National Theatre

From Prague-wiki

View of the National Theatre from the north-east

Points of Interest in the Area

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Church of Saint Ursula

A Baroque church from the beginning of the 18^th century

Church of Saint Adalbert

A two-aisled originally Gothic church, rebuilt in the Baroque style

Šítkovská Water-tower

Dominant feature of this part of Vltava embankment, built in the 16^th century to supply water for the New Town

Church of Saint Michael (New Town)

A Gothic church with a high baroque steeple - originally a parish church of a settlement called Opatovice

The National Theatre (Národní divadlo in Czech) was funded entirely by private donations and created by the most important artists of that era, the Neo-Renaissance National Theatre has always been an important symbol of the Czech cultural revival. Opened in 1881 with the opera “Libuše” by Bedřich Smetana, the architect Josef Zítek's masterpiece burned down two months later but it was founded again and restored within two years. The stage curtain is the work of Vojtěch Hynais, the ceiling paintings are by František Ženíšek.

Today, the theatre is used for ballet and opera performances, as well as drama.

The New Stage of the National Theatre was built by architect Karel Prager in the 1970s from Cuban marble plates and glass. It houses Laterna Magica , one of Prague's best-known theatre groups.

The theatre, as seen from the Žofín island

View of the theatre from the bridge that connects Žofín to the mainland

National Theatre, as seen from the Charles Bridge

South façade of the theatre