The Czech Republic: in the Heart of Europe

The Czech Republic: In The Heart of Europe JAROSLAV STIKA AND JOSEF JANCAR For many years, Cech wandered through Europe Roman Emperor. For a short while, Charles in search of a new home for his people. One day, succeeded in turning the Czech Lands into the from the summit of Mount Rip, he saw beneath political and cultural center of the empire. He him a pleasant land of rolling hills and fertile relocated the Holy Roman capital to Prague plains. The area was protected by mountains - and built the great castle of KarlStejn and the the Giant Mountains (Krkonose) and the Ash famous stone bridge (now known as Charles Mountains (Jeseniky) in the north, and the Bridge) over the River Vltava. In 1348, he Beskids (Beskydy) and Maple Mountains founded the first university in Central Europe, (!avorniky) in the east - and by the seemingly later to be called Charles University. Rudolf II, impenetrable Bohemian Forest (Sumava) in the a Hapsburg monarch, also achieved promi south. Three great rivers, the Elbe (Labe), Oder nence later as a patron of the arts, sciences, (Odra), and Morava, watered the country. As he and the occult. scanned the landscape beneath him, Cech smiled Yet, despite the prominence of their king knowingly. This was where his people would set dom, the Czech people found themselves in tle. Years later his descendants named the land constant confrontation with their more power and themselves - Czech, in honor of the great ful German-speaking neighbors to the north, ancestor who brought them there. west, and south - even today, the borders with Germany and Austria account for two he legend of Cech is an integral part of thirds of the circumference of the Czech the folklore of the Czech Republic. It Republic. The Battle of the White Mountain in provides the Czech people with a sense 1620 saw the final defeat of the Czech of unity and continuity in this small land in Kingdom. Its territories were absorbed by the the heart of Europe. And historians believe Hapsburg monarchy of Austria, and most of that the legend contains more than a kernel of the aristocracy, as well as scholars and artists, truth regarding the origins of the Czech nation. were executed or exiled. The Czech Republic: They claim that some 1,500 years ago a group The Czech Lands remained under Tradition and Transformation has been of Slavic tribes migrated northwest into Hapsburg domination for almost 300 years. A made possible with the sup Central Europe. The strongest of these tribes new, German-speaking aristocracy replaced port of the Ministry of Culture was the Czech tribe, which settled around the local nobility and church hierarchy, and by and the Ministry of Foreign Velehrad and eventually founded the state of the late 18th century even native officials and Affairs of the Czech Republic, Great Moravia. Two Greek monks, Cyril and the middle class were almost entirely assimi the Embassy of the Czech Methodius, introduced Christianity in the 9th lated into the dominant German society. The Republic in the United States, the Trust for Mutual century; about a hundred years later, Great Czech language fell into disuse in the major Understanding, Samson Moravia was replaced by the Principality of urban centers; few books and virtually no poet Brewery from the south Bohemia, which evolved into the Czech ry were published in Czech during that time. Bohemian town of Geske Kingdom, with its royal seat in Prague. Nevertheless, traditional Czech folk cul Budejovice, and the Ford For more than 300 years, the Czech ture survived. Each region had its own local Motor Company Fund, and Kingdom achieved prominence under the dress, architecture, foods, customs, songs, has been produced in collabo ration with the Open-Air Premyslid dynasty. One 14th-century dances, and folk stories. Czech culture and Museum of Wallachia. monarch, Charles IV, was even chosen Holy local Czech dialects thrived in the rural areas. THE CZECH REPU GERMANY Plzen The Czech Republic Svitavy (Pilsen) T e Czec comprises three c ly • • 0 Republic;; ·· -.:· historical territories - 0 Bohemia, Moravia, and tJ) .-~··: MORAVIA -,:.. a portion of Silesia. 0 Uherske Hradiste Despite the Czech Brno * • Republic's newly gained independence, it has a 1 , 000-year AUSTRIA history as part of the Czech Lands. From 1918 to 1992, it was part of Czechoslovakia However, like most of Europe, the Austrian culture also led to its revival. Along with indus and still shares many Empire was undergoing major political and trialization and better educational opportuni cultural traditions with social upheaval. Serfdom was abolished in ties, modernization also brought with it a spir- its neighbors in the 1848; industrialization and greater trade and it of patriotism and pan-Slavism, formulated in newly formed Slovak educational opportunities led to the expansion a movement known as the National Revival. Republic. of large towns into cities such as Prague and Older folk traditions, some of which still sur Brno. In the face of rapid modernization, tra vived in the remote mountain areas, played an ditional culture in th e urban centers and the important role in furthering this revival and newly established industrial areas around formed the basis of many outstanding works of Plzen (Pilsen), Kladno, the mining town of art and music. Composers Bedfich Smetana, Ostrava, and several other areas gave way to Antonin Dvo:bik, and Leos Janacek and writers new traditions such as workers' associations, Bozena Nemcova, Jan Neruda, and Alois which sometimes included guild costumes and Jirasek, among others, incorporated the songs. sounds and stories of the Czech countryside By the latter half of the 19th century, the into their works, winning them national and effects of modernization reached the rural low even international renown. The National land villages and then even the more remote Theater was established to ensure that native foothills of the country. People started saving cultural works would be performed. While the their traditional costumes for special occasions Romantic and patriotic fervor sweeping and began wearing 11 town wear,'' the less Europe during this period often inspired xeno expensive civilian clothing now common in all phobic tendencies, Prague remained a cos of Europe. In most villages, traditional songs mopolitan center of cultural, racial, and were no longer sung, local customs were no national tolerance, the home of international longer observed, and new houses were no ly acclaimed writers such as Franz Kafka and, longer built in the traditional style. later, Karel Capek and Jaroslav Hasek. It seems ironic that the very trends that Both traditional folklore as well as its nat almost led to the demise of traditional Czech Continued on p age 49 ZECH REPUBLIC Vernacular Architecture in the Czech Republic JIRf LANGER Any mention of architecture in the cover under one roof the living quarters Czech Republic may bring to mind the as well as the stables, barn, and hayloft. magnificent, centuries-old church tow In other regions, construction materials ers of Prague. However, many other range from clay to brick to stone. examples of Czech architecture exist, Houses are sometimes decorated with different from Prague's and lovely in colorful paint or geometric patterns. their own right. Czech villages, each Most notable, perhaps, is what is known with its farms, wine cellars, bell tower, as South Bohemian Peasant Baroque. and church, are known for their diverse Houses built in this graceful style are architectural styles, which vary through characterized by their gentle, rounded out the country according to topography stucco facades standing in peaceful rows and date of origin. Neighboring along the village green. They are often Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria painted in subtle pastel colors with also have had a strong architectural white stucco ornamentation on the influence on Czech structures. Some vil facades, and are flanked by a wide por lages can boast relics of Renaissance tal leading to the courtyard within. Photo courtesy Mr. J. Martinak architecture or impressive examples of LANGER is the Assistant Director of In Mr. Martinak's workshop in the Gothic style from centuries past. In JU~i the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in the town of Starec u Trebice, you northwest Bohemia and other wooded Roinov p. Radhostem. He is an can see a statue of St. John of areas, one finds alpine-style log cabin ethnographer and historian, specializing Nepomuk. Mr. Martinak must houses reminiscent of German moun in vernacular architecture, folk arts, create a copy of this statue. tain villages. These sturdy structures and open-air museums. Wooden belfries in Moravia were communal gathering places in small villages that did not have churches. Their bells tolled to announce births, weddings, and deaths. When Czechs Drawing by Tony Svehla came to Texas in the 1800s, they Houses built in the South Bohemian Peasant Baroque constructed belfries in style are typical of farms along the Austrian border. their new communities These farms often have separate living quarters, a to remind them of main house and a barn or smaller building where the their homeland. parents of the current farmer may live. Photo courtesy Wallachian Museum THE CZECH REPUB ural evolution into contemporary forms helped forge the new Czech national culture. In 1895 Prague took pride in the opening of the Czechoslavic Ethnographical Exhibition. Historically, the Czech Lands consisted of three territorial and administrative regions: Bohemia in the west and Moravia and Silesia in the east. For six months these three regions displayed their local costumes, tools, architec ture, folk art, songs, dances, and customs. Some 2.5 million people visited the exhibition, including 450 Czech Americans, who present ed the new lives they had made for them selves in America.

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