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SpotlightTeplá abbey seeks to make a comeback in straitened circumstances
The imposing Teplá abbey complex is sited around a dozen miles from the
spa town of Mariánské Lázně, in western Bohemia. Its story is one of an
enterprising religious community that was the main force in developing the
whole region, its destruction under Nazism and then Communism and its
tentative comeback today on the back of tourist income. More
SpotlightSt. Martin in the Wall
I had never really been inside or had a proper look around, but I was sure
the small church of St Martin in the Wall would have an interesting story,
if for no other reason than its ancient appearance and peculiar name. Just
off the central Národní třída is a classic Prague alleyway that’s
tucked away from the shopping boulevard, neatly dividing the centuries from
one another, and there you’ll find it. One of the oldest churches in the
city, St Martin in the Wall is one of those relatively few landmarks whose
story can transport you all the way back through the ages to the beginnings
of the Czech metropolis. More
SpotlightThe home of Jumping Virgin Mary
Many Czechs are familiar with the old expression Panenko Skákavá, which
literally means Jumping Virgin Mary, but few know about the origin of the
phrase. Jumping Virgin Mary, or more precisely, the Virgin Mary of Skoky,
is the patron of what used to be one of Bohemia’s most famous Roman
Catholic pilgrimage sites. In this edition of Spotlight, we visit Skoky,
now an extinct village with a run-down Baroque church that once attracted
large crowds of believers. More
SpotlightJan Blažej Santini's Baroque gems at Ždár nad Sázavou
Tucked away in the highlands, far from the main roads in the forests
between Bohemia and Moravia, lies the town of Žďár nad Sázavou. It is
now an industrial town spotted with ugly prefab high-rises but on its
northern edge, it boasts one of the gems of Baroque architecture, the
UNESCO-listed church at Zelená Hora, as well as an ancient monastery that
once gave rise to the whole town. More
SpotlightPrague’s church of Saints Cyril and Methodius: place of worship and memorial to victims of Nazi terror
A short walk from the Vltava in Prague’s New Town is the church that
witnessed some of the most dramatic moments during the Nazi occupation of
the country. The crypt beneath the church was the last hiding place for
seven Czechoslovak commandoes, including Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík who
assassinated the Reinhardt Heydrich in 1942. The site now houses an
exhibition dedicated to their heroic actions. But the church also remains a
place of worship for the small Czech Orthodox community. More
Current AffairsUnique 13th century reliquary goes on display at Prague Castle
A unique and extremely rare medieval casket has just gone on display at
Prague Castle. The 13th century artefact – gilded in gold and silver and
covered with precious gems – is believed to contain the remains of a
lesser known French saint. But the story behind the shrine is just as
compelling as the work itself: it was hidden at the end of WWII, and only
re-discovered in the 1980s under circumstances that resemble a Cold War spy
novel. More
SpotlightThe home of Jumping Virgin Mary
Many Czechs are familiar with the old expression Panenko Skákavá, which
literally means Jumping Virgin Mary, but few know about the origin of the
phrase. Jumping Virgin Mary, or more precisely, the Virgin Mary of Skoky,
is the patron of what used to be one of Bohemia’s most famous Roman
Catholic pilgrimage sites. In this edition of Spotlight, we visit Skoky,
now an extinct village with a run-down Baroque church that once attracted
large crowds of believers.
More
Current AffairsAdmission fees re-introduced at St Vitus Cathedral – but not for believers
After four years when entrance was free, visitors now have to pay admission
fees again at St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. The castle’s operators
say charging should make the magnificent cathedral more peaceful. But not
everyone has to pay. If you come to pray – and you look the part – you
can still enter for free.
More
SpotlightTeplá abbey seeks to make a comeback in straitened circumstances
The imposing Teplá abbey complex is sited around a dozen miles from the
spa town of Mariánské Lázně, in western Bohemia. Its story is one of an
enterprising religious community that was the main force in developing the
whole region, its destruction under Nazism and then Communism and its
tentative comeback today on the back of tourist income.
More
SpecialThe bells of Prague
Prague is sometimes romantically called the City of a Hundred Spires. You
can probably count even more overlooking the capital from Prague Castle or
hills offering a view of the Vltava valley. Looking down on the city, the
spires and towers rise up, and of course many of them have bells inside.
More
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