Exhibition VLTAVA Famed & Flowing
The exhibition VLTAVA Famed & Flowing is the main activity of the project of the same name, which is organised by the National Heritage Institute together with other partners in 2025 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first performance of Bedřich Smetana's symphonic poem Vltava. The exhibition will be available for viewing from September 5, 2025, to January 4, 2026 at the Prague Castle Riding School.
The basic idea of the exhibition works with three intertwining motifs:
- a reference to the original name of the river Wild Ahwa – wild/fierce/untamed water
- energy and the flow of the river, which manifest in various ways real, imaginary and symbolically
- the heart of the river/Vltava existing realistically, imaginatively and symbolically
„The word Vltava conjures up a flood of images, pictures and impressions. It recalls poems and resounds with music. It is the main river of Bohemia, it is their artery and flows through their heart, Prague. What would Bohemia be without the Vltava?“
Quote by František Kožík from the book Vltava from 1959
The exhibition is inspired by a quote by František Kožík and seeks to visualize the "flood of ideas, images and impressions" that the river evokes. In the exhibition scenario, this "flood" is directed into specific thematic units, but their boundaries are not completely fixed and intertwine.
Thematic units of the exhibition:
- The heart of the wild river
- The formation of the river
- Places on the river
- Personalities of the river
- Energy of the river
- Transport on the river (timber rafting, river transport)
- Transport and technical works on the river
- Life by the river
- Inspired by the river
- Vltava fairy tales, myths and legends
- The Vltava Treasure – gold, pearls, and gemstones
- Vltava emblematic
Come and admire unique exhibits connected to the Vltava River – from a replica of the famous statue of Charles IV from the Old Town Bridge Tower and a stone from the foundations of Charles Bridge, to the original statue of Samson from the fountain in České Budějovice.
The exhibition will feature models of allegories of the Vltava and Elbe rivers, as well as a wooden statue of St. John of Nepomuk by Jan Brokoff – the original model for the renowned bronze statue on Charles Bridge. From the St. Vitus Treasury, rare reliquaries containing the relics of St. John of Nepomuk will be loaned for the exhibition.
The artistic section is complemented by works of renowned painters such as Špála, Schiele, Havránek, and Schikaneder.
The musical aspect is represented by the original autograph of the famous symphonic poem "Vltava" from Bedřich Smetana's cycle Má vlast (My Country).
The exhibition also introduces important figures who have linked their lives to the Vltava, such as the "Vltava Admiral," entrepreneur Vojtěch Lanna.
Visitors will also learn about technical monuments and the development of river transport – models of bridges, boats, steamships, barges, and even timber rafting tools.
A section of the exhibition focuses on the natural wealth of the river. Among the exhibits, visitors will find rare art objects decorated with Vltava pearls, including vestments from the Vyšší Brod monastery and a reliquary containing the relics of St. John of Nepomuk. The eye of the visitor will also be drawn to Moldavite, which adorns, among other things, Art Nouveau jewelry, as well as the Schwarzenberg cup from 1889.
The traditional gold panning process will also be highlighted, showcasing everything from pebbles and gold ducats to other rare coins. There will also be a display of a portion of a silver treasure from the 11th century, discovered while digging the riverbed in České Budějovice.
Sports fans will appreciate the section dedicated to water sports and the achievements of Czech athletes. Medals, trophies, canoes, period swimsuits, and skates will all be on display.
The exhibition also recalls the beginnings of tramp hiking and the famous tramp settlement Ztracená naděje (Lost Hope), known as Ztracenka, through its first totem.
The exhibition is organized by the National Heritage Institute and the Administration of Prague Castle.
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