Why would two towns, Brandýs nad Labem and Stará Boleslav, agree to a marriage of names, creating the longest town name in the Czech Republic? Look around you. We are standing at the heart of this unique union, a town bisected by the elegant flow of the Elbe River. Brandýs nad Labem, with its grand Renaissance chateau, rests on one bank. On the other lies Stará Boleslav, a town echoing with the weight of history as the oldest pilgrimage site in Bohemia. The story of Stará Boleslav is forever intertwined with the tragic fate of Saint Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech nation. It was here, in 935 AD, that Wenceslas was brutally murdered by his own brother, Boleslav the Cruel. Picture the scene: Wenceslas, a devout Christian, on his way to Mass at the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Suddenly, he is ambushed, his own brother orchestrating the assassination. The very ground we stand on was witness to this pivotal moment in Czech history, a site that would become a beacon for pilgrims seeking solace and spiritual connection. But the story doesn’t end there. Years later, a magnificent Romanesque basilica, the Church of Saint Wenceslaus, was erected near the site of the murder. Close by, the Church of Saint Clement stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith. Today, pilgrims still flock to Stará Boleslav, drawn by the legacy of Saint Wenceslas. They come to pay homage, to seek inspiration, and to connect with the spiritual heart of the Czech nation. They come to remember the sacrifice of a prince, a martyr whose story is woven into the very fabric of this extraordinary town, forever linked to its twin across the Elbe.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to