Materials from a conference organized by the International Cultural Centre in June 2000. Both Prague and Krakow are among the nine cities that have been awarded the status of European Capital of Culture. Both of them offer images of Central European civilization.

Materials from a conference organized by the International Cultural Centre in June 2000. Both Prague and Krakow are among the nine cities that have been awarded the status of European Capital of Culture. Both of them offer images of Central European civilization. Relationships between the two cities, constantly changing over the centuries, now inspire a deeper reflection on the culturally, politically, socially and economically complex process of the sustained existence of Poland and the Czech state in Europe for over one thousand years. With its range of overlapping topics, the publication is addressed especially to architects (issues of functional and urban transformations in Prague and Krakow, the urban landscape), city planners (e.g. the continuity of the urbanistic traditions, the two cities’ development concepts and strategies in the new reality), historians (e.g. the appearance of capital centres, the shaping of the metropolises), art experts (a comparison of the Baroque style in Prague and Krakow), philologists (e.g. Polish celebrities in Prague, the Polish and Czech modernists), and finally cultural anthropologists (ethnic variety, the cities’ role in the process of forming the national culture and myth). The book inspires thoughts on chances for more intense relationships in all areas and closer cooperation between both nations for the Central European cause.

Polish version