On Wednesday 9th, we went to the city of Hradec Králové by coach, to visit the piano factory C. Bechstein Europe.

In this part of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, there is a long musical and piano-making tradition. So, despite it is a German company, it has a branch in this Czech city.

W. Hoffmann pianos are made here, both grand and upright pianos, which are sold all over the world. The strict quality controls and the high professional qualification of its workers make their pianos one of the top ranking in the world, and some of their items can be seen in the main operas, theatres and music schools in the world.

We could see the manufacturing process, from the biggest skeletons to the smallest pieces. It was a pity we couldn’t take any picture, to keep the manufacturing secrets. At the end of the visit, those schoolmates who can play the piano could show their skills in front of a devoted audience. As the lucky musicians said, the quality of a good piano is easily seen.

 After visiting the piano factory, we went to Kutná Hora by coach, which is placed in Central Bohemia, and which got its highest glory thanks to the silver mines, and it finally competed with Prague in the economic, politic and cultural fields.

The old town of the city was named as Human Heritage by Unesco in 1995.

Inside this area, the church of all saints of Sedlec stands out. We visited it for its peculiarity: the chapel has aproximately 40,000 human skeletons, artistically placed to create the decoration and furniture of the chapel. That is why it is also called Sedlec Ossuary.

Before coming back to Jihlava, we visited Saint Barbora Cathedral and we had a walk across the city centre.

 

Written and translated by  Lucía Rodríguez