A charity campaigning to raise funds for the repair and conservation of the substantial legacy of historic buildings and their contents, artefacts, gardens and parks in the Czech Republic, an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
A member of Europa Nostra, which represents non-governmental organisations, associate organisations
and individual members from more than fifty countries, committed to
safeguarding Europe's cultural heritage and landscapes.
The Czech Republic, situated in the heart of Europe, and comprising the historic regions of Bohemia, Moravia and Western Silesia has a cultural legacy of international significance. Not only does it have one of the richest assemblages of great houses and castles in Europe, built by great Czech Renaissance magnates and the wealthy nobility of the Habsburg Empire, but the numerous castles that are such a dramatic feature of the landscape reflect Bohemia's power and influence in the Middle Ages.
For centuries, the Czech Lands formed the cross-roads for artists from Italy, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, and thus a galaxy of architects and craftsmen, including many of European importance, worked on the great buildings of the land.
Bohemia and Moravia became major centres of European Baroque, resulting in a magnificent flowering of the arts in the building and decoration of monasteries, churches, palaces, pilgrimage sites and extensive gardens.
In the twentieth century Czech artists made a significant contribution to the European movements of Art Nouveau, known as the Secession in Central Europe, and Cubism. Prague is home to several buildings in the remarkable cubist architectural style that have no parallel elsewhere. Functionalist buildings abound in the Czech Republic, evidence of the fresh approach to architecture in the democratic Czechoslovakia between the two world wars.
Eva Jiřicná, RA, internationally renowned architect and designer with offices in London and Prague, is our Patron. Often drawing on Czech modernism of the early 20th century in her own work, Jiřicná is keen to help preserve the architectural and artistic riches of her homeland. Eva Jiřicná writes: “I was very moved to discover that a group of British people with no direct links to my home country other than admiration for its beauty and historic treasures wants to lend a hand and make sure the future generations can enjoy and learn from our rich traditions.”
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Our Newsletter is published with the kind assistance of the Czech Government. CONTACT DETAILS Subscription and Events Secretary:
Pamela Dawson, 264 Middle Road, Southampton SO19 8PB, United Kingdom.
Patron:
A charity campaigning to raise funds for the repair and conservation of the substantial legacy of historic buildings and their contents, artefacts, gardens and parks in the Czech Republic, an important part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
Eva Jiřicná, RA, internationally renowned architect and designer with offices in London and Prague, is our Patron. Often drawing on Czech modernism of the early 20th century in her own work, Jiřicná is keen to help preserve the architectural and artistic riches of her homeland. Eva Jiřicná writes: “I was very moved to discover that a group of British people with no direct links to my home country other than admiration for its beauty and historic treasures wants to lend a hand and make sure the future generations can enjoy and learn from our rich traditions.”
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