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What to buy your friends and family or yourself to keep as a reminder of your experiences from your stay in Prague? Prague is a great place to shop for Czech souvenirs. Since one can end up buying pressed glass from China instead of the world famous Czech Crystal, or Russian dolls instead of Czech marionetts we have prepared an overview of typical Czech souvenirs so that you will pick the right gifts for your beloved ones. You can also book any of our custom-tailored Prague Tours or Day Trips from Prague and our experienced tour guides will help you find original Czech souvenirs.
Czech Beer
Becherovka Herbal Liquer
Spa Wafers
Moser Glass and Crystal
Crystal Ruckl
Czech Porcelain – Blue Onion Pattern
Thun Porcelain
Bohemian Garnet
Jewelry: Beads from Jablonec
Classical Music CDs
Art Nouveau Paintings by Alfons Mucha
Czech Marionettes
Books – Famous Czech Authors
Hearty Czech food requires hearty drink, and Czech beer is touted as the world’s best. Two of the most famous labels are Pilsner Urquell, a light and hoppy brew, and Budwieser Budvar. Visitors need not be too fussy about which brand they drink, since there are so many good ones to choose from: Radegast, Velkopopovicky kozel, Staropramen and Gambrinus, to name a few more. In general, tmave pivo (dark beer) is usually sweet while svetle pivo (a light, golden-color beer) is aromatic and bitter. If you decide to purchase couple bottles, don’t forget to buy the typical half liter beer mug as well. Join our dazzling tours and taste the most famous Czech beer brands: Try the Czech Budweiser and buy its original beer mug on our Cesky Krumlov – Prague to Cesky Krumlov Tour, explore the Pilsner Urquell Brewery on our Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour or join our Prague Beer Tour.
Jan Becher produces this drink according to a traditional secret recipe, without adding any chemical preservatives, artificial colors or emulsifiers for over 200 years. Becherovka is known as the 13th spring at the spas at Karlovy Vary. If you or someone you know is fond of bittersweet, herbal-based alcoholic beverages and digestives, then a bottle of genuine Carlsbad Becherovka will make a great purchase. Formerly it was taken as stomach drops to improve digestion. However, considering the delicious taste of this “medicine” patients did not follow the prescribed dosage and gradually created the tradition of Becherovka as an aperitif served in small shots. Today, Bechorovka is served either ice cold, or as part of mixed drinks. The most famous one is with tonic water, called Beton. In case you forget to buy one of the recognizable green bottles in Karlovy Vary or don’t want to carry it around, you can always get a bottle in any Czech Republic liquor store or supermarket, or at the Prague airport. Join our custom-tailored tours and get the taste of Becherovka in its hometown: Karlovy Vary – Prague to Karlovy Vary Tours.
The history of the traditional Czech spa wafers (lázeňské oplatky) goes back to 1856 when Karel Reitenberger started to produce them on a large scale. Their taste and shape have not changed ever since. Thanks to unique production which includes manually covering with mixture of hazelnuts, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar, wafers are among the traditional Czech specialties. Prague has its own original wafers called Prague Wafers. You can either buy them fresh from street vendors, or look for them in a grocery store. Also you can find spa wafers in a number of Czech spa towns, but those from Karlovy Vary are the most famous. Join our custom-tailored tour Karlovy Vary – Prague to Karlovy Vary Tours.
Moser Glass is a luxury, high-quality crystal manufacturer based in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Founded Ludwig Moser in 1857, Moser boasts a long tradition of superior artistic and technical standards in lead-free crystal. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Moser developed its now famous technically perfect crystal production, employing a unique formula for producing a substance as hard as rock and as brilliant as lead crystal – but without using a trace of lead. This composition is very suitable for Moser’s marvelous engravings, is ecologically sound and remains free of all concerns associated with lead. A visit to the Moser Glass Factory is a pleasure to everyone who loves Czech crystal and glass products and the art of glass making. Moser glass has been sought out ever since for its outstanding quality and artistry and is known worldwide as the “glass of kings”. Learn about Moser crystal during our Karlovy Vary – Prague to Karlovy Vary Tour, join our tour to a crystal factory near Prague: Bohemia Crystal – Crystal Factory Excursion, or join another exciting tour where you can try to blow out a vase and wind beads yourself: Bohemia Crystal Experience – blow out a vase and wind beads yourself. You can also purchase Bohemia crystal in Prague during our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
This unique crystal glassworks is connected to a 300 year long tradition in glass making as a family. The glass making family Rückl came to Bohemia at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, most probably from what is now Switzerland. Leaving Italy they went through Switzerland and Bavaria into Šumava and then on into eastern and northern Bohemia. The glassworks in Nižbor manufactures an extensive range of cut 24% leaded crystal in a wide variety of decorations from the simple to extremely complex and laborious decorations, with gilt, hand painting and sandblasting. The company was chosen for the production and supply of official state gifts due to the very high quality of its products and services. It is possible to walk around the firm’s glassworks in Nižbor near Beroun where you can see all stages of how the glass is made. Learn about Ruckl crystal during our Bohemia Crystal – Crystal Factory Excursion, join our tour to Moser Crystal in Karlovy Vary: Karlovy Vary – Prague to Karlovy Vary Tour or join another tour where you can try to blow out a vase and wind beads yourself: Bohemia Crystal Experience – blow out a vase and wind beads yourself. You can also purchase Bohemia crystal in Prague during our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
The pattern used on this porcelain has been labeled from the beginning as an onion pattern. It originates from the combination of stylized plant motifs on an East Asian style background, however it is adapted to the European style and concept. The common name “onion pattern” has its origins in the faulty interpretation of one motif of the pattern, the depiction of a pomegranate, which by its shape distantly reminds one of an onion. In spite of this the concept of “cibulák” is a symbol of delicate beauty, a symbol of the combination of usefulness and being pleasing to the eye, a symbol of uniqueness and worldliness. You can also purchase the Czech Porcelain in Prague during our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
Did you knot that for a long time, porcelain existed as nothing more than a rumor in Europe, one that stemmed from Marco Polo’s journal entries about the wonderful ceramic products from China. He named this mysterious material porcellana after the Italian name for the cowries, the shiny yellowish-white shell of which it reminded him. When the European trade ships first returned from China in the sixteenth century, people clamored for the rare porcelain. The very first porcelain on the European continent was then produced in Germany. One of the oldest Czech china works was founded in Klasterec nad Ohri as long ago as in 1794. It gradually established its renown on the perfect modeling and exceptional artistic working of china services, known as Thun Porcelain. The present production of the Klasterec china works is following up this rich tradition. The main item on the production program continues to be household china in dinner, coffee, tea and other services. 738 employees secure the annual production of 3,804 tons of china. The factory has its own traditional customers not only on the Czech market, but also in more than forty other countries around the world.
You can also purchase the Czech Porcelain in Prague during our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
Bohemian garnet, which can only be found in Bohemia, has always maintained a unique position among other garnet stones due to its unique, fiery red color and the light refraction. Moreover, it is said to enjoy curative effects. As it has come down since the time of Emperor Rudolph II, the admirer of Bohemian garnets who had many unique pieces in his collection, Bohemian garnet has been said to help overcome sorrow and bring vital power, spirit and the feeling of joy. In the course of time, Bohemian garnet and the jewelry using Bohemian garnet has become increasingly popular, not only in the country of origin, but also across the frontiers of Bohemia. Bohemian garnet jewels are known to have adorned the dresses of Russian tsarinas at the Vienna congress after the fall of Napoleon in 1815. The present-day manufacturer Granat Turnov has been continuing the tradition of manufacturing real Bohemian jewels and spreading their publicity abroad. At present, the sample range of garnet jewelry includes over 3,500 designs produced according to customer requirements in sterling silver, gold-plated silver, 14 kt and 18 kt gold. You can learn more about the Czech Garnet and where to buy it Prague on our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
The first button mold for pressing glass buttons was invented in 1732, and the first glass bead mold was introduced in 1832. Learn about the intriguing lives of glass and beadmakers in Bohemia. During a visit to the bead pressing workshop, you can watch demonstrations of functioning technical equipment that was used as far back as the 18th century. The excursion also includes practical demonstrations of production, and you will have the opportunity to make your own wound beads. Join our tour and visit a bead pressing workshop and try to wind beads yourself: Bohemia Crystal Experience – blow out a vase and wind beads yourself.
The Czech Republic gave the world several great classical music composers such as Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak, Leos Janacek, or Bohuslav Martinu, to name the most famous ones. In Prague, you may therefore want to browse the music selection in the CD shops. You can also purchase the Czech classical music CDs in Prague during our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
There is no doubt that of all modern Czech visual artists Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) enjoyed and continues to enjoy the most international recognition, influence, and popularity. In December 1894 Mucha volunteered to produce a poster advertising a play with Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris. On January 1, 1895, the advertisement for Gismonda appeared on the streets of Paris which became an overnight sensation. You can find popular Art Nouveau Alfons Mucha reproductions. You can learn more about Mucha´s work on our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
Czech Marionettes
Puppetry is an ancient form of performance; there is evidence that puppets were used in Egypt as early as 2000 BC. Marionettes have a long tradition in Bohemia, going back to the times when traveling troupes used to entertain children with morality plays on town squares. First Czech performing puppeteers appeared in the Czech lands in the 70s of 18th century. Puppets have also been used widely in animated films in the 20th century: Czech famous animator Jiri Trnka was particularly famous for his work. The most famous Czech merionette theatre is undoubtedly the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre which was established by prof. Josef Skupa in Pilsen in 1930. Nowadays you can buy marionettes of different sizes and quality mainly in the tourist areas of Prague. You can learn more about the Czech marionettes and where to buy them in Prague on our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
You can never go wrong by buying some book about Prague or Czech Republic, whether about history, cuisine, sights. As for the Czech prose you can choose from Czech writers know far behind Czech borders like Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Karel Capek, or Jaroslav Hasek and his popular Svejk. You can learn more about famous Czech writers and where to purchase their books in Prague on our custom-tailored Prague Tours.
