Prague to celebrate upcoming Czech EU presidency with host of events this weekend
A wide range of the Czech capital’s popular venues will be transformed into hubs of cultural activity this weekend to celebrate the Czech Republic’s upcoming six-month presidency of the EU Council which starts next month. Some of the locations will also host French and Swedish guests, representing the countries that are part of the upcoming EU defined presidency trio.
City Hall says that the celebrations, organised under the motto “Praha žije Evropou” (Prague meets Europe), are set to represent Prague being transformed into the “capital of Europe” during the country’s EU presidency. From Friday to Sunday, and in some cases, next week as well, a rich palette of activities is planned, which city hall authorities say are also intended to exchange know-how with other European capitals on contemporary urban issues.
One of the chief venues for these celebrations will be Mariánské náměstí square, where Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib will receive a symbolic relay from the deputy mayor of Paris, to symbolise the handover of the French EU presidency to the Czech Republic.
Speaking at the unveiling of Prague’s plans on Wednesday, Mr Hřib said that the square will also host accompanying debates between Czech and French experts on topics ranging from innovation and sustainability to urban cooperation.
“A part of the square will also be transformed into a summer cinema, where there will be screenings of French, Czech and Swedish films, the latter because Sweden assumes the presidency after our country. People will also have the opportunity try out some dishes from the French cuisine. This will run until Sunday, June 26.”
Meanwhile, in front of the nearby Rudolfinum concert hall, the city will host a variety of performances by the city’s leading theatre companies as well as a regular balloon launch accompanied by acrobatic performances. Families with children may appreciate the planned educational game that will be focused around getting to know interesting corners of central Prague, or the various artistic and entertainment programmes that are planned to take place on the location. The activities are set to be accompanies by live jazz and classical music.
Special processions of dancers carrying EU member state flags are planned to take place on Prague’s Hradčany, Charles, Mariánské and Old Town squares this and next week.
On Friday this week, Campus Hybernská will host the Let’s repair Czechia (Opravme Cesko) event, where visitors will be able to ask repairmen for advice on items they need fixed. There will also be a performance by the Roma band Bachtale Apsa and, at 10pm, musician David Vrbík will perform with his signature laser string instrument. The following day, the same venue will host workshops where visitors will be able to decorate their flowerpots or swap flowers, with further music performances set to take place in the evening.
South of Charles Square, Prague’s Centre for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning (CAMP) will see experts from French, Czech and Swedish capitals exchange their experiences with urban cycling, greenery public spaces and communal housing.
Fans of iconic scenery may want to visit the Čapadlo summer terrace where the city will present its newly created hydroponic wall. As in other locations, the evenings will see live music performances, such as the one from French chansonniers Pierre Morillon Duo on Friday at 6pm.
If the busy centre is not your kind of place, there will also be the opportunity to attend a guided tour on urban farming at the Kotlaska community garden in Prague’s Libeň district.
The Czech capital’s first re-use centre Z pokoje do pokoje, near Florenc Bus Station, will present its products and workshop to visitors during the afternoon hours of Saturday and Sunday. The centre’s furniture will also be on show at Marianské náměstí square during the symbolic relay handover on Friday, City Hall informs.
According to the director of the events Jakub Vedral from the company ArtProm, “Praha žije Evropou” is a “multi-genre happening open not just to Praguers, but to all visitors of the Czech capital”. He said that he hopes to present Prague from new, previously unseen angles.
More information about the upcoming events can be found here: https://international.praha.eu/events/prague-meets-paris-and-stockholm
