To visit the capital of the Czech Republic and not see the famous singing fountains in Prague means not to see one of the most famous sights of the city, which even in itself is one integral landmark of architecture and history.
History of singing fountains
The fountains were created by František Krizik, a talented engineer who is also known in his homeland as the "Czech Edison" and after whom the fountains are also called Krizik's. The construction was timed to coincide with the First Czech Industrial Exhibition. According to the project of the inventor in 1891, a singing fountain with electric lighting was created. The bottom of the fountain was illuminated with 50 lanterns, and high-speed pumps pumped 250 liters of water per second, all this was a real sensation in those days.
At the end of the last century, the fountain complex was reconstructed with the direct participation of the famous architect Z. Staszek. Thanks to the use of modern computer technologies, it has become possible to enjoy not only the play of light, water,music, but also to create bright unforgettable shows using video effects. Created in 2000, the water screen plays colorful videos.
Description of the complex
The fountain complex has no analogues throughout Europe. The pool of singing fountains in Prague has a very impressive size: it is 25 meters long and 45 meters wide. 50 pumps supply water through a pipe with a total length of 2 km. The pipe has many branches, equipped with almost a thousand spotlights. 3,000 sprayers shoot up the violent energy of water, while changing the pressure and height of the jets to the beat of the music, creating stunning shapes and figures. Floodlights with 1200 color shades turn the fountains into a grandiose spectacle of incredible beauty.
In the middle of the pool is a stage where colorful performances take place. So, for example, the great ballet "Swan Lake" by P. I. Tchaikovsky performed by the Czech ballet will not leave indifferent neither children nor adults.
The pool is surrounded by an ancient-style amphitheater, on the bench-steps of which everyone who wants to watch a fascinating show sits.
Sometimes more than 6 thousand spectators gather here. I would like to give only one small piece of advice: when taking seats in the amphitheater, try to avoid the first row, otherwise there is a huge chance of getting wet from the small spray of singing fountains. Prague is rightly proud of its unique, fantasticattraction.
Repertoire
The repertoire of krzyzhik singing fountains in Prague is quite diverse: from classical melodies from ballet or opera works to musical compositions of modern styles. Water creates a delightful imitation of dance to snippets of enchanting music:
- classical composers (Mozart, Vivaldi, Dvorak, Smetana, Ega, Tchaikovsky, etc.);
- rock musicians and bands (Freddie Mercury, Scorpions, Metallica);
- world famous pop artists (ABBA, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Rihanna, etc.)
Soundtracks from such popular films as "Star Wars", "Titanic", "The Mask of Zorro" and others are used for the musical accompaniment of the water extravaganza.
In addition to dancing the water jets to the beat of the music, the stage in the middle of the pool hosts performances by Czech ballet and opera artists.
The repertoire includes Tchaikovsky's ballets The Nutcracker, The Little Mermaid, Romeo and Juliet, ballets based on modern films and musicals Notre Dame de Paris, Pretty Woman, Ghost. The best rock compositions performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, opera performances by the voices of Il Divo sound here.
Videos showing the beauty of Czech nature, scenes from famous cartoons and feature films, concerts, backlit, with musical accompaniment are projected onto the water wall, which replaces the cinema screen. A video sequence of famous paintings createsperfect backdrop for water shows.
New programs and shows are added weekly, information about them is available on the official website. Each viewer will find the most suitable performance for their interests.
Where are the singing fountains?
To the question of a tourist about where the singing fountains are in Prague, each citizen will immediately give an answer, because this is one of the favorite vacation spots not only for guests of the capital, but also for the inhabitants of the city themselves. This is one of the main goals when visiting the Vystaviste Park Complex.
The singing fountains are located in Prague at the address: Vystaviste Fair Square, U Výstaviště 1/20, Praha 7, 170 05. The complex is located behind the exhibition pavilions of the center. Another name for the district of Prague 7 is Holesovice.
How to get there?
So, you have decided to visit the magnificent show of singing fountains in Prague. How to get to them? Not difficult at all!
From the city center (Praha 1 and Praha 2 districts) Holesovice can be reached:
- metro is the most convenient way: red line C to Nádraží Holešovice station (terminal), then about 10-15 minutes on foot (about 1200 m);
- by tram No. 12, 24 (from almost anywhere in the city), also No. 5, 17, 53, 54, 91 (depending on the starting point): stop Vystaviste Holesovice;
- by taxi or rented car, you can reach your destination in 15-20 minutes.
Schedule
All performances take place outdoors.
This is due to the schedule of singing fountains in Prague: performances are shown from March to October. During the day, you can visit the singing fountains for free, but you can only see the show that gathers thousands of spectators in the evening, after dark.
Magic show usually starts at 20:00. The duration of each is at least 40 minutes. Three or four shows are shown every evening. After the performance, there is an opportunity to buy a DVD with a recording of one of the shows. But the recording, of course, does not compare to the sensations experienced while watching the live performance.
For details on the schedule of current performances, please visit the official website.
Useful information and tips
Ticket price is around €10 (230 CZK). It is better to buy tickets on your own, which will be significantly cheaper, because the cost of a ticket purchased through an agency can even exceed its real cost by three times (from € 20 to 30).
Seats are not indicated on the tickets. But as mentioned above, it is not recommended to take places in the front rows due to water getting on clothes. It is better to position yourself in the center behind the white fence.
It's better to plan a visit to the performances, having read their schedule in advance: from the whole variety, you can always choose the most suitable and closest option for yourself.
Romantics and simply connoisseurs of beauty and wonderful music must see the singing fountains of Prague. Having visited them once, you want to come here again and again. Moreover, thanks toto the huge variety of the program, its constant renewal and addition, each new visit to the fountains guarantees the enjoyment of a new spectacle, but always magical and unique in its charm.
