Kampa Island

Kampa (also "Na Kampě") is an island in the Vltava river in central Prague on the side of Malá Strana. Charles Bridge crosses its northern tip and is connected to the island by the Street na Kampě. It is separated from Malá Strana by a narrow artificial channel to the west called the "Devil's Stream" (Čertovka), a waterway dug to power water mills (no longer existent). It is supposedly to be named after a sharp-tongued woman who lived in a local home called the Seven Devils. [Levine, Dan. "Avant Guide Prague" New York: Empire Press Media, 2001.]

The area was named in the 17th century as the "campus" ("field") by Spanish soldiers who tented here during the Battle of White Mountain.

Museum Kampa

Kampa is home to Museum Kampa, a modern art gallery showing central European (and inparticular Czech) work. The pieces are from the private collection of Meda Mladek, wife of
Jan V. Mladek. The museum, which opened in 2003, is housed in "Sova's Mills" on the eastern bank of the island. Magdalena Jetelova's huge chair sculpture, situated outside the museum above the river, is a prominent landmark visible from across the Vltava.

References

External links

* [http://www.museumkampa.cz/new/en/ Museum Kampa web site]
* [http://www.radio.cz/en/article/45025 Radio Praha article on the Jetlova Chair]