General data:
With its 174,000 residents, Plzen is the fourth biggest town in the Czech Republic. Situated at the confluence of the Uhlava, Uslava, Radbuza and Mze rivers, the town spreads over an area of 125 square kilometres.
It was founded by King of Bohemia Vaclav II (Wenceslas II) as a trade centre on the road from Prague to Bavaria in 1295.
Plzen started building its reputation of an industrial and brewery town in the course of the 19th century. As early as 1842, beer started to be made at the local Mestansky pivovar (Burger Brauerei or Citizens' Brewery, later Plzensky prazdroj, Pilsner Urquell).
In 1869, Emil Skoda acquired the Valdstejnske strojirny engineering company, laying the foundations of the well-known Skoda Works. Its logo, a winged arrow, is one of the best known Czech trademarks.
At present, Plzen is a town with a rapidly growing immigrant community.
Plzen's famous natives include Czech pop singer Karel Gott, theatre actor and director Jiri Suchy (Semafor theatre in Prague) and soccer goalie Petr Cech (Chelsea).
Culture in the town:
Cultural life in the town is mainly concentrated around the Josef Kajetan Tyl Theatre, but Plzen also hosts many international cultural events and festival every year. These include the music festival Smetanovy dny (Smetana Days), puppet festival Skupova Plzen (Skupa's Plzen), multi-cultural festival Na ulici (In the Street) and traditional beer Pilsner Fest.
The historical heart of the town has a chessboard ground plan. It has been a heritage reserve since 1989.
Attention is attracted by the Gothic Saint Bartholomew Church, a Renaissance town hall, arch-deanery buildings, a Franciscan monastery and a synagogue.
There is also a unique set of 18 houses decorated with graffiti by Czech 19th century artist Mikolas Ales.
The town has hosted a bishopric since 1993 and a medical faculty of Charles University. Bohemian University was established in 1991 there.
The liberation of western Bohemia by the U.S. army in May 1945 is commemorated by the Memorial to the U.S. Army that is also a museum.
Participation in the project European Capital of Culture 2015:
The motive of openness and combination of cultures (with the slogan "Open Plzen") is the main issue of the programme with which Plzen won its bid for the title. Plzen wants to make its mark on Europe's culture map, believing that its participation in the project will make it possible to develop its cultural potential and improve the quality of life in the town in general.
Within its candidacy, the town created a special ten-year plan for the development of culture in Plzen. Most of its points were to be implemented even if it were not granted the title.
Plzen wants the public to join the planned projects as much as possible.
The town development plans include investments in cultural infrastructure. Plzen is preparing the construction of a new theatre building and western Bohemian gallery, revitalisation of the area around its rivers and the building of a new sports and culture centre.
A new residential area with tens of flats, the town archives, a design and environment museum along with a multicultural centre are to be established in the five-hectare complex of the former Svetovar brewery.
The developers of the "cultural" area want to preserve most of the original buildings.
source: wikipedia, CTK
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