National Theatre (Národní divadlo)

The building of the National Theatre occupies a very prestigious place on the right bank of the Vltava river, and is also an inseparable part of the panoramic views of Prague. The National Theatre, designed in a neo-Renaissance style, was built during the second half of the nineteenth century, according to the plans of the famous Czech architect Josef Zítek. But first a cash collection was organized in which even poor people participated. The theater was completed in 1881, but, unfortunately, on the eve of the opening ceremony, due to someone´s carelessness, the great fire occurred, and the theatre, already completed, was badly damaged and had to rebuilt again. The Czech people again organized the second collection of money, and, in 1883, just two years after the disaster, the theatre was open again and definitely. Joseph Schulz participated in this reconstruction as architect, the disciple of the fist builder. Between 1976 and 1983, the theatre was carefully reconstructed, and, in 1983, the New Scene was born, to which belongs the Magic Lantern Theatre, too.