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My Country: National Museum exhibition...

An exhibition dedicated to Czech composer Bedřich Smetana and his most famous piece, the cycle of six symphonic poems entitled My Country, has got underway at Prague’s National Museum. The exhibition, which is part of the Year of Czech Music...

Off the beaten track: EPU app combats...

EPU, an app created by the Czech software companies Gatyer and Algodos, and with support from the Ministry of the Environment, aims to offer tourists alternative paths to follow and places to visit. In doing so, EPU seeks to take pressure off...

Velvet Revolution anthem and Hussite hymn...

Marta Kubišová’s Prayer for Marta, the unofficial anthem of the Velvet Revolution, and the Hussite chant Ktož jsú boží bojovníci, or All You Mighty Warriors of God, are among the six Czech songs selected for the first-ever EU Songbook...

Ornithologists and dancers unite to protect...

A campaign simply called ‘Bird Traps’ (Pasti na ptáky) has been launched to raise public awareness and improve the protection of Prague’s birdlife. The centrepiece of the campaign is a powerful video, featuring professional dancers and filmed...

Success, home, friendship focus of Marie...

New documentary World Between Us follows Czech photographer Marie Tomanová as her career skyrockets in New York. The intimate film is also a portrait of Tomanová’s art historian husband, Thomas Beachdel – and reflects the close friendship...

“Like changing the clothes of your soul”:...

Gabriel Guerreiro, a singer-songwriter, musician and artist originally from Brazil, has been living in Prague for eight years. He shares with us his journey to Czechia, the life of a musician, and what inspires him to make music. See more here.

Grand Hotel Evropa: Prague’s stunning...

The iconic Art Nouveau Hotel Evropa on Prague’s Wenceslas Square has reopened to the public after an extensive renovation that lasted over a decade. Now rebranded as “W Prague”, the hotel is managed by Marriott as part of its upscale W...

Historic Torah, looted by the Nazis, finds...

A historic Torah scroll that survived the Holocaust and decades of neglect under Communist rule has found a new home in Liberec. On Saturday, the rare artefact was loaned to the local Jewish community on a long-term basis by the Memorial...

The ‘Letná Snail’ and the annual...

Members of the Czech Velocipedist Club 1880 entertained the people of Prague in Letná Park at the thirtieth annual Prague Mile. On their historical tall bikes, they competed in a special slow-motion competition, called the ‘Letná...

Czech Space Week 2024 lifts off!

November 4th is the start of seven days of exciting events that make up this year’s Czech Space Week. Designed to promote the space industry in Czechia and inspire the next generation of galactic enthusiasts, Czech Space Week is happening...

Prague ranked among Europe’s top ten cities...

According to a recent study, the Czech capital stands out as one of the most popular European cities to visit in autumn. Tourists love the city’s architectural beauty, which, combined with the reds and yellows typical of nature during...

Metamorphosis: this year’s TEDxPrague all...

This year’s TEDx Prague theme, Metamorphosis, held on November 23 in Prague focuses on the topic of change. Here I interview the program lead for the event, Markéta Jedličková, to gauge the vision for the event and what attendees can expect...

An All Souls’ Day trip to Prague’s...

In the Christian calendar, November 2nd is All Souls’ Day, during which believers are encouraged to commemorate their deceased loved ones and contemplate their own mortality. The day, known as Dušičky in Czech, remains a special occasion...

Experts suggest Vyšehrad Bridge can be...

The future of Prague’s historic Vyšehrad Railway Bridge hangs in the balance as debates continue over whether to restore or demolish the landmark structure. A team of international experts has now put forward a study indicating that the iconic...

The Laichter house family: descendant of...

One of the most impressive buildings in Prague’s district of Vinohrady is the Laichter House, located on the edge of Riegerovy sady. The modernist building was designed by famous Czech architect Jan Kotěra at the request of Jan Laichter, who...

101st Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye

On the occasion of the 101st Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye and the Centennial celebration of the Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and the Czech Republic, H.E. Dr. Egemen Bagis – the Ambassador of the Republic of...

Republic Day of Kazakhstan

To celebrate the Republic Day of Kazakhstan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev, and his spouse host a concert  of the Kazakh State Symphony  Orchestra, “Sounds from the World” The concert took place at the...

The President of the Republic Petr Pavel and...

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, and his wife, Eva Pavlova, received the members of the diplomatic corps at Prague Castle on Friday, October 25, 2024. This reception became a tradition before the ceremony on the 28th of October. Watch...

THE PRAGUE ZOO WILL HELP PROTECT FREE-LIVING...

In the Congolese province of South Kivu, a new variant of mpox (so-called monkey pox) was identified this year, which gradually grew into an epidemic threatening, among other things, the critically endangered eastern gorillas in the Kahuzi...

The President of the Republic appointed...

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, appointed on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, pursuant to Article 62 letter k) of the Constitution of the Czech Republic and § 6 paragraph 2 of the Act on the Czech National Bank of Jakub Seidler as a...

Czechia and the Vatican sign historic...

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin signed a treaty formalizing relations between Czechia and the Holy See. The document was 22 years in the making. Czechia was among the few European countries that...

From Masaryk to Havel: A quick history of...

On October 28th, Czechia celebrates 106 years since the declaration of Czechoslovakia as an independent state. Historian and political scientist Jan Adamec walked us through the history of the new country’s heads of state, from its first...

From diplomacy to photography: Assem Al...

Assem Al-Sabban, originally from Saudi Arabia, has settled in Prague after a career as a diplomat. He shares with us the story of his career, his move to Czechia, and his long-term passion for photography and the life of an artist. See more...

Plzeň Zoo hopes for global sensation as its...

The Plzeň Zoo has revealed that one of its rare Aldabra giant tortoises laid 31 eggs earlier this month. If the eggs hatch, it would be a global sensation, as this species has successfully bred in captivity in Europe only once before. However...

Want a selfie with the Trojan horse? Visit...

On the grounds of Bouzov Castle in the northwestern part of the Olomouc region visitors come across a monumental wooden sculpture – a Trojan Horse with publicly accessible interior spaces. If the Greek myth were to be put to the test...

Czech and Slovak de-mining system arrives in...

The Božena 5 de-mining system has been brought to the Kharkiv region by members of the Czech association, Team4Ukraine. The money for it was raised by Czech and Slovak organizations, led by the “Gift for Putin” initiative, in a public...

Over 600 Czechoslovak soldiers killed in the...

This October marks 80 years since the Battle of the Dukla Pass, a fierce World War II clash on the Polish-Slovak border, where Nazi Germany and Soviet forces fought for control of the Dukla Pass. Nearly 2,000 Czechoslovak soldiers, fighting...

Look after thy neighbour’s children: new...

Following a successful three-month test run in the Vysočina region, the Czech state is currently considering the nationwide extension of neighbourhood children’s groups, in which a maximum of four young children are cared for by a member...

Iva Bittová: phenomenal violinist, singer...

Iva Bittová is a phenomenon in the world of music – not only in the Czech Republic from where she hails but on a global scale. Her art stretches across many genres, including jazz, rock, classical music and opera. The avant-garde violinist...

Czech class in Germany: six bilingual...

Bavaria wants to deepen its neighbourly relationship with Czechia, and therefore intends to improve the teaching of the Czech language in the region around their shared border. Six German-Czech bilingual schools are to be established in the...

Stay the night in a converted nuclear bunker...

Beneath Brno, the “10-Z Bunker” reminds visitors of Czechia’s complex history. Built during the Second World War to shield against bombings, the partially completed bunker provided refuge. Today, the 10-Z Bunker is open to the public as a...

Prague’s legendary Semafor theatre marks 65...

This Wednesday marks exactly 65 years since the first production of Prague’s legendary Semafor Theatre, established by the song-writing duo Jiří Suchý and Jiří Šlitr. The musical comedy, called Člověk z půdy or The Man from the Loft, was an...

Šumava National Park permits controlled...

Šumava National Park, in the southeast of Bohemia, will now allow the restricted shooting of its wolf population. Permission will be given to authorised individuals, to be carried out in instances of wolves that have become a danger to humans...

Deferral of school starting age filling...

Czech legislation allows a parent or guardian to request to defer their child starting primary school by one year. This measure, originally introduced to help children with serious illnesses or learning disabilities, has become so popular with...

Cash in hand on the street: Canadian...

New Leaf Czechia is a new project that aims to help the country’s homeless people with large, one-time financial donations. Inspired by a Canadian scheme of the same name, the Czech non-profit organisation Neposeda believes that these payments...

President Pavel: Czechia needs politicians...

At a ceremony marking Czechoslovak Independence Day on October 28, President Pavel handed out awards and high state distinctions to 56 people for outstanding services to the state. Among those honoured were soldiers, decorated in memoriam...

Anne Marie Kenny: From singing at Havel’s...

US singer Anne Marie Kenny first came to Czechoslovakia in 1990 at the invitation of President Václav Havel, who facilitated a concert for her at a Prague club. She later launched a successful employment and training agency and remained in her...

October 26, 1994: Škoda Felicia premieres as...

When Škoda merged with the German Volkswagen Group in March 1991, it marked the start of a rapid modernization for the Mladá Boleslav-based car manufacturer. One of the most significant symbols of this transformation was the Škoda Felicia, the...

Jiří Trtík hailed as the most successful...

“We all experience that in a certain way,” says Jiří Trtík on why Kafka’s Letter to his Father inspired him to write an opera celebrating one of the greatest and most intimate confessions in world literature. What makes...

Still no bidder for Štiřín Chateau which...

A second attempt to auction off Štiřín Chateau, a luxury property and estate belonging to the state, failed this week when no bidder came forward to place the required auction deposit. To encourage participation in the auction, the deposit was...

Prague bans use of animals in street...

Buskers and other street performers will not be able to use animals. Prague’s city council approved a ban in order to stop their exploitation. The new amendment to the city’s ordinance prohibits not only the active involvement of animals in...

Moravia’s Excalibur: Bronze-Age sword...

Archaeologists at the Comenius Museum in Přerov have revealed to the public an ancient sword from the Bronze Age, found by accident in a field close to the city. The sword was a star exhibit at the museum’s recent exhibition about metal...

Villa Stiassni displays the luxury and the...

The unique exterior of Villa Stiassni in Brno stands out admist a flood of autumn colours. The building was designed and constructed by the famous interwar architect Ernst Wiesner for the textile manufacturer Alfredo Stiassni. Its simple...

The Hungarian National Day and The...

On the occasion of the Hungarian National Day, and the Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, the Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. András Baranyi, and Mrs. Emese Baranyi host a reception at the beautiful Břevnov monastery. Mr...

Irwin Appel

American-Jewish actor Irwin Appel stars as Shylock in Prague Shakespeare Company's The Merchant of Venice at the Estates Theatre

The Austrian National Day

On the occasion of Austrian National Day, H.E. Dr. Bettina Kirnbauer, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Czech Republic and M.Sc. Roman Rauch, the Trade Council of the Embassy, and Dr. Erwin Hanslik Mrics, President of the...

Kazakh Cinema Days

The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev hosted the opening of the Kazakh Cinema Days and the screening of the film “The Old Man”. Watch the welcome speech of The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr...

Exclusive Argentine Wine Tasting

The ambassador of Argentina to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and his spouse Mrs. Graziella Maria Semino, hosted an exclusive Argentine wine tasting presented by Mr. Rodrigo Schmidt, sommelier of MerkenWines, at their...

The new charity calendar of the Olga Havel...

The new wall calendar for 2025 of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlova Foundation (VDV) will help people with health disabilities. The author of the drawings depicting Olga and Václav Havel is the talented painter and illustrator...

The 3rd Parliamentary Summit of the...

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová together with the President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil participated in the 3rd Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform. Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies...

Mayors call for a new alliance with MEPs to...

Strasbourg, 22 October 2024 — As the new European Parliament mandate begins, mayors from across Europe are calling for a renewed partnership with MEPs to ensure the needs of citizens are at the forefront of EU decision-making. Highlighting ten...

The Czech pavilion at Expo 2025 will present...

Czechia selected 30 finalists out of 186 candidates for the cultural program at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The Czech presentation is themed “Talent and Creativity for Life.” The Czech pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka will showcase a...

NATO seeks Czech applicants: Assistant...

NATO has increased recruitment in response to global threats, including Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. In order to attract more candidates from Czechia, which ranks 22nd in representation of employees among NATO members, a NATO career...

After 101 years of flight, Czech Airlines...

On Saturday 26th of October, the final Czech Airlines (ČSA) flight will take off from Paris and land in Prague, bringing to an end a century of aviation history. Having been one of the five oldest air carriers in the world, Czech Airlines will...

A new addition to the security team at...

Visitors to Prague Castle are wowed by more than its majestic architecture and change of guard outside the main gates. A lot of attention also goes to the hawks that protect the site from pigeons! The historic landmarks of Prague Castle...

“A wall between writers and...

At the Gratias Agit awards on October 17th, Dr Jana Fischerová was among those honoured for spreading the good name of the Czech Republic abroad. After the ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she spoke to Danny Bate about her career...

First ever Banksy piece heading to auction...

For the first time, a work by the famous British street artist Banksy, known for his provocative and socially charged work, is heading to a Czech auction house. His piece, entitled Gold Flag, will be up for bid with a starting price of one...

Czech military struggling to meet...

At the opening of an exhibition marking 20 years since the abolition of compulsory military service in the Czech lands, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka admitted that the military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. He said...

Czech government plans to invest in Rolls...

Czechia plans to get involved in Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor program. The investment should be significant and the decision about it will be made in several weeks. Czechia now has two large nuclear power stations: Temelín in South...

Discover the sights of Prague!

Internationally renowned for its heritage and beauty, Prague is a jewel of a city that attracts millions of visitors every year. Check out its sights in our photo gallery. See more here. Author: Danny Bate

Archaeologists discover unique Early Bronze...

Archaeologists from the Olomouc Archaeological Centre have announced a unique discovery. While conducting a rescue excavation along the future route of the D35 motorway, they unearthed the largest Early Bronze Age burial site of the so-called...

Bread bag from University of Liberec can...

Scientists at the Technical University of Liberec have developed a special bag that can keep bread and rolls fresh for up to nine days. The innovation was created in collaboration with a sheltered workshop. The so-called “fresh bag”...

Pardubice is looking to open biggest hockey...

Pardubice hockey players are expected to have a new home within less than three years. The new multifunctional arena being built is expected to be the largest in the world. At the beginning of October, Club’s majority owner, Petr Dědek...

Vintage Škoda bus makes first journey on...

The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) on Sunday set a restored 1970s Škoda bus off on its inaugural journey around the northwest of Prague. Starting and ending in Strahov, the K line is a special route reserved for historical vehicles that...

Fifteen professionals and one Czech amateur:...

51-year-old Pavel Drtil, an amateur darts player from Trutnov, last week amazed spectators by knocking out elite players and advancing to the final sixteen on Sunday. He defeated Englishman Joe Cullen (ranked eighteenth in the world) and Josh...

130 years of the Smržovka viaduct

130 years have passed since the opening of the railway line between Smržovka and Tanvald, which boasts the most beautiful railway viaduct in the republic. As part of the celebrations, a bust of T.G. Masaryk was unveiled in Smržovka, although...

Villa Arnold and its connection to the world...

The newly-restored Villa Arnold in the Brno district of Černá Pole offers visitors a unique blend of architecture, history and art. In the close vicinity of the world-famous Tugendhat and Löw-Beer villas, the Villa Arnold by architect Josef...

Visit the wells that inspired Bohuslav...

The Opening of the Wells is one of Bohuslav Martinů’s most famous compositions, inspired by his native region, the Moravian Highlands. Not many people know that they can visit the wells that inspired this piece and that the place is...

A discovery from their Czech past that...

When Audrey Knoth was growing up, there was a great deal that the family did not talk about. There seemed to be huge gaps in their past, and she always worried that this silence might have something to do with her. Only in the last couple of...

City centre to Prague Airport in 25 minutes:...

The journey to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport by public transport is for many an ordeal, involving changes between different metro lines and buses. However, the current plans presented by the Ministry of Transport will simplify and speed up the...

New Identita exhibition: an amazing world of...

With three floors and hundreds of exhibits, Identita is a new absorbing and eye-catching exhibition at Museum Kampa – and it is only one part of the overall project. Identita is in fact a multi-genre experience, which also comprises a series on...

Kylaq: Skoda Auto develops new SUV for...

Skoda Auto has developed a new small SUV for the Indian market. After Kushaq and Slavia, Kylaq is Skoda’s third locally developed and manufactured model in India. Skoda has scheduled the world premiere of its new model for November 6. See...

Prague Coffee Festival brings coffee...

Prague Coffee Festival is an event that brings together the world of professionals and coffee enthusiasts alike. The 12th edition of the Prague Coffee Festival took place on 12 and 13 October 2024 in the Holešovice Market Hall. I went there to...

National Day of the Republic of Korea

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Youngki  Hong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and Mrs. Youngki Hong hosted a reception at the beautiful Zofin Palace. Mr.Roman Bělor, Chair of the Interparliamentary...

Business and Trade Cooperation Event of...

The Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia H.E. Mr. Emil Krsteski, and Mrs. Ljiljana Jovanovski Asenov, President of the Czech Macedonian Association of Commerce in the CR host a special event to promote  Business and Trade Cooperation...

EXPO 2025. The Czech National Pavilion is...

The gates of the World Expo, which will take place next year in Osaka, Japan, will open in exactly half a year, on April 13, 2025. EXPO 2025 will last for six months, and organizers expect up to 30 million people to visit it. One of the iconic...

Markéta Pekarová Adamová the Speaker of the...

The Speaker of the House discussed Czech-Armenian inter-parliamentary and business cooperation with her Armenian counterpart in Prague. The Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan was at the head of a Parliamentary delegation...

GRANNY SUMMER AT THE PRAGUE ZOO

Cubs of energetic squirrel squirrels, graceful Burmese deer, or all three bred species of flamingos. Terezian summer has arrived at the Prague Zoo and the autumn season of births and hatching. The sun’s rays and the captivating shades of...

Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited the...

The Speaker of the House discussed global security issues and business opportunities for Czech companies in the Philippines The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited the Philippines on her way through Southeast...

Czech scientists develop probe to help fight...

After years of problems fighting bark beetle infestation, scientists from the University of South Bohemia and the Biological Centre of the Academy of Sciences in České Budějovice have come up with a major breakthrough. They have developed a...

Markéta Pekarová Adamová received a Austrian...

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, received the state award for services to the Republic of Austria. She received it from her Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotka, for her contribution to Czech-Austrian...

Open days at Prague cemeteries offer guided...

This weekend, Prague’s Cemetery and Funeral Services are opening their doors to the public for the first time, offering a unique opportunity to explore the city’s cemeteries and funeral facilities. The event will feature guided tours, workshops...

Industrial Palace in Prague’s Výstaviště...

The 26-tonne clock tower structure has been restored on top of the Industrial Palace, the centre piece of the Výstaviště area in Bubeneč. Following a fire in 2008, the costs of the repair of the palace, which began in 2022 and will continue...

Havel, Kafka or Čapek while you wait for...

A new machine will now present a selection of Czech culture to waiting passengers at Václav Havel Airport. Thanks to the organisation “Pianos on the Street” and the cultural activist Ondřej Kobza, the new ‘poetry jukebox’ freely...

Exploring Prague’s passages, a hidden...

Most visitors to Prague are drawn to its iconic landmarks—Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock—but there’s another side to the city that often goes unnoticed, hidden beyond the main squares and bustling streets. Woven through...

Beauty of Baroque cemetery chapel revived...

The Baroque cemetery chapel of the Holy Family in Odry, Moravia, was built in 1718-1719. Over the centuries it underwent a number of insensitive reconstructions that hid many aspects of its former beauty. However the most recent reconstruction...

“To Brazil without tickets and stereotypes”:...

A rich programme of film, food, dance and music awaits visitors to this year’s Kino Brasil film festival, which begins on October 15th. Barbora Kovářová, one of the team behind the festival, spoke to Danny Bate, about what is included in the...

From Prague adventurer to president of Czech...

Gino Schilders moved to Czechia from the Netherlands twenty-seven years ago, and has since been a prominent figure in the world of Czech field hockey. As president of the Czech Field Hockey Federation and trainer for Slavia, he shared his story...

Prague authorities ban pub crawls over...

Following years of complaints from the public, the Prague authorities have banned the popular “pub crawls” in which organized groups of tourists go from pub to pub in the night hours. The measure is part of a broader effort to make the city...

Young Czech filmmakers receive Student Oscar...

Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora won the Student Oscar for their short drama Krajan (Compatriot). Young Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora received a Student Oscar tonight in London for their short drama “Krajan”...

Slavic fortress in Germany now under Czech...

In the German state of Brandenburg, a mighty circular fortress, a replica of a Slavic castle from the ninth or tenth century, has been acquired by a Czech owner. Care of the historical attraction has passed into the hands of David Chmelík, who...

The life of Edith Pargeter (alias Ellis...

Edith Pargeter was a writer who achieved fame in Britain for her historical murder mysteries. What is less well known is her career as a (self-taught) translator and promoter of Czech literature. October 14th marks twenty-nine years since the...

Matiční Street: the wall that divided...

Twenty-five years ago, the name Matiční Street in Ústí nad Labem—a 100-meter-long path between family row houses and three apartment buildings where socially disadvantaged Romani people lived—went viral. The fence planned by the town hall was...

Terezín composers remembered: Viktor...

Eighty years ago, three hugely talented Jewish composers Pavel Haas, Hans Krása and Viktor Ullmann were gassed in Auschwitz. Their music, created during one of the most tragic periods of European history, lives to this day. Composer, conductor...

City unveils new design for Prague’s...

Prague’s Wenceslas Square is currently undergoing a major renovation, which includes the return of trams to its upper part. An exhibition is now underway at the bottom section of the square, which presents the upcoming changes to the public...

New head of Slovak National Theatre refuses...

The new director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Zuzana Ťapáková, has canceled the performance Moonstone by Prague’s Studio of Heroes, which was scheduled to be part of the Drama Queer festival. The festival’s organizer called...