Central and East European Societies in Transition, Excursion to the Czech Republic/Eastern Germany, 135150

Some of the greatest changes to the Central and East European societies came about during the socialist period. After the decades of central planning the states have faced many problems in trying to convert their economies toward marked-based systems and re-establishing their relations to west. The impacts of the transition are visible on different layers of the societies. The excursion of the course "Central and East European Societies in Transition" was made to former East Germany and the Czech Republic to observe the reality of the transition.

The relations of the two countries have always been problematic. Today Germany is an influential member of the EU whereas Czechia is only an applicant. The enlargement of the union will undoubtedly change the relations of the east and central European countries. We travelled to the Czech-German border region to see signs of the transition in the physical structures of the landscape as well as in the minds of the people. The excursion destinations were chosen by the partner Universities in both countries and they represented a choice of places of historical, economical, cultural and social meaning for the Czech and German societies.

1.5. Helsinki – Prague – Chemnitz

2.5. Euregio Egrensis with Prof. Peter Jurczek, Technical University-Chemnitz
Chemnitz - Auerbach - Bad Elster - Plauen

Auerbach. The small town used to be famous for its textiles industry, but after the communism most of the factories were closed. Because there aren't any substitutive employers people have moved away and many houses and apartments have been abandoned. The future of the town depends on recreation and distance working possibilities. Also the international border region agreements and substitutes from the EU are important in the development of the town.

From Auerbach we set out to Bad Elster, an old spa town. Like Auerbach, Bad Elster is mainly counting on recreation, but unlike Auerbach it already has a long history of tourism. Spa tourism was popular even during the socialist period. The next excursion town Plauen, like our accommodation town Chemnitz, seemed a mixture of east and west. The signs of communist regime and style have been rebuilt to the western style (especially in the centres), but these towns still seem to have a special historical flavour in them. Without being able to cherish their communist architecture and monuments Plauen like Chemnitz seem to miss a whole layer of history.

Photos on the first excursion day: Bad Elster

3.5. Chemnitz city excursion and programme with Dr. Bernhard Köppen, TUC

Chemnitz. The town shows a range of different types of architecture and levels of history. The socialist architecture and planning have caused problems in the town structure as whole areas used to be planned for example only for families with small children. Suburbs of half-empty and deteriorating multi-level blockhouses surround the centre, because nobody wants to move in no matter how low the prices are. At the same time some newly renovated areas lack apartments. All the business concentrates into the nuclear centre around the new western shopping centres and big shopping malls on the outskirts of the town.

Photos on the second excursion day: Karl-Marx Statue, Chemnitz Art Museum, More Socialist Monuments...

4.5. Arrive in Jáchymov-Nove Mesto, the Czech Republic

Jáchymov. The village is situated on the Czech-German mountain range. Close to the German border the village is a rest stop for many German tourist travelling to Prague. The main road sides are crowded by small shops selling anything from souvenirs to foods and drinks or rucksacks to garden gnomes and cat baskets. The car flow from Germany to Czechia is tremendous as Germans living close to the border come to do their shopping in the cheaper neighbouring country. Measured with border crossings Czechia is one of the leading tourist destinations in Europe.

Photos on Jachymov: Road, More Houses, Local Sanitation Facilities

5.5. The Czech republic part of the excursion

North Bohemia. The basis of the industry in the North-West Bohemia is the wide coal basin. New towns like Most were created and whole churches, like the Church of Ascension of the Virgin Mary in Most, moved from the coal fields to make space for the open pits. After the traditional fields of industry declined due to the liberation of the markets there has been a lot of effort to try to develop substitutive sources of income. Tourism is seen as an important factor in the future. For the needs of tourism the castles, monasteries and churches of the area, like the medieval castle of Hasištejn, are being renovated and opened to the public. There are also international projects working on the reconstruction of the old monuments. For example the repairing of the castle of Jezerí is supported by Britain's Prince Charles's "Prince's Trust Fund".

Karlovy Vary is the most famous of the Bohemian spa towns and a good example of the historical meaning of tourism. The hot springs, the lacy colonnades and the carefully decorated palaces painted in pastel colours make the town look like a dream. The old centre has attracted tourists for centuries and its uniqueness has only increased in the course of time. Many exhibitions and events add to the image of a town of high culture and considerable traditions. Handicrafts are well respected as souvenirs and old handiwork traditions are used as tourist attractions. Such traditions are for example glass blowing and liqueur production. On the outskirts of Karlovy Vary Moser glass factory produces art glass with the old traditional methods and in the centre a liqueur distillery produces "the world famous" Becherovka liqueur.

Škoda used to be one of the biggest employers of the town, but now the Škoda engineering museum and plant seem merely relicts of the history. The structural change and globalisation process have reduced the local input to the production and the regional meaning of the plant.

Besides Škoda, Plzen is also known for its beer brewing. Prazdroj brewery that produces Pilsner Urquell makes an interesting tourist sight and offers popular tours around the production facilities and cellars. The town of Plzen itself is a mixture of different layers of history and religion. The third largest synagogue in the world and one of the highest churches are situated in Plzen.

8.5 Prague

All the layers of Central European history and culture are visible in Prague. The town is the biggest and most important in Czechia as well economically as culturally. After the end of communism Prague soon became a fashionable tourist destination and the growth of the tourism and tourism services were fast. Nowadays the old centre and the popular sights: the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge are always crowded by tourists. Behind the historical centre modern blocks surround the old town and its monuments as far as an eye can see. Prague belongs to the UNESCO list of the world cultural and natural heritage like nine other Czech locations. Protecting the natural as well as the cultural heritage has become important and is developed by international and national projects and agreements.

Prague, Charles University, department of Geography

Jirí Blažek: Regional Development in the Czech Republic during the EU Accession Process

Czech foreign politics has mainly been taking care of the relations to the west European countries in the 1990s. Especially Germany has been of a crucial importance to the new country trying to re-establish its place on the map. The Czech Republic is a member of NATO and it will most likely be accepted to the EU in the near future. However, the accession process will require much flexibility from the Czech internal politics.

Czech regional politics has a background of huge regional disparities and communist homogenisation. During the transition the regions have been searching for their places and differentiating from each other. This has lead to further increase of disparities and new spatial forms of development. The big urban centres develop the fastest whereas the rural areas and old industrial towns remain behind. The pressure of joining the EU has been a key factor for developing regional politics compatible to the European standards. The EU is seen as the best alternative, although the public remains rather sceptic. There has been big changes on institutional, financial, legislative and programming levels, but there is still a lot to be done.

Jirí Vágner: Tourism and Recreation in the Czech Republic

The lecture was an introduction to the excursion to the Vltava river recreational area the next day. See 10.5 for a short summary.

Jirí Vágner: Tourism and Recreation in the Czech Republic

Tourism is economically very important for the Czech Republic. Annually there are over 100 million border crossings to Czechia and the country is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. However, 70 - 75 % of the border crossings is transit or one-day stays. Prague is the most visited of the sights, but also the spa resorts, Brno and the nature destinations are popular. Especially shopping tourism has been usual because of the cheaper prices. The joining of the EU is estimated to change the basis of the tourism in Czechia and many projects have been started to develop new attractions and forms of tourism.

Domestic tourism is labelled by the phenomenon of "second homes". The second homes were developed in the beginning of the 20th century by lower class people inspired by Western films and upper-class summer villas. The second homes are summer cottages built in the environs of the towns and on the countryside. After the second World War there was a boom of second homes as people wanted to escape the controlled life and unpleasantness of towns. By the beginning of the 1990s there were nearly half a million second homes. Since the 1990s the building of second homes have been in decline as people have more choices to travel to and the expenses of building are up. However, the old second houses close to the big cities are ever more often turned into permanent houses for retired owners or distance workers.

The first second houses were set up on the outskirts of Prague, but later the phenomenon perspired to the whole country. The area around the Vlatva river and the Slapy and Stechovice Reservoirs is a traditional recreational area and the density of second housing is very tight. Because the distance to Prague is very short the area offers an excellent opportunity for the conversion of the second homes into permanent living houses.

11.5 Prague - Helsinki - Joensuu...

Excursion Photo Album