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The administration of the Krkonoše National Park have launched a project to bring back the rare silver fir to the local forests. For the first time ever, they’ve begun collecting grafts from these majestic trees to protect them and preserve...

Today, seeing female specialists perform life-saving surgeries or lead ground-breaking medical research feels entirely natural. However, not long ago, women faced significant obstacles in entering the field. It was only in 1902 that the first...

Property damage due to extreme weather events in Czechia has been increasing for a long time. According to the Czech Association of Insurance Companies, last year was another confirmation of this trend. Due to the autumn floods, as well as...

As the US announce suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Czechia must prepare for potential escalation and increased Russian influence efforts, warns political scientist Jiří Pehe. In an interview, he outlined the key security challenges...

Prehistoric mammoth hunters who moved across the Czech lands roughly 30,000 years ago are being tracked today by Olomouc scientists. By mapping ancient deposits of worked flint, they have found that the hunters could move over distances of one...

Unique remains of a 14th-century street surface have been discovered behind the Green Gate in Pardubice. See more here. Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Social scholarships, which provide financial aid for studying at university, are a vital source of income for academically aspirational students from low-income families. Only five hundred students currently receive them in Czechia, but this...

An extensive security operation in recent days has seen Prague police officers and the foreign police checking four hundred taxi drivers, and imposing fines of more than 300,000 crowns, Prague police spokesman Richard Hrdina reported on Tuesday...

Ondřej Pilný is a professor of English and American literatures at Prague’s Charles University, where he also heads the Centre for Irish Studies. As he explains in our interview, his career path was greatly shaped by a series of coincidences...

There are many forms of development aid and cooperation, but some come with added value: bringing not just finances and jobs, but know-how and new friendships. A group of Czech volunteers are engaged in one such project in Kashitu, Zambia. A...

Tomáš Sedláček, an economist, philosopher, and former advisor to President Václav Havel, has been appointed as the new director of the Václav Havel Library. See more here. Author: Vít Pohanka

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has urged a boost in military aid to Ukraine in light of the European leaders’ summit in London. He stated that this is the only way to prevent an aggressive Russia from advancing just a few hundred kilometers...

Czech tennis player Tomáš Macháč has claimed his first career ATP title after defeating Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich 7:6, 6:2 in the final of the Mexico Open in Acapulco. Following the victory, he moved up to 20th place in the ATP...

In their Latin language, the Romans had the word castellum, which meant ‘fortress’. This is straightforwardly the origin of English castle, but in Czech it has taken on a religious meaning. Along with Slovak kostol and Polish kościół, the Czech...

Hello and welcome to RPI’s Sunday Music Show with me RF. On March 3, 1875, Georges Bizet’s Carmen had its world premiere at the Théâtre de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris. The opera triggered shock and disapproval for breaking away from...

Nowhere else in Europe has a chairlift been running longer than the one to the Pustevny mountain saddle, in the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains. It was put into operation on March 4th 1940. The oldest chairlift in Europe, which has been...

On the occasion of the Japanese Emperor’s 65th birthday and the National Day of Japan the Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA held a reception at the Marriot Hotel Prague. In front of the President of the Senate...

On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of Pakistan-Czech Republic Diplomatic Relations (1950 – 2025), and the  “Pakistan Cuisine Week,” the Ambassador of Pakistan for the Czech Republic H.E. Ms. Ayesha Ali, hosted a diplomatic lunch at the...

Screening of the documentary “Abducted Childhood” followed by a discussion with the participation of Ukrainian Children abducted by Russia took place at Instituto Cervantes in Prague. The screening was hosted by the Ambassador of...

One day after the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the discussion addressed Ukraine’s most pressing challenges and opportunities in the years ahead. The debate organized by the Strategeo Institute and the Anglo-American...

He will celebrate his first birthday in May, but already now, the young Sumatran orangutan at Prague Zoo is taking his first steps towards independence. Until recently, Harapan observed the world only from the safety of his mother’s arms...

The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová met with the Speaker of the Saxon State Assembly Alexander Dierks, in Prague. They discussed the results of the recent elections to the German Bundestag and closer Czech-Saxon...

The international order is undergoing its biggest change since the fall of communism and Europe must respond to it fast, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in an address to the nation on Monday. He said Europe must pull together and put “both money...

The talented puppeteer, actor, juggler, watchmaker and war invalid was born on February 24th 1775 in Libčany near Hradec Králové. Kopecký was born into a family of nomadic comedians and from his early years travelled with his parents around the...

Real estate prices in Czechia increased by an average of nearly 11 % in 2024, while property sales surged by 34%, and new developments saw a 51% rise, according to data from the Czech Banking Association and Flat Zone. See more here. Author:...

Dozens of observant Jews will soon gather in the small South Moravian town of Holešov to honor Rabbi Shabtai ha-Kohen, or Shakh, on the anniversary of his death, more than three centuries ago. I spoke with Jakub Schwab, a tour guide and cantor...

The Czech government has released the first CZK 900 million for its affordable rental housing program, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) announced. See more here. Author: Vít Pohanka

Sent out from the heart of Europe, Czechia’s diplomats represent the country all over the world, including on the far side of the globe. As part of our new series on Czech Women Pioneers, we take a look at Czechia’s female ambassadors, who may...

The Prague-based, American-born writer, poet and columnist Michael March died on February 23rd. His death was announced by his wife Vlasta. Mr. March had lived in Prague since 1996, and was the founder and president of the international Prague...

UK businessman Guy Barker is behind a project set to bring a new terrace to the roof of Prague’s 19th century Rudolfinum. His Arcona Capital, a real estate investment company active in a number of EU countries, is a sponsor of the Czech...

Any peace agreement must be negotiated with Ukraine and accepted by that country, and negotiations must begin by acknowledging who is the aggressor and who is the victim, President Petr Pavel said in a video address to the Ukraine and Partner...

Two artificial icefalls on rocks more than 40 metres high opened to the public for the first time this winter season. They are located in the village of Vír in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the deep valley of the Svratka River, which...

On February 24th 2022, the world was shocked by the Russian military’s sudden invasion into Ukrainian territory as part of a so-called “special military operation”. Three years later, the fighting continues, and many Czechs are still actively...

A new ranking of Czechia’s micro-regions has revealed an unexpected winner when it comes to quality of life. According to a study by Česká spořitelna and the data platform Europe in data, the small town of Turnov, in the Liberec region, has...

Czech President Petr Pavel reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Speaking at a gathering in Prague’s Old Town Square, he emphasized that international law must not be compromised and...

Czech Radio is mourning one of its prominent music personalities – conductor of the Czech Radio Sympohony Orchestra Vladimír Válek, who led the ensemble for an incredible 26 years. Born on September 2, 1935 in Nový Jičín, Válek studied trombone...

Violent crimes committed by under 18s have increased by 25% in Czechia over the past two years, leaving the country worried about its children. What could be the cause? And the solution? Czechia has been shocked once again by a horrific crime...

Jacob Mikanowski is a historian, author, and journalist who has written the book Goodbye, Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land. A Czech translation of the book has been published in early 2025. Mikanowski takes us through...

The gifts that Czech presidents receive from visiting foreign heads of state and on their own travels abroad are carefully catalogued and either stored or exhibited at Prague Castle. Now, for the first time ever, the administration of President...

Prague is one step closer to its long-awaited Vltava Philharmonic Hall. Architects and city representatives have recently presented the final design to the public. The project documentation should be completed by autumn, with a building permit...

Hundreds of Czech farmers joined pan-European protests against food imports from outside the European Union on Thursday. They are calling for the cancellation of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, an end to duty-free imports from Ukraine and...

Vyšehrad, perched on a rocky hill above the Vltava River, is one of Prague’s most historically and culturally significant sites. Often overshadowed by Prague Castle, this ancient fortress has long been steeped in myths and legends. But beyond...

The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, HE. Mr. Yashar Teymur Oglu Aliev, opened an exclusive exhibition devoted to two distinguished forms of applied art, both recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage: the Azerbaijani carpet...

On Monday, February 17, 2025, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary: H.E. Mrs. Ángela Marianna Vigliotta Mella, new Ambassador...

Czechia’s leaders have responded to statements by US President Donald Trump, in which the president called Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections”. President Petr Pavel said that to hold such a view “requires...

From February 24th, Czech art fans will have the chance to view some of the work of the twentieth-century artist Andy Warhol. A collaboration with the Warhol museum in Medzilaborce, Slovakia, ‘The Living Dream of Andy Warhol’ will run for two...

The world of aviation has long captured the imagination, but the profession is still dominated by men. That said, the field has come a long way since the first Czech woman pilot, Božena Laglerová, became the thirteenth woman pilot in the world...

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Czech humanitarian organizations have supported at least 3.6 million Ukrainians with aid worth over CZK 6.9 billion. The estimate includes donations from Czech donors and international...

Work is underway to reconstruct the roof of the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul in Vyšehrad, one of the most significant landmarks of Prague. The new slate tiles are being imported specially for this purpose from the US and Spain and will be...

Many European leaders have been aghast at American moves to unilaterally agree a Ukraine “peace deal” with Russia and their concerns have only been intensified by an explosive speech by the US vice-president that some say signals a sundering of...

The post-war expulsion of Sudeten Germans from the Czech borderlands changed the face of the region. Homes and property were confiscated, and hundreds of thousands of German graves were forcibly abandoned. Some municipalities are struggling to...

Strahov Stadium is an imposing relic of the past. Once the largest stadium in the world by area, it has seen a remarkable evolution—from a stage for nationalistic gymnastics festivals to a propaganda tool of communist mass exercises, from a...

Ďáblice Astronomical Observatory, located in the north of Prague, has been welcoming stargazers since 1956. Built by local astronomy enthusiasts, it started as a small project and grew into an observatory with two domes. Led for many years by...

Half a century ago, it was the pride of Czechoslovakia’s maritime fleet. Now, the cargo ship Třinec, the last surviving Czechoslovak ocean vessel, is set to be scrapped. However, parts of the ship will hopefully be brought back to its homeland...

The buildings of the Association of Design Studios, known colloquially as ‘Prager’s Cubes’, are a set of modernist buildings in Prague’s New Town that are in desperate need of renovation. Thanks to popular support, that renovation is likely to...

The Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra has received three nominations for this year’s Anděl Awards, due to be handed out in April. Today’s edition of Sunday Music Show will profile one of the CDs, nominated in the Classical Music category. Called...

Karel Čapek founded the PEN Club with the intention of protecting freedom of speech and the press, becoming its chairman. He was succeeded by figures such as Ivan Klíma, Jiří Stránský, and the current chairman, Ondřej Vaculík. On 15 February...

On February 14th 1945, a deadly bombing raid claimed hundreds of lives when the city of Prague became an unexpected target of the US Army Air Forces. In this first part of our series ’80 years ago: How did WWII end in the Czech lands...

The Jizera Mountains in north-eastern Czechia are a popular destination for cross-country skiers. But scientists have confirmed that ski wax used by amateur skiers is polluting the protected landscape area with PFAS—highly toxic and persistent...

Recently opened in Malá Strana, the Mozart Interactive Museum offers visitors a unique experience, using up-to-date technology and innovative styles of presentation to tell visitors about the life the Prague-loving musical maestro Wolfgang...

To celebrate the 2025 Chinese New Year of the Snake H.E Mr. Feng Biao – The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Czech Republic, organized a concert at the CVUT Congress Center in Prague of Classic & Traditional Chinese music...

Get ready for a night of laughter, love, and mistaken identities as the Prague Shakespeare Company (PSC), Divadlo Bez Zabradli and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) bring their hilarious co-production of Shakespeare’s classic...

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Berislav VEKIĆ, and Mrs. Sandra VEKIĆ, Hosted a reception at the Beautiful Kaiserstejnsky Palace. Mr.  Eduard Hulicius – the...

Courting, partner coexistence, reproduction, but also harems and jealousy or, conversely, loyalty to the grave. Prague Zoo has prepared special Valentine’s commented feedings and animal encounters for the weekend. During them, visitors...

The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year! To mark the occasion, we explore a rather unusual station in the capital’s metro network. Classified as confidential for almost sixty years, Klárov was one of the best-kept secrets of the...

A recent article in The New York Times sparked a debate about ‘mlíko’ (milk), a traditional Czech way of serving beer, which is almost entirely made of foam. A Czech bartender explains what it is and whether he recommends it. In...

Tucked away in the southwestern part of Prague, Prokopské údolí, or Prokop Valley, is a remarkable blend of history, geology, and nature. This protected landscape, part of the Czech Karst, offers visitors a chance to step away from the city’s...

The Czech Society for Ornithology has named the grey wagtail as the Bird of the Year for 2025. This decision aims to highlight the crucial role that natural waterways play in supporting this striking, long-tailed bird, as well as a variety of...

Martina Dvořáková was so tired of the gender imbalance in household labour in Czechia that she did something about it, creating a Fair Household audit. It’s a questionnaire that helps couples reflect on who does what in the home – and whether...

Tuesday marks exactly 120 years since the birth of Czech artist Zdeněk Burian, one of history’s greatest illustrators of prehistoric life. Long before the era of computer-generated imagery, Burian brought the ancient world to life with...

The legendary Jizerská 50 is a four-day skiing event with eight competitive races. This year, over 8,400 participants, both professionals and amateur cross-country skiers, crossed the finish line at the stadium in Bedřichov in the Jizerské...

Dan Brown, author of international bestsellers like The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, has set his next mystery-thriller in Prague. Entitled The Secret of Secrets, it will see the return of academic hero Robert Langdon. A post shared by...

Blažena Strachotová, the oldest living citizen of the Czech Republic, is 108 years old. Born on February 9, 1917, in Slavičín in the Zlín region, she now resides in České Budějovice. Throughout her long life, she has witnessed a number of...

In today’s Sunday Music Show, we present you the recording Czech Songs, sung by Magdalena Kožená. She is accompanied the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Simon Rattle. The selection presents a number of folk songs by Czech authors...

Antonín Fajkus, a war veteran and fighter pilot from World War II, has died at the age of 101. A native of South Moravia, Fajkus spent most of his life in the U.S., and served in the legendary U.S. Air Force’s 40th Fighter Squadron, known...

The cimbalom is an elaborate stringed instrument of the dulcimer family whose rich, inimitable sound is characteristic of the folk music of Central and Eastern Europe. The Faculty of Arts of the University of Ostrava will soon become the fourth...

The highly anticipated Czech video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has taken the gaming world by storm. Released on February 4, after just a few days the medieval RPG quickly became the best-selling game on Steam and covered its development...

Today, I am speaking with Lea-Ann Germinder, an AI researcher based in Missouri, US, who focuses on the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Germinder researches areas where AI technologies raise ethical concerns, particularly in how...

On February 10, 1975, the Kotva department store opened on Prague’s Republic Square, welcoming its first customers. It quickly became a favourite shopping destination, attracting both local residents and visitors from across the country...

Ondřej Soška  the Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, organized a press conference on Czechia’s participation at the World EXPO 2025 at the beautiful Rudolfinum in Prague. At the event, the participants review...

President Petr Pavel received the President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at Prague Castle, and Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with the President of Portugal at Kramář’s Villa. Watch the video: On Wednesday, February...

Prepare to be swept away by the most popular play in Prague Shakespeare Company’s history! Venus in Fur, David Ives’ acclaimed masterpiece, returns to the legendary Estates Theater for one night only this Valentine’s Day...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 (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...

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...

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...

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...

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...