Visiting Prague

Bedrich Smetana life and museum

Bedrich Smetana is famous Czech composer. His most famous works are symphonic poem Vltava (better known as The Moldau from the German), and a cycle of six which he entitled Má vlast (”My Country”), and for his opera The Bartered Bride.

Bedrich Smetana was an important person in the development of musical nationalism in his native Bohemia. He was very influential in the institution of Czech national opera and a Czech national style, especially in his symphonic poems. Later in his life he became deaf, but continued to continued to compose.

The monument is located right in front of the Bedřich Smetana Museum, which is located in the Neo-Renaissance building of the Old-Town water house since from 1883. The museum represents the life and works of famous composer, his manuscripts, correspondence and other contemporary documents.

Muzeum Bedřicha Smetany includes:
* Neo-Renaissance building of the former Old Town Waterworks dating from the years 1883-1884 with splendid sgraffito decoration created according to designs by Mikoláš Aleš and František Ženíšek
* Exhibition: Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), the life and work
* The almost complete collection of Smetana’s manuscripts, the composer’s piano, examples of the autographs of Smetana’s compositions, letters and diaries
* The exhibition is supplemented by stands with Smetana’s compositions which are manipulated by means of a laser button

The permanent exposition includes The Life and Work of Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)

contact: tel./fax 222 220 082, mobile 723 555 437, b_smetana_muzeum@nm.cz

Open/close: # Open yearly: Wed-Mon: 10 am-12 noon and 12.30 pm-5 pm, closed Tue. The reading room can be used by reservation. Professional explanation in exposition (for 1 to 45 people; please telephone and book your order first): 200 CZK (in Czech language); 500 CZK (in English or German language).
# A fee for photographing - 30 CZK.

Thomas Masaryk Memorial

Thomas Masaryk was first President and founder of Czechoslovakia. He was keenest advocate of Czechoslovak independence during World War I. He studied philosophy and was appointed Professor of Philosophy in the Czech part of the University of Prague. He was also a founder of magazine devoted to Czech science and culture. Thomas Masaryk served in Austrian Parliament for two years and also was the one who led a campaign for the independence of Czechs and Slovaks from Austria-Hungary. After World War I broke out he traveled all over Europe agitating for Czechoslovak independence. Masaryk’s life motto was: “Nebát se a nekrást” (= Not to fear and not to steal). Masaryk as a philosopher was an significant rationalist and humanist.

Monument of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler

This monument is dedicated to the memory and appreciation of great work of Tycho Brahe and his helper Johannes Kepler –Danish astronomers of XVI century. Tycho Brahe built a big observatory called Uraniborg in Denmark. He was the one, who discovered that the universe besides the solar system was always changing. Brahe was well famous during his lifetime as an astrologer and alchemist for his precise astronomical and planetary observations.

Tycho Brahe was granted property on island Hven and the funds in order to build the Uraniborg, an early research institute. He constructed huge astronomical instruments and took many careful measurements. Astronomical works of Tycho were based on combination of geometrical benefits of the Copernican system with the philosophical benefits of the Ptolemaic system into his own model of the universe, the Tychonic system. Johannes Kepler assisted him and also used his astronomical information in his own research works after Brahe’s death. Tycho Brahe created first now so-called “catalogue” of planets and stars

The monument is located at Parlerova street, 169 00 Praha 6