The two largest Christmas markets in Prague opened over the weekend. The markets at Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) and Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) were crowded over lunch time on Sunday. There were a lot of people buying gifts and enjoying the food selection, including bramboráčky (potato pancakes), klobásy (sausages) and trdelník (cooked dough with cinnamon and sugar).

View of the 2011 Old Town Square Christmas Market

The Old Town Square Christmas Market

Close up view of trdelník (cooked dough typically with cinnamon and sugar)

Stand selling bramboráčky (potato pancakes)

Christmas ornaments

Vinobraní, the annual Czech wine festival, takes place around the country in September. A semi-fermented young wine called burčák is always one of the big attractions. Here are some pictures I took this year at the popular festival on Náměstí Míru in Prague.

Long burčák lines at the vinobraní on Náměstí Míru

Church of St. Ludmila on Náměstí Míru

Burčák stand

The less common red burčák

As every year, the Christmas market at náměstí Míru (Peace Square) in Prague’s Vinohrady district was the first of Prague’s Christmas markets to open this year. It runs from November 20 through December 24 and its 59 stalls are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you decide to visit this cozy, local market nestled in front of the St. Ludmila Cathedral, you will find the usual products of the season, such as Christmas decorations, wooden toys, handmade jewelry, herbal soaps, herbs and teas, gingerbread, and many others. To keep warm in the chilly weather, you can sip some mulled wine, medovina (honey liquor) or Christmas punch that you can buy at some of the stalls.

The large Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open tomorrow.

Please visit our Prague Christmas Markets page for more information.

Christmas booths on náměstí Míru

Christmas tree on náměstí Míru

Booth selling Christmas gifts

Booth selling medovina (honey liquor)

The most popular booth is selling grog and svařené vino (mulled wine)

The European Court of Justice ruled against Anheuser-Busch InBev in a trademark dispute with the Czech brewer Budějovický Budvar. A-B Inbev will not be allowed an EU-wide trademark on the name “Budweiser”. The result is a win for the Czech brewer in a case that started almost 15 years ago. There are still legal disputes ongoing in other countries, so the trademark battle will continue.

For further reading:
A-B InBev loses Budweiser trademark battle in E.U. court
This Bud’s Not for EU
The Budweisers Should Make Up – And Cheers!

Outdoor grilling is especially popular this time of year. It always draws crowds when it happens on Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). The first two pictures are from last Monday when there was a celebration for the Czech team winning the 2010 Hockey World Championship.






The sausage stands on Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) are still a draw for a quick bite. The two stands at the bottom of the square are the busiest.

The MICHELIN guide Main Cities of Europe 2010 is out and Prague retains a one star restaurant. The Allegro Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel defended its one star rating while the other one star restaurant from 2009, Gordon Ramsay’s Maze, closed before the ratings were released in 2009.

Divinis and SaSaZu are two new recipients of the Bib Gourmand award, which indicates a “high quality, affordable, three-course meal”. Aromi, Le Cornichon (now closed) and Le Terroir defended their Bib Gourmand awards from last year.

For further reading see:

Prague´s Allegro restaurant defends its Michelin star from 2008

Michelin loses its luster

If you are interested in purchasing the guide:

MICHELIN guide Main Cities of Europe 2010 – Amazon.co.uk

MICHELIN guide Main Cities of Europe 2010 – Amazon.com (published on May 10)

The MICHELIN Main Cities of Europe 2009 guide, which contains information and ratings on hotels and restaurants in 20 countries in Europe, is being released tomorrow. The Michelin Guide is famous for its 1 – 2 – 3 star restaurant rating system, with three stars being the highest. Last year, the Prague restaurant Allegro at the Four Seasons Hotel received the first Michelin star ever awarded in the Czech Republic. Gordon Ramsay’s Maze at the Hilton Hotel was awarded a star this year in addition to Allegro. Ramsay previously announced that he was pulling out of Prague. If the restaurant changes name and ownership, then it will lose the Michelin star.

Three Prague restaurants, Aromi, Le Cornichon, and Le Terroir received the Bib Gourmand, which highlights “good food at moderate prices”.

For further reading see:
Another Prague restaurant wins Michelin star
Ramsay Wins 13th Michelin Star as Chef Counts Cost of Expansion
Gordon Ramsay pulls out of Maze Prague

If you are interested in purchasing the guide:
MICHELIN Main Cities of Europe 2009 – from Amazon.co.uk (published on March 18)
MICHELIN Main Cities of Europe 2009 – from Amazon.com (published on May 15)

Czechs join Slovakia to register salami and sausage
If they publish the recipes, I would be interested in knowing what exactly is inside.

European Tour returns to Czech Republic in 2009 after 12 years
Golf has been gaining in popularity over the years here and this should give it a boost.

Dogs – Czechs’ best friends
I do see a lot of dogs around and unfortunately you have to watch where you step when walking on the sidewalk. 

Season tickets in Prague to be replaced by chip cards
It would be very convenient to buy monthly/yearly tickets or to just add credit online.

Czech wines excel at international wine contest
- Southern Moravian wines are winning medals

TV makers give Central Europe high ratings
- LCD and plasma television manufacturing big in Czech Republic and its neighbors

Vivaldi’s long-lost opera returns to Prague after 278 years
- missing manuscript completed and performed at Prague Castle

Fake blog caught promoting bank
The curious case of the phantom blogger
- fake blogs also an issue in the Czech Republic

Oscar dream comes true for young Czech musician Markéta Irglová
Home town of Markéta Irglová celebrates her Oscar success
- Markéto a Glene, gratulujeme!

Czech police seek missing bridge
- How do you hide a four-ton iron bridge? Most likely it has already been recycled.

Lights dimming on gambler’s paradise
- Herna bars are all over our Prague district with two even next door to each other.

Budvar ups exports to record 587,000 hl of beer in 2007
- For those living in South Korea, Brazil or Albania, Budvar is now being distributed to your country.