FF “The Mělník Plait”

Foto Filip Huml

11^th Folklore Festival “The Mělník Plait”

 5 to 7 June, 2009, Mělník 

This festival derives its name from a local speciality – a plaited fancy bread. It is also the name of the main organizer of the event, an association founded in 2000 with the aim of maintaining and furthering the local folk traditions. As a result, every first half of June the inhabitants and visitors of Mělník have an opportunity to get acquainted not only with these cultural values, but also with the variety and beauty of  the Czech, Moravian, and Silesian folklore as well as with the traditions of other countries. The festival is aimed at all age groups of enthusiastic musicians, singers, and dancers of folk ensembles. On Friday and Saturday the program is completed with St Anthony´s fair. The main festival day is Saturday, with the parade of the participating groups and the main program in the afternoon.

The town of Mělník, lying at the confluence of the Vltava (Moldavia) and the Labe (Elbe), originated in the 13th century and was raised to the statute of royal dowry town of Bohemian queens by the Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century. An impressive dominant of the town is the castle and the tower of St Peter and Paul Cathedral, visible from a long distance. Visitors are particularly attracted by the the castle viewpoint, which offers a superb view of the Vltava and Labe confluence, the legendary Říp hill, and the Central Bohemian Highlands.