Topic Archive Travel
Prague’s Výtopna restaurant a hit with families, tourists & train fans
Many will remember the joy of getting toy trains as children and watching
them zoom down the electric track. Now, somewhat unusually, that innocent
excitement can now be relived at a popular Czech restaurant. Located in
Brno, Prague and elsewhere, Výtopna is a venue like no other where toy
engines – not waiters – deliver drinks to your table. For a country not
big on theme-restaurants it has become surprisingly popular: a big hit
especially for families with young kids. More
Pardubice – the “best place to live in the Czech Republic”
Spotlight this week comes from Pardubice, which lies about an hour away
from Prague in east Bohemia. The pretty Renaissance buildings on
Pernštýnovo náměstí and the impressive chateau nearby give an indication of
this town’s long and rich history, which saw it evolve from a prosperous
hamlet in the Middle Ages to an industrial powerhouse by the start of the
20th century. More
A Prague institution - the famous Café Slavia
Prague’s wealth of traditional coffeehouses is a legacy from the era of
the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But even in today’s hectic time, grabbing a
quick cup on the run is fortunately not the only option for coffee lovers
in the Czech capital. Probably the best-known café in the golden city is
Kavárna Slavia, or Café Slavia. We recently visited this traditional
coffeehouse. More
Emil Holub and the exploration of Africa
This year marks the 110th anniversary of the death of Dr Emil Holub,
perhaps the best-known Czech explorer, who made vast contributions to
public understanding of Africa in the latter half of the 19th century. More
Brno's Villa Tugendhat reopens after two year renovation
This week saw the completion of a two year restoration project of Villa
Tugendhat, a unique functionalist villa in the city of Brno. Its history
matches that of Czechoslovakia: repeat occupation, dilapidation and
ultimately restoration. More
Varnsdorf, a north Bohemian town in the path of Buddha
A town surrounded by deep pine forests, dotted with old timbered
German-style villas and occasional Communist-era prefab houses, a town
boasting many parks, a river, two churches – and the country’s first
Buddhist temple. This is Varnsdorf, a town of 16,000 in the northernmost
part of the Czech Republic. More
Prague’s “Rocket” TV Tower undergoes re-fuelling on 20th anniversary
In this week's Spotlight, we visit Prague's infamous TV tower and find it
in the middle of a major re-construction. More
Corruption joins Czech landmarks in satirical tourist campaign
Critics may say that the Czech government is doing practically nothing to
address the country’s high levels of corruption – the Czech Republic
rates 57th out of 182 in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption
Perceptions Index, four places lower than 2010’s 53rd place – but that
hasn’t stopped other entrepreneurial figures from stepping in to fill the
vacuum. Interested in seeing the top spots for “tunneling”, murky,
hidden centres of power or finding some of the buildings that have resulted
from alleged shady deals? Then Corrupt Tour may be what you’re after!
They are promising to show “The Best of the Worst” as their motto puts
it, their website adding that they are striving to open up an entirely new
field of tourism. Or is it just all a new way to shame the country’s
politicians?
More
The Cross Club – independent culture centre with a twist
In this week’s Spotlight we take you to an independent culture centre
decorated with an abstract array of industrial machine part artistry. More
The Mánes Exhibition Hall – an icon of functionalist architecture
The functionalist Mánes Exhibition Hall, located on the right bank of the
Vltava river between the bridges Jiraskův most and Most Legií, is one of
only two buildings in Prague that were expressly designed to house art –
the other one being the famous Rudolfinum gallery. Martin Pavala, the
chairman of the supervisory board of the Czech Art Foundation, which owns
it, explains that the art gallery’s history started in 1930. More
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