Activities and Events
Cultural
Students making traditional Czech jewelry
Prague regularly plays host to numerous prestigious exhibitions, events, and international festivals, making the city a cultural hub in Europe. From sporting events to ballet performances, students never find themselves without something to do.
The rich artistic heritage of Prague can also be admired in Prague's many museums and galleries. The numerous expositions of the National Gallery, Municipal Gallery, DOX Center for Contemporary Art, and other institutions contain vast collections of art of all styles and eras, ranging from fine art to modern art, and spanning over two millennia.
City Tours
The program offers a range of tours to better acquaint students with Prague’s rich culture and history. Here are just a few examples of tours offered during the semester:
- Prague Castle Tour: Discover one the largest castle complex in the world on this tour hour tour of Prague Castle.
- Legends and Ghosts Night Tour: Learn about Prague’s legends and ghosts by walking the streets of Prague at night.
- Pragulic’s Alternative Prague: “Homeless Tour”: Learn about Prague by taking an alternative tour of Prague led by a homeless guide. The tour is organized by Pragulic, a social enterprise founded by Czech students from Charles University.
Evening Performances
To help students take advantage of everything that Prague has to offer, residential and cultural coordinator, Zuzana Wienerova, organizes weekly cultural visits to one of Prague‘s numerous theaters, operas, ballets, and musical performances. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy the symphony and experience Mozart’s famous opera, Don Giovanni in the very theater where it premiered in 1787. Many venues offer discounted tickets, making it very affordable for students.
Museum Tours and Café Outings
The program offers weekend museum tours and café outings with the cultural coordinator to explore the art scene of Prague and discover Prague’s best cafés. These outings generally take place on the weekend and students can take advantage Prague’s many museums for as little as $3.00.
ECES Activities
Throughout the semester, ECES offers a wide range of activities in addition to cultural events. Students may elect to participate in activities such as, lectures on current topics, sporting events, and a Czech jewelry-making workshop. These additional activities allow students to learn more about Czech culture while meeting other international students.
Film Screening
The ECES program offers a free film screening of the movie, Fighter, based on Mrs. Zuzana Wienerova’s husband, Jan Wiener. Mr. Wiener was a survivor of both the Nazi and Communist regimes in the Czech Republic. He used to teach at ECES and also gave guided tours of Terezín.
Jewelry-Making Workshop
Students will have the opportunity to make unique pieces of traditional Czech beaded jewelry. The class includes materials for an entire set including a necklace, bracelet, and earrings. Students can take home their own handmade souvenir. The price is approximately $15.00.
Charles University International Club (semester only)
The International Club organizes special events for all international students at Charles University (e.g. trips, film screenings, and a buddy program). The club also runs a tandem language exchange, which allows students to learn a language by teaching their native language to the other student. It is a great way to learn Czech informally!
Thanksgiving Dinner (fall semester only)
Students will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant with the residential and cultural coordinator. For a modest fee, students will have a feast that includes: soup, turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and a dessert.
Photo Contest
ECES has also a photo contest open to all ECES students in the semester programs. At the end of the semester, the winner in each category is announced at the farewell party and their photos are displayed at the university. All students are encouraged to participate. View past ECES photo contest winners.