About Czech Republic

Every important festival must have its stars. Stars that will visit Zlin film festival this year.

Maximilian Schell
- Swiss actor, director and producer, who was awarded the Oscar for Best Male Actor in the famous film The Nuremberg Process in 1961

Götz George
- the fearless Inspector Schimanski

Alexey Kotenochkin
- Russian director, creator of the new parts of the legendary Just You Wait! (Nu pogodi!) series

Jan Pinkava
- American director of Czech origin, creator of animated films, Oscar holder for BEst Animated Film from 1997 (Geri's Game)

Oleg Tabakov
- famous Russian actor, known for instance for his role in Nikita Mikhalkov's Oblomov

Katerina Jacob
- German actress, known here from the Big Ben series

Download trailer for Zlin Film Festival.

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International Music Festival is currently running in Czech Republic. This year it is its 60th season.

A lot has happened during its sixty seasons, for even festivals have their fates. Acquainting visitors with the fate of the festival that became a symbol of musical Prague is the aim of the exhibition “Sixty Years of Prague Springs” which is held in the Dining Rooms of the Municipal House, Prague, from 10 May to 3 June 2006, daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and also during the intervals at Prague Spring concerts in the Smetana Hall.

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22.5.2006 Monday
21.00 – Jazz Club Reduta – Gypsy jazz concert– Trio Johnny Rosenberg (Netherlands)

23.5.2006 Tuesday
18.00 – Slovakian Institute in Prague – Film Projection Ružové sny (Slovakia)
21.00 – Jazz Club Reduta – Gypsy jazz concert – Harri Stojka (Austria)

24.5.2006 Wednesday
17.00 - Slovakian Institute in Prague – Day of Slovakian Roma:
- opening of Jozef Kolarčík-Fintický photo exhibition
- presentation of the book Rómovia v starých pohladnicách
- performance of the group Kesaj Čhave
21.00 – Jazz Club Reduta – Gypsy jazz concert – Angelo Debarre (France)

25.5.2006 Thursday
12.00 – Můstek – Parade of artists
18.00 – Slovakian Institute in Prague – Film Projection Deti vetra (Slovakia)
19.00 – ROXY Club – Traditional Roma music concert:
Kek Lang (Hungary)
Gitans (CR)
Nadara (Romania)
Ilo (Russia)

26.5.2006 Friday
17.00 – Ultramarin – Opening of the Photograph Exibition "The Magic of happiness"
19.00 – ROXY Club – Traditional Roma music concert:
Gypsy Mambo (Macedonia)
Kesaj Čhave (Slovakia)
Margarita & The Gypsies (USA)
Puerto Flamenco (Spain)

27.5.2006 Saturday
10.00 – HAMU – International Seminar dedicated to Milena Hübschmannová
20.00 – Lucerna Grand Hall – Galaconcert of traditional Roma music:
Kek Lang (Hungary)
Gitans (CR)
Nadara (Romania)
Ilo (Russia)
Gypsy Mambo (Macedonia)
Kesaj Čhave (Slovakia)
Margarita & The Gypsies (USA)
Puerto Flamenco (Spain)

Posted by Mikes at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Four Days chose for its eleventh year of the festival three Prague localities, Alfred ve dvore (Alfred in the Couryard) and Ponec Theatre, which are allied theatres of Four Days association and abandoned house in the centre of Prague (former dental clinic) in Jungmannova 21 will become the heart of the festival. Beside well-known theatre and dance companies from Europe, Canada and USA, the interactive site-specific project HOUSE will be presented. HOUSE aim is to enliven public space with art – artistic event and interaction that influences and surprise Prague inhabitants in the places they would not expect it. Project includes theatre performances, visual art projects, installations, and lectures about architecture, film screenings and others.

Address - office:

Čtyři dny / Four Days Association,
c/o Theatre Institute Prague,
Celetná 17, 110 00 Prague 1,
phone/fax: +420 224 809 125, phone: +420 224 809 116
e-mail:ctyridny@login.cz, http://www.ctyridny.cz

Posted by Mikes at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Coffee, tea, and chocolate could be transferred to the lower, 5-percent, VAT rate, the Senate has decided today and the relevant bill now only has to be signed by the President into law.

Alcohol would then remain the only "food" in the 19-percent VAT bracket.

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KARLŠTEJN VINTAGE
Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October 2006.

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One of the most famous Czech castle. Karlstejn

High Gothic castle founded in 1348, which has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire.

The first stay of Charles IV in the castle is documented in 1355 when he came to supervise the building works as well as the decoration of interiors, especially the castle chapels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated.

At the outbreak of the Hussite wars the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels, which were kept here, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years.

he castle was reconstructed in late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. The present appearance of the castle comes from the last reconstruction, which was carried out in the purist neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century. Very impressive is the original step-like order of buildings. From the Well tower and Burgrave's palace located as the lowest you walk up to the majestic five-storied Imperial palace and further up towards the Marian tower. And finally at the top of the headland stands the monumental 60m high and separately fortified Great tower.

Source: http://www.hradkarlstejn.cz/

Location
On the left bank of the Berounka river, 16 km south-east from Beroun.

Address
Statni hrad Karlstejn,
267 18, Karlstejn,
Czech Republic

Posted by Mikes at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another populist steps from out political leaders before Elections.

Today the Chember passed some bills:

• bans night sales in pawnshops

Pawnshops and second-hand shops will not be allowed to purchase or take goods in pawn at night, from 22:00 to 6:00.
We had a a law under which all pawnshop owners are obliged to check the identity of their clients. Inspections showed many law violations.

• passes law on non-profit hospitals

The legislation wants to establish over 140 public non-profit hospitals. They will be paid by health insurance companies. Others would only receive money for acute care from the health insurance. The rest would be paid in cash by the patients

• passes bill on alimony

incomplete families who do not receive alimony from a non-paying parent will get it from the state

• passed labour code

big mistake for working people

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After a debacle 0:4 from Sweds are our playeres comming home from World Championship with silver medals. Congratulations!

Team, nobody had hoped will play something showed us, that not only star players are meking a good team. This team with 15 newbies was awesome and had a great hugner for winning.

This hockey season is over. It was a rough and long one. Let's look ahead for the upcoming one.

Posted by Mikes at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trade Minister Milan Urban says a police investigation of Hyundai chairman Chung Mong-Koo will not prevent the construction of the company's new Czech plant, but a Hyundai spokesman says construction would be put off until Chung Mong-Koo's return.

Is something wrong, when Czech Republic officials are signing contract with someone who is investigated by police? Yes, it stinks.

Unfortunately we are living in country, where accusation doesn't mean nothing and our officials are fighting in front of cameras.

Posted by Mikes at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, it's today. Today our Czech Team will play for gold medals from World Hockey Championship in Riga 2006. Again. :-)

Sweden beaten Canada 5:4, and it was at first very slow and not so amazing game. but in the end Canada players strugling for win put the play high enough.

The most dramatic moment came, when Mika Hanulla was "awarded" game misconduct for cross-check to the jaw of Sidney Crosby.

Sweden will try to become the first nation in IIHF history to win World Championship gold the same year it won Olympic gold.

On the other side will stand our Czechs, who will try to defend the World Championship gold from last year.

Posted by Mikes at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, we won. Czech Republic beats Finland 3:1 and advances to finals. We still don't know our rival. Will it be Sweden or Canada?

The match was interfered by referee who wasnt very good and decided wrongly many times on both sides.

Only scored goal by tem Finland was M. Hnilicka fault. After match he said it correcty - "it is only my goal and I'm responsible for it. I lost track of puck on background of the fans, but it's not an excuse".

Fortunately Tomas Plekanec tied the game in the second third. Than it was pretty tie game, but Czech captain David Vyborny tiped shot from Tomas Kaberle from blue line and made the score 2:1 and than Jaroslav Hlinka added an empty-netter.

Attendance: 8 723

Nice game. Thank you guys.

Posted by Mikes at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and the most important temple in Prague. Apart from religious services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in here. The cathedral is a place of interment of remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops.

The cathedral is the third church consecrated to the same saint on the identical site. About the year 925 Prince Vaclav I founded a Romanesque rotunda here which after 1060 was converted into a basilica with three naves and two steeples. The importance of the cathedral grew especially after the establishment of the Prague bishopric in 973 and the founding of the body of canons - the St. Vitus chapter, which later became an important cultural and administrative institution.

In 1344 Charles IV began the construction of a Gothic cathedral. Its first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler, built the chancel with a ring of chapels, St. Wenceslas Chapel, the Golden Portal and the lower part of the main steeple.

In spite of the endeavours of some sovereigns to secure the continuation of the construction work the cathedral remained uncompleted for whole centuries. The main steeple was crowned with a Renaissance helmet and the music choir was built. The facade of the cathedral was provisionally closed.

It was not until the latter half of the 19th century that the Union for the Completion of the Building of St. Vitus Cathedral began the repair of the original part and the completion of the building of the cathedral in Neo-Gothic style. The cathedral was solemnly consecrated in 1929. Its interior was subjected to adaptations even in later years.

Visitors enter the cathedral through the portal in the western facade, opposite the passage-way between the Second and Third Courtyards of Prague Castle.

Its bronze door is decorated with reliefs with scenes from the history of the cathedral and from the legends about St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert.

The Neo-Gothic part of the cathedral consists of the main nave and the narrow side aisles, lined with chapels, and the northern wing of the transverse nave. The chapels have stained glass windows. The construction of the large southern steeple was started by Peter Parler, but he did not complete it. It gained its originally planned height after being provided with a Renaissance helmet in the 16th century. St. Wenceslas's Chapel partly reaches on to the area of the transverse nave. The different conception of its architecture and its magnificent decoration emphasize its importance as the central point of the cathedral as a whole. The solemn entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Portal, affords access to the chapel from the Third Courtyard.
Situated in the chancel of the cathedral, in front of the high alter, is the royal mausoleum below which, in the crypt, there is the royal tomb. The chancel is surrounded by a ring of Gothic chapels. Czech sovereigns and patron saints are interred in some of them.

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Another exciting game of semifinals of IIHF World Championship in Latviva 2006 will take place from 20:15 in Riga arena.

Posted by Mikes at 4:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Czech Repulic is currently living with our hockey players. After not so convincing performance in Preliminary Rounds is our team in semifinals and will play for medals. Hopefully gold ones.

Posted by Mikes at 3:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Shooting of advertisement - Monte dei paschi di siena - the prominent merchant bank, Francesco Frigeri - well known architect (he took part in movie "The Passion of the Christ " Mel Gibson, Mirror's hall of Dobříš chateau - March 2005
• Introduction of the new car Lexus GS - by the complicity - Marek Vašut and Klára Doležalová - comperes, Hitoshi Ikoma - president of the company "TOYOTA MOTOR CZECH", Jan Měšťák, Miloš Zapletal, Pavel Šporcl, Petr Fejk, Aleš Valenta, Karel Poborský and the others, by the accompaniment Parnas quartet, Dobříš chateau 17.5.2005
• Wedding floral day - Floral parlour "Letizia" Dobříš, Mrs. Martina Krátká, Dobříš chateau - 22.5.2005
• An action - Canada Day Celebration - by the complicity of the canadian embassador Mr. Bruce Jutzi, by the complicity of the chamber president Mr. Petr Formánek and a lot of another guests and members of the chamber - Dobříš chateau 26.6.2005
• Celebratory Gala event for company Sellier & Bellot - Octorer 2005
• Formal event for company Oskar - Vodafone - with attendance mrs. Karla D. Stephens - November 2005
• TV Prima film shooting - "Christmas Eve With A Pittance Of Fairy Tales" - the main programme of TV Prima on 24th of December 2005 - with famous Czech director Zdeněk Troška and Monika Absolonová, Sabina Laurinová, Daniel Hůlka and other actors - November 2005

more info

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The rococo chateau with its expressive plastery descends from 1745-1765, when its reconstruction realized Jindřich Pavel Mansfeld. His daughter Marie Isabella got married with František Gundakar Colloredo. This was the foundation of the noble stock Colloredo-Mannsfeld, which was staying untill the second world war. In 1942 was the chateau expropriated by the nacis and in 1945 it revolved to the state and was used for about 50 years as the home of writers. In 1998 it was returned together with the French and English Park into private property. The nowadays owner is Dipl. Ing. Jerome Colloredo-Mannsfeld.

Entrance fee:
Adults: 90,-Kč

Extra services:
The Chateau's restaurant - phone: 318/520525
The urban museum, historical motorcycles - phone: 777 022 323 318 520 694
The gallery JCM - phone: 736 610 272
Play-ground in the French Park, souvenir-shop with kid's corner

Posted by Mikes at 2:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last weekend was Prague full of a marathon runners.

We wanted to create a traditional city marathon on the same level as those in New York, Berlin, or London. In addition to the full marathon, we wanted to promote a healthy, active life-style among a broader spectrum of people; it was for them that we prepared the non-competitive nine-kilometer and five-kilometer races," said Carlo Capalbo, President of PIM.

PIM site
This years results

Posted by Mikes at 1:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Movie based on a bestseller novel by Dan Brown. The book was really great, but the movie is just dull.

United States, 2006
U.S. Release Date: 5/19/06 (wide)
Running Length: 2:29
MPAA Classification: PG-13 (Violence, profanity, brief nudity)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellan, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina
Director: Ron Howard
Screenplay: Akiva Goldsman, based on the novel by Dan Brown
Cinematography: Salvatore Totino
Music: Hans Zimmer
U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Official movie site

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The Chamber of Deputies Election, The Czech Republic 2006 will take place 2. and 3. 6. 2006.

Sites:
http://www.volby-2006.cz/
http://hodtotam.cz/

Complete list od political parties:

1. Strana zdravého rozumu
2. České hnutí za národní jednotu
3. Balbínova poetická strana
4. Liberální reformní strana
5. Právo a Spravedlnost - Ano tradiční rodině, Ne korupci a kriminalitě
6. NEZÁVISLÍ
7. Česká pravice
8. Koruna Česká
9. Občanská demokratická strana
10. Česká strana sociálně demokratická
11. SNK Evropští demokraté
12. Unie svobody - Demokratická unie
13. Helax - Ostrava se baví
14. Pravý Blok
15. 4 VIZE
16. Česká strana národně socialistická
17. Moravané
18. Strana zelených
19. Humanistická strana
20. Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy
21. Koalice pro Českou republiku
22. Národní strana
23. Folklor i Společnost
24. Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová
25. NEZÁVISLÍ DEMOKRATÉ
26. Strana rovnost šancí
    

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