Discover the treasures of Prague

Czech theater has long served as a potent political tool, particularly in moments when conventional forms of expression were restricted. During the 16th century, the Hapsburg ruler Ferdinand I became King of Bohemia, and over the following centuries, the Czech language, local traditions and many aspects of Czech identity were curbed in favor of Austrian culture. Theater and puppetry became crucial means of preserving local ways of life.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, a Czech National Revival took place, and Czech productions became immensely popular. The stage became a public forum where history, folklore and national myths were dramatized, helping transform cultural expression into a subtle yet effective form of political self-assertion. The idea for a national theater emerged in the 1840s, but the project did not come to fruition until 1861, when Parliament purchased a site on the banks of Prague’s Vltava River to set up a temporary theater for Czech dramas and opera. A more permanent national theater opened its doors in the same location in 1881.

During the 20th century, this politicized theatrical tradition deepened as artists confronted fascism and, later, communist authoritarianism. Under censorship, theaters became spaces where audiences learned to read between the lines, forging a shared language of resistance. Czech theater thus functioned not only as art, but as a civic space where politics could be examined.

By the late communist period, Czech theater had become directly intertwined with political change. Dissident stages operated as hubs of intellectual opposition, openly questioning power structures. The work of playwrights like Ladislav Smoček and Václav Havel exemplified how theater could inspire civic courage. In this way, the artform did not merely reflect political history—it actively shaped it, contributing to the cultural groundwork that made the peaceful transformation of the 1989 Velvet Revolution possible. This large-scale protest movement, which ended more than 40 years of communist rule, culminated in the election of Havel as the president of a new, democratic government.

Today, the National Theater is still one of the most important symbols of Czech cultural identity. It includes four artistic companies—Opera, Drama, Ballet and Laterna Magika, often credited as the world’s first multimedia theater. Their performances grace five separate stages in Prague. The esteemed National Marionette Theater hosts some of the most popular shows in Prague; their puppet performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni are a perpetual favorite. Another Prague invention, the acclaimed Black Light Theater, uses a darkened stage with ultraviolet illumination. This technique has been adopted by many troupes within the Czech Republic and around the world.

From medieval kings and renowned composers to modern artists and celebrated novelists, Czech history has produced figures whose influence reached far beyond the country’s borders. Here are five of the Czech Republic's most renowned creators and reformers:

• Charles IV (1316–1378)
  One of the most influential rulers in Central European history, Charles IV served as Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, transforming Prague into a major political and cultural center. His reign marked a golden age for the region, during which he founded Charles University and oversaw the construction of enduring landmarks that shaped Czech identity for centuries.
• Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
  One of the most important composers of the Romantic era, Dvořák drew on Czech folk traditions to create richly expressive symphonies, chamber works and operas. His music, including the Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” and the Slavonic Dances, helped bring national identity into classical composition and contributed to the international recognition of Czech music.
• Franz Kafka (1883–1924)
  Kafka, one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century, explored themes of alienation, existential struggle and transformation in works such as The Metamorphosis, The Castle and The Trial. The term “Kafkaesque” was coined to describe nightmarish scenarios similar to those depicted in his tales, which teem with hapless characters, inescapable situations and absurdist bureaucracies.
• Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939)
  A defining figure of the art nouveau movement, Mucha was renowned for his decorative style, flowing lines and idealized female forms. Best known for his posters and illustrations in Paris and for the monumental, 20-canvas cycle The Slav Epic, he fused fine art and design while expressing a strong sense of Slavic cultural identity.
• Václav Havel (1936–2011)
  In a nation that reveres the theater, it is no surprise that, after the fall of communism, a playwright should be elected as the president of Czechoslovakia (1989–92) and of the Czech Republic (1993–2003). Havel assumed this mantle after establishing his literary credentials with such plays as The Garden Party and The Memorandum. But he is most revered as a dissident and statesman. When the Soviets invaded Prague in the spring of 1968, he was a vocal critic and spent years in and out of prison. In 1989, he emerged as the leader of the Velvet Revolution, which ended decades of communist rule.

Pickled and preserved foods such as sauerkraut have long been an integral part of the Czech Republic’s culinary landscape. Historically, food access in the country was not always stable, so these methods prevented spoilage and ensured that nothing went to waste. Such conservation practices allow Czechs to eat locally year-round, even when certain foods are not in season.

In the Czech Republic, sauerkraut is made from either white or purple cabbage and is often combined with other ingredients such as sugar, apples or onions. Czech sauerkraut’s flavor profile is considered mellower and less acidic than that of its German counterpart, allowing it to feature prominently in beloved local dishes such as zelňačka—a hearty Czech sauerkraut soup—without overpowering the flavors of the other ingredients.

The base of this beloved soup is almost always made up of sauerkraut, potatoes, smoked meat and either sour or heavy cream. Other interpretations may call for mushrooms, onions or bacon, and common seasonings include caraway seeds and smoked paprika. You will often find some homemade bread or rohlíky (small dinner rolls) next to your bowl of zelňačka, allowing you to sop up every delicious bite.

Zelňačka originated as a practical, rural cabbage soup rooted in the agricultural realities of the countryside, where cabbage, onions and potatoes were among the most reliable crops. These ingredients stored well and were accessible even to poorer households, making them foundational to everyday cooking. Zelňačka was also an excellent winter survival dish. Its caloric density and nutritional value made it ideal during periods when fresh produce was unavailable.

Today, zelňačka is a familiar sight on the menus of traditional Czech pubs throughout the country. During your time in Prague, be sure to pause for a bowlful of this national treasure.