Fire destroys film sets at Barrandov studios
August 27, 2016
Czech media reported on Saturday that some $4 million (3.6 million euros) worth of damage had been caused overnight after a fire broke out at Prague's Barrandov film studios.
Several film sets were burnt down, including a castle from the Middle Ages and some recreated Paris streets. The set for the television series "Knightfall" was also destroyed. Shooting of the series, which depicts the final days of the Knights Templar in the 14th century, was due to start in the Czech Republic this weekend.
Firefighters brought the fire under control using helicopters to dump water from the Vltava river on the blaze.
The Barrandov studios, established by late Czech President Vaclav Havel's uncle in the 1930s, is one of the largest studio complexes in Europe.
Some 2,000 Czech and international films have been shot there, including many international prize-winners.
It was not immediately clear how the fire started.
ksb/jlw (AFP, Reuters)