Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

286 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

available in delicatessens,

or olomoucke rožki, an oval

cheese with a distinct flavour.

Department stores, found in

almost every large town, are a

good bet for food shopping.

The famous Czech beers

Pilsner Urquell (Plzensky

Prazdroj) and Budvar, which

make excellent presents, can

be bought in almost every

food store. Czech vodkas,

in clud ing the famous

Becherovka, are also available

throughout the country.

Absinthe and slivovice (plum

brandy) are other popular

Czech spirits. As for wine,

those from southern Moravia

are the country’s finest and

are well worth taking back

home. In Prague, a good

selection of alcoholic drinks is

available in the Jan Paukert

Delicatessen and Wine Bar.

CINEMA

There are cinemas throughout

the country, even in small

towns. One of the biggest

multiplexes in Prague is the

Cinema City Flora complex.

The annual International Film

Festival is the largest Czech

cinema event, held in late June

and early July in Karlovy

Vary (see pp268–9).

CLASSICAL MUSIC,

THEATRE AND OPERA

Classical music has a long

tradition in the Czech

Republic and the country has

produced some well-known

composers, including Bedřich

Smetana, Antonín Dvořák,

Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav

Martinů. Their works figure

in the repertoires of local

orches tras all year round.

Although most orchestras

and concert halls close over

the summer holiday season,

this is when numerous classi-

cal music con certs are staged

in churches, castles and pal-

aces. Many churches in Prague

and sev eral other large cities

organ ize concerts of Baroque

music year round. The

Rudolfinum in Prague is home

to the Czech Philharmonic

Orchestra, while the Prague

Symphony Orchestra is based

at the Municipal House

(see pp256–7).

OPENING HOURS

Most shops are open from
9am to 5pm, Monday to
Friday; shopping centres and
supermarkets stay open for
longer. Small shops may close
for an hour at lunchtime. On
Saturdays shops close at 1
or 2pm, with large shopping
centres remain ing open until
8pm. On Sundays only large
shopping centres and selected
food stores open for business,
and in small towns and villages
all shops remain closed, or
open for just a few hours
in the morning.

MARKETS

Prague has several famous
markets. Its Christmas and
Easter markets in the Old
Town Square and Wenceslas
Square (see p257) are filled
with festive and traditional
goods. There are also two
permanent markets. The
central, open-air Havel
Market sells fruit and vege-
tables as well as toys and
cera mics; it is open all year
round. The indoor Holešovice
Market sells consumer goods
and is also open year round.
Outside Prague there are
local markets in most towns
and cities selling produce
and crafts.

GLASS AND CERAMICS

Bohemia is famous for its
high-quality lead, crystal
and ornamental glass and
almost every town has a
shop specializing in glass
and crystalware. The Staré
Město quarter (see pp246–7)
in Prague has scores of

Shopping in the Czech Republic is undergoing great

changes, with malls springing up in towns and interna-
tional chains open ing branches. In Prague an eclectic
range of Western goods is on offer, as well as typical
Czech products such as crystal, wooden toys, antiques
and Czech gemstones, parti cularly garnets. The country
also offers a wide variety of enter tain ment with some-
thing for every taste. Those looking for nightlife will get
the most from Prague, with its scores of night clubs, thea-
tres and music venues. Outside Prague, most towns and
cities have a lively cultural scene. Many towns organize
rock concerts featuring local and international artists.

Shopping & Entertainment

them with Erpet, Dana-

Bohemia, Moser and Parcela

Plus among the best known.

Interesting souvenirs include

gilded and hand-painted

crystal wine glasses and

traditional earthenware beer

tankards decorated with the

Czech brewery logo.

HANDICRAFTS

Czech craftsmen have kept

up the tradition of making

handicrafts and the range of

souvenirs on offer includes

ceramics, wooden vessels

and toys. The largest selection

of such goods can be found

at local markets, but gift and

souvenir shops may also stock

some interesting items.

ANTIQUES

The Czech Republic is rich in

antiques. During the 1990s

specialist antique shops, called

starožitnosti, opened and are

now to be found in almost

every town. Some of the well-

known dealers in Prague’s

Old Town include Alma

Mahler Antique, Dorotheum

and Starožitnosti Uhlíř,

stocking antique furni ture,

paintings and porcelain. The

prices are often more reason-

able than in Western Europe.

FOOD AND DRINK

Czech chocolates are famous

worldwide, and range from

boxed chocolates to tyčniky

(bars) and wafers. Spa hotels

and speciality shops often sell

spa wafers. The country is

also known for producing

excellent cheese. Try the long

strings of smoked cheese