5 Incredible Castles to Visit Near Prague

Any traveler would do well to pay a visit to the Czech Republic, a nation rich in history and culture with magnificent castles and exquisite architecture. Here are five of the most amazing castles you should visit close to Prague: Karlstejn Castle: One of the most well-known and well-preserved castles in the Czech Republic is...

Architecture, Czech Republic

September 18, 2022

Architecture: Lutheran Churches in Slovakia

Today I am sharing a few pages from a lovely book I received from Reverend Thomas J. Drobena. Thomas John was born on August 23, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Thomas and Suzanne (Durec) Drobena. His heart and soul are in Moravia. Ordained to ministry Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, 1962. Grantee...

Architecture, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, History

February 14, 2020

The Oldest Gothic Building in Prague

In Prague’s historic Old Town (Czech: Staré Město), situated on the right bank of the Vltava river, lies the oldest surviving Gothic building in the city of Prague. This building, known as the Convent of Saint Agnes (Czech: Anežský klášter), was founded in 1231 by the youngest daughter of King Ottokar I, Agnes of Bohemia,...

Architecture, CULTURE

August 11, 2019

Church of St. Wenceslas in Vrsovice, Prague

The Church of Saint Wenceslas (Czech: Kostel sv. Václava) is a Roman Catholic church in Vršovice in Prague 10, Czech Republic. The church was built in 1930 as a commemoration of the 1,000th anniversary of the death of St. Wenceslas. This was one of three new buildings constructed in 1929 in Prague inspired by the...

Architecture, CULTURE

June 9, 2019

The Tragic Fate of the Vyšehrad Train Station

Located in a whimsical part of Prague that many tourists do not venture to, is the abandoned Vyšehrad Train Station. This Art Nouveau gem sits quietly in her old grandeur, a crumbling boarded up beauty laden with graffiti just waiting (like many other gorgeous structures in the city of Prague) for a new face-lift. Seeing...

Architecture, History, LIFESTYLE

January 21, 2019

Breda & Weinstein Department Store

The Breda & Weinstein department store by the Viennese architect Leopold Bauer first opened at the beginning of October in 1928. It was one of the most modern buildings of its time. It stood five stories above ground and had two underground floors, and it served as retail shops as well as a clothing factory....

Architecture, CULTURE

January 13, 2019

The Beautiful Baroque Troja Chateau in Prague

Troja Château is indeed a remarkable and exceptional building. In fact, it would be better to call it a villa instead of a château, because it echoes the opulent Roman suburban villas which its builder, Count Wenzel Adalbert of Sternberg, encountered on his long journey. The spectacular houses amidst endless gardens mesmerized him to such...

Architecture, CULTURE, Prague

August 24, 2018

The Beautiful Baroque Church of Litomyšl

The Piarist Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Czech: Kostel Nalezení svatého Kříže) is a beautiful Baroque style church located in the town of Litomyšl in the Czech Republic. The Piarist order was first brought to the town of Litomyšl in 1640 by Frebonie of Pernštejn. The Piarists were an order of teachers...

Architecture, CULTURE

May 14, 2018

The Old Town Hall of Prague by Count Lützow

What I am sharing today was a published extract from the speech delivered by Count Lützow (Lützow) W, D. LITT. OXON. PH.D. PRAG., at the Old Town Hall of Prague on the occasion of the visit of the Lord Mayor and Deputation of the Coronation of the city of London on the 18th of September,...

Architecture, Czech Republic, History

April 16, 2018

Byt a Umění Issue 2 for Czech Contemporary Housing Culture

Today once again, we are looking at Byt a umění (Apartment and Art) Revue for Czech Contemporary Housing Culture: Architecture, Interiors, Painting, Decoration, Sculpture, Plastics, Arts, Gardening, Handicrafts, Exhibitions, Auctions and more. In this edition (Issue 2, 1931), the writers express their frustration with a lack of change in Czech building practices. It seems they...

Architecture, NOSTALGIA, Periodicals

March 12, 2018

Czech Contemporary Housing Culture in 1931 – Byt a umění

Byt a umění (Apartment and Art) Revue for Czech Contemporary Housing Culture: Architecture, Interiors, Painting, Decoration, Sculpture, Plastics, Arts, Gardening, Handicrafts, Exhibitions, Auctions and more. The title itself sounds so modern, yet this is a periodical from 1931. It was published in Prague between the years 1930-1933 and appeared in the Czech language. This magazine...

Architecture, CULTURE, Periodicals

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March 7, 2018

The History of the Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace

Have you ever wondered what that big beautiful building in The Knights of The Cross Square, just off the Charles Bridge house is? Well if so, you’re not the only one. Sometimes when you’re in a foreign place it’s hard to know the best places to go, especially if they are not advertised. The Colloredo-Mansfeld...

Architecture, CULTURE

March 1, 2018

Panelák Housing in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

People visiting the Czech Republic and Slovakia expect to see what the travel magazines show us; the castles, ancient bridges, cobblestone streets, stunning cathedrals and more. What they often don’t realize is that millions of people who live there do not all live in castles and luxury flats. In fact, a third of the population...

Architecture, CULTURE

February 14, 2018

The Black Chapel or Černá Kaple of Holešov

The Black Chapel (or Černá Kaple) is a funeral chapel built on the side of the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Holešov, Czech Republic. The chapel was built on July, 25th, 1748 by the Bishop of Olomouc and Cardinal Ferdinand Julius, the Count of Troy. The owner of the entire estate was František Antonín Rottal, who...

Architecture, CULTURE

February 9, 2018

The History of The House of the Black Madonna

In 1911, the Czech architect Josef Gočár designed a building for the wholesale merchant František Josef Herbst. The building, which is now known as the House of the Black Madonna (Czech: Dům U Černé Matky Boží), is the oldest cubist house in the city of Prague. The building is named after the baroque statue which adorns...

Architecture, CULTURE

February 7, 2018

A Brief History of the Estates Theater in Prague

The Estates Theater, or Stavovské Divadlo as it is more commonly known in Czech, is Prague’s oldest theatre and one of the most beautiful theater buildings in all of Europe. Built in the late 18th century and designed by Czech architect Anton Haffenecker, its construction, which only lasted two years, was started by aristocrat František...

Architecture, CULTURE