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On August 21st 1968, people woke to find that the hopeful era of the Prague Spring had ended, as tanks from Warsaw-Pact countries rolled into the Czechoslovak capital. At a solemn ceremony outside the Czech Radio building, political leaders...

NeverMore 68 is a festival that commemorates the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968. Now in its fourth year, this year’s edition focuses on “The Foreign Perspective,” particularly how British international...

The Czech government should not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine, the Senate’s foreign affairs committee said on Wednesday. See more here. Author: Daniela Lazarová

The Ministry of Health is launching a pilot program this autumn that will enable people to receive flu vaccinations in selected pharmacies. The project is meant to test whether greater accessibility would increase public interest in...

A series of presentations and workshops in traditional Slavic art in the USA are set to be led by two ladies from Hovorany, South Moravia. They are travelling as ambassadors of the Moravian Beauty foundation, which promotes folk traditions...

Interest in voluntary military service among Czechs is waning. Since its launch in summer 2023, sign-ups for the Ministry of Defense’s “list of volunteers” have dropped from nearly 230 in the first year to just 100 last year. Volunteers share...

Liberec Zoo, established in 1904, is the oldest zoological garden in Czechia. Spanning 14 hectares, it houses over 170 animal species and plays a vital role in research, breeding, and conservation both locally and internationally. The zoo is...

The rapper Ye, who formerly went by the name Kanye West, may perform in Prague in the near future. However, a petition has been launched to protest against the potential performance, and Mayor of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda is likewise opposed to...

Up to a quarter of children in Czechia are overweight or obese. As a result, pediatricians have begun regularly monitoring children with obesity. Their goal is to help these children and their families manage excess weight before it develops...

On Friday 15th, the precious fossils of Lucy and Selam, 3.2 and 3.3 million years old respectively, landed at Prague Airport under strict security measures. They will be on display at the National Museum in Prague for two months, their first...

In the upcoming year, the Western-Bohemian city of Cheb will carry the prestigious title of European City of Sport. This was announced in an open letter from the non-profit organization ACES Europe (European Capitals and Cities of Sport...

In this edition of our Sunday Music show, we explore decades of Čechomor, formerly the ‘Czechomoravian Music Society’, a group of ex-rock musicians who revitalized traditional Czech music with fresh energy. Čechomor is a Czech band...

In this summertime episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, I set aside our usual interviews. Instead, I read my own English translation of a short story written and published in the 1930s by Karel Čapek, arguably the...

An exhibition, titled Then and Now, commemorates the travels of the iconic Czech traveller duo Hanzelka and Zikmund, known for their travels in the 1940s and 1950s. Czech Radio spoke to its curator Magdalena Preiningerová to find out more. The...

In the winding streets of Prague’s Lesser Town visitors may notice dozens of historic buildings adorned by house signs – lions, golden goblets, violins, suns and many more. Many of these signs are older than the house numbers themselves and...

According to the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, just short of 30,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Czechia in the first quarter of 2025 – a year-to-year increase of roughly 39%. The surge is largely attributed to the successful TV...

On Monday 11th, it was announced that the Czech Film and Television Academy has selected a documentary, director Klára Tasovská’s ‘I’m Not Everything I Want to Be’, as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th...

Up on Letná Hill, overlooking the Vltava, the spectacular programme of this year’s Letní Letná international festival of new circus and theatre was inaugurated on August 13th. It runs until the end of the month. The festival attracts acts from...

The most promising generation yet. Such is the conclusion of the Czech Athletics Federation following the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, where Czech athletes won a record-breaking number of medals. Following a dry spell, this...

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit Divoká Šárka—one of Prague’s wildest landscapes, filled with rocky cliffs, meadows, and forests. Just a short tram ride from the city centre, this nature reserve blends ancient history...

Two days after his outing at Sziget Festival in Hungary, world music star Post Malone took the stage at Prague’s Letňany on Tuesday. The lively showman famously dabbles in a variety of genres, from hip-hop and pop, to rock and country. The...

After 11 years, the World Yo-Yo Contest returned to Czechia. At the Cubex Centre in Prague, close to 300 competitors contended in 8 categories for the most elusive titles in yo-yo. The annual event provided a blistering show, but little in the...

Chomutov Zoo is one of the youngest Czech zoos, but it can boast being the largest by area, stretching over 112 hectares. The zoo has over 1,000 animals of 161 breeds, 14 of them endangered species. Many of the animals can be viewed moving...

In this Prague off the Beaten Track episode, we start at Prague’s busiest railway hub—Hlavní nádraží—but head somewhere unexpected. Just beyond the platforms lies the Žižkov Highline, a short walkway born from a temporary art project that’s now...

Authorities in Šumava National Park have launched an intensive search for several wolves believed to have escaped from their large natural enclosure at the Srní Visitor Centre. The centre has been temporarily closed and the residents of nearby...

Ratibořice Château stands in Babiččino údolí (Grandmother’s Valley), north of Česká Skalice in the Hradec Králové Region. This national cultural monument has welcomed visitors ranging from Austrian Chancellor Metternich to Russian Tsar...

Five seasoned carvers took on the task of creating new sculptures for the fairy-tale alley during last weekend’s symposium in Bystřice pod Pernštejnem. Visitors were able to watch the new statues come to life right before their eyes. These new...

Bedrich Smetana’s third opera Dalibor explores themes of national pride, freedom, and resistance against oppression. Although he was hugely proud of the work, it failed to win recognition during his lifetime. Bedřich Smetana’s opera Dalibor...

In this summer edition of Czechast, host Vít Pohanka visits the South Bohemian village of Holašovice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like a storybook come to life. He speaks with Julia Kňažková, a local guide and heritage expert, about...

The legendary statue of Samson is leaving the South Bohemian capital of České Budějovice for the first time ever. Since 1990, the original has been stored inside the city’s town hall, a couple meters away from its original location. Now it is...

On the occasion of the 58th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, H.E. Ms. Rina PRIHTYASMIARSI SOEMARNO, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Czech Republic, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, hosted a...

The 15th  edition of Prague Pride, an annual festival celebrating the LGBTQ community, took place in Prague on Saturday, 2nd August 2025. The theme for this year is ‘Where My Home Is’ Tens of thousands of people, including several Ministers...

A symbol of strength, wisdom, and majesty – on Saturday, Prague Zoo will celebrate World Elephant Day. Our Indian elephants will receive playful enrichment in the morning, and at 2 p.m., visitors can look forward to a special elephant bathing...

On October 3rd and 4th, Czechs will head to the polls in a parliamentary election. For the first time ever, Czech citizens based abroad will have the possibility to make use of the postal vote. However, the deadline to sign up is less than...

This could have been just another story of an ordinary family of Czech expatriates in the United States. However, a series of circumstances led Czech-American Joseph Stiborik to leave an indelible mark on history as a crew member of the Enola...

In August 1955, Karel Zeman’s groundbreaking film Journey to the Beginning of Time premiered in Czechoslovakia. Blending live action, animation, and model work, it captivated audiences and sold to more than 70 countries — a remarkable feat for...

The Mafia franchise is one of the most commercially successful Czech-made game series ever. ‘Mafia: The Old Country’ will be its fourth instalment, with a storyline going back to the roots of the Sicilian Mafia – a prequel to the first release...

How can food improve our internal sleep cycle? Whether the bad effects of an irregular sleep schedule can be mitigated by diet and exercise is currently under investigation by a team at the Czech Academy of Sciences. After five days of...

Bohuslav Martinů, one of the great 20th-century composers, will be the focus of the 35th Bard Music Festival, which gets underway at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, on Friday. Subtitled Martinů and His World, it’s the first time...

When Czech Railways announced plans to scrap the legendary “Knödel Express” running between Berlin and Prague, the news made international headlines and fans lamented its departure as the “end of an era”. Those addicted to its old-world charm...

Czech racing driver Roman Staněk is on a hot streak in the Formula 2 championship, one step below the elusive Formula 1. The 21-year-old secured his maiden feature race win and first pole position in two consecutive weeks, propelling him into...

Jihlava Zoo, officially recognized as a zoological garden since 1982, is nestled in the picturesque valley of the Jihlávka River, not far from the city center. The grounds feature wooded slopes, rocky outcrops, meadows, and water features...

The 6th annual theatre festival ‘Summer Grébovka’ kicked off on Monday with the highly anticipated production of ‘To be Marlene Dietrich’. The story of the legendary German actress and singer is the work of Theatre MA, who are staging plays at...

Bára Dočkalová is a Prague-based author, teacher and researcher, whose literary output captivates young Czech readers and this year won her a prestigious Magnesia Litera award. She spoke to Danny Bate about receiving the award and the ideas...

A vibrant parade featuring over two hundred dancers, musicians, and capoeira fighters lit up the first weekend of August in Brno, delighting thousands of onlookers. The streets pulsed with the infectious beats of samba drums, the shimmer of...

Under reconstruction from 2023, Praha–Bubny station is now welcoming trains and travellers. A spacious and light modern edifice replaces the old station from the 1920s, a key part of the planned improved railway connections to Václav Havel...

Gregor Mendel’s original microscope, used in his ground-breaking pea plant experiments, is now on display at London’s Science Museum as part of the Future of Food exhibition. Lent abroad for the first time ever by the Mendel Museum in Brno, the...

Exactly 30 years ago, the newly independent Czech Republic launched its first satellite, Magion 4, into space. It lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia, joining the historic line of Czechoslovak satellites. The Magion 4 satellite...

For this week’s Sunday Music Show, we’re celebrating the life and music of Karel Fiala, the charismatic Czech singer and actor, who was born on August 3rd 1925. His legacy is forever tied to one of the most popular films in Czech cinema:...

The Cyril and Methodius Chapel at Radhošť unexpectedly united the Beskydy Society with an American family. The people who take care of the chapel received an email from New York with photographs of a miniature of the chapel and a remarkable...

On the occasion of the 26th Anniversary of Enthronement of His Majesty The King Mohammed VI, H.E. Ms. Hanane Saadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Czech Republic, hosted a reception at the residence’s beautiful garden. Mr. Jiri...

On July 31, 2025, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová participated in the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments and the Summit of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva. The main topics discussed included global...

Prague Zoo introduced a new male Sumatran tiger. Nine-year-old Achilles arrived from the English Howletts Wild Animal Park to join four-year-old female Surya, with whom he could father cubs in Prague. The London native is a charismatic beast –...

Prague Pride is a week-long festival that is soon to begin on July 28th. In addition to the pride parade through the city on Saturday 2nd, the festival offers a rich programme of cultural and social events, from film screenings to picnics in...

For Lenka Králová, a transgender woman, podcaster, and activist, Prague Pride is the most important event of the year. She says the annual parade and week‑long festival show that “there is nothing to be afraid of” when it comes to LGBT+...

At the presidential summer residence in Lány, an envelope thought to contain the last words of first Czechoslovak President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk will be opened on September 19th. Current President Petr Pavel will attend the ceremony...

The 110th World Esperanto Congress is taking place from July 26th to August 2nd in the Moravian capital of Brno. This celebration of the international auxiliary language offers a diverse programme of activities for over a thousand attendees. To...

The Theresian Institution of Noble Ladies takes up approximately one-fifth of Prague Castle’s panorama. Its roof and façade are now set to undergo reconstruction, as part of a 180 million crown plan – the largest investment at the Prague Castle...

The flickering lights of fireflies used to be a familiar part of summer nights in the countryside. Yet these elusive insects are disappearing, along with many others. To raise awareness about fireflies and the challenges they face, the Czech...

The zoo in the Moravian city of Olomouc is located just outside the city on Svatý Kopeček (Holy Hill). One of its priorities is the preservation of endangered species like the Rothschild giraffes. But visitors can also take a safari train ride...

President Petr Pavel on July 27th paid a personal visit to the Dalai Lama, who is celebrating his 90th birthday. The Chinese embassy has expressed its disapproval of the meeting. On Sunday 27th, on his journey home after a busy presidential...

The oldest known group photograph in Czechia, and possibly the world, is housed at Velké Březno Chateau near Ústí nad Labem. Taken in 1839, the daguerreotype features the aristocratic family of Count Karel Chotek along with relatives and...

Central Europe, including Czechia, is experiencing unusually cold and rainy weather this summer, thanks to a high pressure area that has settled over northern Scandinavia. July temperatures in the country are even lower than currently reported...

In the summer of 1950, the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia launched Operation Ř, a targeted campaign aimed at the liquidation of female religious orders. Nuns were forcibly evicted from convents, separated by age, and transported to...

One of Czechia’s most respected alternative bands, Už jsme doma, are celebrating their 40th anniversary this July. The avant-garde punk group, which rose to prominence after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, marks the event with a special concert...

Moving away from traditional forms of propaganda aimed at eulogizing its political regime, China is now hiring influencers to bolster its image abroad. The Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS), which conducted the investigation...

Conservationists have spotted golden jackals in the protected landscape of Pálava in southern Moravia, capturing them on a camera trap. These wild canids have already been recorded in other parts of Czechia, and experts say their numbers are...

Writer-director Dužan Duong made a big splash at this month’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival with his debut Summer School, 2001. Dubbed the “first Czech-Viet” movie, it recreates aspects of the 34-year-old’s own childhood, much of...

The ashes of Czech author Milan Kundera and his wife Věra will be buried in the “Circle of Honour” at Brno’s Central Cemetery. On Wednesday, the city council revealed the levitating tombstone design, which should be ready by the end of July...

Two hours away from the hustle and bustle of Prague, there lies a quaint village called Horažďovice, and just a short drive away, there lies an even quainter farm, where its inhabitants grow much more than crops. On the spot of land that once...

On the occasion of the National Day of the Arab Republic of Egypt (Anniversary of the Revolution of July 1952), H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Mostafa AFIFI, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, hosted a reception at the beautiful residence garden...

On the occasion of the 215th anniversary of the Independence of Colombia, and in gratitude for your support in the process of opening the Embassy of Colombia in the Czech Republic, H.E. Mrs. Solangel Ortiz Mejía, hosted an event at the Hotel NH...

On the Occasion of the 98th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. FENG Biao, and the Defense Attaché of the People’s Republic of...

Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22nd, at the age of 76. The frontman of Black Sabbath leaves behind a lasting impact on music and culture, no less so in Czechia. Local stars drew inspiration from the band’s legendary hits, as...

Each summer, the UNESCO-listed village of Holašovice in South Bohemia transforms into a lively celebration of Czech heritage. Thousands of visitors come for the Peasant Festival, where handmade crafts, folk music, and traditional costumes take...

Beer is famously one of Czechia’s top exports with a great deal of historical, cultural, and economic significance. Along with the beverage itself, the distribution of ingredients and diffusion of know-how has allowed brewers from all corners...

In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit Kajetánka—a hidden gem in Prague 6 that once housed a monastery and vineyard. Today it’s a peaceful park with historic surroundings and hardly any tourists. If you’re looking for a...

The Hrádek u Nechanic Castle, a national cultural monument, is often referred to as a piece of England in eastern Bohemia. This charming building was constructed between 1839 and 1857 by František Arnošt, Count of Harrach, a member of the...

For the 14th year in a row, the glass trophies for the winners of the Tour de France were made by Czech company Lasvit. Though the shape remains unchanged since 2011, each edition brings fresh innovations—this year with a new emerald green...

The increasing cost of living is changing the appetites of Czech home buyers. In their search for flats, a growing number are now considering the purchase of micro-apartments – sized between 16 and 30 square meters. In the last quartile, demand...

The zoo in Zlín, eastern Moravia, is one of the most visited in Czechia. Highlights include its ray petting pool and jaguar feeding. A rescue centre for illegally captive lions is also soon to open on the vast site. RPI’s Ferdinand Hauser...

The 36th annual Czech Open Chess and Games Festival is well underway and will run until August 3. Around four thousand players from almost all over the world will compete there. In addition to chess, registered competitors will also take part...

An exhibition titled The Call of the Forest, currently on display at Prague’s Kunsthalle, invites visitors to leave behind the noise of the city and step into the quiet, contemplative world of the forest. Created by the Czech-born, New York...

The new SPYDER air defense system, ordered from Israel four years ago for nearly 14 billion crowns, promises longer range, missiles targeting multiple objectives, and a technological leap for the Czech army. It is expected to be ready for the...

A two-day event on July 19th and 20th called Pod praporem Bergowa (‘Under the banner of Bergow’) attracted hundreds of fans of the popular computer game to Trosky Castle. Visitors could visit a period camp, take pictures with replica weapons...

Josef “Pepa” Vomáčka is a Prague-based bon vivant and “man about town” – a renowned and much-beloved figure across the Czech capital’s cultural scene. Pepa turned 80 this month and Dominik Jůn spoke to several of his friends and associates to...

The atmosphere across Czechoslovakia immediately after World War II was full of tension, pain and a desire for revenge. Yet the public attitudes of the political leaders of the time also fundamentally influenced the direction of the country –...

In today’s edition of our Sunday Music Show, we highlight the compositions of František Ignác Tůma, a Czech composer from the late Baroque period known for creating some of the era’s most imaginative works. František Ignác Tůma spent most of...

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský symbolically received a collection of art pieces from Jan Masaryk’s former London residence, on Thursday afternoon. The roughly 30 works of art were bought out at auction by one of Masaryk’s former secretaries...

Three years after a devastating fire stopped the popular boat trips down the river Kamenice, boating through Edmund’s Gorge is set to recommence on July 19th. The initial trips will be limited to a maximum of fifty people daily. Bohemian...

US academic Chad Bryant explores the recent history of Prague through the prism of diverse personalities in a book just launched in Czech. Prague: Belonging in the Modern City blends the stories of socialists, dissidents, Jews, Germans and...

On the occasion of French National Day, celebrated on July 14 as a commemoration of the 1789 Bastille Day, H.E. Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic, and Ms. Jennifer Zeitlin-Crouzat hosted a special reception at the...

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Czech Republic, H.E. Mrs. Rina P. Soemarno, the Ambassador of Indonesia to the Czech Republic, organized a Celebratory Concert of the...

Ms. Indhira Banares, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Philippines in the Czech Republic, is leaving us after 6 successful years for her next position. We wish Indhira a lot of success in her new position. We will miss her and...

President Petr Pavel will meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Japan next week, the Office of the President of the Republic informed journalists on Wednesday. See more here. Author: Danny Bate

From traditional Thai massage studios to cultural festivals, Thai nationals are quietly establishing a foothold in the Czech Republic. Though still a small community, their presence is growing – and with it, a vibrant effort to keep Thai...

The Krkonoše National Park in the northeast of Czechia is facing a serious challenge: an invasive plant known as lupine is taking over its meadows. To combat the spread, park authorities recently called on visitors for help, encouraging them to...

At the Technical University of Liberec, a T-shirt has been developed with the ability to identify micro-sleep thanks to sensors in the fabric that detect slow breathing. With a connected alarm system in place, the innovation aims to combat the...

Colours of Ostrava, the biggest international music festival in Czechia, is this year bringing Iggy Pop, Sting, Snow Patrol, The Chainsmokers and many more acts to the Silesian city. Before the 2025 edition’s start on July 16th, Danny Bate...

Lemurs that survive only near a remote lake in Madagascar, snakes that hunt with spider-shaped tails, fish from Mexico extinct in the wild, and solitary Indian rhinos. These are just some of the rare and endangered species visitors can see at...