What is the first spring fair in Europe? How about the most popular and biggest fair in Prague? In the Czech Republic? The answer is Matějská pouť or for our English speaking friends, St Matthew’s Fair.
The earliest record of the St. Matthew’s Fair in Prague dates back to the year 1595. It is the first known Spring fair in Europe, and it is held to honor Prague’s patron saint. Depending on the days of each specific calendar year, it begins as early as the last week of February and runs until the last week of April. It takes places each year in Holešovice in the area of Prague 7 at a place called Výstaviště which translates to exhibition grounds.
(If you love graphics as much as I do, you have to check out this site plan from 1891.)
Founded in 1891 for the General Land Centennial Exhibition (aka the World’s fair) at that time Prague was part of the Austria–Hungarian Empire. Today, the grounds are used for exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events. It’s located right next to Tesla Arena, the home stadium for our favorite hockey team, HC Sparta Praha…
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Taky sem tam parkrate byl!!!