June 25, 2007 | Lucie Brožová
In the center of untouched forests and ponds away from the main tourist paths lies a picturesque village in its original medieval style. In the center of the village is a square. The houses on the edge of the square have the same medieval architecture. This untouched footprint was left by the inhabitants in the second half of the 19th century. One can hear folk music, smell mead, the baking of pies and the grilling of sausages. Ladies dressed in traditional costumes offer up lace while a man next to her is working pottery that will not resemble anything seen before. Does this sound like a fairytale?
This fairytale can be experienced. Folklore is deeply rooted in Czech culture. Traditional customs, handicrafts, local costumes and songs passed down from generation to generation have a unique place in Czech villages, whose architecture has remained untouched for centuries.
Multicolored costumes are only the beginning of what summer in the Czech Republic has to offer. There’s an entire array of events that bring adventure, fun, rest and learning and they appeal to all the senses. Auditory senses will be busy listening to summer concerts while the visual senses can feast upon the surrounding historical landmarks. Taste buds will be tantalized by the local specialties and after one evaluates the quality of Moravian wine then relaxation is on offer in one of the many spas around the country.
A fairytale trip into the past
Villages with traditional costumes and pottery making can be discovered in southern Bohemia, most notably in the village of
Holasovice
. This village is no open-air museum. The inhabitants here enjoy remembering what good things their predecessors left them. There are numerous things that remind them of this, such as the rural festival that will take place for the 10th year in a row on July 21st and 22nd.
Village traditions are very much alive in Holasovice. Source: Rural Festival Holasovice
“The cornerstone of this folk festival is the presentation of the traditional fair where typical and atypical handicrafts are on exhibit. Many folk groups come for the festival. They come not only from Bohemia and Moravia but also from Slovakia and Croatia. Also not to be missed is the fair with singers and southern Bohemian accordion players playing their favorite folk songs.”
Every year the fair attracts thousands of visitors who come to see and buy many of the products made by approximately 230 craftsmen. The workmanship of pottery makers, woodcarvers, cutlers and blacksmiths will be on display.
“We are well aware that the demonstration of these handicrafts and the workmanship that goes into them has imprinted a uniqueness that is inimitable in today’s modern world of microchips and digitalization,” says the mayor.
If you have gained an appetite while observing the craftsmen then you are in luck, for the tables here are full. You can choose roasted pig, sausages, grilled chicken, pork and beef steaks or goat cheese. After you wash this down with one of the many types of beers or mead available then for dessert you can try the homemade crullers, marzipan, traditional Czech trdlo, decorated gingerbread or Holasovice pies.
The uniqueness of the handicrafts. Source: Holasovice
It is not just about spending a pleasant day. “The goal of the event is to remind our guests, and perhaps to create a bond with them, in order to keep the folk traditions and culture alive. We don’t want this bond to be something archaic, we want it to be of value to our guests, something that helps them in difficult life situations” says Mayor Jilek.
Holasovice is like a trip back in time. It is included in the
UNESCO
World Heritage List for its original architectural style known as south Bohemian peasant baroque.
If someone would consider folk traditions and peasant life to be somewhat simple and uninteresting then it is possible to go back in time even further. It is not necessary to travel very far, only to the neighboring village of
Telc
, also a UNESCO site.
The royal festivities date back to the time of Emperor Zigmund of Luxemburg who lived in Telc over 570 years ago. These festivities begin with the opening of the fair full of magicians, street theatre and a musical show. The climax of the evening ceremonies takes place at dawn with the arrival of Emperor Zigmund Lucemburg to the roar of drums with his entourage of knights. On Saturday, the parade will be accompanied by the Hussite army with Jan Zizka in the lead and the festival will continue with fencing and other traditions of knighthood. The opportunity to be drawn into the height of the Middle Ages and the Hussite movement will take place during the Telc Royal Festival on August 17th and 18th.
One is reminded that battles were not only common place during the Medieval era but also during the times of the Prussian-Austrian war where in 1866 in the town on
Hradec Kralove
one of the bloodiest battles took place at the Chlum summit. Around the anniversary of the war on July 3rd reverent celebrations take place with military demonstrations. In the central area of the battle ground stands a war museum that displays armory and military apparel of all participants in memory of the second largest battle of the 19th century.
The sounds of the historical background
If you prefer safer activities to military demonstrations and war museums, an equally exciting and enticing option is
Cesky Krumlov
. Picturesque interiors of the Krumlov castle and the view of the historic center are accompanied by melodic sounds. The town will celebrate its 15th anniversary this year for having been listed as one of the most precious locations in the world. The festivities will take place between July 20th and August 25th during the International Music Festival.
The Atmosphere of the International Music Festival in Cesky Krumlov. Source: Czech Tourism
You will be able to hear a cross-section of music from gothic to that of the 21st century. Classical music will be accompanied by other genres: jazz, folk and other music from Ireland and France. At the festival, concerts will be given by the Symphony Orchestra of Cesky Rozhlas, the Slovak Chamber Orchestra, Grammy Award winners New York Voice (USA), Cechomor and many other famous ensembles. The conductor’s baton will be held by a large spectrum of conductors such as Manuel Hernandes Silva, the Austrian favorite Gottfried Rabl or Amos Talmon from Israel. Stars from New York’s Metropolitan Opera House will also be present as well as La Scaly Jeanine Thames, Annamaria Popescu and Allan Glasman from Milan, Italy.
Other southern Bohemian towns like
Hluboká nad Vltavou
are known mainly for their romantic castles built in the Windsor New Gothic style with an exquisite interior. In these surroundings you can find the Als Gallery of southern Bohemian in which 51 years of fine arts and music go hand in hand during the summer months. In the exhibition hall you will be engulfed by concert music from the Hluboka Musical Summer festival during the period of June 14th to September 13th.
Fairytale Castle at Hluboka nad Vltavou. Source: Czech Tourism
In the Moravian castle of Hukvalda you will be surrounded by untraditional symphonic and chamber music. The International Music Festival of Janacek Hukvalda (30.6-12.8) offers a unique opportunity to tune into the music in an inspiring environment where genius composer Leos Janacek was brought up. (To find out more about Leos Janacek and modern Czech Music please click
here
). Even today you can find the house of this composer in Hukvalda with the original interior including the artist’s reed organ.
Where rest is delightful
Similar to music, where classical composition is king, so too can this be said of wine in comparison to other beverages. Where else is it more appropriate to raise a glass of wine and appreciate the taste and smell of its contents than at the heart of the wine region of southern Moravia, Valtice. This unique opportunity will present itself August 3rd and 4th at the Valtice wine festival. For those visitors that are interested in wine and winemaking the ideal journey are the tourist and bike paths of the wine region that cover the entire area of southern Moravian.
Wine, however, is not the only reason that you should visit Valtice. Nowhere else will you find a region that offers the richness of such various historical landmarks that are paired so delicately with the refined countryside. It is said of the
Lednice-Valtice complex
that it is the largest artistic creation of the countryside in the world.
On its grounds lie 87 historical landmarks including two large castle complexes where one can find unique greenhouses or fabulous French gardens. In the English gardens lie several ponds with small islands in the middle, these are home to rare bird species.
Romantic countryside of the Lednice-Valtice complex in the background of minarets. Source: Archive
You can take pleasure in the surrounding countryside while enjoying a river cruise. The flat terrain is also ideal for bicycle rides. But be careful, you will need to stop many times in order not to miss all the remarkable things there are to see.
For example, the view from the look out tower of the minaret that stands 62 meters high. If after your visit of the Lednice-Valtice complex you would like to write to the World Heritage Committee then we remind you that there is no need. The complex is already a
UNESCO
site.
Soothing the mind and body
Czech
spa towns
are an ideal place to relax while also experiencing many adventures. Apart from spa treatments and sipping on the natural mineral water of the colonnades, the visitor is also enticed by the large spectrum of cultural activities that are on offer.
For lovers of classical music, the town of
Marianske Lazne
will be especially attractive during the 18th to 25th of August when the 48th Chopin Festival will take place. Most of the program will be devoted to this composer’s music but masterpieces of other composers will also be performed.
As is typical, the end of summer is reigned in by the Karlovy Vary folklore festival (6-9.9) in the spa town of
Karlovy Vary
. During these days folk music will be heard throughout the town and visitors will be delighted to see locals in traditional costumes. The festival attracts musicians, singers and dancers not only from the Czech Republic but also from Slovakia, Romania, Germany, Montenegro and Vietnam.
“For me, the most exciting event is the performance of the Slovak ensemble. Not only am I impressed by the quality of their performance but I also remind myself how close I feel to the Slovaks and to the Slovak culture.” says the director of the Karlovy Vary folk festival Lubor Hanka.
The festival the makes Karlovy Vary dance. Source: Karlovy Vary folk festival
He adds: “During a time of TV shows, reality shows, soap operas and detective movies the folklore festival holds a unique place where the visitor can stop for a moment and listen and hear the songs and dances that his predecessors used to celebrate. At the festival, the main performers are young people and this is the best part because they are the ones who carry on the traditions of the past.”
Karlovy Vary, Valtice, Hluboka nad Vltavou, Hukvaldy, Holasovice, Telc, Hradec Kralove, and Cesky Krumlov, are all just samples of what is on offer. These are only examples of where it is possible to experience something unique. There are a number of other magical towns, villages, castles and chateaux whose atmosphere, not only in summer but all year round, offer a variety of events. In the Czech Republic there are a countless number.