National Theatre

During the mid-19th century, when Prague was still under Austrian rule, Czech citizens planned on building a theatre that was to become a symbol of Czech culture. When the government in Vienna refused to help fund the construction of the theatre, a successful appeal was made to all Czech citizens to contribute. Many individuals were more than happy to contribute as everyone wanted to be part of this national project.
Construction of the theatre started in 1865 and it was completed sixteen years later, in 1881.

Czech architect Josef Zítek was responsible for the design, a masterpiece of neorenaissance architecture. While Zítek had been schooled in the Viennese architecture school, he added Italianate design elements and involved his generation's most important painters and sculptors in the process. As such the building became a symbol of national culture and independence at a time when there was a growing resentment towards the foreign rulers.

Disaster struck on August 12, 1881, just days before the planned opening when a fire burned the building down. It was probably started by workers who were still working on the building's roof. It took just six weeks to collect sufficient funds to rebuild the theatre and it finally opened in 1883 with Libuše, an opera by Smetana specifically created for this occasion. The reconstruction was led by a colleague of Josef Zítek, Josef Schultz, who altered the original design and even expanded the building.

In 1977 the theatre closed for renovation and at the same time a modern glass addition was built as an annex to the historical theatre. The theatre reopened in 1983 with Smetana's Libuše, hundred years after the original opening.

The National Theatre is still seen as one of Prague's most important cultural institutions. It hosts regular performances of drama, opera and ballet. For more details, take a look at their website.