Plzeň
Home of blond lager - the pilsner
Plzeň is today known for the product of Pilsner beer,made here by the bavarian Josef Groll in 1842. Skoda as well was fouded here in 1869 in what is today the countrys 4th largest city. Its history go back to 976
Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre's main stage Pilsen JK Tyl Theatre and important cultural monument. The building was built in Renaissance style in the years 1897-1902 by the architect Antonin Balšánek. In the years 1981-1985 underwent extensive reconstruction under the leadership of architect Pavel Nemecek. The first reports of theatrical performances in Pilsen come from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. The first performance in English is documented until 1818. In 1896 an architectural competition to build a new theate was held. The price of the building should not exceed 350,000 gold. The competition was attended by thirteen projects. The City Council preferred a conservative renaissance proposal Anthony Balšánek. Construction began in January 1899. The theater was opened on 27 September 1902 gala performance of Libuše by Bedrich Smetana. In the years 1980-1985 underwent extensive reconstruction under the leadership of architect Pavel Nemecek. Before entering there is a slightly elevated access ramp, covered terrace in the middle part supported by two Tuscan columns. Above the pillars standing cast-iron candelabras, work of Vojtech Arrow. Behind the terrace is a three dimensional windows foyer at the top of the semicircle, flanked by pilasters. Above each window is a pair of figural reliefs. Above the windows there is another terrace lined with conical balustrade, behind which extends the upper part of the building. Pediment is fitted with a large window, above which there is a statue of Apollo's head. Top of the peak is a stone lyre. Central part of the facade is flanked by a pair of buttresses, over which sculpture stands by Ladislav Šaloun. The auditorium is covered by low-pitched roof, which is decorated air turret reminiscent of the Art Nouveau style gazebo. Above the stage is elevated parts fly loft spaces covered with high copper roof. From its peak emerges skylight covers low-hipped roof, on which are placed lightning.
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Cathedral of St. Bartholomew
Dominican convent
The former convent church of st Anna with its dominican monastary is a baroque building designed by architect Jakub Auguston. The idea for the construction Dominican convent in Pilsen dates from 1708. The foundation stone was laid in 1712. Part of the monastery had to be completed already in 1714, when it was inducted into the convent four nuns who arrived in Plzen in 1712, but until then living in private. The building subsequently went probably a little slower. It is not clear when the monastery was finished, but the convent church st Anne was consecrated in 1735.The monastery closed in 1782 on the basis of the reforms of Joseph II. In 1784 there was a school and high school. In 1804 it was added more philosophical studies at Premonstratensian canonry in Teplá. In the following years rebuilding took place under the leadership Š. M. Schell. The church served as a school and its reconstruction took place in 1856, 1885, 1914. After the first World War, the church served the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, but because of protests was returned to the Catholic Church. The buildings of the former convent since its founding in 1950, is the Study and Research Library of the Pilsen Region.
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Great Synagogue
A Viennese architect called Fleischer drew up the original plans for the synagogue in Gothic style with granite buttresses and twin 65-meter towers. The cornerstone was laid on December 2, 1888 and that was about as far as it got. City councillors rejected the plan in a clear case of tower envy as they felt that the grand erection would compete with the nearby Cathedral of St. Bartholomew. Emmanuel Klotz put forward a new design in 1890 retaining the original ground plan and hence the cornerstone, but lowering the towers by 20m and creating the distinctive look combining Romantic and neo-Renaissance styles covered with Oriental decorations and a giant Star of David. The design was quickly approved and master builder Rudolf Štech completed work in 1893 for the bargain price of 162,138 guilders. The mixture of styles is truly bewildering; from the onion domes of a Russian orthodox church, to the Arabic style ceiling, to the distinctly Indian looking Aron kodesh. The synagogue was used as a storage facility during World War 2 and was thereby spared from destruction. The last regular service was held in 1973, and then the synagogue was closed down and allowed to fall into disrepair under communist rule. Restoration was undertaken from 1995–98, and the synagogue was reopened on February 11, 1998. The central hall is now often used for concerts from such legends as Joseph Malowany, Peter Dvorský, or Karel Gott, while the walls play host to temporary photographic exhibitions of various causes. The synagogue is still used for worship, but only in what was formerly the winter prayer room.
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Marian Column
Marian (Plague) Column on Pilsen's central Republic Square in front of the Imperial house is built in the Renaissance style. Column was built by the City Council in 1681 as thanks for the end of the plague. The column is terminated Gothic sculpture of the Madonna of Pilsen. The column was reconstructed in the 1990s.
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Pilsner Urquell
As the name suggests, ("Urquell" in German or "Prazdroj" in Czech both mean "the ancient source") Pilsner Urquell is the original pilsner and first pale lager beer. It is characterised by its golden colour and clarity and was immensely successful – nine out of ten beers produced and consumed in the world are derived from the original Pilsen beer. Before 1840, the standard beer in Bohemia was top-fermented and characterized by a dark colour, turbidity, and inconsistent quality. Plzeň burghers had not found this satisfying and the Plzeň city council ordered 36 casks to be dumped. They invested in a new, state-of-the art brewery, the Bürgerbrauerei (Town brewery, Měšťanský pivovar in Czech), and commissioned Josef Groll, a Bavarian brewer, to develop a better beer. On 5 October 1842, Groll had an entirely new mash ready and on 11 November 1842, the new beer was first served at the feast of Saint Martin markets. Bürgerbrauerei registered Pilsner Bier B B brand in 1859. In 1898, they also registered Original Pilsner Bier 1842, Plzeňský pramen, Prapramen, Měšťanské Plzeňské, Plzeňský pravý zdroj and finally Pilsner Urquell and Plzeňský Prazdroj which are in use today.
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plzeň main station
The current station building Pilsen main station was inaugurated in 1907. The building was built in the Art Nouveau style designed by architect Rudolf Stech, who also participated in the financing and construction. At the same time, however, significantly indebted and he could not see a way out of a difficult situation, so on January 2nd, 1908, he hanged himself. The building suffered heavily by US bombing in spring 1945, but was again restored to its original appearance. During the communist era the station was renamed in the 1950s Pilsen Gottwaldovo Station in honor of the first communist president Klement Gottwald. After the Velvet Revolution, it returned again to the station name Pilsen main station. In 2011-2012 it was renovated
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Republic Square
The Square of the Republic (Naměstí republiky) forms the historical centre. With a size of 552 by 627 feet (168 m × 191 m) it is one of the largest medieval squares in the Czech republic. Plzeň as a town appears at the end of the 13th century, the square existing since then. Around the oblong square regular blocks of houses delimitated by a rectangular network of streets were built. Archaeologists had identified wooden pavement from the 13th century and another three layers of pavement from the 14th century. The square was cobblestoned in 1859. The stones were replaced by asphalt cover in the 20th century; this replaced again with cobblestones during 2005-2007 reconstruction. The buildings in the square are of predominantly Gothic and Renaissance styles. In the courtyards on the east side remains of the medieval walls are still preserved. The best preserved part of the square is its southern part. Many buildings contain two or three levels of cellars used to preserve food, for wells or just as cesspools.
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