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Current AffairsRožmberk family tomb discovered in south Bohemian monastery
The house of the Rožmberks was once one of Bohemia’s richest and
mightiest noble families which at times even challenged the power of the
king. The family controlled a large estate in southern Bohemia, its seat
being Český Krumlov castle. The last member of the family died 400 years
ago and was buried in a local monastery. But the location of the legendary
Rožmberk family tomb remained a mystery for centuries – until new
research into the monastery tomb produced surprising results. More
SpotlightNepomuk and environs - some facts and lots of fiction
If there were a capital city of legendry in the Czech Republic, the town of
Nepomuk would be a hot contestant for the honour. There are said to be
graves that glow when someone’s about to die, a landscape littered with
the petrified cattle of a greedy pagan and the ghost of an evil musketeer
who walks the earth with the still-ferocious spectre of his dog. The
official population of Nepomuk may be 3,700, but that’s only if you count
the living. More
ArtsThe Rožmberks opens at Wallenstein Riding School
The Rožmberks, a lavish new exhibition, opened on Thursday at the
Waldstein (Wallenstein) Riding School, looking back at one of the most
prominent and influential Bohemian noble families. The Rožmberk dynasty
dates back to the 13th to 16th centuries, with its members holding key
positions in the royal and later imperial courts. The castle at Český
Krumlov, admired by countless visitors in South Bohemia today, was the
family seat for three hundred years. More
SpotlightBechyně: an idyllic town in southern Bohemia
Southern Bohemia is home to some of the most beautiful and idyllic
destinations in the Czech Republic - from the historic town of Tábor to
the jewel that is Český Krumlov. One destination in the area, somewhat
lesser-known but also attractive that you might consider visiting, is
Bechyně, located around forty kilometres from Tábor. Found on a dramatic
promontory, the town of just 6,000 features an historic monastery, a
fantastic fifty-metre high bridge that spans the nearby Lužnice River, and
the oldest ceramics school in the country. It may not be the most obvious
choice, but Bechyně is a most satisfying visit in the summer or spring. More
SpotlightThe Giant Mountains - a world of legend
For this week's Spotlight we're in one of the most beautiful regions of the Czech Republic, the Krkonoše or Giant Mountains, straddling the Czech-Polish border, a hundred kilometres north-east of Prague. These are the Czech Republic's highest mountains, rising well over a thousand metres, and at this time of year, they are decked with a thick blanket of snow. The Giant Mountains is a wonderfully poetic and evocative name... and indeed Krkonoše does have its very own legendary giant, known as "Krakonoš" in Czech and "Ruebezahl" in German. More
Current AffairsDiscovery of Rosenberg tomb upends legend
The House of Rosenberg was one of the most powerful noble families in Czech
history. They were the de facto rulers of Bohemia for much of the Middle
Ages, but their dynasty came to an end with the death of the celebrated
Petr Vok, in 1611. Now, archaeologists in South Bohemia, where the family
had its seat, have come across their family tomb, and in doing so have set
straight a well-known legend that surrounds them.
More
SpotlightNepomuk and environs - some facts and lots of fiction
If there were a capital city of legendry in the Czech Republic, the town of
Nepomuk would be a hot contestant for the honour. There are said to be
graves that glow when someone’s about to die, a landscape littered with
the petrified cattle of a greedy pagan and the ghost of an evil musketeer
who walks the earth with the still-ferocious spectre of his dog. The
official population of Nepomuk may be 3,700, but that’s only if you count
the living.
More
PanoramaThe Black Ambulance and other urban legends
Did you know there was a black ambulance riding around Czechoslovakia
during the 1980s, kidnapping children for their organs? Ask any Czech who
lived at that time and they’ll confirm it to you. In fact, however,
it’s unlikely that anything like that ever happened. It’s just a legend
created by oral tradition; in other words, it’s an urban myth.
Ethnographer Petr Janecek recently published what is his second collection
of such stories, proving that folklore is definitely not a matter of
history. Its title - Cerna Sanitka or The Black Ambulance - refers to one
of the most popular stories of its kind.
More
Current AffairsArchaeologists to use radar, mini-camera, to explore Rozmberk crypt
Archaeologists from the Museum of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice have
been putting together a project to explore an underground level of the
famous Cistercian monastery in Vyssi Brod, which houses the final resting
place of the monastery's original founders, the Rozmberks. The vault was
sealed almost 400 years ago after the death of nobleman Petr Vok - the last
in the family line - and was never again reopened. Archaeologists now sense
room for discovery.
More
SpotlightBechyne: an idyllic town in southern Bohemia
Southern Bohemia is home to some of the most beautiful and idyllic
destinations in the Czech Republic - from the historic town of Tabor to
the jewel that is Cesky Krumlov. One destination in the area, somewhat
lesser-known but also attractive that you might consider visiting, is
Bechyne, located around forty kilometres from Tabor. Found on a dramatic
promontory, the town of just 6,000 features an historic monastery, a
fantastic fifty-metre high bridge that spans the nearby Luznice River, and
the oldest ceramics school in the country. It may not be the most obvious
choice, but Bechyne is a most satisfying visit in the summer or spring. More
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