Posts

Prague to host first-ever European display...

For the first time ever, one of the world’s most famous fossils is coming to Europe. The fossilized remains of Lucy, a 3.18-million-year-old human ancestor, will go on display at Prague’s National Museum in August, giving visitors a unique...

Teacher, senator, martyr: Remembering...

On February 5th 1875, Františka Plamínková was born, a woman who would go on to dedicate her life to political causes, most notably the rights of women in Czechoslovakia. Tragically, this activism culminated in her execution by the Nazis in...

Czech scientists in Albania discover...

A team of Czech scientists have discovered in southern Albania the world’s largest underground thermal lake, and have named it Lake Neuron, after the foundation that funded the expedition. Within the valleys of the mountainous borderlands...

Nový svět: peaceful refuge off the Prague...

Just a few steps away from Prague Castle and the grand palaces of Hradčany, Nový Svět (The New World) feels like a secret passage into a quieter, almost forgotten part of the city. With its winding cobbled streets, historic houses, and an...

National Film Archive preserves amateur and...

The National Film Archive in Hradištek near Prague is a treasure trove of famous and lesser-known Czech films, but also contains a collection of family and amateur films. Over the years, the collection was enriched by private donors or came...

Wine not? Czech Dry February campaign...

Alcoholic drinks are a constant presence in Czech life, with some, especially beer, achieving the status of a national symbol. Yet the ubiquity and normality of drinking alcohol can easily lead to a variety of problems. Danny Bate spoke to Petr...

Russian Orthodox Church transfers ownership...

The Russian Orthodox Church has transferred ownership of it assets in Karlovy Vary to its Hungarian branch so as to prevent the Czech state freezing them. This includes ownership of the Church of Sts Peter and Paul which now falls under the...

Rediscovering a lost legacy: American Noah...

Noah Breuer is an American artist with a personal connection to Czech history. His ancestors owned a textile factory in Dvůr Králové, which was confiscated during World War II, and most of his Jewish family perished in the Holocaust. In 2016...

Who owns Czech football?

Trying to decipher the motives behind owning a football club is like putting together a colorful puzzle. Some clubs are owned by very wealthy businessmen, others by cities or even a foreign company. But they rarely, if ever make money and are...

Historic trains get new lease on life:...

Historic trains will probably not receive a red light after all with the arrival of the new European Train Control System (ETCS) signaling system. The system was designed to improve safety and efficiency across European rail networks, but some...

Janské Lázně hosted the first World Ski...

Exactly 100 years ago, in February 1925, Czechoslovakia hosted the very first World Ski Championships. The event, called Rendezvous Ski Races at the time, was held in Janské Lázně in the Krkonoše Mountains. A series of events is taking place...

Nine hours in a hot air balloon to win the...

The Jaroslav Hašek Cup, a competition for the furthest hot air balloon flight, started at dawn on February 1st in Kejžlice near Humpolec. The participants had the task of flying as far as possible from the take-off point within a time limit of...

What will Prague’s new metro line D...

To mark the 50 th anniversary of the Prague metro we explored some of its iconic stations. In conclusion, here is a look at what the new metro line D will look like. In December of last year, a new milestone was reached for work on Prague’s new...

Petr Muk: “His soul was tormented, but his...

Petr Muk (born on Feb 4, 1965) was a Czech pop singer and composer who grew up in communist Czechoslovakia but was influenced by Western bands like the English synth-pop duo Erasure, The Cure and Depeche Mode. At the time, recordings of Western...

35 years ago, the much-feared Czechoslovak...

When in 1990, Minister of the Interior Richard Sacher issued an order to abolish all central departments of Czechoslovakia’s State Security organisation (StB), he brought to an end the more than forty-year period of one of the main instruments...

Cheers! Czech beer culture given status of...

The Ministry of Culture has added Czech beer and brewing culture to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Czech Republic, a step towards its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Czechs may well feel that beer is an inseparable...

Mammoth hunting camp discovered in Ústí nad...

Archaeologists in Ústí nad Labem in northern Bohemia have made a unique discovery: a mammoth hunting camp from the Old Stone Age. The site, covered with thousands of animal bones, includes remains of at least 13 woolly mammoths and other...

Beavers build planned dams in protected...

A beaver colony in the Brdy region has gained overnight fame by building several dams in the Brdy protected landscape area, creating a natural wetland exactly where it was needed. It saved the local authorities 30 million crowns, and has the...

76th Republic Day of India

On the occasion of the 76th Republic Day of India, the Ambassador of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr. Raveesh Kumar, and Mrs. Ranjana Raveesh Hosted a reception at the Beautiful Zofin Palace. Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign...

Polish Presidency of the Council of the...

On the occasion of the opening of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mr Jacek Gajewski the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Republic of Poland in the Czech Republic organized a Jazz concert at the beautiful...

Lighting a candle for Olga Havlova

On Monday, January 27th, at the Vinohrady Cemetery at the grave of Olga and Václav Havel, took place a candle-lighting ceremony for Olga Havel, founder of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation. 29 years since her death. The...

The public can nominate individuals with a...

The Committee of Good Will – The Olga Havel Foundation (VDV) will ceremonially award the thirty-first Olga Havel Award in May. The prestigious award will be given to an individual who, despite their health handicap, helps others. The public can...

80 years since liberation of Auschwitz...

Eighty years ago, Allied forces reached and entered the now-infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. The event provided the date for the modern International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which offers Czechia a chance to reflect on the horrors of...

Is it the beer? Plzeň beats Prague and Brno...

The West Bohemian metropolis is ranked 54th on the Numbeo quality of life index for January, overtaking not only Prague and Brno, but cities such as Oslo, Madrid, Dubai and Berlin. Numbeo is the world’s largest statistical portal that...

Kutná Hora to mark 30 years in UNESCO with...

A series of cultural events will take place in Kutná Hora this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the town’s historic center being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. See more here. Author: Ruth Fraňková

Was Jan Masaryk murdered after all? New...

Police have reopened the case of the death of former Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk who died on the eve of March 10, 1948. Originally believed to be a suicide, the Office for Documentation and Investigation of Crimes of Communism (ÚDV), a unit of...

New high-capacity Škoda trams soon to arrive...

A new model of trams will soon be seen around Prague, as the Škoda ForCity Plus 52T was launched this week for the first time on Škoda’s test track in Plzeň. Ahead of their arrival and test runs in the capital, Danny Bate spoke to...

The Dominator turns 60: Legendary goalie...

On January 29th, Dominik Hašek, considered by some to be the greatest ice-hockey goaltender in history, celebrates his sixtieth birthday. He spoke to Danny Bate about his career, looking back on his early years, his time as a professional...

Czechast special: introducing Prague off the...

A great new way to learn about hidden gems of Prague with Radio Prague International. In this Czechast special we introduce Prague off the Beaten Track, your guide to the hidden gems of Prague – unique places, stories, and cultural experiences...

Student invents new system of communication...

A student at the Prague University of Economics and Business has invented a new speech-to-text system that can help small airports and small aircraft to communicate better. The system has now caught the attention of pilots, airports and even...

Historic furnace discovered in Jindřichův...

Archaeologists in Jindřichův Hradec have made a unique discovery. During reconstruction work at the castle brewery, they uncovered exceptionally well-preserved furnaces dating back to the late 18th century. These historic furnaces, which were...

Brutal murders and prostitution: The dark...

Prague may be known for its many gothic structures, medieval alleyways, quaint parks, and bustling pubs. But “the city of a hundred spires” has a darker side too. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, brutal murders and prostitution...

Belarusians in Czechia continue fight for...

In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in his 7th presidential election on Sunday. The 70-year-old autocrat, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, was reported to have won 86.8% of the vote. On Sunday, dozens of people protested...

International ‘mushers’ come to Czechia for...

One of the toughest dogsledding races in Europe, called Šediváček’s Long, is traditionally held in the small village of Jedlová in the Orlice Mountains. This year, around seven hundred dogs and more than a hundred competitors (‘mushers’) from...

Vítězslava Kaprálová: 100 years since the...

For today’s Sunday Music Show, we will be playing you some music by the Czech composer Vítězslava Kaprálová to mark the occassion of her birth 100 years ago on January 24, 1915. Kaprálová was both a composer and a conductor, a rare dual...

Club for Old Prague celebrates 125 years of...

The Club for Old Prague, founded on 28 January 1900, is one of the most important institutions dedicated to the protection of historical and cultural heritage in Prague. At a time of intense redevelopment, when many historic buildings were...

Brothels and Charles IV: Czechast with Dr...

In this episode, we have a truly fascinating guest, Eleanor Janega, an American broadcaster, historian, and author with a deep personal and professional connection to Czech history. Eleanor’s scholarship focuses on the late medieval period...

“I had the best team”: Czech set decorator...

Although neither of the two Czech films that were shortlisted for this year’s Oscars—the historical drama Waves nor the short film The Countryman—received a nomination, the Oscar statuette may still be headed to Czechia this year. Czech...

Czech record label Supraphon acquired by...

Supraphon, the venerable Czech record label specialising in classical and pop music, has this month been bought by the American multinational company Sony Music Entertainment. With a history stretching back to the First Republic, Supraphon is a...

Czech Hall of Fame offers a glimpse into the...

Historic hockey trophies, medals, and iconic sports gear—these are just some of the artefacts on display at the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame. Located on Prague’s Nekázanka Street in the heart of the city, the Hall reopened last year, showcasing...

Podskalí: a gem of Prague’s riverside

Nestled beneath the Vyšehrad Rock on the banks of the Vltava River, Podskalí is a lesser-known but historically rich area of Prague. Once a bustling port village and a vital part of the city’s economy, Podskalí has transformed over the...

Prime Minister Petr Fiala welcomed the Prime...

Prime Minister Fiala: The conclusion of a strategic partnership with Vietnam will strengthen trade, investment, and cooperation in several areas Watch the video from  Monday, January 20, 2025, when Prime Minister Petr Fiala welcomed the Prime...

Guy Roberts Unmasked: Delving into the...

This Valentine’s Day, escape the ordinary and immerse yourselves in a seductive world of power, desire, and theatrical brilliance. The Prague Shakespeare Company presents David Ives’ critically acclaimed masterpiece, Venus in Fur...

Lighting a candle for Olga Havlova

On Monday, January 27th, there will be a candle-lighting ceremony for Olga Havel, founder of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation. 29 years since her death. The memorial meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Vinohrady...

INDONESIA, AFRICA AND OTHER WARM COUNTRIES...

Prague Zoo invites visitors to heated pavilions. When observing animals, they can expect pleasant temperatures of more than twenty degrees Celsius and comfortable benches in the immediate vicinity of interesting species. For example, people can...

In Memory – H.E. Mr. Omer Hussein Thabet...

Read a few words in his memory written by Mr. Fadhl Ali Ahmed AL-MAGHAFI -CHARGÉ D´AFFAIRES ADINTERIM of the Republic of Yemen to the Czech Republic: Ambassador Omar Saba’a is a dear friend and colleague, brought together by our shared...

CHAMPION OF CAMOUFLAGE AND SAILING. PRAGUE...

Visitors to the Prague Zoo can now see black-bellied flying frogs in the Indonesian jungle pavilion. The webs between their fingers can function like miniature “gliders”, and thanks to them, flying insects can overcome a distance of...

Jewish Museum head Pavla Niklová: When Oct...

Pavla Niklová has been the director of the Jewish Museum in Prague, one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the world, for around a year and a half. When we spoke at her office on the edge of the city’s Jewish Quarter, the conversation...

Czechast with Danny Bate: why Josef is Pepík

Czech language from the perspective of a linguist, broadcaster and soon an author Danny Bate. In this episode, we’re delving into the fascinating world of language with someone who has made it both a profession and a passion – linguist...

Foreign Minister Lipavský: “I expect...

With the eyes of the world on the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, Czechia’s Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, spoke about what he expects for Czech-US relations over the next four years. On January 20th, Donald Trump returns to...

Prague expected to add 400,000 residents by...

According to a forecast from the Institute of Planning and Development, Prague is expected to have 400,000 more residents by 2050. If this projection is underestimated, the result could be a sharp increase in housing prices, as demand would...

Historian on forgotten WWII heroes: I feel...

Jiří Kluc is a young historian with a profound interest in World War II history and particularly in forgotten war heroes scattered the world over. With time fast running out for the last remaining survivors, he feels compelled to find them and...

Štvanice: Prague crossroads of history and...

Situated on the Vltava River near the Hlávka Bridge, Štvanice Island, is a lesser-known yet fascinating part of Prague. With a rich history spanning centuries and modern activities like river surfing, the island seamlessly combines tradition...

Become a superdialectologist! Young...

The Czech Academy of Sciences’ Institute of the Czech Language is recruiting young language enthusiasts to document dialects and the endangered speech of older generations. Czechia may seem fairly unified in its speech today, but the country...

SATurnin-1, Czechia’s largest satellite yet...

Czechia launched its largest satellite yet, SATurnin-1, into space on Tuesday. Unlike previous satellites, it is not dependent on foreign technology. Its mission will be to take detailed pictures of the Earth for defense and security purposes...

Milovice nature reserve receives Czechia’s...

The Milovice nature reserve is the first in Czechia to win the country’s top three ecological awards. By reintroducing large herbivorous mammals to the area, the project has successfully rewilded the former military zone northeast of Prague...

Czechia faces shortage of train drivers

There is a shortage of train drivers in the Czech railway sector. Many are gradually retiring, with no replacements lined up. This shortage is unlikely to be significantly affected by the decline in demand for freight transport. As a result...

Number of foreign nationals in Czechia...

The number of foreigners living in the Czech Republic has been steadily increasing since the fall of communism. In the past decade, their number has doubled to the present 1.1 million. Due to its geographic location in the heart of Europe, low...

Nikol Bóková and her album ‘Feathers’

In today’s Sunday Music Show, we’ll be listening to pianist and composer Nikol Bóková’s most recent album, Feathers, released at the end of last year. Nikol Bóková was born in the Moravian-Silesian town of Ostrava and trained as a classical...

First public library in Prague opened 250...

250 years ago, the first public library in Prague opened its doors, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the city’s literary history. On January 17, 1775, bookseller Wolfgang Gerle and his brother Ondřej established the first lending...

Háje metro: A cosmic journey through time...

The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year! To mark the occasion, we explore some of the most iconic stations on the Czech capital’s metro network. In this episode, we go to Háje, the southern terminal station of line C. Our guide...

Mass grave from Seven Years’ War unearthed...

Archaeologists in Prague have uncovered one of Europe’s largest mass burial sites from the Seven Years’ War. The discovery, made in the courtyard of the historic Břevnov Monastery, reveals the skeletal remains of over 1,000...

Up Ještěd in only shorts!

A group of hardy climbers set off to the top of Ještěd, the famous mountain outside Liberec, with very limited equipment: shorts, gloves and hats. In temperatures slightly below freezing, they managed to reach their destination in approximately...

The Czech Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025

The Czech pavilion is among 20 of the best countries at the Expo 2025, which will open in Osaka – Japan in April 2025. Read the article that was published at blooloop.com – the magazine of Museums & Trust. Copyrights: blooloop.com and...

Prague airport handles 16.35 million...

Prague’s Václav Havel Airport handled 16.35 million passengers last year, marking an 18 percent increase compared to the previous year. At the beginning of last year, the airport had anticipated 15.5 million passengers for 2024, thus...

Nosferatu’s Czech connection: unique glass...

The American horror film Nosferatu, one of the most talked-about movies of the year, has a unique Czech connection. Not only was it mostly filmed in Prague – it also features traditional Czech Christmas ornaments. Nosferatu, a Gothic tale...

Adrenalin in sport and politics captured on...

Prizes have been handed out in the 30th edition of the prestigious Czech Press Photo competition. More than 250 photographers competed in eight categories, submitting over 4,500 photographs. A selection of the best photos is now on display at...

Echoes of Milan: Mevro tram veteran back in...

A newly restored historic Mevro tram, a distant relative of the legendary trams in Milan, can now be seen roaming the streets of Prague. The 76-year-old veteran is running along one of Prague’s historic routes, attracting tourists and...

The tragic end of Operation Barium

On January 16, 1945, the Nazis cracked down on Operation Barium, one of the most successful resistance networks in the Protectorate during World War II. On the night of 3 to 4 April 1944, three paratroopers from the Barium group were parachuted...

Art that transcends borders — “École de...

The National Gallery Prague is hosting an exhibition, “École de Paris: Artists from Bohemia and Interwar Paris,” from 8 November 2024 to 2 March 2025 at the Waldstein Riding School. It highlights artists like Georges Kars, Othon...

In Kafka’s footsteps

Franz Kafka was born in Prague, but where specifically did the world-famous writer grow up? Where did he draw inspiration, or even go on holiday? See more here.

Remembering the life of Eva Kubíková...

At the end of December, Eva Kubíková-Bullock, who was one of the surviving children of Lidice, died at the age of eighty-seven. She lived in Canada but visited Lidice repeatedly throughout her life. During the Second World War, the Nazis...

From Paris to Pilsen: Jiří Kolář’s works...

The West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen has received a collection of 66 works by the world-renowned Czech writer, poet, and artist Jiří Kolář. The works, acquired directly from Kolář in the late 1990s, have been donated to the gallery by ČEZ. I...

New law aims for more liberal policy on...

The Czech government has moved to liberalize its policy on kratom and other psychoactive drugs. Under a new law that came into force in January, substances considered low-risk will be sold under strict conditions to adults only. However, the...

Space Light Park on the banks of the Vltava...

Visitors to Prague can now experience the fascinating world of space in an impressive light exhibition on the banks of the Vltava River. Space Park Prague in the city’s of Žluté lázně (Yellow Spa) area depicts giant luminous planets, rockets...

Miroslav Wanek on how Už jsme doma reached...

Miroslav Wanek is the leader of Už jsme doma, a Czech alternative band who this year are celebrating 40 years of existence. Už jsme doma have performed in over three dozen countries, most notably in the US, where they have notched up a...

Čapek villa to be renovated to resemble time...

Karel Čapek’s villa, located in Prague’s Vinohrady, is undergoing plans for restoration. The goal is to restore the villa to reflect the atmosphere of the Friday gatherings once held there. The renovation is expected to begin in the...

Scientists from Brno reveal risks of...

Are bioplastics and plant-based materials safer than conventional plastics? Scientists from Mendel University in Brno have been investigating one type of bioplastic, and their findings are alarming. Even plastics marketed as eco-friendly, can...

Remembering the old days: 18th Skiman race...

The Skiman race from Polnička to Radostín in Žďárské vrchy is not only a sporting experience on historic wooden skis, but also a fun event in period costumes. Fifty enthusiasts successfully conquered the eight-kilometer course this weekend. See...

Czech scientists develop antidotes for nerve...

Researchers at Mendel University’s Faculty of Agronomy in Brno are collaborating with the University of Hradec Králové and the University of Defence to create effective treatments for nerve agent and pesticide poisoning. See more here. Author:...

Prague Symphony Orchestra: A musical tribute...

The Prague Symphony Orchestra’s story is closely intertwined with the history of the Czech capital, and this connection is clearly reflected in their repertoire, which we feature on today’s edition of our Sunday Music Show. Following the...

The ‘submarine’ of Petřiny metro station

The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year. To mark the occasion, we explore some of the iconic stations on the Czech capital’s metro network. Metro station Petřiny lies only a short walk away from the Břevnov monastery and the...

Czechast with Kateřina Ferenčíková: from...

The story of Kateřina Ferenčíková: how Czech identity can stretch across borders and generations. Kateřina Ferenčíková is a Czech woman from Ostrava whose life has taken her far beyond the borders of Czechia. See more here. Author: Vít Pohanka

Večerníček, Czech Television’s iconic...

January marks 60 years since the launch of Večerníček, a beloved Czech children’s TV programme that airs every evening. Czechoslovak Television broadcast the first episode of the bedtime series on January 2, 1965, and it has since become a...

Farewell reception of H.E Mr. Bijan Sabet–...

The Ambassador of the United States of America, H.E Mr. Bijan Sabet & Ms. Lauren Sabet, hosted at their beautiful residence a farewell reception, to express their heartfelt gratitude for our friendship and partnership. Here are selected...

THE PRAGUE ZOO COMMEMORATES 100 YEARS SINCE...

Prague Zoo commemorates 100 years since the birth of Gerald Durell, a well know writer and natural scientist who advocated for saving of the pink pigeons which Prague zoo successfully raised. One hundred years have passed since the birth of the...

Concert calendar for 2025: Lenny Kravitz...

The 2025 concert season will offer Czech music fans pop-music legends, rock stars and a metal icon. Check out what international performers you can look forward to in the coming year on this week’s Sunday Music Show. 80’s pop lovers are...

Czechs leading European beer diplomacy? EU...

Beer is the national drink of Czechia and holds the same status in Belgium. This shared cultural importance is why both countries have been at the forefront of efforts to unite European beer nations and resist efforts to classify beer as a hard...

Czechia’s new treaty with the Vatican: what...

In October 2024, Czechia signed a treaty with the Vatican, becoming one of the last countries within the European Union to do so. Such a treaty has been a long time in the making, having been rejected by the Czech parliament back in 2003. The...

Jakub Hrůša brings Czech passion for music...

Jakub Hrůša, the acclaimed Czech conductor, has reached an extraordinary career milestone, as he prepares to take over as music director at the Royal Opera in Covent Garden. His current focus, however, is bringing Jenůfa by Leoš Janáček to life...

Negatives from the Trash: Martin Wágner’s...

Over the years, Czech photographer Martin Wágner has taken on a fascinating mission: rescuing discarded photographic negatives and giving them a second life. His efforts have drawn thousands of followers to his Facebook page, Negatives from the...

Traces of Neanderthal settlement uncovered...

Archaeologists in northern Bohemia have announced a unique discovery. While conducting a rescue excavation during the construction of an emergency services call centre, they uncovered evidence of a Neanderthal settlement, dating back between...