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Why and how did a young woman from Brno find her new home in Britain? How does this impact her sense of nationality and identity? Does she feel more British or Czech? That’s what I ask Leona Merclová who lives on a canal boat in England...

Twenty-five-year-old Raymi Britto had no intention of starting up an Instagram account that would garner thousands of followers when he first moved to Prague eight years ago. But today, the Italian native reaches audiences from local Czechs, to...

I started calling her Pýchavka (Puffball). Pýchavka with y, although for a spiny animal, Píchavka would be more suggestive. (Píchavka is derived from the verb píchat, which means to prickle in English). But in the first video taken by the...

Every year the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic organizes a traditional Gala Dinner. Is a wonderful opportunity to meet both familiar faces and new people and to network informally in the exceptional atmosphere of the Four...

More than a week after birth, the cub is thriving, Duni is proving to be a great mother, and the gorilla group is calm. Therefore, it is now possible to waive the measures where visitors could not watch the gorillas directly at the glass of the...

A 7,000-year-old well found in Czechia’s Pardubice region six years ago will soon be on display as part of an archaeological exhibition at the Museum of East Bohemia. The wooden well, which has been in the care of restorers for the last few...

Vysočina, sometimes known as the Czech Highlands, lies in the very centre of the country, where Bohemia meets Moravia. The country’s fifth largest region is famous for its untouched natural beauty, clean environment and numerous historical...

The sad truth is that more wild animals are kept in private ownership in Czechia than in zoos – often illegally and in very poor conditions. Until now there has been a problem finding places to put animals that are rescued from such situations...

This past week, Czechia has seen temperatures drop below -20 degrees in the north of the country, while Prague expects to see a low of -11 by mid-week. The extreme cold has a profound impact on vulnerable groups, specifically those who are...

Following the publication of my previous episode on the name “Czechia”, I received a brisk reaction from a vehement proponent of the name in international forums Professor Pavlínek who teaches goegraphy in Prague and Omaha, Nebraska...

Depeche Mode, Rammstein, Ed Sheeran or Sting, these are just some of the famous names due to perform in Czechia in 2024. In this year’s first edition of Sunday Music Show, you can have a listen to some of their biggest hits. Among the first big...

Monty Python fans around Czechia took to the streets this weekend for a bit of fun marking their 11th annual get-together. Source

Reconstruction work at the Masaryk Railway Station in Prague got underway on Thursday. The reconstruction will involve building a platform above the track, providing better connection with Florenc metro and bus station and adding two more...

Olomouc-born Eliška Junková is regarded as one of the most extraordinary drivers in Grand Prix motor racing history. Although her career was cut short by the tragic death of her husband, a fellow racer, she achieved a remarkable amount in only...

As the twinkling lights of the 2023 holiday season fade into cherished memories, you might find yourself already dreaming about where the festive spirit will take you in 2024. For many travelers, the allure of exploring new destinations during...

Every year, a small number of Czech foundations help bright and talented young people to study abroad at some of the world’s most prestigious universities. As well as the huge financial obstacle that these top schools present, especially to...

The ethnographic ensemble Formani was established twenty years ago by local folk music enthusiasts. Based on historical records, they compose music, create their own choreographies and sew costumes, helping to preserve the folk traditions of...

A new exhibition at the temporary Moravian Jewish Museum in Brno highlights some of the city’s houses that used to belong to Jewish owners before being confiscated by the Nazis and tells the stories of eight families who lived in them See the...

Czechia and Poland violate the EU election law as their national laws do not enable citizens of other EU countries to join Czech, respectively Polish political parties, preventing them from running in local or European elections, the Court of...

The spooky-looking gargoyles of the past that we know from horror films, castle tours and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, weren’t purely decorative. They also served a function – to get rid of wastewater. But 250 years ago, things changed...

An event called Night of Dignity took place outside the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on Monday afternoon with the aim to draw attention to the poor system of care for people with mental disabilities. It was established in response to a...

Close to two years after the Russian invasion, Ukraine is now the most mine-contaminated country globally since World War II. The EU is actively helping the demining effort and Czechia is one of the countries that have offered to train...

In 2016, “Czechia” emerged as the official short, one-word geographical name promoted by the Czech government. This name has seen international adoption in organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union, yet it...

Almost as many foreign tourists as guests from the Czech Republic arrived at domestic hotels last November. This follows from an analysis by the Institute of Tourism based on data from the Czech Statistical Office. While 587,517 foreigners...

The centenary of the establishment of Czech-Argentine diplomatic relations took place in Prague on Monday 8th January 2024. The First Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Jirí Kozák and the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H.E Mr.Claudio J...

Czech and Slovak archaeologists have announced a major discovery. An expedition to the Guatemalan jungle, which took place last summer, discovered the remains of a Mayan city, which is almost three thousand years old. I discussed the discovery...

A disclaimer: when it comes to the city of Olomouc, I’m not entirely a dispassionate reporter. Although I consider myself a child of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, where I grew up and to which I returned as a middle-aged man, I spent...

In the very last edition of our Sunday Music program this year, we offer you some of the biggest hits this year. Among the most played songs on radio are singer Lucie Bikarová‘s hit song Dža, Marek Ztracený’s Moje milá, Nebe, peklo, ráj by the...

Aside from classic beers like Pilsner Urquell or Kozel, Czechia is home to hundreds of microbreweries concocting unique craft brews. Operated by husband and wife duo Karolína (Kaya) and Jirka Chroustovský, Chroust has been brewing craft beers...

Jukka Ollika is a Finnish harpsichord maker based in Prague, who recently completed an experimental instrument called Omniwerk. It was created by combining two historical keyboard instruments, a baroque era keyboard lute, and a Viola Organista...

To this day, Radio Prague International has kept up the decades-long tradition of QSL cards – postcards confirming receipt of reception reports to listeners. Every year, we have created a new series of postcards to send to listeners. In 2024...

Czechs celebrated the arrival of the New Year not only with fireworks, but also with sporting activities. In many places, winter swimming enthusiasts took their first swim of the year in period costumes. Source: ČTK

Speeding, drink-driving and aggressive behavior on the road is something traffic police in Czechia deal with on a daily basis. Now a new points system aims to enforce discipline behind the wheel. The most serious transgressions, which often...

Each year following the Christmas holiday, the Czech charity Caritas begins their Three Kings Collection campaign – which raises funds for people in need across the country. The charity, which is recognized as the biggest collection campaign in...

The New Year always brings with it changes in legislation as new laws and rules come into effect from January 1. What changes might affect you in 2024? We have compiled an overview of the most significant legislative amendments affecting your...

The L-610 was the largest transport aircraft constructed in Czechoslovakia. Due to a combination of developmental, economic and political factors, it never went into serial production. Today the plane is a rare museum piece.

A parliamentary proposal to allow Czech citizens who live abroad to vote by post in elections received strong backing from the Czech government on Wednesday. The government hopes that, if all goes well, Czechs abroad could vote by post for the...

A concert by the Czech tenor Petr Nekoranec at the Bohemian National Hall in New York on Thursday evening will open the Year of Czech Music abroad. The concert will feature songs by Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav...

In his New Year address to the nation President Petr Pavel underlined the need for strength and unity, saying it had been a difficult year from which he hoped to see the nation emerge stronger.

A commemorative event to honour the memory of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Faculty of Arts took place in Prague on Thursday.

Two big news items of the past year appear for the first time only in this summary: as the only one breeding facility outside of Brazil we obtained the rarest duck of the world – Brazilian merganser – and we succeeded to breed short-beaked...

The year 2023 was extremely successful for the Prague Zoo. 1234 young of 213 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians were born or hatched here. In addition to the exceptional rearing of the first nutcracker in Europe - the famous...

On Tuesday, January 2, eight minutes after nine o'clock in the evening, the 10-year-old female lowland gorilla Duni gave birth to her first cub.

Sparklers, which were over 70 years old, were recently discovered by museum workers in Ústí nad Labem while cleaning out an apartment. They were fully functional and were made by the DRUTEP cooperative, which has been producing traditional New...

Life in Czechia came to a standstill at midday on Saturday, December 23, as the nation held a minute of silence in memory of the victims of Thursday’s tragic shooting incident at the Faculty of Arts in Prague. Bells tolled around the country...

“We provide a lot of music for little money,” says Jaroslav Miller, a prominent Czech historian, academic and now deputy minister of education. He is not your typical politician; his extensive background in academia sets him apart...

The Infant Jesus of Prague, one of the most venerated statuettes in the Roman Catholic world, is known to millions of believers the world over. Painter and dress designer Markéta Melenovská is one of the artists behind its rich hand-made...

On Wednesday December 20, 2023 Hilton Prague and Hilton Prague Old Town organized the 25th edition of the annual Christmas Charity Concert featuring the Karlovy Vary Symphonic Orchestra and soloist Jiří Stivín, conducted by Maestro Debashish...

Gyms, swimming pools, ice skating rinks, football and tennis courts and other sports venues have opened their doors to visitors for free this week! The annual event which is now in its 15th year, aims to promote a healthy lifestyle. Within the...

In his Christmas address to the nation, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the country had seen two hard years, but 2024 would bring a turn for the better. He said that thanks to a policy of fiscal discipline the soaring deficit in public finances...

Paradoxically for an atheist country, it is Baby Jesus, not Santa, who brings the Christmas presents in Czechia. And very many people attend Christmas mass. So how is it with Czechs and religion? Why are so few Czechs believers? What are the...

For the past few years, the Czech Radio Endowment Fund has organised a project called ‘Santa’s Grandchildren’ that turns ordinary people into guardian angels and Christmas fairies, granting the wishes of elderly people in retirement homes...

Welcome to a special holiday edition of Czechast, brought to you by Radio Prague International. Today, we’re diving into the heartwarming and festive world of Christmas celebrations. In this episode, we’ll explore the rich traditions and...

The government declared a day of national mourning after its extraordinary session on December 23. This was her response to the mass shooting at Charles University, which claimed 14 lives and injured dozens on Thursday. The cabinet also passed...

The Czech band Zrní this year released their seventh studio album Široko daleko (Far and Wide) to positive reviews. The respected alternative rock band formed in Kladno near Prague in the early 2000s and released their first record in 2009...

ADMISSIONS FOR JUST ONE CROWN AND AN EXTRA BONUS AT THE ANIMALS On Christmas Day and both Christmas holidays, children under 15 will have entry to the Prague Zoo for 1 CZK. Then, on New Year’s Day, all Prague residents will be able to...

Bijan Sabet became US ambassador to Czechia in early 2023. Since then Mr. Sabet has become a familiar face in Prague, meeting top Czech officials and military top brass and hosting events with various civil society groups. In a wide-ranging...

A model of Trosky Castle – one of the dominant features of the Bohemian Paradise region – was made from a ton of ice in a single day this weekend with the help of saws and chisels. Source: ČTK

President Petr Pavel has called on Czechia’s government, who have been taking a battering in the ratings for some time, to seek help with their communication skills. But is it actually possible to sugarcoat austerity policies that leave voters...

Octobriana is the name of a Soviet-era comic superheroine, who originated from a major literary hoax spread by Czech artist Petr Sadecký. Sadecký, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the early 1970s, claimed it was the work of Soviet...

Following the government resolution of August 16, 2023 on the schedule for the migration of central state administration bodies to the unified state domain gov.cz on December 18, 2023, the domains of the website of the Ministry of Foreign...

Moravia-Silesia is a region more known for its industrial past than its pretty scenery. But in fact it boasts mountains, natural beauty and castles in addition to its industrial attractions. Check out some of its landmarks in our photo gallery...

The Čapek brothers, Karel Poláček, and Ferdinand Peroutka – these were just some of the prominent contributors to Lidové noviny, a leading Czech daily in interwar Czechoslovakia. The first issue of Lidové noviny came out in the Moravian city of...

If you need to get from Prague’s district of Žizkov to neighbouring Karlín, there is no faster way than to walk, or cycle, through the Žižkov Tunnel. The 303-metre pedestrian shortcut, which also houses a nuclear shelter, was fully completed...

The game design programme at Prague’s Film and TV School (FAMU) has only been around for two years, making it one of Europe’s oldest film school’s newest Master’s degrees. Before the game design degree was launched at FAMU, there was no...

One of the many Czech Christmas traditions is the burning of incense cones, known as Františeks, which originated in the Ore Mountains on the Czech-German border more than 300 years ago. A small workshop in Roztoky u Křivoklátu has been...

Artists in Czechoslovakia produced a number of objects made from polyester fiberglass between the 1950s and 1980s. While many of these artworks have survived to this day, they are in urgent need of repair. Experts from the Czech Technical...

Drones have become a weapon of key importance in the war in Ukraine. Russia has clearly understood this and is reportedly ramping up its wartime production by converting prisons and schools into drone factories. In order to help the Ukrainian...

Czechs have become accustomed to shopping online, chatting online, choosing their holidays online and increasingly also self-diagnosing online. The number of people googling health related issues has risen steeply since the Covid pandemic and...

Ten years ago, Petr Soukal set out to open a business selling speciality food items imported from Italy. After the success of the store in his hometown of Plzeň, Soukal decided to open the first location of Da Pietro, a pizzeria specializing in...

Radio Prague International has prepared a selection of articles on Christmas traditions for you. See them here.

Hall 17 at Prague’s Holešovická tržnice will be home to a Ukrainian-Czech themed Christmas market this Sunday, aiming to promote collaboration between the two cultures, and support artisans from both countries. To learn more about the event, I...

Czechia’s second-largest city, Brno, has been announced the winner of the European Capital of Christmas 2024 award. All cities and towns in the 27 EU member states are eligible to participate in the competition, as well as Andorra, Iceland...

The freshly released Czech documentary Body-Soul-Patient maps new teaching methods at the 2nd Faculty of Medicine at Charles University aimed at improving medical students’ communication with patients. But are Czech doctors really lacking when...

As at this time every year, stands have appeared around Czechia selling live carp, the traditional Christmas dinner staple. Though some Czechs keep a fish in the bath to kill themselves, officials say it is best to leave that task to the...

A baby Palawan porcupine was born at the Prague Zoo. Visitors can comfortably observe the two-week-old addition and both of its parents in the warmth of the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion. The young is valuable for breeding – this endemic of...

A church that opened in Prague’s Žižkov district in the 1920s is about to get a whole new purpose. Now called Žižkostel, from January it will serve as a community centre, creating a new hub where people from various backgrounds can gather...

One Life, a biopic that shows how Sir Nicholas Winton saved 669 mainly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II, recently received its UK premiere. Meanwhile, some of the now elderly people that the Englishman rescued...

Czechia has another entry on the prestigious UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage list, having succeeded with the nomination for its handmade glass production. The nomination was submitted together with France, Finland, Germany, Hungary...

Some 77 Tatra trucks gathered in Ostrava at the weekend, setting a new Czech record. The greatest rarities among the Tatras assembled, including some from Slovakia and Poland, were a 1971 Tatra 138 and an orange Tatra 148. Source: ČTK

The official funeral mass for Karel Schwarzenberg took place with state honours in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle on Saturday afternoon. The roughly two-hour ceremony, which began at noon, was attended by hundreds of guests from the...

Exhibitions and permanent expositions of Prague Castle will be half price for visitors during the Christmas holidays. People can use the 50 percent discount from December 22, 2023 to January 1, 2024. This applies to the entrance to the tour...

Ostrava has – or at least it did until pretty recently – a reputation for being ugly and polluted. Formerly known as the “steel heart” of the Czech Republic, it was a centre of mining and heavy industry for two centuries. After its...

The traditional watch seller Hodinářství Bechyně is one of the long-term supporters of the National Gallery Prague. One of the rarest paintings in the gallery’s collections, the Feast of the Rosary by Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer...

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors to the Czech Republic on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Prague Castle: H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and...

It will have been 30 years next fall since Czech rock band Lucie released their now-iconic album Černý kočky mokrý žáby (Black cats, wet frogs). To celebrate the anniversary, the popular 90s band played three exclusive concerts this autumn in...

The Czech Republic has links with India going back to long before both countries won independence. In this programme, in our occasional series In Their Own Words, we draw from our archives to look at Czech-Indian connections – through music...

Studio Hangar 13, formerly Illusion Softworks, is behind the successful Mafia saga in which players become power-hungry gangsters. The developers take inspiration from period images of cities or cars, but never copy their exact appearance. The...

Text : M. Zisso  picture – Vaclav Pavlas Germany has long held the 1st place in the number of foreign tourists visiting the Czech Republic. “A total of 178,891 Germans arrived at domestic hotels in August this year, which was 9% more than last...

Ahead of next year’s European elections, mayors from over 200 large cities are calling with one voice for a new alliance to bring Europe into the urban century. In a manifesto launched today, mayors in the Eurocities network cite recent...

This weekend will mark 130 years since Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s famous “New World Symphony” premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The symphony was written during Dvořák’s time as director of the National Conservatory of America...

There are many reasons why people travel. One of them is important personalities and works related to them. In the Czech Republic, among other things, classical music has a long and rich tradition. It transcends the borders of the country and...

Delegates from around 200 countries gathered in Dubai over the last two weeks for the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, this time billed as COP28. As the end of the conference approached, countries struggled to find an agreement...

Czech archaeologists have announced a unique discovery. A team of experts from Brno have unearthed a bronze belt buckle from the early Middle Ages, depicting a snake devouring a frog-like creature. The find could shed more light on people’s...

Thirty five years ago, then French president Francois Mitterrand met with a group of Czech dissidents, led by Václav Havel. Mitterrand was the first French president to visit Prague since the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He set down...

The travelling ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition, which features original items from the sets of James Bond movies going all the way back to the 1960s, has come to Prague from Brussels, where it was a huge success, receiving over 100,000 visitors...

The Czech Society for Ornithology has announced that the Bird of the Year for 2024 is the black redstart. Although the small sooty-coloured passerine bird is a common species in this part of the world, its migration behaviour has started to...

The main idea behind the minting of St. Wenceslas ducats (at the beginning of 1923) was to support the newly established Czechoslovak state and to offer citizens an opportunity to invest in their nation by purchasing a coin bearing the symbol...

A new Czech-language book maps multiple aspects of the sport of rugby, which has greatly gained in popularity in this country in recent years. Prague-resident Welsh writer and ex-player James Stafford is one of people behind the hefty tome...