keeping himself consistently visible. Born in Prague in 1967, Černý’s climb to the title of Czech enfant terrible began in 1991 when he, along with some friends, decided to paint a Soviet tank – a memorial to the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 – pink. 

Eighteen years later, Černý made international headlines with his “Entropa” sculpture in 2009. Commissioned to mark the start of the Czech Republic’s EU presidency, the piece, which was meant to be a collaboration between Černý and artists from the 27 EU countries, was revealed to be a solo project created by Černý and two friends, which depicted the member countries through satirical stereotypes including Bulgaria as a Turkish toilet and Italy as a field full of masturbating football players.

His most recent piece, created for this year’s summer Olympics, didn’t ruffle any feathers, but did manage to garner the artist worldwide attention. Fashioned from an old double-decker bus, “London Booster" saw the repurposed Routemaster get a workout via its two gigantic arms doing push-ups. 

Art in Public Spaces

Along with Černý’s ability to entice people and also infuriate them, part of his visibility factor is that the majority of his sculptures can be found in public spaces. Quietly tucked into corners or curiously climbing up towers, many of his works can be found on Prague streets. Adding to the character of the city, and in some cases defining it, Černý’s pieces provide points of interest throughout the city that can be stumbled upon, perhaps contemplated or just enjoyed as part of the scenery.

"FINGER" The outsized purple hand by artist David Cerny has been mounted on a barge outside Prague 

Quo Vadis

As with Černý’s London Booster, this piece is another inanimate object with human features. One of his earliest works – created post-revolution, in 1990 – “Quo Vadis” is a bronzed Trabant car with four legs. Originally exhibited on Old Town Square as part of the “Old Town Courtyards” exhibition in 1991, Quo Vadis was then permanently placed in the gardens of the German Embassy in 2001 where it continues to reside today. Made in fiberglass, the piece marks the mass exodus of East Germans who camped out in the gardens of the embassy before being granted permission to travel freely to West Germany in ‘89. Among the 4000 Germans who stationed themselves there, many left their Trabants behind. Along with four legs, Černý’s Trabant also has its own pair of balls.

Piss

Speaking of penises, Černý’s 2004 “Piss” features two bronze figures with swiveling hips and moving male genitalia, from which steady streams of water write out quotes from famous Czechs into a pool shaped like the Czech Republic. If you call the number listed nearby the sculptures, you can send a text message and the figures will write out your words. In  2009 interwiew with Černý by The New York Times, it was written of Černý’s thoughts on the piece “To Mr. Černý "the figures" are an apt commentary on the self-deprecating Czechs, who he contends have gritted their teeth through centuries of invasion and occupation, barely resisting and seldom winning at anything.” Piss is located in Malá Strana by the Kafka museum at the Herget Brickyard (Hergetova Cihelna). 

Horse

One of Černý’s most well-known pieces, “Horse” is that massive structure hanging from the ceiling in Lucerna passage, often surrounded by tourists taking pictures of it. Created in 1999, the polystyrene sculpture was originally meant to hang in the hall of the main post office on Jindřišská street, but as is written on Černý’s website, the director of the Czech post office said it ‘was way too much,’ not specifying exactly what he meant. Its current location, which the piece has called home since 2000, brings it just a touch closer to the St. Wenceslas equestrian statute of which it is a parody. You can almost touch the tongue of the upside down, dead horse on top of which (on the horse’s belly) sits the patron saint.

Hanging Out/Viselec

Another of Černý’s hanging sculptures, “Hanging Out” happened to unexpectedly catch my attention years ago. I was actually further surprised when I heard it was Černý’s. Besides the hanging factor, it seemed to be a bit of a departure from his other works. However, it has proved to have the same shock value of some of his pieces; when Viselec was displayed in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the U.S., many panicked phone calls were placed as the people thought the sculpture was someone attempting suicide. Created in 1997, the tiny figure of Sigmund Freud, who hangs by his right arm and has the hand of the other in his left pocket, is said to reflect Černý’s thoughts about the role the intellectual would play in the new millennium. Located on Husova street near Betlémské náměstí, the bearded figure has made the rounds to Malá Strana, Berlin, Stockholm, and London.

Tower Babies and more Babies

Crawling up one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, Černý’s “Tower Babies” are without a doubt his most visible work in Prague. Since 2001, the 10 fiberglass, alien-like little ones have been permanently installed on the Žižkov TV Tower. His Babies, however, were first presented in 1994 at the Chicago Museum of Modern Art, followed by appearances in various other cities including London. The tower project came about in 2000 – the year Prague was a Cultural Capital of Europe. Černý, who was at the time living in Žižkov, was asked to create a temporary project to honor the occasion. Due to the public’s appreciation of the babies, it was decided that they would remain. To see them up close, there are three bronze babies crawling in a corner next to Museum Kampa. 

Brownnosing

Located in the garden of the Futura Centre for Contemporary Art in Smíchov, Černý’s “Brownnosing” is comprised of two gigantic lower body halves of which you can climb up ladders to stick your head into their anuses to watch videos of (Černý’s so-called nemeses) Václav Klaus and former director of the National Gallery Milan Knížák feeding one another to the tune “We Are the Champions”.

Guns and Shark

Four gigantic black guns, which face one another and make various sounds other than shooting noises, are on long-term display in the courtyard of AMoYa (Artbanka Museum of Young Art). Created in 1994, the piece was installed in the former World Trade Center in New York. Along with Guns, Černý’s “Shark” (2005), another controversial piece said to be a direct parody of Damien Hirst’s “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”, is also on long-term display in AMoYa’s courtyard, in a small room on the left side.

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PRAGA ALQUIMISTA

Diz-se que Praga é uma cidade de ouro, misteriosa, com uma centena de torres, e tudo isso graças, entre outros, aos alquimistas, que pertencem inseparavelmente à sua história.

A coroa de ouro no Teatro Nacional

A cidade das 100 torres

Os alquimistas talvez procurassem a pedra filosofal em alguma das suas cem torres: na torre Mihulka, ou na torre da Casa del Burro, onde E. Kelley trabalhou em algum misterioso laboratório.

Mihulka torre no castelo de Praga

A pedra filosofal

Eu aconselho uma visita ao Museu de alquimistas e magos de outrora Praga, onde você pode navegar sob as tampas das panelas dos alquimistas do imperador Rodolfo II.

Edward Kelley

Rudolfo II.

                                  

No início da sua visita irão mergulhar nos textos de conhecimento dos alquimistas, que falam da alquimia e da personalidade associados com a alquimia, ou dos próprios alquimistas e até mesmo de alguns exemplos inesperados como Carlos IV e William Shakespeare. 

William Shakespeare

Carlos IV

                                 

Em seguida, caminharão por uma sala mágica na casa de Fausto e sutilmente subirão a “espiral da vida em direção ao céu”. Por "espiral da vida", queremos dizer a escada em espiral construída por Kelly no século 16, e quase no céu, no sótão entre as vigas da época de Rudolf II, fica o autêntico ambiente de laboratório de um dos mais famosos alquimistas, o professor Edward Kelley, que viveu nesta casa. A própria história de sua vida nos faz entender que “há muitos caminhos que levam à magia, mas a única maneira de escapar dela... ¨

Museu da Alquimia

Museu da Alquimia

Museu da Alquimia: http://www.alchemiae.cz/en

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Guia que fala português em Praga

Milan Kundera (1929)

Milan Kundera nasceu em 1 de Abril de 1929, em Brno, Tchecoslováquia. Seu pai, Ludvík Kundera (1891-1971), foi musicólogo e reitor da Universidade de Brno.

Milan Kundera escreveu seus primeiros poemas durante o ensino médio. Após a Segunda Guerra Mundial, começou seus estudos na Universidade Charles, em Praga, onde estudou musicologia, cinema, literatura e estética. Depois de se formar em 1952, Kundera se tornou assistente e mais tarde professor na Escola de Cinema da Academia de Artes Cênicas, em Praga, ensinando literatura mundial. Durante este tempo, publicou poemas, ensaios e peças de teatro, e se juntou à equipe editorial para as revistas literárias "Literarni Noviny" e "Listy."

Kundera ingressou no Partido Comunista em 1948, cheio de entusiasmo, como muitos intelectuais, mas em 1950 foi expulso do partido devido a tendências individualistas. Ao longo da década de 50, Kundera trabalhou como tradutor, ensaísta e autor de peças de teatro. Embora Kundera tenha publicado vários livros de poesia, ganhou notoriedade com a publicação de uma coletânea de contos intitulado "Amores ridículos", escrito entre 1958 e 1968. O seu primeiro romance, "A Brincadeira", escrito em 1967, fala do estalinismo. Após a invasão soviética, em 21 de agosto de 1968, Kundera, como uma das principais figuras do movimento radical fracassado na "Primavera de Praga", perdeu sua posição no ensino e seus livros foram proibidos nas bibliotecas. Em 1970, foi proibida a publicação de seus livros.

                                 

Seu segundo romance, "A vida está em outro lugar", foi publicado em Paris, em 1973. Em 1975 Kundera se tornou professor visitante na Universidade de Rennes, na Bretanha, França. Ele foi privado da cidadania tcheca em 1979, em reação ao seu "Livro do riso e do esquecimento." Os romances que se seguiram fviram a sua publciação proibida na URSS. se tornou cidadão francês em 1981. A partir de 1985, Kundera deu entrevistas apenas só por escrito, se sentindo muitas vezes incompreendido. Em 1986, Kundera publicou sua primeira obra escrita em francês, o ensaio "L'Art du Roman" (A arte do romance). Em 1988, publicou sua primeira novela escrita em francês, "Imortalidade". Após ter ensinado Ciências da linguagem comparativa na Universidade de Rennes por vários anos, em 1978 Kundera se tornou um dos autores da famosa editora Gallimard.

Entre seus romances mais recentes estão "Lentidão", publicado em 1994 e "Identidade", publicado em 1998. Em 2000, Kundera publicou "Ignorância". Muitas vezes Kundera declarou que suas obras derivam da inspiração em escritores do Renascimento, como Boccaccio, Rabelais, Sterne, Diderot, mas também nas obras de Musil, Gombrowitz, Broch, Kafka e Heidegger. Os livros de Kundera não são somente clássicos do século 20, mas Kundera é um dos seus maiores romancistas. Ao contrário de muitos autores famosos, Kundera prefere desaparecer por trás de seus livros, seguindo anônimo o seu próprio curso. Kundera atualmente vive com sua esposa, Vera Hrabankova, em Paris.

Prêmios e Reconhecimentos

1973 Prêmio Médicis para melhor romance estrangeiro publicado em França ("Life Is Elsewhere")

Prêmio Mondello Leterario em 1978 pelo seu livro "A festa de despedida", na Itália

1981 Prêmio Riqueza Comum da América para suas obras completas

1982 Prêmio Europeu de Literatura

1983 Doutor Honoris Causa pela Universidade de Michigan, EUA

1985 Prêmio Jerusalém

1987 Prêmio de literatura européia dos Estados Austríacos

1991 Primeiro Prêmio de literatura estrangeira do diário inglês The Independent

1994 Prêmio Jaroslav Seifert pelo seu romance "Imortalidade"

1995 Medalha de Mérito pela sua contribuição para a renovação da democracia tcheca

2000 Herder-Preis, da Universidade de Viena / Áustria

Bibliografia de Milan Kundera

Poesia:

Homem: um grande jardim de 1953

Em maio passado, 1954-1955-1961

Monólogos, 1957-1964-1965

Obras teatrais:

O proprietário das chaves de 1962.

Duas orelhas, dois casamentos (lentidão) 1968

A para na poça de 1969

Jaques e seu mestre, de 1971 (Homenagem a Diderot em 3 atos)

Ficção:

A Brincadeira de 1965

Amores ridículos, 3 partes: 1963-1965-1968, completa 1969

A vida está em outro lugar, de 1969-1970

A despedida (tradução anterior: Partido), 1970-1971

O livro do riso e do esquecimento de 1978

A Insustentável Leveza do Ser, 1982

Imortalidade, 1988

Lentidão de 1994.

Identidade de 1996

A ignorância de 2000

Filmes:

O filme do seu romance "A Insustentável Leveza do Ser" foi recentemente o seu maior sucesso:

EUA, 1987, 172 min

Direção: Philip Kaufman

Argumento: Jean-Claude Carrière, Philip Kaufman (segundo o romance de Milan Kundera)

Câmera: Sven Nykvist

Música: Leos Janácek

Elenco: Daniel Day-Lewis (Tomas), Juliete Binoche (Tereza), Lena Olin (Sabina), Derek de Lint (Franz), Erland Josephson, Daniel Olbrychski, Donald Moffat, Tomek Bork, Stellan Skarsgard, Bruce Myers, Pavel Slaby, Pascale Kalensky, Jacques Ciron, Anne Lonnberg.

Milan Kundera escreveu a história do filme Nikdo si nebude SMAT (Ninguém se vai rir)

Tchecoslováquia, 1965, 94 min., P / B

Direção: Hynek Bocan

Argumento: Hynek Bocan, Pavel Juracek (após a história de Milan Kundera)

Elenco: Jan Kacer (Klima), Štěpánka Řeháková (Klára Novotná), Josef Chvalina (Josef Záturecky), Hana Kreihanslova (Záturecká)

Milan Kundera co-escreveu o argumento para o filme Clair de femme (O amor de uma mulher)

França / Itália / Alemanha, 1979, 102 min., Cor

Direção: Costa-Gavras

Argumento: Christopher Frank

Elenco: Romy Schneider (Lydia), Yves Montand (Michel), François Perrot (Alain), Gabriel Jabbour (Sacha), Daniel Mesguich (polícia).

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