Dear Students, This guide is intended particularly for you – European students who are coming to study at Charles University in Prague through the Erasmus programme. It has been designed by the International Office of the Faculty of Arts, which is the place where you will register and obtain all the information to make the best of your stay. You will find that the guide contains all sorts of information – from general outlook of the Czech Republic and the brief history of our University to more practical advice on living and behaviour in the Czech Republic. We also hope you will appreciate the leisure tips we have prepared for you, be it recommendation of sports centres, theatres or pubs. While we know it is impossible to answer all the questions you may have, we hope you will find the information your guide contains useful both for your studies and life in Prague. For all other information, don’t hesitate to contact us at the International Office. We wish you an exciting and rewarding stay in Prague! Erasmus Co-ordinators
Marcela Boušková
Ing. Jan Bieber 1
WELCOME TO CZECH REPUBLIC, WELCOME TO PRAGUE
W E L C O M E T O C Z E C H R E P U B L I C, W E L C O M E T O P R A G U E
HISTORY.......................................................................................................... 5
GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM............................................................................ 7
ETHNIC GROUPS............................................................................................ 8
RELIGION......................................................................................................... 8
LANGUAGE...................................................................................................... 9
FAMOUS CZECHS........................................................................................... 9
GREAT CZECH COMPOSERS....................................................................... 10
GREAT CZECH VISUAL ARTISTS.................................................................. 11
GREAT CZECH THEATRE ARTISTS............................................................... 11
GREAT CZECH AUTHORS............................................................................ 12
GREAT CZECH FILM DIRECTORS (OSCAR WINNERS)............................. 12
GREAT CZECH CONTEMPORARY FILMS.................................................... 13
UNESCO PROTECTED MONUMENTS........................................................ 14
We l c o m e t o C z e c h R e p u b l i c , We l c o m e t o P r a g u e The Czech Republic is a country situated in Central Europe. It has been historically divided into three regions: Bohemia, Moravia and a part of Silesia. The total area is 78,886 km2 and the country’s population is around 10.3 million. The capital city of the Czech Republic is Prague (Praha), with 1.2 million residents, and there are 5 other cities with populations exceeding 100,000 – Brno, Plzeň, Olomouc, Ostrava and Liberec. The Czech Republic borders Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. The country is encircled by mountain ranges – Krkonoše in the northeast, Krušné Hory in the northwest, Šumava in the southwest, Hrubý Jeseník in Moravia and the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy. The highest point of elevation in the Czech Republic is the peak of Mt. Sněžka (1,602 meters above sea level). Many important rivers (the Elbe, Oder, Morava, Vltava (Moldau), etc.) flow through the country. In the past, a network of ancient trade routes running from east, west, north and south intersected in the country and therefore, over the centuries, many of the nations of Europe have met here and influenced each other’s destinies. The Czech lands are virtually a showcase of architectural styles, as reflected in the many historic towns, castles and manor houses.
history Evidence suggests that at the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century, during the Great Migration, Slavs began settling in the territory of Bohemia and Moravia. The first evidence of a Czech state dates back to the early Middle Ages. A kingdom was established in the 13th century and raised under the rule of Charles IV., the Czech king and Roman emperor. During his reign (1346–78) Prague grew into one of the largest cities in Europe. It acquired its fine Gothic face and landmarks including Charles University (founded in 1348), Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. In the 15th century Bohemia became the arena for severe religious wars. Several conditions led to the creation of the Hussite reform movement. The first was the economic and political crisis after the death of Charles IV. This crisis was 5
exacerbated by the problems in Europe of this time (the Great Schism, criticism of the Church). The Hussite movement was inspired by the ideas of Master Jan Hus, a preacher who was burnt at the stake in 1415 at Constance. Despite his death, his supporters successfully continued in their efforts to reform the Church and even defeated five consecutive crusades from Rome in the years 1420–1431. The Hussite movement changed the structure of society in many ways. It created religious dualism for the first time in Christian Europe. In the second half of the 16th century the city experienced great prosperity under emperor Rudolf II and was made the seat of the Habsburg Empire. Rudolf II established great collections of art and renowned artists and scholars were invited to his court. The Habsburg rule however brought the re-introduction of the Roman Catholic faith, centralization and the construction of a multinational empire. The Czechs finally lost their national independence to the Hapsburgs Empire in 1620 at the Battle of White Mountain and for the next 300 years remained part of the Austrian Monarchy. After the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I, Czechs and Slovaks declared independence in 1918 and Czechoslovakia was established as a sovereign state. This united the Czech territory with a part of Hungary inhabited by Slovaks and Ruthenians, who speak a language similar to Czech. During the 1920s and 1930s, Czechoslovakia ranked among the ten most developed countries in the world. After Hitler’s occupation of the country in 1938 (as a result of the infamous Munich Agreement), Czechoslovakia was split into two parts: the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and the Slovak state. The Czechoslovak statehood was restored after World War II ended in 1945, but the country suffered a territorial loss. The most eastern part, Transcarpathian Ukraine, was annexed to the Soviet Union. The events leading up to World War II as well as the war itself strengthened the leftist orientation of a significant part of the population. Nationalization of mines, key industries, banks and insurance companies in October 1945 affected more than 60% of the economy. The Communist party won the 1946 parliamentary elections in Bohemia, which led to a cabinet crisis in 1948, and the Communist party formed the next cabinet. This resulted in regime change and brought the country into the international communist movement, led by the Soviet Union. Subsequently, this brought about Soviet influence in all practical matters concerning the country and the lives of its citizens. The entire economy became naturalized, and was, to a great extent, run to meet the needs of the Soviet bloc. In addition, the state administration became entirely centralized. The efforts and enthusiasm towards liberalization of the regime in the 1960s (known as the 1968 Prague Spring) were too short-lived to succeed. A turning point in the history of Czechoslovakia came in November 1989, when
the socialist regime renounced its power during the so-called “Velvet Revolution.” This movement, initiated by students and intellectuals, was soon supported by the common people, who formed a group called the Civic Forum, committed to bringing in democracy and a market economy. Free parliamentary elections in June 1990 confirmed the course of democratic development. At this time, Czechoslovakia, a unitary state, became a federation known as the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. The federal structure did not last for long, however, as politicians of the two republics held different views on the content and degree of economic and social reforms. After the 1992 elections, the split of the Czechoslovak state and emergence of two independent states (the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic) could not be avoided. The constitution of the Czech Republic was passed on December 12, 1992. Since the emergence of the new country, the foreign policy efforts of successive governments have been focused on joining the Euro-Atlantic structure and the “europeanization” of the country. In keeping with these policies, the Czech Republic became a member of the OECD in 1995, signed the Europe Agreement in 1995, joined NATO in 1998, ratified accession to the EU in 2003 through a referendum, and became a Member State of the EU in May 2004. In 2008 Czech Republic became a part of Schengen area.
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gov er nmen ta l s yst em
l a ngu age
The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy. Universal suffrage exists for all citizens over the age of 18. The highest executive authority is the President, who is the formal head of state and is elected jointly by both houses of Parliament for a term of five years. The current President is Václav Klaus. The supreme legislative body is the Parliament, which consists of the House of Deputies, the lower house of the legislature, and the Senate, the upper house. The House of Deputies is made up of 200 deputies who are elected in a general election based on a system of proportional representation, for a term of four years. The Senate comprises 81 senators elected in individual electoral districts in a two-round system, for six-year terms. The supreme executive body is the Government. The Prime Minister heads the government and is appointed by the President, who also appoints other cabinet members on the basis of the Prime Minister’s recommendations. Each Government is required to win a vote of confidence in the House of Deputies when it takes office.
The official language is Czech. Czech (along with many other languages) belongs to the Slavonic group of the Indo-European language family. The Slavonic languages are divided into the eastern, western and southern branches. Czech belongs to the western Slavonic family, along with Slovak, Polish and Wendish. Czechs and Slovaks understand each other without major problems. Czech has a rather difficult grammatical structure but reading and pronunciation are fairly easy.
e t h n i c g r ou p s Most of the citizens are of Czech nationality. Some citizens from Moravia and Silesia identify themselves as Moravian, while others do not. It is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 Roma (nearly 2% of the entire population of the country) living in the Czech Republic, but most of them officially declare themselves to be of Czech or Slovak nationality.
r eligion The Czech Republic is a secular state and every citizen enjoys freedom of religion. The number of people practicing religion is low in comparison to other European countries. Almost 60% of the population describe themselves as agnostic or atheist; in Northern Bohemia the proportion rises to about three quarters of the population. The main reasons are the suppression of the reformation movement followed by forcible mass re-catholicisation (after 1627), and forty years of official suppression of religion during the communist period (1948 –1 989). The religious community is formed by 26,8% Roman Catholics, 1,15% Protestants and 0,97% members of the Orthodox Church. There is also a small Jewish community of approximately 10,000 members. 8
fa m ou s c z e c h s Although the present territory of the Czech Republic was only established in 1993, many illustrious men and women were born in this part of central Europe and are considered to be great sons and daughters of this small nation. Just a few names from the extensive list: Přemysl Otakar I. (1155 –1 230) – Czech king who in 1212 received the Golden Bull of Sicily, a decree proclaiming Bohemia a kingdom and Bohemian princes hereditary kings. Sv. Anežka (1205 –1 285) – Saint Agnes of Bohemia was the daughter of King Přemysl (above). She founded an order of nuns, built one of the first hospitals in Prague, and was canonized in 1989, five days before the Velvet Revolution. Karel IV. (1316 – 1378) – King Charles IV., Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor, founded Central Europe’s first university and initiated the construction of many of Prague’s great Gothic monuments. During his reign Prague grew into one of the largest and most important cities in Europe. Jan Ámos Komenský (1592 –1 670) – Comenius wrote several textbooks on education, which were so original that they won him the name “Father of Modern Education”. Unlike his contemporary educators, Comenius used pictures, maps, charts and other visual aids. František Palacký (1798 –1 876) – Czech nationalist and historian; he is considered the father of the modern Czech nation. Palacký played a leading role in the Czech cultural and national revival in the 19th century. Ema Destinová (1878 –1 930) – famous opera singer. She was one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of the twentieth century. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850 –1 937) – the first Czechoslovak president, under whose presidency Czechoslovakia became a strong democratic country, one of the most developed countries in the world. Apart from being a politician, Masaryk was also a philosopher and sociologist. 9
Václav Havel (*1936) – Czech writer and dramatist. In 1977, his involvement with the human rights manifesto Charter 77 brought him international fame as the leader of the opposition in Czechoslovakia; it also led to his imprisonment. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989 he became tenth and last president of Czechoslovakia and then the first president of the Czech Republic. Jan Palach (1948 –1 969) – a Czech student who committed suicide by self-immolation as a political protest against the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Palach died after setting himself on fire in Wenceslas Square in Prague.
Václav Havel
gr e at czech composer s Bedřich Smetana (1828 –1 884) Major works: Bartered Bride, Dalibor, The Kiss, My Country Antonín Dvořák (1841 –1 904) Major works: Slavonic Dances, Stabat Mater, Rusalka, The New World Symphony Leoš Janáček (1854 –1 928) Major works: Jenufa, The Cunning Little Vixen, The Macropoulos Case Bohuslav Martinů (1890 – 1959) Major works: The Opening of the Wells, Dandelion Romance, The Kitchen Revue 10
gr e at czech v isu a l a rt ists Václav Hollar (1607 –1 677) Petr Brandl (1668 –1 735) Josef Mánes (1820 –1 871) Mikoláš Aleš (1852 –1 913) Alfons Mucha (1860 –1 939) František Kupka (1871 –1 957) Emil Filla (1882 –1 953) Josef Lada (1887 –1 957) Jan Zrzavý (1890 –1 977) Josef Šíma (1891 –1 971) Alfons Mucha – posters
gr e at czech t he at r e a rt ists Jaroslav Kvapil (1868 –1 950) – poet and theatre director, 1910-1918 led the National Theatre in Prague, mainly an artist of symbolism Harel Hugo Hilar (1885 –1 935) – theatre director, poet, dramatist, translator, cooperated closely with visual artists, brought expressionism and civilism to Czech Theatre. Emil František Burian (1904 –1 959) – theatre director, musician, singer, actor. He created voiceband and theatregraph, led his own alternative theatre D34 until his death in 1959. Alfréd Radok (1914 –1 976) – one of the most famous European directors of the 20th century, creator of Laterna Magika. Otomar Krejča (*1921) – theatre actor and director, established his own Theater Behind the Gate (Divadlo Za Branou) that made him famous all over the Europe. Jan Grossman (1925 –1 993) – writer and theatre director, led the Theatre on the Ballustrade (Divadlo Na Zábradlí) in the 1960s and cooperated with Václav Havel, which made him famous all over Europe.
Antonín Dvořák 10
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gr e at czech aut hor s
gr e at czech cont empor a ry fil ms
Jaroslav Hašek (1883 –1 923) Major work: The Good Soldier Švejk Karel Čapek (1890 –1 938) Major works: R.U.R., War with the Newts, The White Plague, The Macropoulos Case, Krakatit, An Ordinary Life, Tales from Two Pockets Jaroslav Seifert (1901 –1 986), poet, Nobel Prize Literature laureate. Major works: City in Tears, Sheer Love, On the Waves of TSF, The Nightingale Sings Poorly Bohumil Hrabal (1914 –1 997) Major works: I Served the King of England, Larks on a String, Closely Watched Trains, Too Loud a Solitude Josef Škvorecký (*1924) Major works: The Cowards, Sins for Father Knox, The Swell Season, The Engineer of Human Souls, The Republic of Whores Arnošt Lustig (*1926) Major works: Night and Hope, Diamonds of the Night, Darkness Casts No Shadow, A Prayer for Kateřina Horowitzová, Lovely Green Eyes Ivan Klíma (*1931) Major works: Love and Garbage, The Spirit of Prague, My Merry Mornings, My Golden Trades, The Ultimate Intimacy, No Saints or Angels Milan Kundera (*1929) Major works: The Joke, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Laughable Loves, Immortality Václav Havel (*1936) Major works: Garden Party, Summer Meditations, Largo Desolato, Power of the Powerless
Forgotten Light (Zapomenuté světlo, 1996) by Vladimír Michálek Buttoners (Knoflíkáři, 1997) by Petr Zelenka Those Wonderful Years that Sucked (Báječná léta pod psa, 1997) by Petr Nikolaev Sekal Has to Die (Je třeba zabít Sekala, 1997) by Vladimír Michálek Cosy Dens (Pelíšky, 1999) by Jan Hřebejk The Return of the Idiot (Návrat idiota, 1999) by Saša Gedeon Greedy Guts (Otesánek, 2000) by Jan Švankmajer Divided We Fall (Musíme si pomáhat, 2000) by Jan Hřebejk Loners (Samotáři, 2000) by David Ondříček Wild Bees (Divoké včely, 2001) by Saša Gedeon Fimfarum (Fimfárum, 2002) by Aurel Klimt and Vlasta Pospíšilová Year of the Devil (Rok Ďábla, 2002) by Petr Zelenka Zelary (Želary, 2003) by Ondřej Trojan Bored in Brno (Nuda v Brně, 2003) by Vladimír Morávek Up and down (Horem pádem, 2004) by Jan Hřebejk Something like Happiness (Štěstí, 2005) by Bohdan Sláma I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále, 2006) by Jiří Menzel Grandhotel (Grandhotel, 2006) by David Ondříček Beauty in trouble (Kráska v nesnázích, 2006) by Jan Hřebejk Secrets (Tajnosti, 2007) by Alice Nellis Empties (Vratné lahve, 2007) by Jan Svěrák Roming (Roming, 2007) by Jiří Vejdělek It´s gonna get worse (.. a bude hůř, 2007) by Petr Nikolaev Bathory (Bathory, 2008) by Juraj Jakubisko Children of the Night (Děti noci, 2008) by Michaela Pavlátová The Village Teacher (Venkovský učitel, 2008) by Bohdan Sláma About Parents and Children (O rodičích a dětech, 2008) by Vladimír Michálek Citizen Havel (Občan Havel, 2008) by Miroslav Janek, Pavel Koutecký Protector (Protektor, 2009) by Marek Najbrt Kawasaki’s rose (Kawasakiho růže, 2009) by Jan Hřebejk Changes (Proměny, 2009) by Tomáš Řehořek Kooky’s return (Kuky se vrací, 2010) by Jan Svěrák The eye over Prague (Oko nad Prahou, 2010) by Olga Špátová
g r e a t c z e c h f i l m d i r e c t o r s (o s c a r w i nn e r s ) Jan Svěrák (*1965) Oscar film: Kolya (Kolja, 1996); other successful films: The Elementary School (Obecná škola, 1991), Accumulator (Akumulátor, 1994), The Ride (Jízda, 1994), Dark Blue World (Tmavomodrý svět, 2001) Jiří Menzel (*1938) Oscar film: Closely Watched Trains (Ostře sledované vlaky, 1966); other successful films: Larks on a String (Skřivánci na niti, 1969), My Sweet Little Village (Vesničko má středisková, 1985), Beggar´s Opera (Žebrácká opera, 1991) Miloš Forman (*1932) – emigrated after the Soviet invasion in 1968; Oscar films: One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest (Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem, 1975), Amadeus (1984); other successful films: Competition (Konkurz, 1963), Loves of a Blonde (Lásky jedné plavovlásky, 1965), The Firemen’s Ball (Hoří, má panenko, 1967), Hair (Vlasy, 1979), Valmont (1989), The People vs. Larry Flynt (Lid versus Larry Flynt, 1996), Goya’s Ghosts (2007). 12
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unesco prot ec t ed monuments The World Heritage Committee has inscribed the following areas and monuments in the Czech Republic on the World Heritage List: Historic Centre of Telč www.telc-etc.cz
Litomyšl Chateau www.litomysl.cz
Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora www.zdarns.cz
Olomouc – the Column of the Holy Trinity www.olomoucko.cz
Kutná Hora: Historical Town Centre with the Church of Saint Barbara and the Cathedral of our Lady at Sedlec www.kutnahora.cz
Tugendhat Villa in Brno www.tugendhat-villa.cz The Jewish Quarter and St Procopius´ Basilica in Třebíč www.trebic.cz/unesco
Lednice - Valtice Cultural Landscape www.lednice.cz, www.radnice-valtice.cz
Historic Centre of Prague www.prague-info.cz
Holašovice Historical Village Reservation www.holasovice.cz
Historic Centre of Český Krumlov www.ckrumlov.cz
Gardens and Chateau at Kroměříž www.azz.cz, www.mesto-kromeriz.cz
Holašovice
Kutná Hora 14
CHARLES UNIVERSITY.................................................................................. 17
HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY.................................................................... 18
FACULTY OF ARTS........................................................................................ 21
BASIC ERASMUS DATA................................................................................ 23
ERASMUS DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATORS.......................................... 24
STUDY AT THE FACULTY OF ARTS............................................................. 27
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE.................................................................................. 27
ACADEMIC CALENDAR................................................................................ 29
REGISTRATION FOR THE COURSES........................................................... 29
ORIENTATION WEEK................................................................................... 30
ID CARDS...................................................................................................... 30
REGISTRATION AT THE FOREIGN POLICE................................................. 31
STUDY DURING THE ERASMUS EXCHANGE............................................. 34
ACCOMMODATION..................................................................................... 35
STUDENT CAFETERIAS IN PRAGUE............................................................ 37
COMPUTER FACILITIES................................................................................ 38
LIBRARY FACILITIES...................................................................................... 39
SPORTS FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES.......................................................... 42
FACULT Y OF ARTS
FACULT Y OF ART S
Ch a r les Uni v ersit y Charles University, founded in 1348, is one of the oldest universities in the world and today belongs to the most eminent educational and scientific establishments in the Czech Republic, recognized in both the European and global contexts. It is an outstanding cultural institution as a result of its scientific and pedagogical achievements and its unique historical tradition. Charles University now contains 17 faculties (14 in Prague, 2 in Hradec Králové, and one in Plzeň), 3 collegiate institutes, 6 additional establishments for educational and scientific research, developmental activities, other creative activities and for information service, 5 university-wide facilities and the vice-chancellor’s/rector’s office which serves as an executive establishment for the Charles University management. The university has more than 7,500 employees, 4,000 of these being academic and research staff. Over 51,000 students are studying at CU (which is roughly a sixth of all students in the Czech Republic), in more than 300 accredited degree programmes and 660 study disciplines. More than 18,000 are studying in bachelor's programmes, 25,000 in master's programmes and more than 7,000 in doctoral programmes. Over 6,000 students are from abroad. Various courses in lifelong learning programmes organised by CU attract more than 15,000 people each year. The university is dedicated to international co-operation with prestigious educational and research institutions. CU has signed a total of 450 bilateral agreements and 190 international partnership agreements with foreign universities. Charles University ranks among the world's top universities, a fact that has been confirmed repeatedly by the international university rankings. In the Shanghai University's Academic Ranking of World Universities, which evaluates 2,000 universities, Charles University placed in the top 300 out of the total of world's 17,000 universities and colleges. Charles University therefore belongs among the 2% of the best universities and the 100 top European universities. It is the only Czech institution of higher education to place in the published list of 500 universities. The university fared just as successfully in The THES ranking, ranking 229th. The significance of Charles University can also be characterized by its income which is roughly 8 billion Czech crowns per year. 45% of this amount comes from educational funding, 29% from competitive research grants, and 26% is its own income. Charles University in Prague – photo archive UK 17
Charles University is an accredited public university, it is an autonomous scientific and educational establishment. The Rector is the head of Charles University; the Academic Senate is the supreme self-regulating academic body. Other organs: the Academic Council and bursar, the Board of Directors, responsible for the implementation of public interest in Charles University's policies. The Senate consisting of the prorectors, the bursar and the chancellor make up the advisory body of the rector. The deans are heads of faculties which are independent to a large extent; other parts of Charles University are managed by their directors.
history of t he uni v er sit y Charles IV., a Czech and Roman king, founded Prague University by a deed of foundation on April 7, 1348 as the first university (studium generale) north of the Alps and east of Paris. Charles University belongs among the oldest European universities. It followed the example of the Bolognese and Parisian universities and in a short time became internationally renowned. The original university consisted of four faculties: the Faculties of Theology, Arts, Law, and Medicine. Not only Czechs but also many foreign teachers and students were members of the academic community of the university, particularly those from Central European areas for whom the university in Prague became an accessible and erudite university of studium generale. Charles IV.’s son and successor, Wenceslas IV., extended his influence on the university and in 1409 strengthened the position of the native members of the academic community with the Kutná Hora Decree. The territorial character of the Prague studium generale was emphasized by the protest departure of a number of scholars from the University. Shortly afterwards the University was influenced by the Hussite movement, which preceded the European Reformation, and changed the University’s character. The university rector, Jan Hus, became very influential at the university. In the following social and political revolution the University was reduced to one faculty – the Faculty of Arts. At the beginning of the 17th century the University was influenced profoundly by provincial political estates which were involved in the anti-Habsburg opposition whose political representatives stirred up a conflict at the beginning of the first European war (the Thirty Year War from 1618 to 1648). Their defeat caused a radical change at the university. The victorious Roman emperor and Czech king Ferdinand III united the Carolinian university with a Jesuit university in the Klementinum (whose beginnings go back to 1556) into a university with a new name, Charles-Ferdinand University (the name survived until 1918). This university re-established all four Faculties which 18
had existed before the Hussite movement and began growing from a free corporation of intellectuals into a public educational institution. This process was finished with reforms carried out by the absolutist regime of the emperor Joseph II in the 1780s. The University started to grow into a modern institution of higher education during the reforms of 1848/49, as it gradually changed into a public institute educating a professional intellectual class. In 1882, during the period of a high national political movement, the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague was divided into two universities: Czech and German. By the turn of the 20th century both universities had reached high scientific levels. Professor Albert Einstein worked at the German part of the university. Several excellent personalities who played an important part in the political emancipation process of the state, worked at the Czech part, including Prof. Thomas G. Masaryk, who became the first President of an independent Czechoslovak Republic in 1918. The Charles University – i.e. the Czech university in the independent state – took advantage of its new circumstances to expand scientific research, some of whose results achieved world standards. We should remember in particular the discoveries of Professor Jaroslav Heyrovský in the field of polarography, which brought him a Nobel Prize in 1959. Hitler’s occupation of Czechoslovakia caused terrible disaster and loss. After student demonstrations of 1939 (especially during the funeral of a medical student Jan Opletal, shot dead by the Nazis), Czech universities were closed on November 17, 1939, followed by the persecution of students and university teachers. Charles University was authorized to resume its activity after World War II. The German University in Prague, which had joined the association of Reich universities in 1939, came to an end at the same time as the Nazi Reich. Free development of activity at Charles University was interrupted after the communist coup in February 1948. For many years the regime subordinated all education and research to ideological and political control, and international relations and the impulses of science at the University were affected. Students loyal to the tradition of liberal principles protested against the totalitarian system on November 17, 1989 and initiated the removal of the regime Aided by international cooperation, modern university life has developed rapidly. Today Charles University continues to develop systematic research cooperation and takes part in both European and international programs.
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Fa c u lt y o f A r t s The Faculty of Arts is one of the original four faculties established in 1348, and currently offers 89 subjects of study run by 46 departments and institutes. Since it gained independence at the beginning of the 19th century, the Faculty of Arts has been concentrating on its principal concerns — the humanities. As a result it is now one of the largest and most important humanities institutions in the Czech Republic. With almost 8,000 students and 700 members of teaching staff, the Faculty ranks among the largest at the University. It occupies four buildings in the city centre, whose addresses are: ➸ J. Palacha Square 2
Main Building, Faculty administration, International Office, Computer Laboratory, Interpreter Laboratory, Self-Access Language Centre, and the majority of departments; Celetná Street 13 and 20 ➸ Adult Education, Archaeology, Cultural Studies, Education, History of Art, Psychology, Sociology, Information and Advisory Centre Hybernská Street 3 ➸ Translation Studies, Ibero-American Studies, Comparative Literature
➸ U Kříže 8 (Jinonice, Prague 5)
Political Science, Information Science and Social Work 20
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b a s i c e r a s mu s d a t a The Faculty is composed of 46 basic working units (29 institutes, 14 Chairs, the language centre, the centre for Ibero-American studies), 4 specialized working units (the scientific information centre, the international sinological centre, the history cabinet, the media centre and two scholarly research institutes (the Czech Institute of Egyptology, the Institute of the Czech National Corpus). In the philology field, regular and occasional courses are offered in more than 50 languages, as well as in the literature, history and background associated with each of the languages. The humanities offer a broad spectrum of disciplines from traditional philosophy, religious studies, logic and aesthetics to pedagogy, psychology, sociology, political science, adult education, theatre and film studies, information studies, librarianship, etc. The basic undergraduate program is a 5-year MA degree program, which is usually a combination of two subjects (a joint degree program), or, in a few cases, just one subject (a single degree program). Some departments already offer 3-year BA programs. Postgraduate doctoral 3 – 5 year programs are realised by means of research (admission requirements: MA diploma, entrance interview). Undergraduate students are enrolled on the basis of entrance examinations. For international students joining the programs, prior knowledge of academic Czech is a requirement, except when the student joins the Czech Studies Course or the paid Eastern and Central European Studies Course taught in English.
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Charles University in Prague Faculty of Arts
Full legal name of the institution
Univerzita Karlova v Praze Filozofická fakulta ERASMUS Code
CZ PRAHA 07
Address (Main Building)
Náměstí Jana Palacha 2 116 38 Praha 1 Czech Republic
Dean
doc. PhDr. Michal Stehlík, PhD.
International Office
1st floor, rooms 103+128 E - mail: zahranicni﹫ff.cuni.cz Fax: 221 619 382
Head of International Office
Bc. Kateřina Mitasová Tel.: 221 619 390 E - mail: katerina.mitasova﹫ff.cuni.cz
ERASMUS Faculty Co - ordinators
Marcela Boušková – incoming students
[email protected] Ing. Jan Bieber – outgoing students
[email protected] Tel.: 221 619 363, Fax: 221 619 382
International Office office hours
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
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closed 9 –1 2 14 –1 7:30 14 – 16 9 – 12
e r a s mu s d e pa r t m e n t a l c o o r d i n a t o r s During Orientation Week, you should find your supervisor – the departmental coordinator at the appropriate department or institute – and discuss the lectures and seminars you wish to attend with him/her. He/she will also let you know where and when those courses take place. Field of Study
Coordinator
E - mail
Room
[email protected]
404, main building
Field of Study
Coordinator
E - mail
Room
Finnish Studies
Mgr. Jan Dlask
[email protected]
419b, main building
French Studies
Mgr. Lucie Tučková
[email protected]
109, main building
German Studies
Boris Blahak, M.A.
[email protected]
318b, main building
[email protected]
Italian Studies
PhDr. Alice Flemrová, PhD.
Norweigan Studies
Cand.Philol. Thor Henrik Svevad
[email protected]
Portuguese Studies
PhDr.Jaroslava Jindrová
[email protected] 116,Oettingen palace
PhDr. Libuše Valentová, CSc.
[email protected]
Musicology
Mgr. Marc Niubó, Ph.D.
Theatre Studies
Mgr. Veronika Štefanová
Cinema Studies
MgA. Kevin Johnson
Art History
Prof. PhDr. Roman Prahl, CSc.
[email protected] 401, Celetná 20 PhDr. MgA. Josef Záruba-Pfeffermann, Ph.D
[email protected]
Spanish Studies
Adult Education
PhDr. Martin Kopecký, PhD.
301, Celetná 20
Swedish Studies
Education
PhDr. Michaela Vítečková, Ph.D.
[email protected]
225, Celetná 20
Aesthetics
Mgr. Tereza Hadravová
[email protected] 203, Celetná 20
Czech and PhDr. Libuše Heczková, PhD. Comparative Literature
Philosophy
Jakub Jirsa, PhD.
[email protected]
Religious Studies
Jakub Jirsa, PhD.
[email protected] 407, main building
[email protected]
Auxiliary Historical PhDr. Zdeněk Hojda, CSc. Sciences and Archive Studies Czech History
[email protected]
406, main building
220, main building
[email protected]
220, main building
[email protected]
212, main building
Doc. PhDr. Martin Nejedlý, PhD.
[email protected]
211, main building
General History
PhDr. Ondřej Vojtěchovský
[email protected]
302, main building
Prehistory and Early History
PhDr. Ivo Štefan, Ph.D.
[email protected]
149, Celetná 20
Classical Archeology
Prof. PhDr. Jan Bouzek
[email protected]
340, Celetná 20
Romanian Studies
114, main building 322, main building
301, Hybernská 3
Juan Antonio Sánchez Fernández, Dr.
[email protected] 115, main building Mgr. Helena Březinová, PhD.
[email protected] 322, main building
[email protected]
413, main building
Anglophone Prof. PhDr. Martin Procházka, CSc.
[email protected] 219a, main building Literatures and Cultures Translation Studies
Mgr. Šárka Kühnová, D.phil.
[email protected]
103, Hybernská 3
Latin Studies
Mgr. Martin Bažil, PhD.
[email protected]
339, Celetná 20
Slavonic and East European Studies
Dobromir Grigorov, PhD.
[email protected] 23, main building
Indic Studies
Prof. PhDr. Jaroslav Vacek, SCs.
[email protected]
9,8 - Japanese Studies Mgr. David Labus, PhD.
[email protected]
337, Celetná 20 244, main building
Sinology
Mgr. Dušan Andrš, PhD.
[email protected]
243, Celetná 20
Political Science
PhDr. Radek Buben
[email protected]
4011, Jinonice
Mgr. Dana Mudd, PhD.
[email protected]
112, celetná 20
Cultural Studies
PhDr. Karel Hnilica, CSc.
[email protected]
319, Celetná 20
Sociology
Ethnology
Mgr. Zuzana Korecká
[email protected]
229, Celetná 20
Psychology
[email protected]
24, main building
Social Work
PhDr. Hana Pazlarová, PhD.
[email protected]
417, main building
Economic and Social History
PhDr. Michal Pullmann, PhD.
[email protected] 108, Celetná 20
Czech Language Mgr. Jan Chromý and Theory of Communication Czech Studies
PhDr. Jana Bischofová
[email protected]
Danish Studies
Mgr. Helena Březinová, PhD.
[email protected] 322, main building
Dutch Language
Mgr. Lucie Sedláčková
[email protected]
118, main building
[email protected]
105, main building
English PhDr. Pavlína Šaldová, PhD. and American Studies 24
PhDr. Monika Morgensternová, PhD.
[email protected] 308b, Celetná 20 4012, Jinonice
Information PhDr. Petra Sluková Studies and Librarianship
[email protected]
2011, Jinonice
Center for Doc. Markéta Křížová, PhD. Ibero-American Studies
[email protected]
207,Hybernská 3.
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(zátišie s pracovným stolom, perami, papiermi a obálkami – trochu neporiadok)
S t u d y a t t h e Fa c u lt y o f A r t s b e f o r e y ou a r r i v e Before you arrive to study at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, you must prepare for a game called Bureaucracy. It’s not really difficult but you have to remember the rules. To make it as easy and smooth as possible we will take you through the individual steps of the procedure. In the end you will have most of the forms you need to obtain all of the necessary permits.
All You Need Is (In The Following Order): 1. To be nominated by your LLP – Erasmus coordinator 2. To fill in the on-line registration 3. To print two documents generated by the on-line registration (Application Form + Learning Agreement) and to get them stamped and signed by your LLP – Erasmus coordinator 4. To send the documents together with Transcript of Records to the Faculty of Arts Deadlines The absolutely final deadlines for the applications are as follows: If you are applying for the winter semester: June 15th, for the summer semester: October 31st. However, in view of the shortage of student housing in Prague, we strongly recommend that you send your application earlier if at all possible.
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Application Procedure Step 1 – Nomination (contact your LLP – Erasmus coordinator) If you wish to study at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University as an Erasmus student, your home university must officially nominate you. As a first step, therefore, you must contact the LLP – Erasmus coordinator at your home university. Step 2 – On-line registration Please note that this is an obligatory process – so if you have filled in the standard forms (on paper) without registering on-line we still must ask that you register online. Detailed information about on-line registration is available in our Step-by-Step On-line Registration Guide at http://www.cuni.cz/UK-2301.html. The on-line registration is available at the following websites: http://www.is.cuni.cz/erasmus or https:// www.is.cuni.cz/erasmus Step 3 – Confirmation of the Essential Forms: (Application Form + Learning Agreement) The printed-out forms are to be checked and confirmed/signed by the relevant coordinators of your university. Remember that forms must be delivered on time. Your application cannot be accepted after the closing date for any reason whatsoever. We recommend that you send the documents by means that provide you with proof of dispatch (registered post, express courier, etc.). Step 4 – Sending Documents Send the forms together with Transcript of Records either to the coordinator of the Faculty of Arts or to the European Office: European Office Charles University in Prague Ovocný trh 3 116 36 Praha 1 Czech Republic
Erasmus Coordinator Faculty of Arts Náměstí Jana Palacha 2 116 38 Praha 1 Czech Republic
Please bear in mind that until the printed, signed and stamped forms are sent, you have not yet actually started the application process for your study exchange. We will confirm the Application Form and Learning Agreement and send the originals back to you together with a Letter of Admission and Accommodation Voucher. If you decide not to use University accommodation we need you to inform us as soon as you have arranged your private accommodation.
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a dminist r at i v e support for in t er nat iona l st uden ts During their studies international students will probably need assistance from our administrative staff. At the Faculty of Arts feel free to visit us at: International Office at the Faculty of Arts Nám. Jana Palacha 2, 1st floor, room 128. This office is responsible for students’ registration, issuing confirmations of studies and transcripts of records, signing the learning agreements, helping with course registrations and the electronic system. At the University level you can visit: European Office of the Charles University Ovocný trh 3. 1st floor, room 113 116 36 Praha 1 This is the office which issues your acceptance letters, you can contact them regarding the accomodation issues, acceptance for prolongation of your studies and other things where university coordinators are needed. EO Office Hours: You are welcome anytime (daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), but if you want to be a hundred percent sure of reaching the European Office staff member you need, then visit them during official office hours. Jana Hanousková Monday 10 – 12a.m. 2 – 4p.m. Institutional Co-ordinator Tuesday 10 – 12a.m for Incoming Students Wednesday 10 – 12a.m. 2 – 4 p.m. Tel.: +420 224 491 710 Thursday 10 – 12a.m. 2 – 4 p.m. Fax: : +420 224 229 487 E-mail:
[email protected] 29
ac a demic c a lenda r
r e g i s t r a t i o n f o r t h e c ou r s e s
Winter term Orientation week –27th September 2010–3rd October 2010 (but 28th September is Holiday!) Winter term lectures – 4th October2010–7th January 2011 Exam term – 10th January 2011–18th February 2011 Holidays (= no lectures) 28th October – The day of creation independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 17th November – The day of fight for freedom and democracy (the Velvet Revolution in 1989) 23rd December 2010 – 2nd January 2011 – Christmas Holiday
After their arrival students will be registered in the electronic database by the faculty coordinator Marcela Boušková. She will also guide and assist students to enroll in the respective courses. Students can drop and add courses in the database by the end of October. Language courses taught by Jazykové centrum (Language Center) are not intended for Erasmus students. The number of credits awarded for each class is specified in the electronic system. More detailed information and the list of all available courses will be given during the Orientation week.
or ien tat ion w eek Summer term Orientation week – 14th February 2011–20th February 2011 Lectures – 21st February 2011–20th May 2011 Exam term – 23rd May 2011–1st July 2011 Holidays (= no lectures) 25th April – Easter Monday
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Orientation Week is always held one week before the term starts. It takes place 27th September–3rd October for the winter term and 14th February– 20th February for the summer term. You should arrive during that week. There is a lot to do and arrange: we plan meetings concerning departments, sorting out your schedule, finding accommodation, ID cards, transport tickets…. The student club will also have something in store for you – free city tours, the welcome party, etc. The detailed program will be announced as soon as possible via e-mail. There will be an official registration for all Erasmus students during Orientation Week, where you will receive all necessary documents and instructions. You must bring your Letter of Admission and one passport photo with you. No student can be enrolled at the Faculty without this registration. If you have serious reasons for later arrival, your registration can be handled individually at the International Office in room 128 during office hours.
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id c a r ds
r egist r at ion at t he for eign police
Each international student is obliged to get his/her ID CARD (Identity Card), which is free of charge. It is a university chip card, which includes the most important information about a student (personal details, photo, signature, name and stamp of Charles University). This card will be valid for the period of time stated on the student’s application form. For this card, a coupon will be given to each student during registration. Students can pick up their ID card at two locations (see below). You have to bring along the coupon and your passport. You can receive an ISIC card instead of the normal Student ID Card for a fee of 300CZK: Choose the type carefully, changing it afterwards is not free of charge. You also have to pay for a new card in case of losing it.
If an EU citizen intends to stay in the Czech Republic longer than 30 days, he/she is obliged to report their place of residence at the department of Foreign Police up to 30 days after their entry into the country. To do this, you will need to fill out the State Border Crossing Report (both parts) and the so-called “Hlášenka“ (see page 34). In addition, you must bring two passport photos (3,5 x 4,5cm, white background) and your insurance card (the blue EU card is the best option). Be aware that the police are very strict about the photos!!!
The IDs are issued at two distribution points: Faculty of Law (nám. Curieových 7, Praha 1) on the ground floor, left side, room No. 34 opening hours: Monday –Th ursday Friday
9:00 –1 2:30 9:00 –1 2:30
13:00 –1 6:30
Information and Advisory Centre of Charles University (Celetná 13, Praha 1) opening hours: Monday –Th ursday Friday
9:00 –1 2:00 9:00 –1 2:00
12:30 –1 8:00 12:30 –1 6:00
You will use your ID or ISIC card for printing and making copies. To load your card with the amount you need use the charging machine (ground floor of the main building) or go the Library of Cultural Studies located off of the courtyard of the main building. 32
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The Office of the Foreign Police is situated at Koněvova 188/32, Praha 3. You can take bus 133 from Staroměstská or 136 from Flora to the station Černínova. There, walk down the hill until you come across the Delvita/Billa supermarket – the office you seek is on the third floor of the building. Opening hours are MO, WE: 7:30 – 17:00, TU, TH: 7:30 –1 4:00. One word of advice, come as early as possible, so that you get a ticket/number. Half an hour before opening hours should do. Be ready for everything – queues, annoyed women behind the desks and most importantly a lack of knowledge of any foreign language!!! Unfortunately, it’s not a joke. They only speak Czech!!!
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s t u d y d u r i n g t h e e r a s mu s e x c h a n g e Once your Learning Agreement is signed, your departmental coordinator should guarantee your place in the courses you have selected. If you want to change any courses, do not forget to fill in the “Changes in Learning Agreement” form during your first month in Prague. You should also be automatically accepted to courses that belong to the study field you are accepted to. You are of course allowed to study any subject at the Faculty of Arts; your admission to a course is always up to the teacher (it can depend on the number of students or the level of your language skill). All of the courses by the Faculty of Arts offered in foreign languages should be listed on the web site. If you are able to follow lectures or seminars in Czech, you should browse the web sites of specific departments and institutes. You can also pick some courses from other faculties (mainly the Faculty of Social Science or the Faculty of Humanities) but we cannot guarantee that you will be accepted into these courses. There is the possibility of visiting some courses from the ECES and CIEE programs. These study programs are organized mainly for American students who pay for them, but we can offer the vacant places to Erasmus students free of charge. There is an intensive Czech Language course offered to all Erasmus students. The course consists of 5 teaching hours per week and meets twice a week. There are different levels available – beginner, intermediate and advanced. You will be sorted into groups on the basis of a written test. This course is not free of charge. The price will be announced during he orientation week. You can sign up for the course during Orientation Week; a place is guaranteed for all Erasmus students. At registration, you will receive a yellow book called Book of Academic Records, where you will fill in the names of your courses. At the end of your study period, teachers in all courses you have been attending should sign your Book of Academic Records and write your grade and the number of credits obtained in your Book of Academic Records, once you have passed the course. As soon as you collect all of the signatures, you should come to the International Office with your Book of Academic Records to pick up the Transcript of Records and the Confirmation of Study Period, which you may need for your home university. It can take 5 days to issue the documents so make sure you come in time.
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accom modat ion Accommodation at Charles University Residence Halls Accommodation is provided in Charles University Residence Halls. Students are housed in double-occupancy rooms. Single rooms are not available. Each unit consists of twin rooms, which share bathroom facilities. A small kitchenette is usually at the end of each hall. Students can also use a lavatory and cloakrooms in the building. Bedding and bed linen are provided; towels and kitchen utensils are not.
The allocation of rooms is the responsibility of the management of the residence hall – if you wish to share a room with a friend (schoolmate) of yours, please ask the Accommodation Office (Reception) upon your arrival. Accommodation will be provided for the period corresponding to your study stay at Charles University. It is always available starting approximately one week before the beginning of the semester/study period – orientation week included – and students do not need to make any special request to move in during this week. You will be notified of the details of your accommodation in an Accommodation Voucher that you will receive together with a Letter of Admission. Please contact the European Office if you need accommodation for a period that differs from your study period for good reasons:
[email protected] All Erasmus address: e - mail: phone:
students of the Faculty of Arts are accommodated in Kolej Hostivař. Weilova 1128/2, 102 23 Praha 10 kolej.arealhostivar﹫kam.cuni.cz +420 267 215 205 (reception) 36
The exact price and period of your stay will be confirmed on the Accommodation Voucher. Students who wish to come earlier will have to find their own accommodation. Please note that if you decide to cancel your accommodation you will not be able to reapply for accommodation in Charles University Residence Halls. For the residence check-in you need your passport, the original of your Accommodation Voucher, and one photograph. Students who arrive after office hours will be housed for the night (the reception stays open non-stop) and registered on the following workday at the Accommodation Office. Rent is paid directly in cash (CZK) at the Accommodation Office/Reception at the appropriate residence. Credit cards are not accepted. Students make the first payment upon their arrival and must make subsequent monthly payments in advance, always at the latest on the 25th of the preceding month. When checking-in, students are expected to pay for one month in advance plus a deposit of 1,800 CZK. If a student wishes to leave the accommodation earlier than is stated in the agreement, he or she will have to pay a penalty charge that will be deducted from the “advance” part of the payment. Private Accommodation It is not difficult to find private accommodation in Prague. For a three-room flat (two rooms and a kitchen) in Prague you will pay about 15,000 CZK. It can be twice as cheap if you live out of the centre. You can contact various rental agencies: for example, you may find it useful to visit the website of GTS International (www. gtsincoming.cz) where you can find accommodation in Prague and other Czech cities. The contact person in GTS is Yvetta Harčariková, phone: +420 257 187 132 . Other relevant sites are: Sreality – http://www.sreality.cz Expats.cz – http://realestate.expats.cz Centrum pronájmu – http://www.centrumpronajmu.cz Spolubydlící (roommate agency) – http://www.spolubydlici.cz Happy House Rentals – http://www.happyhouserentals.com Home Sweet Home – http://www.homesweethome.cz Your Reality Group – http://www.youreality.cz/eng/ Roommate agency – http://www.roommate.cz If you decide not to use the University accommodation we need you to inform us as soon as you have arranged your private accommodation. Send e-mail to
[email protected] 37
st udent c a fet er i a s in pr ague
c o m p u t e r fa c i l i t i e s
You can get lunch and dinner at any student cafeteria (“Menza”) of the Charles University. You can choose to have lunch at one cafeteria and dinner at another one – whatever suits you. Most of the cafeterias offer some vegetarian meals, but this is not guaranteed to happen daily. To get a meal, take your ID card and meal plan tickets (provided during registration) to the cafeteria with you and they will deal with it. The cafeteria in the Faculty of Law (which is the nearest to our faculty) uses a system of magnetic cards. This card costs 150 CZK but this fee is refundable at the time you return the card before your departure. Some of the cafeterias charge your meal from your ID card, that you can load with money.
During the Orientation Week you will be given username, password and rules for accessing the university network and the Internet. In the main building you may either use one of the computer terminals in the hallways, or there is a computer room located on the mezzanine between the ground and 1st floor which operates on working days from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. There also is a computer room in Hybernská street No 3 with opening hours every working day from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and other computer rooms in Celetná street No 13, Jindřišská street No 27 and the Jinonice building. In the main building there is wireless Internet broadcast. In case of IT troubles you have to consult staff of the computer lab (Tel.: 221 619 348, 221 619 358,
[email protected]), which is located on the ground floor of the main building. Walk towards a cafeteria right from the main staircase, turn right before entering it and use the narrow door leading to the courtyard. Cross the courtyard diagonally and enter the door to the computer lab. The staff does not speak english well, so we reccomend to ask your tutor or a fellow student for interpretation.
Menza Právnická Address: Náměstí Curieových 7 (at the Faculty of Law, the closest cafeteria to the main building of the Faculty of Arts) Menza Jednota Address: Opletalova 38 (at the top of Wenceslas Square, near the Main Railway station); this cafeteria also serves breakfast Menza Arnošta z Pardubic Address: Voršilská 1 (between the National Theatre and the metro station Národní třída); this cafeteria also serves breakfast Výdejna Jinonice Address: U Kříže 10 (another building of the Faculty of Arts, near the Jinonice metro station, where you can find the Institute of Political Science, Institute of Information Studies and Librarianship and others) Menza Hostivař Address: Weilova 1128 (in the location of the dormitory, where all the Erasmus students get their rooms)
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l i b r a r y fa c i l i t i e s The library system in Prague is quite specialized. There is not a single University library, but each Faculty operates its own departmental libraries. Students also have access to non-university libraries, such as the National Library in the Klementinum (close to the Faculty’s main building), the Municipal Library, the National Museum Library and the Academy of Science Library. Ask the departmental coordinator or your tutor from the Erasmus & Company club for information and assistance.
Mon – Fri
Visitor Information and Library Shop Main Hall Help and Information Desk Circulation Desk Catalogues Library Cards Photocopy Services Reference center Consultations Bibliographic & Research Services Union Catalogues Interlibrary Loan Services Internet access Reading Room
9:00 – 17:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00
closed 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 14:00 – 19:00 14:00 – 19:00
Sat
9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00
9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00 9:00 – 19:00
The Municipal Library of Prague (http://www.mlp.cz/english) of Prague is the universal public library. The library offers loans, materials for reference, newspapers and magazines, audio materials (CD, MC, LP), sheet music, drama, graphics and reproductions. In the automated libraries users also have access to electronic catalogues and other databases, multimedia information sources and the Internet. You will mainly need the Central Library, which is located 5 minutes from the main building of the Faculty of Arts, on Mariánské náměstí. The National Library
The National Library (http://www.nkp.cz/_en/index.php3) in the Klementinum complex is located a three-minute walk from the main building of the Faculty of Arts towards the Charles Bridge. One of the entrances is situated on Mariánské náměstí square, another in Karlova and Křižovnická street. The National Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the Czech Republic with collections of a size far outranking any other library in the country. Historical collections are mostly of Czech and European origin. In addition the Slavonic Library constitutes a part of the National Library. It is a public research library, the largest such in Central Europe specializing in Slavonic studies. Besides original Slavonic literature, the documents are thematically oriented around professional Slavonic literature from all over the world and focus mainly on history, philosophy, linguistics, literary science, folklore studies, ethnology, political science, sociology, and art.
Opening hours Monday Closed Tuesday 09:00 – 20:00 Wednesday 09:00 – 20:00 Thursday 09:00 – 20:00 Friday 09:00 – 20:00 Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 Sunday Closed
The Municipal Library 40
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The Masaryk Library of Social Sciences in Jinonice (http://knihovna.jinonice.cuni. cz/KSVENG-6.html) consists of two parts – the sublibrary with charging desk in the main building and study room placed over the street. The Charles University card is required to entering both parts of the library. The library users are required to put their coats and bags (the notebook bags as well) into the storage boxes before entering. The keys are borrowed by the librarians on the CU card or ISIC. When the key is not returned the same day it was borrowed, there are penalties according to the table of charges. Opening Hours Monday – Friday 8:30 – 19:00 During examination period: Monday – Friday 8:30 – 2 0:30 Saturday 9:00 – 18:00 Study and Reference Centre and Faculty of Arts Library are situated in the Main building of Faculty of Arts and can be found on the ground floor, to the right of the main staircase (next to snack bar “U Platóna”). Study and Reference Centre provides: services concerning loans, information, reference and bibliography, open access basic reading materials and journals on three floors: RED – philology and literature; BLUE – philosophy, social sciences, art; GREEN – philology and literature;
s p o r t s fa c i l i t i e s a n d a c t i v i t i e s Student sports activities are organized on the Faculty level. The Department of Physical Training and Sports at the Faculty of Arts offers a wide range of sports, activities and courses, such as swimming, skiing, self-defence, tennis, basketball, volleyball, aerobics, gymnastics, cycling, softball, running, rowing, rafting, canoeing, windsurfing, hiking, yoga, and fitness. To find out what is offered and how to join, check the website: http://ktv.ff.cuni.cz, which is, unfortunately, only in Czech. You can also use public and University sports facilities (fitness centres, swimming pools, tennis courts, saunas, squash and golf centres) at the Sport Centre Hostivař (close to the dormitory Hostivař, Bruslařská street n. 1132 – bus station Gercenova). Individual sports are also offered: Swimming pool – open on Monday 20:00 – 21:30, Friday 18:00 – 21:00. The fee with the student discount (Book of Academic Records or ID card must be shown) is 55 CZK/hour. Tennis – open from May to September (outdoor) for 80 CZK/hour – reservation on 274 861 200, from October to April (main hall) for 480 CZK/hour – reservation on 272 082 203 The HUMANITA Sports Club caters to the training of the University’s sports teams in aerobics, cross-country skiing, volleyball, mountaineering, rafting, hiking and fencing. You can also visit the Sport Centre Evropská at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, which is located at José Martího street, No 31, Praha 6 (parallel to Evropská street). The Sport Centre offers squash, bowling, an artificial rock-climbing wall, workout room, solarium, aerobics, indoor cycling, sports shop, fitness bar, and massage. More information by telephone: 201 172 309, 201 172 310 or on the web site www. sportcentrumevropska.cz
You can find three study rooms with wi-fi access, a PC study room, a group study room with audiovisual equipment, selfservice copiers with rechargeable copy cards, relaxation areas there. Opening Hours Monday – Friday 9.00 – 2 0.00 Saturday – Sunday closed 42
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not es
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ARRIVING IN PRAGUE................................................................................. 47
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
OR WHEN YOU NEED SOME PRIVACY..................................................... 48
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF CZECH MONEY..................................... 49
WILL MY LIFE SAVINGS BE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN PRAGUE?................... 50
CALL YOUR MUM........................................................................................ 51
SEND GREETINGS TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER......................................... 51
INTERNET...................................................................................................... 52
HEALTH PROBLEMS?................................................................................... 52
HELP, HELP I’M BEING ROBBED!............................................................... 52
TRAVEL AROUND PRAGUE AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC........................ 53
FREEZING OR SWEATING??........................................................................ 55
IS BEER REALLY THE ONLY THING WE CARE ABOUT?........................... 55
WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT, OR ARE WE??........................................... 57
LITTLE CZECH DICTIONARY (JAK SE MÁŠ?).............................................. 58
GIVE ME THE FOOD…................................................................................ 61
STAY IN PRAGUE
S TAY IN PR AGUE
Stay In Pr ague
a r r i v ing in pr ague Every student that comes to Prague will have a tutor (a person who will take care of you after arriving and if agreed, he/she will also pick you up from the place you arrive), which should make your life much easier. In the case that you decide to prove your self-confidence, or arrive very early or very late (the time your tutor is either sleeping or having his 10th beer), this is how you will find your way to the dormitory. All Erasmus students are staying at the same dormitory, Hostivař. Arriving by plane: there is a direct bus connection from the airport to the metro station. Just take the bus number 119 (do not forget to buy a ticket at the airport. The price of a ticket is 26 CZK and it is valid for 75 minutes in normal working days, 90 minutes at night or weekends. Don't forget to valide the ticket upon entering the tram or subway). This bus will take you all the way to the “green” metro station Dejvická in approximately 30 minutes. This is the bus’ last stop (so do not worry that you will miss it). Here you change to the metro, and take it all the way to the last-but-one metro station, Skalka (the journey takes approx. 30 minutes). There you get off the metro and you can take bus number 154 or 271. In 7 to 12 minutes you arrive at the station Nádraží Hostivař, which is where you are staying. The dormitory is a 5 minute walk from the station. At night it gets a little bit more complicated: even though night buses and trams run, the metro stops. When arriving at night, take bus number 510 from the airport to the Dejvická station. This bus runs only once an hour. From there you have to walk to the Hradčanská station (approx.15 minutes walk) and from there you take a night tram 57 (runs twice an hour) that will bring you all the way to the final station called Nádraží Hostivař, i.e. home. It is usually not recommended to take a cab, but in a case your suitcase is heavy, it might be a good idea. Just be careful about the price – you should not pay more than 600 CZK to drive all the way to the dormitory. Arriving by train: the main Railway station (Hlavní nádraží) is located on the red metro line. You can just take one stop from the railway station to the station 47
Muzeum, where you change to the green line and the rest of the trip is the same as for arrival by plane. At night you might have to walk from the railway station all the way to the Národní Třída night tram stop and from there you take the 57 night tram. This tram will bring you straight to Nádraží Hostivař, i.e. home. Arriving by bus: the main Bus station is located at the metro station Florenc (yellow line). You should take the yellow line from the bus station to the Můstek metro station where you change to the green line and from there, again, the same directions apply as in arriving by plane. At night it is quite a lot of walking and transferring, so probably we would suggest a taxi. Our most recommended taxi services are Modrý Anděl (Blue Angel), tel.no.: 737 222 333 or AAA Taxi, tel.no: 14014, Speed Cars, tel. no.: 224 234 234
a lt e r n at i v e accom modat ion or w h e n you n e e d som e pr i vac y All Erasmus students stay at the same dormitory. This brings some advantages and some disadvantages. The advantage is that you can be sure that you will get to live under one roof with all the other students, which makes getting to know each other very easy. The disadvantages are the non-stop parties on the hallways and also the loss of privacy, as you always live in double rooms. After some time at the dorm, when they get tired of the parties, many students find a good friend or two and want to rent their own place, possibly close to the centre of the city. For those is intended the following section of the guide. Probably the best and also easiest way to manage finding a place is to check the info board at the Faculty of Arts building on a 1st floor. That is where all the students (international as well as Czech) put their ads. The price is usually good and the location as well. If you don’t find anything suitable there, check a good website www.expats.cz where after login you will get to see tons of ads updated daily about flat-share and renting. With a little bit of knowledge of the Czech language you can visit the website www.byty.cz or another good one, www.sreality.cz. We recommend being very careful when renting, as we have had a case of some students who paid the deposit and 2 months´ rent and never actually got as much as a key from the house. The basic rule is that you should get an official document for everything you pay. There is also a lot of rental agencies, but you have to take into account the extra payment, at an amount of one month’s rent, for the service. The most recommended agency is Happy House Rentals (http://www.happyhouserentals.com/index1.php). 48
w elcome to t he wor ld of czech mone y The Czech currency is called the Czech Crown (koruna) and it is easily exchangeable everywhere. The coins come in the value of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and sometimes 50 CZK, the bills are in the value of 50 (the effort is to start using the 50 coins instead of a 50 bill – so that people get used to the Euro coins, 50 CZK having the approx. value of 2 Euro), 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and rarely you will get to use also the 5,000 bill. When exchanging money in Prague, never exchange on the street. There are various “cheaters”, who might offer you a good exchange rate, but will rip you off for sure. Also, it is not recommended to exchange money in the very centre of Prague due to the high (and thus not fair) exchange rate. If you want a good deal, look for exchange offices out of the centre and remember there are a lot of exchange offices where you don’t have to pay a commission fee. A lot of people use the Arabic exchange places. You can find them also in the centre (usually on a smaller street) and they usually sell Czech glass as well. It is also common for international students to open an account at one of the Czech banks. The most common is Česká Spořitelna, but the one we recommend is Živnostenská Banka, where after contacting your tutor you will be able to arrange a meeting with someone from the bank to help you out with the opening of an account. In case you do not have CZK and no Exchange is open, all the big supermarkets accept Euro as well, but they may not offer you a very good exchange rate. However, you won’t stay hungry and they will give you change back in CZK.
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w i l l m y l i f e s av i n g s b e e n ou g h t o l i v e i n p r a g u e ?
c a l l y ou r mu m
The Czech Republic is still considered to be a cheap country for many people from western countries, but especially in Prague living is becoming more and more expensive all the time. Especially the centre of the city offers a huge variety of bars and restaurants, but you won’t notice too many Czech people around. It takes only a couple of minutes to walk from the centre to a place where the prices are much more “Czech” and the number of people having their meal and as always drinking beer increases. Here is a list of reference prices of some services and beverages in CZK and in EUR, the current exchange rate being 1 EUR = approx. 26 CZK.
You can make an international phone call from any phone booth, which you will find all over the city. It is usually better not to call directly, but to buy one of the charged phone cards from a kiosk so called “trafika” (a small shop selling newspapers, cigarettes, etc., that you will find almost everywhere in the city, as well as at every metro station). There are various kinds of phone cards available, so ask the shop assistant to help you choose the best one. There are also many Internet cafes that offer the possibility of international calls via the Internet. Almost all international students today have cell phones. There are 3 operators from whom you can buy a SIM card. Two of them (O2 and T-Mobile) might charge you an extra 50 CZK for their pre-paid SIM card, so most of the students choose the third operator, Vodafone. The price of a SIM card is 200 CZK with 200 CZK worth of calling time (for more information about prices check their web at http://www.vodafone. cz/en/). This operator has also the advantage of being able to send free SMS messages from internet (see also the operator’s website). The country code for the Czech Republic is +420, the area code for Prague is 2, so if you want to call for example the International Office, the whole number would be in a form of: +420 221 619 363.
GOODS butter salami ham eidam cheese brie cheese bagel bread baguette 10 eggs 2 liters of Coke 1 kilo of apples 1 kilo oranges beer in supermarket beer in a czech bar beer in the center 0,5 liter of Becherovka 0,7 liter of czech wine music CD liquid soap – regular shampoo – regular Marlboro Cigarettes (20)
PRICE IN CZK 25 20 18 17 40 4 25 14 26 32 30 35 10 28 40 170 70 400 90 80 82
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PRICE IN EUR 0,93 0,74 0,67 0,63 1,48 0,15 0,93 0,92 0,96 1,1 1,30 1,30 0,37 1,04 1,48 6,30 2,59 14,81 3,33 2,96 3,04
s e n d g r e e t i n g s t o y ou r g r a n d m o t h e r The best way of sending a postcard is just to buy a stamp at any kiosk. The price of a stamp is the same to every EU member country; for other countries you must inquire about the price. There are also many post offices in the city centre. One of them is close to the Faculty of Arts main building at Kaprova street 40/12, the other one, which stays open from 02:00 till 24:00, is at the very centre at Jindřišská street 900/14 (by the Wenceslas Square). The post offices also offer fax service. 51
internet There is Internet available in the Faculty buildings (see the section on facilities). If you need to use an Internet café (as the Faculty buildings are closed on weekends), you will have to pay for Internet use. Usually expect to pay something between 0,50 to 1 CZK per minute. Many cafés also offer free connection of your notebook to the Internet. The wi-fi Internet connection covers almost all the centre and surrounded areas, so you can take your notebook to a park. To see the locations that offer this service and also the IP addresses and all other things needed visit the website of the City of Prague at: http://www.praha-mesto.cz/default.aspx?l=2.
h e a lt h p r o b l e m s ? We sincerely hope that you all will just have a great time in Prague, but in case of sickness, please pay attention to this information. There are certainly many hospitals in Prague, but you may encounter some problems there – especially the language barrier. This is why we recommend that you contact your tutor to accompany you to the hospital.
Always watch your bags, especially at busy tourist areas and at nightclubs. In case anything happens to you, again, contact your tutor who will help you out. Usually, if you choose to go to the police station, you must go to the one closest to the place where the incident happened. The problem with this is that the police officers may not speak English, or any other foreign language. For that reason there is a police station at the very centre of Prague, at Můstek. They are open 24/7 and the receptionists speak foreign languages; as a minimum they certainly speak English. If needed, a translator can be called, but count on waiting for some hours, depending on how busy he/she might be.
t r av e l a r ou n d p r a g u e a n d t h e c z e c h r e p u b l i c
Prague is a safe city, but it has a high rate of pick-pocketing. That is why we recommend you to take the highest level of vigilance to avoid being robbed.
After arriving in Prague the best way to get around is public transportation. There is the metro that runs almost everywhere and you will probably also use the trams and buses. There is no student fare for single tickets, but there is a cheaper ticket for 18 CZK for shorter distances (5 metro stops without changing or 20 minutes on a tram) and then a 26 CZK ticket that you can travel with for 75 minutes (90 minutes at weekends and after 20:00) and change as many times as you wish. The tickets are available in kiosks and machines. Most of you will probably buy a 3-month permanent pass. You can get it at several metro stations (we recommend the Můstek station) when you show your student ID card. The price is 720 CZK for a 3-month student pass (only if you are younger than 26). For students older than 26 the price is doubled to 1,480 CZK. In case you lose your permanent ticket, you can get a duplicate copy without needing to buy a new one at the Municipal Transportation Centre. Their address is Na Bojišti 5 (near to the metro station I. P. Pavlova). The system of public transportation is considered very good, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting anywhere, even at night. Generally the night buses and trams run
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h e l p, h e l p, i ’m b e i n g r o b b e d !
the whole night, every half an hour. The metro closes around midnight and starts running again at approximately 5:00 in the morning. During rush hour the metro runs every 2 minutes, trams and buses about every 10 minutes. When travelling without valid ticket (you must validate your one-way ticket when entering public transportation) you can get caught quite easily, especially in the centre where a lot of tourists travel without a ticket. The conductors wear regular clothes, so you will not know that they have entered the transportation. They will show you a small badge and ask you for a ticket. If you do not have one, either you must pay a fine of 950 CZK (which can be lowered to 700 CZK once paid right away) or they will ask you for ID and take down all of your personal info. If you cause trouble they will call the police, so it is recommended that you cooperate. In case you only just left your permanent ticket at home, do not pay anything, but tell them and you will have to bring the ticket to show to the Na Bojišti 5 address where you will pay a fine of only 50 CZK. It is strongly recommended to watch your bag closely, especially in a full metro or tram where a lot of thieves use the rush-hours to empty your bags and pockets. There is a lot of places worth visiting around Prague. When travelling by bus, you will find all necessary information at the main bus station located at the metro station Florenc; when travelling by train, the main railway station is at the metro station Hlavní Nádraží. When you take a bus, always ask if you can get a student discount, which is usually possible, and may grant you up to 50% off. The trains don’t offer a student discount, but they have a good price on group tickets. To form a “group” there must be at least two people. Tell the cashier you want a group ticket. To learn more about discounts, visit the main bus or railway station.
fr eezing or s w e at ing?? You are all aware of the global warming problem, which you will be able to experience in the Czech Republic as well. The cold winters are getting warmer and the warm summers are getting hotter. In winter the temperature very rarely falls below –15 centigrade and in Prague the snow never stays for a long time. In summer the temperature may rise to 30–35 degrees Celsius. Usually there is an autumn with a lot of rain, during which you find most Czechs in one of the many bars and cafes, drinking their mulled wine.
i s b e e r r e a l ly t h e o n ly t h i n g w e c a r e a b ou t ? The character of Czech people has been much discussed. Well, for us it is hard to say, but we rather like to see ourselves as the “beer philosophers,” an easy-going and generally happy crowd. For those of you who know Švejk (the supposedly traditional Czech character from a novel by Jaroslav Hašek) – well, we are just like him. We have asked some international students about how they see us and we hope that their answers will give you some idea of our temperament. (The authors of this booklet haven’t edited anything that was said.) “Some men are really exclusive here. Not handsome but they have a great sense of humour and charm. But they are vain and unreasonably self-satisfied. Women are much more different. They are self-confident and they know how to take advantage of their virtues. Sometimes I just have to stop on the street and watch a woman, as she disappears in the crowd. Czechs love to gather together having a glass of beer and discussing everything (politics, sport...). Family is a very important issue. If you get the opportunity to be a part of their world, it is a wonderful experience. Czechs love to enjoy their lives. They have a good sense of humour and love to smile. “ – a German “Every woman is called Sarka and has such long legs. In general most Czechs are good looking. But why do they have the tendency (especially men) to loose their appearance very soon? Maybe it is because of knedlo-zelo-vepro, beer and smoking. Czechs have an impeccable taste. Sometimes I would think that the worst insult the com-
Main Railway Station in Prague 54
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munists did on them was when they replaced the crown of the Czech symbol – lion – with a red Soviet star. What I really don’t like is the envy and greed.” – an American “The women are beautiful. But sometimes they are trying too hard to look the same as those models in magazines. Then I feel like I’m meeting “the same faces” all the time. Men don’t care a lot about themselves. However, the younger generation is changing this slowly. Czechs had a lot of famous writers, composers and scientists. They are intelligent. That is true about individuals, not about society as a whole. I like that they respect old and historical things. But when they buy new things, they don’t care about design and stuff like that. At first I thought that Czechs were cold, that they were worried about something. Today I think it is because of their reserve. At home or between their friends they act so differently, they are friendly and sincere. Inside their families they are bound tightly together and they help each other a lot more than in Japan. That is what I admire. And they talk with each other a lot, sometimes even too long.” – a Japanese “Slavonic women are beautiful; it is said that Polish women are the most beautiful in the world. I always recognize a Pole in the crowd but I’m not sure if I would recognize a Czech. Czechs are proud of their intellectuals. Especially their schools are pretty hard. I don’t think Czechs have good taste. However, there are big differences between the younger and older generation. Old people are too conservative; they were influenced by the communism more than they can accept. Young people are open to new things, you can see their joy that they have a choice. What is very typical for this nation is their discretion. They don’t solve problems right away, they sit down and talk about them or let the time to solve them. Most of my friends agree that Czechs are nicer than Poles – when they see a foreigner they either try to get money out of him or to help.” – a Pole “I think a lot of people here have a problem with their freedom. To understand it, to enjoy it. They are not used to it and they always look for some restrictions. They don’t want to be responsible for their lives, they need “someone” who will take care of them, who will tell them what to do. Most of the people have good taste, but not the rich people. They became rich too quickly and they don’t know how to spend their money. 56
Czechs are reserved; they don’t like to say their opinion in the public. If they have a goal, they go for it. They love competition. What I really hate is their aggressive driving. They don’t have respect for each other. And one more thing, Czech men don’t know how to flirt - they take everything too seriously.” – an Austrian
w e a r e n o t s o d i f f e r e n t, o r a r e w e ? ? Let’s call the Czech Republic a developed democratic country, a member of the EU and generally prospering quite well. Also let’s call it the heart of Europe (as we like to think of ourselves). But in every country there are some features of behaviour that are a bit different. Let’s see what those are in the Czech Republic. Shoulds And Shouldn’ts: – always make a seat available for an older person on public transportation. Also sometimes a person approaches you and shows you a special card. This card is the proof of some kind of his/ her disability and you should leave the seat to him/her. – always leave a small tip (how small or big depends on how the service was). The waiters and waitresses get a really low hourly wage and the tips are usually a part of their income. There is not really a set % rate you should leave as a tip. – when cheering with a beer, you must hit the glass on the table before taking a sip. This is not too common, but you will see a sign of appreciation in the eyes of your Czech co-drinkers. 57
– there is a different form of Czech language used when talking with a friend and with an older person or a professor. Be aware of that – you do not want to look impolite. – watch your wallet – all the time. – especially for students from the south: when a Czech person says “let’s meet at 17:00”, they really mean 17:00. Waiting for a long time is usually not common. Classes also generally start at the announced time, although there is a 15-minute period called ‘the academic quarter hour’, during which it is ok to be late.
lit t le czech dic t iona ry ( ja k se m á š?) Many people say that the Czech language is unpronounceable as a result of the ridiculous amount of consonants that it is possible to place together in a word (e.g. čtvrtek – Thursday, zmrzlina – ice-cream). What’s more, there are a few sounds that are very difficult to pronounce also for some Czechs themselves, e.g. the letter Ř, which is pronounced as something between the French R and a soft Z.
Also you will notice many accents over the consonants or vocals. Generally the rule is that when you see a little line over a vocal, you have to pronounce it longer (e.g. káva – kaava). When there is a small tick over the letter, mostly consonants, they are pronounced just in a softer way than their equivalents without a tick. So don’t worry, a little bit of practice will make you a master. 58
PHRASES IN ENGLISH Hello. Good morning. Good evening. Good day. Please. Thank you. I am sorry. I don’t speak Czech. I am from….. Could I please get…. Do you have a menu in English? I will have one beer, please. I would like to have a coffee. I would like to pay. Can I pay with a card, please? Excuse me, please. Does this bus/tram/metro going to…. Where can I buy a ticket for…. Could I get a student discount? Where is the closest police station? Could you show me the way to…. What time is it? right left straight ahead railway station bus station food drink cold warm good bad open closed
PHRASES IN CZECH Ahoj/ Čau/ Nazdar Dobré ráno Dobrý večer Dobrý den Prosím Děkuji/ Díky (less formal) Promiňte/ Promiň (less formal) Nemluvím česky Já jsem z…. Mohl bych prosím dostat…. Máte jídelní lístek v angličtině? Dám si jedno pivo, prosím. Dal bych si kávu. Zaplatím. Můžu platit kartou, prosím? Promiňte, prosím. Jede tento autobus/tramvaj/metro na…. Kde můžu koupit lístek na…. Můžu dostat studentskou slevu? Kde je nejbližší policejní stanice? Můžete mi ukázat cestu…. Kolik je hodin? vpravo vlevo rovně (vlakové) nádraží (autobusová) zastávka jídlo pití studený teplý dobrý špatný otevřeno zavřeno 59
g i v e m e t h e f o o d…
Days of the week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Numbers one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve twenty thirty forty fifty sixty seventy eighty ninety hundred thousand
Pondělí Úterý Středa Čtvrtek Pátek Sobota Neděle jedna dvě tři čtyři pět šest sedm osm devět deset jedenáct dvanáct dvacet třicet čtyřicet padesát šedesát sedmdesát osmdesát devadesát sto tisíc
Although Czech cuisine is not exactly a synonym for healthy cooking, everyone will probably find at least a couple of meals “to die for.” It may be the potato soup, the traditional roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, the fruit - filled dumplings, or the apple strudel. Czech cooking and eating habits have been shifting in the general direction of a healthier lifestyle, but traditional Czech recipes are still extremely popular – and those tend to be high in calories, fat and sugar. Sauces and condiments are also popular. Soups A Czech meal often starts with a soup (polévka). Some popular Czech soups are: – potato soup (bramborová polévka or bramboračka) – garlic soup (česneková polévka or česnečka) – chicken noodle soup (kuřecí vývar s nudlemi) – beef soup with liver dumplings (hovězí vývar s játrovými knedlíčky) – sauerkraut soup (zelná polévka or zelňačka) – dill soup, made of sour milk (kulajda) The Main Course The main course (hlavní chod) usually consists of meat (maso) and a side dish (příloha). The most popular meats are chicken (kuřecí) and pork (vepřové), followed by beef (hovězí), usually served with some kind of sauce (omáčka). Fish is not very common although trout (pstruh) or cod (treska) are sometimes served. Salmon (losos) and seafood (plody moře) are served in more lavish restaurants. The mackerel (makrela) is a popular fish to grill over an open fire in the summer. Carp (kapr) is traditionally served on Christmas Eve.
Traditional Czech Dish called “Svíčková” 60
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Side Dishes The most common Czech side dishes are: – boiled potatoes (vařené brambory) – roasted potatoes (opékané brambory) – mashed potatoes (bramborová kaše) – French fries (bramborové hranolky) – rice (rýže) – bread dumplings (houskové knedlíky) or potato dumplings (bramborové knedlíky) with sauce (omáčka) – bread or potato dumplings with sauerkraut (zelí) – potato salad (bramborový salát) Desserts Desserts (moučníky) come in many varieties and tend to be heavy and fatty because butter (máslo) and whipped cream (šlehačka) are often used. Some popular desserts are: – crepes (palačinky) filled with jam (džem) or strawberries (jahody) and whipped cream – honey cake called Medovník – blueberry dumplings (borůvkové knedlíky) – apple strudel (jablečný závin) – ice cream sundae (zmrzlinový pohár)
Specials If you wish to try something special, do not skip the soup of cows´ stomachs (dršťková), potato pancakes (bramboráky), fried cheese in breading (smažený sýr), molded cheese combined with tons of onion and pepper and chili in oil (nakládaný hermelín) or just simple toasted bread with a lot of garlic (topinka).
Traditional Beer Snack called “Utopenec”
Nakládaný hermelín
not es
Beverages As far as drinks (nápoje) go, a Czech meal is often accompanied by the national beverage, beer (pivo). If you’re not in the mood for beer, you can have mineral water (minerálka), orange juice (pomerančový džus), apple juice (jablečný džus), or a soda (specify its name, i.e. Coke, Sprite, because soda in Czech means “soda water”). Czechs also like to drink tea (čaj) with sugar (cukr) and lemon (citrón), and coffee (káva) with or without milk (mléko) or cream (smetana).
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not es
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FANCY A SVÍČKOVÁ?................................................................................... 67
FANCY A NICE COLD BEER?....................................................................... 69
WE ALL LOVE SHOPPING............................................................................ 74
PRAGUE IS A CITY FULL OF CULTURE....................................................... 77
SPORTS AND HOW TO STAY FIT................................................................ 84
LEISURE TIME
LEISURE TIME
L e i s u r e Ti m e
fa n c y a s v íč k o vá ? Many restaurants in Prague offer a lunch menu (polední menu), meaning they have special dishes for a special prize. If you go to a typical Czech restaurant, you will find this menu on a separate list of paper or at the first page of a menu booklet. This menu is usually offered from 11:00 till 14:00 (sometimes later on), but the later you come, the smaller the selection tends to be. It is recommended to go to eat a little bit outside of the centre as the price will be lower and sometimes even the food is of better quality (not to mention the huge portions and the typical “service included” policy). Also remember that the tip is not always necessary, but for good service it is expected. How much you should tip varies from place to place. In general, however, in a bar or a regular restaurant it is ok to just round the price (let’s say you should pay 83 CZK, so if you leave 90 CZK that’s ok). It is common to say the total sum you wish to pay before you get your change back, and not to leave the tip on the table for the waiter to pick up. In more expensive restaurants the tip should be about 10 % of the bill. The following is just a list of some restaurants that are not too common; they might have something special or they will give you a touch of your home country.
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Name Address Akropolis............................................................... Žižkov, Kubelíkova 27/Víta Nejedlého Biskupcova pivnice............................................... Praha 3, Biskupcova 64 Bruska................................................................... Praha 6, Eliášova 7 Česká hospoda..................................................... Letná, naproti Techn. muzeu Česká hospoda..................................................... Žižkov, Orebitská Demijon Bar......................................................... Ve smečkách 16 (100m od Václaváku) Francouzská restaurace........................................ Praha 1, Nám. Republiky 5 Golden Eagle (U Zlat. orla)................................. Malá Strana, Josefská 1 Hospůdka U Gambáče......................................... Vinohrady, Varšavská 24 Hospůdka v Bráníku............................................. Bráník, u nádraží Chateau................................................................ Staré Město, Jakubská 2 Chinese Restaurant Canton................................ Malá Strana, Saská 3 Jamajka................................................................. Smíchov, Staropramenná 23(u Anděla) James Joyce.......................................................... Praha 1, Liliová 10 Kain ..................................................................... Žižkov, Husitská 1 Klub techniků....................................................... Staré Město, Novotného lávka 5 Klub U Tučků........................................................ Smíchov, Holečkova 67 Klub Újezd............................................................ Smíchov, Újezd Konvikt................................................................. Konviktská 22 Koto Sushi............................................................ Praha 1, Mostecká 20 La Bastille............................................................. Praha 1, Malá Strana pod lanov.z Petřína La Fabrique........................................................... Staré Město, Uhelný trh 2 Modrá terasa....................................................... Praha 1, Na můstku 9 Na kovárně........................................................... Holešovice, Partyzánská 5 Na ovocném trhu................................................. Ovocný Trh 368/17 Na Palmovce........................................................ Palmovka, Sokolovská, naproti poště Nad Viktorkou...................................................... Žižkov, Bořivojova Pivrncova putyka.................................................. Praha 1, Maislova 3 Pizzeria Einstein................................................... Letná, Šmeralova 3 Pod Petřínem....................................................... Hellichova Pohádka................................................................ Ve Smečkách Red Hot & Blues................................................. Staré Město, Jakubská 12 Reykjavík............................................................... Staré Město, Karlova 20 Smíchovský radniční sklípek................................. Smíchov, nám. 14. října 4 Steak-House......................................................... Paraha 5, Zborovská 1200/6 68
Šenk u krále Jiřího................................................ Liliová ul. Taverna Toscana................................................... Staré Město, Malé nám.11, Michalská 22 Therapy restaurant............................................... Praha 1, Školská 30 U Betlémské kaple............................................... Praha 1, Betlémské náměstí 2 U Bílého lva......................................................... Smíchov, Na Bělidle 30 (u Anděla) U Brouka.............................................................. Praha 5, Vltavská U Buldoka............................................................ Smíchov, Staropramenná U císaře Rudolfa.................................................. Praha 8, Na Šutce U černého koníčka............................................... Myslíkova 26 U dvou koček....................................................... Uhelný trh 10 U Džbánu............................................................. Praha 6, Jenečská U Fleků................................................................. Křemencova 11 U Kláštera............................................................ Břevnov, Bělohorská 169 U Magistra Kelly.................................................. Malá Strana, Jánský vršek 14 U Malého Glena................................................... Malá Strana, Karmelitská 23 U Maltézských rytířů........................................... Malá Strana, Prokopská 10 U Pinkasů............................................................. Jungmanova ul. U Richtyků........................................................... Praha 1, Lodecká 9 U starého lva........................................................ Svornosti 32/Lidická U suchý dásně...................................................... Trojická 11/1912 U vystřeleného oka.............................................. Žižkov, U Božích Bojovníků 3 U Zlaté trumpety................................................. Staré Město, Ungelt - Týn 2/640 U Zlatého tygra.................................................... Staré Město, Husova17 Zdar ..................................................................... Staré Město, Anenská 1
fa n c y a n i c e c o l d b e e r ? After you arrive in Prague you will see that drinking beer is more than a national sport in the Czech Republic. Students, the working class, homeless people – everyone sits in a bar, a terrace, a beer garden or just in the park having their refreshing bottle of Czech beer. This is probably also due to the fact that beer is the cheapest drink on the whole menu. Beer is something Czechs are really proud of and we are the country in which the most beer per person in the whole world is consumed. This is why you should never talk badly about Czech beer, because you might get into a long-lasting discussion about its qualities. Beer is one of the oldest drinks 69
known to mankind. In Bohemia beer was always made from malt, hops and water and everyone who had the opportunity and the raw materials could brew it, i.e. the feudal lords and church dignitaries. Many royal towns were established in the 13th century with various privileges, and one of the greatest was the right to brew beer. In the 14th century, the brewing and malting trades were separated from each other and two different guilds were created. Czechs like to think that their beer is the best in the world, and those that don’t agree with them should come and taste it. Czech beer tends to be more full-bodied and bitter than foreign brews, and usually arouses the desire for more. There are many different types of beer. Apart from the famous brews such as Pilsner Urquell, Budvar and Staropramen, there are also many local brands each with their own specific taste. In the past, e.g. in the 18th century, there were more than 1,200 brands; nowadays there are fifty. You can visit most of the breweries and taste their beer at the very source. There are also some restaurants in Prague with their own microbreweries, where you can follow the brewing process. Perhaps the most famous of these is U Fleků (Křemencova 9, Praha 1), which has been brewing beer since 1499. There is a useful website with a list of over 450 bars and pubs, unfortunately only in Czech. Visit http://www.ceske-hospudky.cz/search. php?t=hospudky and find your favourite place. In case you want to know more, here are some recommended bars (the favourite ones of the creators of this brochure). Velryba Opatovická 24, Praha 1-Staré Město
Hany Bany Veleslavínova 5, Praha 1-Staré Město, tel.: 222 327 602 e-mail:
[email protected]
Týnská Literární kavárna Týnská 6, Praha 1 – Staré Město tel.:224 821 807
Café Indigo Platnéřská 89/11, Praha 1-Staré Město
Street cafe Konírna Anenská 11, Praha 1-Staré Město
Praha 2 – Vinohrady, Blanická 28 Út – Čt 16:00 – ??, Pá – So 19:00 – ??,
Krásný Ztráty Náprstkova 10, Praha 1 tel.: 775 755 143
Agave Azul – Mexican Bar Praha 7 – Letná, Kamenická 7 Po – Pá 18 – ?? So – Ne 18 – ?? 70
Atmosphere Café - Pub
Cross Klub Praha 7 – Holešovice, Argentinská Po – Ne 16 –??
Praha 1, Smetanovo nábřeží 14 Café 10:00 –24:00, Pub 12:00 – ?
Balbínova poetická hospůdka Dejvická Sokolovna Praha 6 – Dejvice, Dejvická 2 Po – Čt 10:30 – 23:00, Pá 10:30 – 24:00, So – Ne 11:30 – 23:00
Praha 2, Balbínova 6 Po – Pá 12:00 – 24:00, So – Ne 18:00 – 24:00
Bar B52 Praha 2 – Vinohrady, Francouzská 52
Duende Praha 1 – Staré město, Karoliny Světlé 277/30 Po – Pá 13:00 – 01:00, So 15:00 – 1:00 Ne 16:00 – 1:00
Baráčnická rychta Praha 1 – Malá Strana, Tržiště 23/555 Po – Ne 12:00 –24:00
Barracuda café – mexická restaurace Praha 10 – Vršovice, Krymská 2 Po – Pá 11:30 – 23:30, So – Ne 17:00 – 23:30
Elwood Praha 6, Čs. Armády 13
Biskupcova Pivnice
Hells Bells Praha 5, Na bělidle 27 Po – Ne 15:00 – 03:00 Recommended heavy music bar with a good music, nice and interesting people and drawings on the walls that will inspire the devil-worshiper in you.
Praha 3, Biskupcova 64 Po – Pá 14:00 – 02:00, So 17:00 – 02.00, Ne 14:00 – 00:00
Brouk Praha 5 – Smíchov, Vltavská 22 Po – Ne 17:00 – 02:00
Hospoda U starého lva Praha 5, Lidická 13
Café Galerie Chiméra Praha 1 – Malá Strana, Lázeňská 6 Po – Ne 14:00 – 03:00
Hospůdka u Gambáče Praha 2 – Vinohrady, Varšavská 1042/24
Club Saigon Praha 2 – Vinohrady, Třebízského 9a Po zavřeno, Út – Čt 17:00 – 01:00, Pá – So 18:00 – 02:00, Ne 18:00 – 24:00
Hospůdka U myslivce Praha 5, Holečkova 51 Po –Ne 16:00 – 01:00 71
Nad Viktorkou Praha 3 – Žižkov, Bořivojova 79
Hostinec U Suchý Dásně Praha 2 – Nové město, Trojická 11 Po – Čt 12:00 – 02:00 Pá 12:00 – 03:00, So 16:00 – 03:00 Ne 16:00 – 02:00 Hostinec U Vrby Praha 6, Hládkov 6
Nirvána Praha 10, Na Spojce 8 Po – Pá 11:00 – 23:00, So – Ne 12:00 – 23:00
Hugo Z Hor, café, bar Praha 5, Vodní 17 Po – Pá 9:00 – 22:00 So – Ne 16:00 – 22:00
Pivnice Jamajka Praha 5 – Smíchov, Staropramenná 23 Po –Ne 16:00 – 01:00
Jazz Cafe č.14 Praha 1, Opatovická 14 Po – Pá 10:00 – 23:00 So – Ne 12:00 – 23:00
Pivnice U Milosrdných Praha 1 – Staré město, U Milosrdných 12 Po – Pá 10:00 – 23:00, So 10:00 – 22:00 Ne zavřeno
Klub Exit Praha 5 – Smíchov, Erbenova 8 Po – Ne 15:00 – 24:00
Sport bar Zlatá Hvězda Praha 1 – Nové Město, Ve Smečkách 12 Po 11:00 – 24.00, Út – Čt 11:00 – 02:00, Pá 11:00 – 04:30, So 12:00 – 04:30, Ne 12:00 U Kruhu Praha 1, Palackého 21 Po – Ne 11:00 – 24:00
U vystřeleného oka Praha 3 – Žižkov, U Božích bojovníků 606/3 Po – So 15:30 – 01:00
U Magistra Kellyho Praha 1 – Malá Strana, Jánský vršek 14
Žlutá pumpa Praha 2, Belgická 11 Po – Ne 12:00 – 01:00
U Zlatého Tygra Praha 1, Husova 17 Po – Ne 15:00 – 23:00
U Rady Vacátka Praha 7 – Letná, Milady Horákové 22
And many, many more.
Restaurace Haštalský dědek Praha 1 – Josefov, Haštalská 20
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub Praha 1, U Obecního dvora 4 Po – Čt 15:00 – 00:30 Pá – Ne 15:00 – 02:00
Restaurace JÁMA Praha 1, V Jámě 7 Po – Ne 11:00 – 01:00 Restaurace Tlustá Koala Praha 1 – Nové Město, Senovážná 8 Po – Ne 12:00 – 01:00
Na Hrádku Praha 6, Šlikova 15/402 Na měsíci Praha 8 – Libeň, nám. Dr. V. Holého 7 Po – Pá 14:00 – 23:00 So – Ne 18:00 – 23:00
Restaurace U Pinkasů Praha 1, Jungmannovo nám. 16 Po – Ne 09:00 – 04:00
Na Ovocném Trhu Praha 1, Ovocný trh 568/17
Wenceslas Square 72
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w e a ll lov e shopping Shopping in Prague is an adventure and you can find good deals. Areas like Žižkov are full of second-hand shops where bargain hunters and antique collectors will find a gold mine of dusty Communist-era regalia, interesting used clothing and other odds and ends. Many visitors just want to stock up on cheap Asian imports at the outdoor markets. In addition, Prague has many quality high-end stores including recognizable international companies as well as world-famous designers. There’s something to suit everyone’s pocket!
Drinkable goods to bring home include Becherovka, the national herbal ‘medicine’; Slivovice – hard liquor made of plums; and the infamous liquorice-flavoured Absinth, banned in many other countries because of its apparently hallucinogenic and toxic ingredient: wormwood. If you need something unique for a friend who likes to cook, how about a good luck kitchen witch? Flying on a broomstick, she makes sure nothing in the kitchen burns. ‘Mole’ (Krteček) is an adorable Czech cartoon character for children – a t-shirt, book or furry backpack will delight the kids on your list. Art lovers will appreciate a box or deck of cards with motifs by Alfons Mucha – he was one of the most celebrated Czech painters ever and was very influential in starting the Art Nouveau movement. Ladies might like linden tree perfume – it’s the national Czech tree and smells fresh, green and flowery. Nesting dolls are beautiful and make great gifts for both children and adults; but they’re a Russian tradition, not Czech. And then there are all the typical tourist souvenirs – jumping spiders and ‘Communist’ regalia like furry hats and so on. For the most part these things are imported from China to be sold to tourists here. But if you like it, that’s all that matters!
Wanna buy a gift? For something truly Czech look for handmade goods. The art of lace-making is still practiced today and lots of women in the villages continue to create beautiful, traditional patterns. Wooden toys like dolls and marionette puppets are good gift ideas. If you’re in Prague during the spring, look for hand painted eggs or braided birch switches used by boys to whip girls’ legs at Easter (a pagan fertility ritual). The Czech Republic has many garnet mines and the stones are used in making all kinds of jewellery. Garnets are usually a deep red colour but the ones from the Czech Republic are known to have a brighter pinkish tone. Another jewellery item easily found is amber. It ranges from a light golden colour to a deep brown and some of it is even green. Variations in the ‘stone’ caused by trapped plant matter - or even insects - add to the design. Both amber and garnets can be found in many shops throughout the city. Buying glass and crystal goes without saying: it is known all around the world that Czechs know how to blow and cut crystal better than anybody. Don’t worry about buying a chandelier because you don’t want to travel with it; almost all shops will gladly arrange shipping. If you visit beautiful Karlovy Vary make sure to pick up the large, round, layered wafer cookies (karlovarské oplatky). Also, look for the ceramic mugs with a built-in straw that doubles as a handle. They’re made for drinking from the hot springs but maybe you’ll want to use yours all the time. There are ceramic beer ‘steins’ of all shapes and sizes for sale in all the tourist shops, which beer drinkers at home may appreciate.
Don’t be hungry You have several options when it comes to daily things like food. Supermarket chains (e.g. Albert) can be found throughout Prague with more or less the same selection you would expect anywhere else. There are several popular flavours that show up in everything from tea to yogurt. A few of these are: apricot (‘meruňka’), blackcurrant (‘černý rybíz’), strawberry (‘jahoda’) and apple (‘jablko’). The outer areas of Prague are now home to ‘Hypermarkets’ such as Hypernova, InterSpar and Tesco, where locals do most of their personal food shopping. The prices are low and there is a better chance of finding imported foods. In the city centre you will find small shops that are crammed with goodies, some so small that the staff behind the counter have to get your things for you. This can be a little frustrating if you don’t speak Czech. The Czech Republic uses the metric system. In many of the shops you are required to use a shopping trolley or basket and the staff may complain if you don’t, as it can be considered bad manners. Also good to know: unless individually wrapped and priced, fruits and vegetables should be weighed, usually self-service, on the electronic scales provided. Look for them – you’ll see other shoppers bringing their things there. Push the button with the picture of the fruit you have, and out comes a label with
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the weight and price printed on it that you put on the item so they know how much to charge at the checkout. For fresh, cheap produce go to any of the open-air markets in Prague. The biggest one is the Pražská tržnice in Prague 7 near Vltavská metro station. Here you can find almost everything from apples to furniture and hardware to portable stereos and CDs. The prices are often a lot lower than in the shops, though the selection is limited.
pr ague is a ci t y f ul l of cult ur e Prague has always been a cultural centre of Central and Eastern Europe and it is trying to keep up its good name. You will find many museums, galleries, theatres and also many concerts and festivals. Here is a list of some museums and galleries: MUZEUMS AND GALLERIES
Outdoor markets are cheap and fun From little wooden stalls set up around the Old Town Square to sprawling markets with cheap imitation designer clothes you will find outdoor markets in various locations throughout the city. Some of them are very tourist-oriented, especially those in the centre, and may seem a bit tacky but it’s possible to find a good deal now and again. There are also markets that appear occasionally, most notably at Christmas, especially in the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. They sell items such as souvenirs, seasonal food and drink and wooden toys. You will also find Christmas crèches with live animals and entertainment throughout the day. Havel’s Market, Havelská, Prague 1 The most popular central Prague market is located on a short street that runs at right angle to Melantrichova Street, the main route connecting the Old Town and Wenceslas Squares. Pražská Tržnice, Prague 7 Prague’s largest outdoor market. This is a vast network of kiosks with vendors selling an endless variety of consumer goods. Warehouse-size stores selling furniture and hardware are also found here. Produce prices are lower than in the shops but the selection is often more limited. Pankrác Tržnice, Prague 4 This market has many outdoor stands offering some of the best seasonal produce available. Inside the large aluminium warehouse you can buy dry goods, household products and electronics. Located next to Pankrác metro station it’s also easy to find. 76
Kafka Museum, Address: Cihelná 2b Even if you haven’t read any of Franz Kafka’s novels or stories, the Kafka museum will throw you into the world of a man you may not know about, and will hopefully leave you wanting to get your own copy of The Trial or The Metamorphosis (conveniently sold in a number of languages in the museum’s gift shop). The interactive exhibition takes you chronologically through several displays dedicated to the writer’s works, and then several detailing the writer’s life (and inevitably the role played by Prague). A number of eerie videos really set Franz Kafka the Kafkaesque mood, so once you leave the museum you might just experience some of the tricks the city plays on the mind. Opening hours are daily 10 am – 6 pm, January–February daily from 11 am – 5 pm. Marionette Museum Marionette Museum, Address: U Karlova 12 Puppets are very popular in Prague and indeed the city is the unofficial puppet capital of the world, due to the long tradition of puppetry here. There’s plenty in this museum to keep you entertained, not least actual puppet shows in the special theatre on the premises.
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National Museum
National Museum, Address: Václavské náměstí 68 At the top of Wenceslas Square, a statue of King Wenceslas guards the National Museum (Národní muzeum). Built in 1818, it is the oldest and largest museum in the Czech Republic, and undoubtedly the most well-known by the visitors to Prague. The museum is more geared towards natural science and history, and its permanent exhibitions include: prehistory of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, mineralogical, petrological, paleontological, and zoological collections (try saying that five times fast), an osteology collection, the cabinet of book culture, and an anthropology exhibit. Just don’t come on Tuesday, they are closed. Jewish Museum In Prague, Address: U staré školy 1 Present at the establishment of the Jewish Museum in Prague in 1906 were the historians Dr. Hugo Lieben and Dr. Augustin Stein, the representatives of the Czech Jewish movement and later heads of the Prague Jewish Community. The original of the museum was to preserve valuable artefacts from the Prague synagogues that had been demolished during the reconstruction of the Jewish Town at the beginning of the 20th century. The Museum was closed to the public after the Nazi occupation of Bohemia and Moravia on 15 March 1939. In 1942 the Nazis established the Central Jewish Museum, to which were shipped artefacts from all of the liquidated Jewish communities and synagogues of Bohemia and Moravia. Its founding was proposed by Dr. Stein himself, who, in co-operation with other specialist members of staff, sought to save the Jewish objects that were being confiscated by the Nazis. Following long negotiations, the Nazis approved the project to set up a central museum, albeit guided by different motives than those of the museum’s founders. Thanks to that deed, many valuable objects survived to these days. 78
Alfons Mucha Museum, Address: Panská 7 This is a real treat for art lovers, particularly those with an interest in art nouveau, but anyone who likes to look at nice pictures will have a great day here. The museum is all about the life and work of Alfons Mucha, the famous Czech painter who was the defining artist of the art nouveau movement in France, and who spent his last years in Prague decorating various buildings and landmarks in his unique style. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, the museum holds over 100 exhibits, which include everything from decorative panels to pages from his sketchbook. Klementinum Gallery, Address: Klementinum 190 Located at the Klementinum in the heart of the Old Town, the Klementinum Gallery is run by the National Library and most often features exhibitions by Czech artists. The beautiful halls of the gallery alone are worth checking out for their historical and artistic relevance. The entrance to the gallery is from Křižovnická Street, by the Charles Bridge. Be sure to check their website for a full listing of exhibitions, which change fairly often. Museum Of Communism, Address: Na Příkopě 10 The Museum of Communism starts off humorously, especially if one first browses through their hilarious mock-communist 79
postcards and posters. The exhibit goes on to show the aspects of daily life under communism, from propaganda at schools and work to empty shelves in stores, as the theme turns from idealistic dream to horrific reality. However, by far the most intense experience is watching the 30-minute or so film near the end of the exhibition. The video presents clips from the Warsaw Pact invasion of 1968 and the Velvet Revolution of 1989. After half an hour of watching people of all ages and sexes brutally beaten by riot police on camera, suddenly your own life won’t seem so bad. Open Monday to Sunday, 8 am – 9 pm. Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures, Address: Betlémské náměstí 1 In 1826 the Fingerhut family bought the old Prague building “U Halánků” with a brewery and distillery which, within a matter of years, their older son Vojtěch was to make famous literally throughout the whole world. In 1848, after the overthrow of revolution in Vienna and Prague, Vojta Náprstek (1826 – 1894) sought refuge from police persecution for ten years in the United States, where he gained a lot of experience. Upon his return to the country, he tried to use this knowledge to repay the Czech society. One of his most important activities was the construction of the private Czech Industrial Museum, which was supposed to help underdeveloped Czech manufacturing. Before long, the museum and library became the centre of the Czech intellectual scene, and, thanks to Náprstek’s contacts among Czechs living outside the country, was even celebrated abroad. Apart from exhibits on things technical, the museum also accumulated ethnographic and artistic artefacts, which Náprstek’s friends and travellers brought from all around the world. After his death the museum became ethnographic, and after 1946 its bearing was orientated purely towards non-European cultures.
by artists of the Central Western Desert of the Northern Territory Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands. DOX Centre for Contemporary Art Address: Poupětova 1, Praha 7 http://www.doxprague.org/en/ Brand new modern art musem The DOX Centre was initiated in 2002 by Leoš Válka, along with several partners. The goal of this initiative is to serve the wider public by creating a living arts centre, becoming a platform for the exhibition of Czech and international contemporary art. Museum Kampa, Address: U sovových mlýnů 2 While the earliest surviving records mentioning the existence of a flour-mill on Prague’s Kampa island on the Vltava dates from 1393, there is no doubt that the facility had actually been established much earlier than that: scholarly research has traced it as far back as the tenth century, established by members of the Convent of Benedictine Nuns at Saint George’s. During the Hussite Revolution the mill was destroyed, and the premises subsequently passed into the hands of the municipality of the Prague Old Town. In 1478, the city fathers handed the site over to Václav Sova of Liboslav, who built a house with a hammer-mill and a flourmill. The restored mill was named after its new owner, a name it has retained to this day (Sovovy mlýny). The old building now hosts a modern art gallery with a permanent collection of modern Central European art and many attractive exhibitions. Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Address: Dukelských Hrdinů 47 Kinský Palace Address: Staroměstské náměstí 12
Top Coins and Fine Art, Address: Klimentská 6 Top Coins and Fine Art presents an introduction to Australian Aboriginal Art. The gallery features examples of the several different styles of Aboriginal Art with work by over 100 different artists from all over the “Top End” of Australia, with many works
Museum of Decorative Arts Address: 17. listopadu 2 The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague collects and preserves examples of historical and contemporary crafts, as well as applied arts and design.
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National Technical Museum, Address: Kostelní 42 Predecessors of the National Technical Museum can be seen in the collecting activities of the Professional Engineering School (established in 1717), Prague Technical University (1806) and Czech Industrial Museum (1873). Some of their collections are now in this Museum. The National Technical Museum itself was established in 1908 under the name Technical Museum of the Czech Kingdom with a modern program of documentation of principal development trends of technical progress, evaluation of their benefits to society, and preserving representative samples of this development for future generations. All these are the activities through which the National Technical Museum has been, since its founding, contributing to understanding the character and sense of modern civilization. The National Technical Museum was established with the initiative and funds of the Czech technical intelligentsia, in particular the team of professors at the Technical University. It was managed and funded by the Technical Museum Association, the members of which were well - known factories and banks. The Association was creating a wide membership base diversified into professional groups presided over by renowned Czech industry personalities. As early as 1910, the Association made the first collections accessible to the public (in the Schwarzenberg palace at Hradčany). Until 1935, it collected, through sophisticated financial policy, the funds for construction of a new (present) building that was realized in 1938 – 1942. However, the German Nazi authorities confiscated this building and the Museum found its refuge the unsuitable premises of the Prague Invalidovna. After the War, the Museum received back only a part of the whole building and only recently the National Technical Museum has been getting back the remaining premises that it had owned. In 1951, the Museum was nationalized and the institution received its present name. Subsequently, the Association was dissolved, linkages with industry were broken. The National Technical Museum became a museum and scientific institution with a nation - wide range of action. State subsidies have enabled the number of employees to rise and put money into new exhibitions. In the years before 1989, the Museum succeeded in increasing its importance as a research and editorial institution for the history of sciences and technology, as well as in presenting itself through successful foreign exhibitions. In this way, it increased the awareness of itself among many European countries. Today, the National Technical Museum holds the status of the central technical museum of the Czech Republic and as a scientific institution with the documentation, presentation, methodological, and information functions. The bases of its activities are the technical collections that have been created as the nation’s memory.
What about a movie? There is a cinema in every shopping mall in Prague. Usually they are at a metro station i.e. Flora, Anděl, Zličín, Černý Most, Chodov. In these movie theatres you can (usually) see American productions in their original version with Czech subtitles, so it is a good plan for a lazy Sunday afternoon. There is a small independent movie theatre called Světozor (Vodičkova street), where you can take part in some smaller Febiofest movie festivals (usually showing the independent movies you will not get to see in a multiplex movie theatre) and the good news for all those who don’t speak Czech, they almost always have English subtitles. However, it’s recommended that you ask before you buy the ticket. During the month of April the biggest movie festival in the Czech Republic, the Febiofest, takes place. It lasts over 2 weeks and more than 200 movies are shown from all over the world. For the last two years it has taken place near the Anděl metro station at the Village Cinema Anděl. If you are here at that time, check the website: http://www. febiofest.cz/cz/. Other movie festivals are: Days of European film (http://www.eurofilmfest.cz/en/), or the Prague Short Film Festival (http://www.pragueshorts.com/about-festival/). For those who are interested in independent movies there is a popular little movie theatre called Aero (Biskupcova 31, website: http://www.kinoaero.cz) where you can take your beer or meal inside and enjoy it while watching Kieslowski, Pasolini, or Fellini. For those of you who decided to stay here over the summer as well, or have no other plan, there is a great movie festival organised annually in Uherské Hradiště – http://www.lfs.cz or to visit The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which is the most important international film festival of Category A in Central and Eastern Europe and the only festival of Category A in the Czech Republic – http://www.kviff.com
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sports a nd how to stay fit For the majority of you who will be staying at the Hostivař dormitory, it is good news to find out that just one bus stop from the dorms there is the Charles University sport facility, where you can do many kinds of sport activities from aerobics to swimming.We have also asked several students to recommend some venues for the most common sports: Running Stromovka, in Bubeneč, Prague 6, is the absolutely favourite place to go jogging. It is the largest park in the city, most of it is not hilly, and it has a series of soft dirt trails that give the legs some relief from the cobblestones. The quickest route to the flat area of the park is through the Gothardská street entrance. You can either park on the street near this entrance or get off at the Hradčanská metro (green line) and walk or run the six blocks to the park. Letná is not as large as Stromovka, but it is also a flat, pretty place to run once you climb the hill beside the Vltava, and it is easy to get to from the city centre. Vinohrady is not an ideal place to run, but if you live in the area and want to go for a run close to home, try running on Vinohradská. This street’s inclines and declines are gradual, and if you start at Italská and head east, you can run for nearly two miles over only a few cobblestone sections. If you want to extend your run, turn into Olšanské cemetery to run on its tree-lined paths. Žižkov is another nice park to run in, but it’s difficult to reach. You can try half-running, half-walking from Náměstí Míru, but by the time you reach the flat area at the top of the hill you will probably be exhausted from the climb. Another easier option to reach the park is to take the tram 9, 10 or 16 to Biskupcova stop. Kunratice Forest, south of the city centre in Prague 4, is ideal for running: lots of paths (some dirt and some paved), slightly hilly, well shaded, and not too crowded even on a sunny weekend mid-afternoon. To get here you can take the red metro line to the Roztyly metro stop. 84
Swimming As the sweet smell of chlorine hits your nostrils and you get ready to hit the waves, there are a few general things to remember about how the system works. Prague pools mostly charge by how long you plan to stay, usually in 60 or 90-minute blocks. Most pools assign you a locker, often with a key on a wristband you can wear in the water, and many have private changing rooms for those inclined to modesty. There’s also usually a ‘no shoes in the changing room’ policy, and many pools have a sort of ‘no - man’s land’ near the entrance of the changing rooms where you remove the offending items and put them in plastic bags to take in with you. Also, make sure you check the opening times before you visit – a lot of pools close for the middle part of the day. Apart from that, most pools are pretty easy to negotiate. Here are some of the most popular swimming pools in Prague with their opening hours and entry fees. These might change according to winter or summer time, so please always double check before really waking up at 06:00 in the morning to have your morning swim. Aquapark Lagoon Letňany Tupolevova 665, Prague 18 Bus 156 from metro C Holešovická, or bus number 159 from metro B Vysočanská, Open: Mon, We, Fri: 06:00 – 09:00 12:00 –2 2:00 Tue, Thu: 07:00 – 09:00 16:00 –2 2:00 Sat – Sun: 09:00 – 22:00 Entry: Adults – 140 CZK/90min, Students 100 CZK/90 min This pool is a kid’s dream. Definitely geared towards recreation rather than sport, it makes up for being fairly small and a bit out of the way with an extremely large and fun water slide, which twists and loops an impressive number of times, much to the great enjoyment of children and adults alike. As well as the water slide, it’s got a spa pool, kids’ pool, and a 25-meter main pool. 85
Psa Hloubětín Hloubětínská 80, Prague 9 Trams 3 and 19, Metro B line to Hloubětín Open: Mon 06:00 – 08:00 12:30 –1 6:00 21:00 – 23:00 Tues, Thurs 06:00 – 08:00 12:30 –1 6:00 18:00 – 23:00 Wed 06:00 – 08:00 12:30 –1 4:00 18:00 – 23:00 Fri 06:00 – 08:00 12:30 –1 5:00 18:00 – 23:00 Sat 10:00 – 20:00 Sun 08:00 –1 8:00 Entry: Adults – 70 CZK/60mins, 100 CZK/90mins, Kids - 30CZK/60mins, 50CZK/90mins This is a good, modern pool attached to a fitness complex. It has one 25-meter pool; a nice touch is the large number of leafy plants that line the walls, which lend an appealingly tropical atmosphere to one’s swimming experience. Also a plus is the café upstairs.
Radlice (SK Motorlet) Výmolova 2a, Prague 5 A big, very modern pool which holds national swim meets and has a strong emphasis on swimming lessons and schools – good for doing laps and very close to the metro.
Podolí Podolská 74, Prague 4 Trams 3,16,17,21 Open Daily 06:00 – 21:45 Entry: Adults – 8 0 CZK/90mins, 100 CZK/120mins, Kids – 45 CZK/90mins, 60 CZK/120mins For size, accessibility, facilities, and being able to swim outside in below freezing temperatures, Podolí can’t be beaten. It’s got a huge indoor pool that’s open all year round, as well as high diving boards, an outdoor waterslide set against a cliff-face, and an impressive selection of pool toys for those inclined to less adrenaline entertainment. One of the best features is the heated outdoor pool which is open all year round.
Hotel Praha – Sušická 20, Prague 6 – This round pool is too small for laps, so visit this one to float about in your best swimsuit and relax.
Sokol Polská street, Prague 2 A standard 25 meter pool, with the very non-standard addition of a nude swimming night on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 in the evening. No bathing suits allowed! Hotel Pyramida – Bělohorská 24, Prague 6 – Although it’s quite small (11 x 7m), it’s still good for a gentle bit of exercise and a splash around. Hotel Axa – Na Poříčí 40, Prague 1 – It’s right in the centre of town, it’s great for laps, and it’s popular with locals and hotel patrons alike.
Pražačka Krytý Bazén Za Žižkovskou 17, Prague 3 Any pool whose entrance is through the adjoining pub is worth at least one visit. It’s old, a little run-down, and quite small, but it’s cheap, it has amazing views of Prague and very warm water. It’s only open from 6 – 8 am and 8 – 9:45 pm on weekdays, and 12 – 6 pm and 10 – 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
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OTHER CHARLES UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CLUB......................................... 91
OTHER USEFUL LINKS.................................................................................. 92
CALENDAR.................................................................................................... 94
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OTHER
Ch a r les Uni v er sit y Int er nat iona l Club International Club is a group of students of the Charles University who want to help the international students enjoy their time in Prague. We organize various social and cultural events for both international and Czech students, namely parties and trips/excursions around Prague and the Czech Republic, assist the faculties during the Orientation Week, and generally help international students to handle their stay in Prague. We have also launched Tandem Teaching Program. The international student teaches his/her own language and receives lessons of Czech in return from local student. Last but not least we would like to present you Czech culture in a very comfortable way – Erasmus Film Seminar. We watch a Czech film every week, of course with English subtitles. You can find more at our website: http://ic-cuni.cz/ and facebook under the name “Charles University International Club (IC CUNI)“. You can also contact us by e-mail:
[email protected]
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other useful links http://www.seznam-brno.cz/cestovka/default.asp?stav=amba1 – list of all the embassies in Czech Republic. http://fincentrum.idnes.cz/kurz_listek.asp – currency list, updated every day. www.seznam.cz – probably the best search engine in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately most things are only in Czech. www.idos.cz – best website to find a train (vlak), bus or public transportation (MHD) connection. In Czech only but easy to manage. www.expats.cz – fine website full of information in English. Wanna rent a flat, find a job or buy/sell old furniture? www.bloguje.cz – the biggest Czech blog spot. http://erasmusclub.ff.cuni.cz/ – Erasmus club at the Faculty of Arts. http://www.svetpiva.cz/db_restaurace/ – List of bars and restaurants that serve the more unusual types of Czech beer. In Czech only but easy to manage. Addresses of the pubs always included. http://www.abcprague.com/ – News from Prague’s cultural life and all you need to know. In English. http://www.praguepost.com/ –Prague English newspaper. www.cuni.cz – The University website. www.ff.cuni.cz – The Faculty of Arts website. http://www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/sightseeing/ – some tips on what to see and where to go in Prague and the Czech Republic. http://www.zoopraha.cz/english/ – pages of the Prague ZOO – definitely worth visiting. http://www.play.cz/ – listen to any of the Czech radios on-line. http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/vysilani/ – watch Czech TV on-line. There is also the archive of all their production available for free. http://www.studentagency.cz/ – travel cheap and with student discounts. http://www.gtsint.cz/ – travel for cheap and with student discounts. http://www.mlp.cz/index.php – website of the Prague city library. Unfortunately only in Czech language. http://www.nkp.cz/_en/index.php3 – Czech National Library website. http://www.filmcenter.cz/ – all about new and old Czech films and festivals where you can see them.
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http://mp3.hudebni-scena.cz/mp3-zdarma/ceske-mp3-pisnicky/ – a good link where you can download for free Czech music by known and yet unknown artists. http://www.funonline.cz/ – see what is going on in Prague. List of all the concerts, clubs, museums and other useful info. http://www.t-shock.cz/?page=flash – create your own t-shirt as a memory or gift.
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