Moravské divadlo Olomouc, Empire style theatre in Olomouc, Czech Republic
Moravské divadlo Olomouc is an Empire style theatre in the center of Olomouc, listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Its symmetrical facade features a triangular gable decorated with stone reliefs and theatrical motifs arranged in measured proportions.
The first documented theatre in Olomouc dates to 1479, and a school theatre arose with the university in 1573. The present building, designed by Viennese court architect Joseph Kornhäusel, opened on Horní náměstí on 3 October 1830 as a German-language house. It became a Czech stage on 1 September 1920 with Smetana's Libuše; the rear wing was added in 1924–1929 and Karel Fischer rebuilt the main block in 1940–1941.
The theatre takes its name from the Moravian region and is the largest professional theatre in Olomouc. It stages opera, drama, and ballet under one roof, drawing audiences from across the region.
The theatre sits in the center of Olomouc and is easy to reach on foot from the main sights of the old town. Arriving a little before the show starts gives you time to look around the facade and the foyer without rushing.
Joseph Kornhäusel, the architect behind the building, also designed major theatres in Vienna, including the Theater in der Josefstadt, placing this Olomouc house within a broader Central European theatre tradition. Despite later changes, the original structure of the facade still follows his hand.
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