Czech Center Museum Houston
Bedřich Smetana and the Prague Spring ...

The Prague Spring International Music Festival (not related to the 1968 Prague Spring) is a festival established by the Czech Philharmonic Rafael KubelÍk to commemorate the death of Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. Every opening night for the last 80 years, Smetana’s national masterpiece Má Vlast is played by a different orchestra. Smetana’s music life began in his youth, developed further by collaboration with one of his inspirations, Liszt. This 2025, Semyon Bychkov will conduct the next opening.

Bedřich Smetana and the Prague Spring International Music Festival
Czech Center Museum Houston
Frantisek Kupka: Orphism

Bohemian artist Frantisek Kupka is the forefront mind behind the art form of Orphism. Orphism focuses on color and abstraction, similar to Cubism but also an “evolution” where abstract shapes are given precedence in contrast to solid, known geometric shapes. There are many examples of Orphism to see, spanning many years.

Frantisek Kupka: Orphism
Czech Center Museum Houston
Czech Beer : A Brief History

From the Brevnov Monastery to the modern-day Pilsner, the Czech people have been enjoying beer for over a thousand years. Known as the beer of tradition, Czech beer is ingrained into history itself. When beermaking was banned. the Brenov Monastery, as the first-ever Bohemian brewery, was exempt. Initially, after the ban on brewing ended, only noble families or homeowners were allowed to brew beer. It was in 1842 that the famous Pilsner was created.

Czech Beer : A Brief History
Czech Center Museum Houston
Eliska Junkova: Racing into History

Eliška Junková is the first woman to win the Grand Prix, in 1927. Even before, Junková was “Queen of the Steering Wheel,” a well-earned title that she worked towards since 1922. Her dedication to racing began with her dedication to her husband, Vincenc “Čenêk” Junek, whom she met at her job at the Prague Credit Bank.

Eliska Junkova: Racing into History
Czech Center Museum Houston
Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)

After the death of Samo, there was uncertainty about the Czech and Moravian lands, but after the rise of Charlamange of the Frankish Kingdom, Moravians were able to recover. The princes of Moravia consolidated their power, and one in particular Mojmir I, rose beyond tribal institutions to establish Great Moravia. After Mojmir I's deposition, his nephew Rostislav became Louis the German's loyal vassal. In secret, however, Rostislav had ambitions beyond this.

Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)

Czechoslovakian

Liberation of Plzeň, České Budějovice, and Karlovy Vary

Between May 7 and 8 in 1945, the Nazis surrendered to the Allied forces in Plzeň, České Budějovice, and Karlovy Vary. It took weeks of fighting and many casualties to effectively force a surrender from the German High Command. It was through the collaboration of the Soviet and US forces that the liberation was able to take place. Much celebration, the day of and after, was abound.

Eurovision 2025

Eurovision 2025

Although Eurovision started as an experiment in broadcasting, it is now a show-stopping competition that unites Europe. The Central European nations of Czechia and Slovakia have a relatively short, yet important history with Eurovision. While Czechia’s the only of the two still competing, this 2025, their next entry is a Slovak named Adonxs, an accomplished artist of many skills.

The Plastic People of the Universe: How One Band Sparked a Revolution

The fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia begins with a rock that rolls, pushed by the rock n’ roll group the Plastic People of the Universe (PPU). After the brief Prague Spring, the group was started by the bassist, Milan “Mejla” Hlavsa. During the Normalization period, they continued to find various ways of resisting the new administration before being jailed, which inspired further resistance and eventually lead Czechoslovakia out of the hands of the Soviet regime.

Pride, Country, and a Balance Beam

Pride, Country, and a Balance Beam

Věra Čáslavská was a Czechoslovakian Olympian gymnast, born in May 3, 1942 and raised in Prague. Her sense of pride came from more than her sport, as it centered around her love for Czechoslovakia and her people, such that she signed the Two Thousand Words manifesto during Prague Spring. Even through possible persecution she continued to train for the Olympics. After the Olympics, the persecution continued, but she remained resolute though her life, earning her the love of the Czechoslovakian people.

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An Army with No Country: The Czechoslovak Legion in Europe

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An Army with No Country: The Czechoslovak Legion in Europe

They were men without their own country, living split up among not one, but two mighty empires. When the Great War broke out and those empires began to crumble, those men took up arms in the struggle and fought so that one day they too would have their own nation. These were the men of the Czechoslovak Legion.

The Church of St. Cyril and Methodius: A History Old and New

The Church of St. Cyril and Methodius: A History Old and New

St Cyril and Methodius lived in the 9th century and are important figures in Eastern Orthodox Churches. In the 1730s, the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius was built, creating a foundation of Czech Orthodox faith. It protected soldiers through the Nazi’s occupation.

Communist Party of Czechoslovakia Vs Communism in Vietnam

The term "communism" was first coined and defined by the French philosopher and writer Victor d'Hupay in his “ Projet de communauté philosophe” (Project for a Philosophical Community) book.