The National Theatre (Czech name: Národní divadlo) is an opera, ballet and drama theater in Prague, which is the largest and main theater not only of the city of Prague, but also of the whole Czech Republic.
The National Theatre in Prague belongs to the most important cultural institutions of the Czech Republic.
Now the National Theater consists of opera, ballet and dramatic art ensembles. Productions alternate in several buildings (several stages) that are part of the National Theater: in the main historical building of the National Theater, in the Estate Theater (Stavovské divadlo), the Prague State Opera (Státní opera) and on the New Stage of the National Theater (Nová scéna).
The main historical building of the National Theater
The main historical building of the National Theater is also one of the sights of Prague. It is located in the city center, near the Legion Bridge (Most Legií Bridge) across the Vltava River, on one of the most beautiful embankments of Prague - Masarykovo Embankment (Masarykovo nábřeží).
The ceremonial laying of the first stone of the theater took place on May 16, 1868 and became a nationwide political event.
The National Theater was first opened on June 11, 1881 in honor of the visit of Crown Prince Rudolf. The Neo-Renaissance theater was built by the Czech architect Josef Zitek.
On August 12, 1881, the theater was destroyed by a severe fire. The fire was perceived as a nationwide disaster and provoked fundraising for the restoration of the theater. Yosef Zitek was under investigation, and his student, architect Josef Schultz, was summoned to reconstruct the theater. He achieved the expansion of the building at the expense of nearby houses and changed the spatial layout of the auditorium for a better view of the stage. Schultz had great respect for the style of the Zitek building and managed to unite three buildings of different authors into an absolute stylistic unity.
The building of the National Theater was opened on November 18, 1883 with a performance of the solemn opera "Libushe" composed on this occasion by the Czech composer Bedrzyh Smetana.
Subsequently, the reconstruction, expansion and repair work of the theater was carried out.
Today this beautiful building is one of the decorations of the Czech capital. It has architectural and sculptural decorations. On the northern facade there are statues of A. Wagner "Slaughter" and "Lumira", on the attic - "Apollo and the Nine Muses" and "Goddess of Victory" by B. Schnirch. Above the side entrance there are allegories of Opera and Drama (author presumably Josef Vaclav Myslbek, known as the author of the statue of St. Wenceslaus on Wenceslas Square).
The magnificent auditorium of the theater has a parterre and balconies, and its decoration is columns, sculptures, stucco, as well as a ceiling decorated with eight "Allegories of Art" by F. The groom.
In the main foyer you can see a picturesque triptych (a work of art in three parts) "The Golden Age, Decline and Resurrection of Art" by the same author.
The address of the main historical building of the National Theater: Narodní 2, 110 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic.
Coordinates: 50°04'52.0"N 14°24'48.0"E (50.081111, 14.413333).
There are public transport stops near the theater.
Estate Theater of the National Theater
The Estate Theater (Stavovské divadlo) is one of the oldest European theaters, which has been one of the stages of the National Theater since 1948.
The building was built in 1783 in classical style by order of Count Franz Anton (František Antonin) Nostitsa-Rineka. Since then, theatrical works have been continuously carried out in the theater.
Until 1798, the theater was known as the theater of Count Nostitz. In 1798, the theater was bought by the estates of the Czech Kingdom and received the name of the Royal Estate Theater. With the opening of the Temporary Theater in 1862, the Czech ensemble left the theater, and the Estate Theater was dedicated to the German ensemble and renamed the Provincial German Theater (Deutsches Landestheater). In the period between 1920 and 1948, the theater regained the name of the Theater of Estates and joined the National Theater. In 1948, the theater was renamed the Tylsky Theater (in honor of the playwright Yu.K. Tyl) and remained under this name until 1990, when, after an eight-year reconstruction, the theater again became known as the Estate Theater.
The historical stage of the theater is made with elegance and chic, and in itself is a bright attraction.
The Estate Theater is located in the center of Prague, at the address: Železna, 110 00 Stare Město, Czech Republic.
Coordinates: 50°05'10.0"N 14°25'26.0"E (50.086111, 14.423889).
Prague State Opera of the National Theatre
The Prague State Opera (Statní opera Praha) is one of the most important opera houses in the Czech Republic, on the stage of which ballet productions are also staged.
The theater originally opened in 1888 as the New German Theater (Neues deutsches Theater). From 1949 to 1989 it was known as the Smetana Theatre, and in 2020 it was renamed the Prague State Opera.
The theater building was built in the Neo-Renaissance style by the famous Viennese architectural firm "Fellner and Helmer", specializing in theater projects, together with Karl von Hasenauer. The statues for the decoration of the theater were made by Otto Moritz Menzel and the young sculptor Johan Josef Friedt, and the paintings were painted by Eduard Veit.
Today the theater building has been reconstructed. The theater has a neo-Renaissance appearance and a delightful neo-Rococo interior.
The theater is located in the center of Prague, near the main historical building The National Museum of Prague (Narodni muzeum Praha), at Wilsonova 4, 110 00 Praha 1-Vinohrady, Czech Republic.
Coordinates: 50°04'50.0"N 14°25'58.0"E (50.080556, 14.432778).
The new stage of the National Theater
The New Stage (Nova scena Praha) is a modern postmodern theater building erected in 1977-1983.
In 2021, the building of the New Stage was declared a cultural monument.
On the stage of the theater you can watch performances of ensembles Laterna magika, Drama, Ballet and Opera and a number of other original projects.
The new stage of the National Theater is located near the historic building of the National Theater, at the address: Narodní 1393, 110 00 Nove Město, Czech Republic.
Practical information
The official website of the National Theater: narodni-divadlo.cz/cs .
All accommodation facilities in Prague (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the city center and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
