ARCHITECTURE
Amazing architectural diversity
The architecture of Czechia covers many important historical and contemporary architectural movements in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. From its early beginnings to the present day, almost all historical styles are represented, including many monuments from various historical periods. Some of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
There are a couple of reasons why so many different styles are present. The position of Czechia in the middle of the European continent, made it a frequent place of encounter of many cultures. This diversity resulted in an extremely rich variety of architectural styles and building styles throughout the country. Also, the abundant presence of the natural resources of the building materials and the able-bodied, hard-working and relatively well-educated population also had a huge influence on the development of the architecture. Many foreign architects, especially from German countries, but also from Italy and France, have been working in the Czech lands since the Middle Ages, leaving their mark. And last but not least, the Czech cities and monuments were mostly spared from wide-scale bombings during WWII, which means that a lot of the architecture has remained intact.
All the architectural monuments are protected by the state, through the State Monument Institute and other governmental and non-governmental institutions.
Some architectural landmarks
- St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague (Gothic)
- Litomyšl Castle (Renaissance)
- Church of St. John of Nepomuk, Zelená Hora (Baroque)
- Kynžvart Castle (Neoclassicism)
- Chateau Kačina, Kutná Hora (Imperial)
- Municipal House, Prague (Art Nouveau)
- The House of The Black Madonna, Prague (Cubism)
- Adria Palace, Prague (Rondocubism)
- Villa Tugendhat, Brno (Functionalism)
- The Dancing House, Prague (Postmodernism)
Abundant Baroque
The beginning of the 17th century was a period of restlessness, changes, questions and exploration. Renaissance came to an end and a new movement emerged. The Baroque era wished to alter the world by turning its face to God. Graceful curves, arches, spirals, spectacular and opulent paintings, splashes of colour, gold everywhere you looked, sculptures with animated expressions, Baroque was all about emotion.
Towns witnessed the mushrooming of gold-plated churches, Marian and plague columns, gratefully towering into the sky like hands clasped in prayer praising the Lord for sparing them from the Black Death. The boom of secular buildings did not lag behind – ranging from lavish chateaux, palaces and urban houses to wonderful gardens.
Baroque altered the Czech landscape beyond recognition and similar places, with such an abundance of Baroque treasures, can probably only be found in just a few other areas around the world.
Our program ‘From Prague to Olomouc’ has a lot of Baroque to offer in Czechia’s two most monumental towns.
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