We walk eastward, toward the rising sun. From the first mention of Prague in the records of a traveler from the Caliphate, through the residence of crusaders on the banks of the Vltava River, Turks, Tatars, Indians, and Chinese on Charles Bridge, to the Old and New Towns—centers of scholarship, art collections, and library treasures. Step by step, we will discover the scholarly methods and major challenges of Oriental studies.
Sites:
Lobkowicz Palace – the first seat of the Oriental Institute
Church of Our Lady under the Chain – the second residence of the Oriental Institute
Charles Bridge – two groups representing Oriental peoples
Clementinum – from Jesuits to the library
Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures
Charles University – the study of the Orient
Café Grand Orient – a fresh breeze of Art Nouveau
Hybernská Street – the future seat of the Oriental Institute
Dr. Volodymyr Poltorak, brings both scholarly depth and an engaging storyteller’s touch to this journey through Prague’s “Eastern” traces. As a historian at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences with long experience researching cultural encounters between Europe and the wider world, he is uniquely equipped to illuminate how travelers from the Caliphate, crusaders, merchants, scholars, and artists shaped the city’s past.
Tram stop Malostranské náměstí at 3:00 PM. The guide will have a black umbrella.
| Event start | 23 February 2026 at 15:00 |
| Event end | 23 February 2026 at 17:00 |
| Organiser | Richard Růžička |
| Organiser's contact email | richard.ruzicka@ruk.cuni.cz |
CU Point
Charles University
Celetná 13
116 36 Prague 1
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 224 491 850
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