AuthorMartin Hladík

On the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Duong Hoai Nam, the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Czech Republic, hosted a Vietnamese traditional cultural and art performance at the Hoang Thanh Convention Centre – at SAPA Prague, know as little Hanoi.

The honoured speakers were – Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture. Sport and Tourism of Vietnam, and Mr. David Kaspar, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Duong Hoai Nam, the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Czech Republic, Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture. Sport and Tourism of Vietnam, and Mr. David Kaspar, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic.

And highlights from the beautiful cultural performance.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand in the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Suwat KAEWSOOK, and Ms. Srisurath SUKAVARODOM, Counsellor /Political and Protocol Affairs, organized a cultural event at the top of the Vienna House by Wyndham Diplomat Prague Hotel.

The event includes presentations of:

Mr. Jan Franta and Mr. Martin Spouse about their experience visiting National Parks

Mr. Ondrej Stahlavsky – Thailand by car

Mr. Marek Hart – visiting Thailand as a young person

Mr. Meshulam Zisso – Thailand is so Beautiful, and Thailand is not only Bangkok

Watch the video with highlights of the speeches.

For more details, you can find at the Czech & Slovak leaders magazine Online:

https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/thailand-a-wonderful-place/

https://www.czechleaders.com/posts/thailand-is-not-only-bangkok/

https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/infant-jesus-of-prague-dresses-in-robes-from-thailand/

Prague Shakespeare Tackles AI, Fake News & Modern Love in a Theatrical Event for the Ages at the Estates Theatre – This Weekend Only!

Forget everything you think you know about Shakespeare. This is not boring museum piece theatre – this is a live-wire, high-stakes commentary on your world, right now. In an unmissable theatrical event that could be ripped from today’s headlines, the Prague Shakespeare Company is staging a revolutionary theatre experience at the majestic Estates Theatre for three final performances this weekend: 27, 28, and 29 June. This is your unique and fleeting opportunity to witness two of the Bard’s masterworks reborn for the 21st Century, speaking directly to the anxieties and passions of our time.

Friday night, 27 June, we are thrust into the messy, exhilarating landscape of the human heart with a special 75-minute version of Two Gentlemen of Verona. This is not just a romantic comedy; it’s a vibrant, funny, and deeply relatable exploration of love, friendship, and identity for today’s youth. In a world of fleeting connections and intense emotions, the story of best friends Valentine and Proteus falling for the same woman, Silvia, feels utterly contemporary. It’s a story about loyalty, betrayal, and the chaotic, beautiful journey of figuring out who you are and what you stand for.

This dazzling production is guided by the masterful hand of internationally renowned director Lisa Wolpe, a true icon of classical theatre. She directs a stunningly fresh modern verse translation by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Amelia Roper, a Yale School of Drama graduate and award-winning playwright whose impressive screenwriting credits include work for Netflix, Apple TV, and Hulu. Roper’s language pops with the wit and rhythm of modern speech, transforming the play into an experience that feels less like a historical text and more like a conversation with today. This is a Two Gentlemen of Verona brimming with laughter, romance, and recognizable heartache from four of Prague’s rising young stars: Genevieve Gionet, Renee Lamari, Stanislav Callas and František Jiří Heřmánek.

Saturday night, 28 June, ignites with a special 80-minute version of King John, a rarely-seen political thriller that has become shockingly relevant. In an age of algorithm-driven narratives, deep-fakes, and rampant “fake news,” this production dives headfirst into a world of manipulated information and contested truths. It’s a story of a nation in turmoil, wrestling with its identity under a leader whose claim to power is fragile. Witness the back-room dealing, the shifting alliances between countries, and the brutal propaganda wars that dominate our news feeds, all laid bare on stage by Brighde Mullins, a Guggenheim Fellow and award-winning playwright, who has crafted a modern verse translation that is both poetic and potent, capturing the political machinations and emotional turmoil of Shakespeare’s original with stunning clarity and force.

At the helm of this political thriller is PSC’s visionary Founder and Artistic Director, Guy Roberts, who also takes on a leading role. Roberts is a dynamic force in European theatre, an award-winning actor and director. He has cultivated the Prague Shakespeare Company into the Czech Republic’s premier English-language theatre, and his powerful stage presence and incisive direction promise a King John that is both epic in scale and intensely personal: this King John is a raw and visceral exploration of nations and leadership in crisis.

Starring as the troubled monarch himself, King John, is Stephan Wolfert, an actor, director, and US Army veteran who has dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of Shakespeare and the military experience. Wolfert is the creator of DE-CRUIT®, a program that uses classical actor training to help veterans reintegrate into civilian life. His unique perspective and profound understanding of the soldier’s mindset, honed through his off-Broadway work will undoubtedly bring a searing authenticity and psychological depth to the role of King John. He is joined onstage by the immensely talented Jessica Boone, a leading artist with PSC and a familiar face to international audiences from her recurring role in Amazon’s epic series The Wheel of Time. Boone, whose extensive stage and screen credits include everything from Shakespearean heroines to voice work in beloved anime series, brings her remarkable range and emotional depth to the pivotal role of Constance in King John, a mother fighting for truth and her son’s legacy against a tide of political spin. The production’s timeliness is further embodied by its star-filled cast including Prague favorites Elissa Levitt, Dawn Stern, Josh Morrison, and Jeff Smith among others. This is Shakespeare as a political mirror, and what it reflects about our current moment is both thrilling and terrifying.

Perhaps best of all, audiences may experience both plays in one evening as part of a special Double Bill performance on Sunday 29 June: the evening will feature Two Gentlemen of Verona followed by an intermission and then King John.

Presented by PSC, with additional support from the Hitz Foundation, as part of the audacious and critically acclaimed Play On Shakespeare series, these productions feature breathtaking new modern verse translations that make these classic stories resonate with the fierce urgency of now. Play On Shakespeare is a thrilling project that commissions brilliant contemporary playwrights to translate Shakespeare’s canon into accessible modern verse. The result is an experience that honors the original genius while making the work immediate, powerful, and clear for a new generation.

To experience this in the hallowed halls of the Estates Theatre, where Mozart himself premiered Don Giovanni, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is a fusion of Prague’s profound history with a vision of theatre that is boldly looking towards the future. The convergence of this iconic venue, this world-class international talent, and these urgently relevant productions will simply not happen again.

Time is running out. This is more than just a play; it’s a cultural happening that captures the very essence of our turbulent, passionate, and complicated times. Do not let this weekend pass you by. Be one of the lucky few to witness Shakespeare speak directly to 2025.

Seize your last chance to be part of this unforgettable event. Tickets are selling fast.

Performances are THIS Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 27, 28, and 29 June.

Book your tickets NOW through the official National Theatre website before they are gone:

• For the Two Gentlemen of Verona performance on Friday, 27 June:https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/show/prague-shakespeare-companytwo-gentlemen-of-veronaandking-john-RuIfRSKuRYmXxm5emzSb3A?t=2025-06-27-19-00
• For the King John performance on Saturday, 28 June: https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/show/prague- shakespeare-companytwo-gentlemen-of-veronaandking-john-RuIfRSKuRYmXxm5emzSb3A?t=2025-06-28-19-00
• For the Double Bill of Two Gentlemen of Verona and King John performance on Sunday, 29 June: https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/show/prague-shakespeare-companytwo-gentlemen-of-veronaandking-john-RuIfRSKuRYmXxm5emzSb3A?t=2025-06-29-19-00

Prague Shakespeare Company:

www.pragueshakespeare.org

photos are courtesy Kaja Curtis photography

On the occasion of the feast day of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the Order of Malta, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Wenceslas Lobkowicz, and Armelle Lobkowicz hosted a reception at the beautiful, historic Velkopřevorský palác, Malá Strana, Prague.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Wenceslas Lobkowicz, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta to the Czech Republic

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský will award the 2025 Gratias agit prizes in the Grand Hall of the Czernin Palace in Prague. The award, established in 1997, recognizes people and institutions from around the world who have promoted Czechia through long-term civic engagement.

The Gratias agit award is not associated with any financial reward.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Marcus Mucha is the great-grandson of the world-famous Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha. UK-born Marcus, who is in his mid 40s, is Executive Director of the Mucha Foundation, which preserves and promotes the work of the world renowned Art Nouveau pioneer. When we spoke at its recently opened Mucha Museum in the heart of Prague the conversation took in such topics as the artist’s fluctuating international renown, Marcus’s previous career as a Hollywood producer and the story of how a Nazi officer protected his Jewish great-grandmother, Alphonse’s wife.

How Czech did you feel growing up?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Jean de Calan

For decades, the French surgeon Thierry Bouchet collected Franz Kafka’s books. Some pieces from his collection are now being sold in Paris at Le Carreau du Temple for over two million Czech crowns.

Stored at the beautiful 19th-century Le Carreau du Temple in Paris, the Kafka collection consists of manuscripts, letters, and translations, including more than 400 pieces.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Ondřej Tomšů, Radio Prague International

Juventus and Czechia legend Pavel Nedvěd has taken the wheel at the senior and U21 national teams in the role of general manager. The 2003 Ballon d’Or winner has accepted the Czech Football Federation’s offer, after leaving his most recent role as sporting director of Saudi club Al Shabab.

Pavel Nedvěd collected 91 caps for Czechia before hanging up his boots in 2009.

See more here.

Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas

Photo: František Jirků, Czech Radio

The historic wind instrument known as the cornett, or zink, once again echoes through Czech churches. Students from across Europe, including young Czechs, are learning to play it under the guidance of expert musicians.

It looks like a curved wooden pipe, with finger holes like on a recorder, but it’s played more like a brass instrument.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Pavel Lebeda, ČTK

17-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout has chosen Czechia for his first senior athletics meeting abroad. In December last year he bettered Usain Bolt’s 2003 record to become the fastest 16-year-old ever on the 200m distance – the same discipline he will take on in Ostrava.

With a time of 20.

See more here.

Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas

Photo: Radim Strachoň, MF DNES, LN/Profimedia

Archaeologists in South Moravia have uncovered a rare Roman artefact: a bronze fragment of a soldier’s wrist purse. Over 1,800 years old, it is most likely the oldest purse found on the territory of today’s Czechia.

The rare discovery was made in January of this year on Hradisko Hill in South Moravia, at the site of a fortified camp once occupied by the 10th Roman Legion during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Klára Stejskalová, Radio Prague International

This Sunday, there were more locals than tourists below Prague’s Astronomical Clock. They came to admire a parade of historical and modern buses that were part of the city’s public transport system for 100 years. A ceremonial parade of vintage buses set off from Old Town Square to Hradčany Square and people could even take a ride on some of them.

See more here.

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

At a ceremony in Prague’s Czernin Palace, Australian curator David Handley was among the recipients of the 2025 Gratias Agit award. He was honored by the Czech FM Jan Lipavský for his long-standing efforts to showcase Czech artists at Sculpture by the Sea, a globally recognized outdoor exhibition near Sydney. Handley has long felt a strong connection to Czechia, shaped by his time living in the country during the 1990s.

Nine individuals and one organization were honored this week with the Gratias Agit award, which the Czech Foreign Ministry gives annually to those who promote Czechia abroad.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Organizers of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival have unveiled a star-studded line up for its 59th edition. The stellar list includes Stellan Skarsgård, Peter Sarsgaard, Vicky Krieps and Dakota Johnson.

Stellan Skarsgård, a revered figure in both European art house and Hollywood productions will introduce his new film Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier, fresh from its Grand Prix win in Cannes and already tipped for an Oscar nomination.

See more here.

Photo: albersHeinemann, Pixabay, Pixabay License

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) recently published the results of a survey indicating what news sources people rely on around the world. While social media has become the primary source of news for the largest share of Americans, the trend in the Czech Republic is moving in the opposite direction, with news consumption via social media and online platforms on the decline.

In the United States, 34 percent of people now cite social media as their main source of news, which is significantly more than in European countries.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: ©The David Lynch Estate, Courtesy Item éditions, Paris

The first-ever exhibition of David Lynch’s visual art in Czechia opened this week at Prague’s DOX Centre for Contemporary Art. Called Up In Flames, it presents a selection of more than 400 works curated in collaboration with Lynch himself, shortly before his death in January. I spoke with curator Otto M. Urban about Lynch’s legacy, Czech ties, and what visitors can expect.

This is the first major exhibition of David Lynch here in the Czech Republic.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Klášter minoritů sv. Jakuba

A couple of streets away from Prague’s Old Town Square, the Minorite Monastery of St. James has at last opened to the public. It now offers the largest outdoor escape game in Czechia, inspired by the 800-year history of the site, and playable via WhatsApp chat.

The imposing Church of St.

See more here.

Author: Zdeňka Kuchyňová, Danny Bate

Photo: Michaela Danelová, Czech Radio

The 8th edition of the Prague Metronome festival kicked off on Thursday. Headlining the show are Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, making her long-awaited return to Prague, and English vocalist Rag’n’bone Man. Both artists perform on Saturday – the final day of the festival.

Morissette, who last performed in Czechia in 2008, comes with the reputation of a generation-defining artist of the 1990s as the “Queen of Alt Rock Angst”, something which particularly excites festival producer David Gaydečka.

See more here.

Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas

Photo: Petr Topič, MF DNES, LN/Profimedia

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an initiative titled “Good Morning Czechia”, aiming to strengthen the country’s image abroad. In a public questionnaire, respondents are encouraged to share their opinions and stories of what makes Czechia unique.

Research conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows “poor recognition” of Czechia internationally, with most positive associations relating to the country’s nature, cultural heritage, and beer tradition.

See more here.

Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas

On the occasion of the 249^th Anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, the Charge d’Affaires Ms. Christina J. Agor organized a garden reception at the Ambassador Residence.

The Honorable speaker was RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate.

The event was a farewell to Ms. Christina J. Agor, the Charge d’Affaires, and a welcome for Mr. David Wisner, the new Charge d’Affaires of the United States of America.

Watch the video from the ceremony and highlights from the speech of Ms. Christina J. Agor, the Charge d’Affaires, and of RNDr.  Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate.

Happy Independence day

The Ambassador of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Fredrik Jorgensen and Mrs. Marianne Jorgensen hosted a farewell reception at the beautiful Embassy Garden, with the best view of Prague.

Here are selected sections of H.E. Mr. Fredrik Jorgensen and H.E. Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus Okolo speeches at the event.

The National Theatre in Prague is saying farewell to its New Stage on Wednesday ahead of a major renovation.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Archetyp

Prague’s riverside embankments are a summertime hotspot for both locals and visitors, with scenic castle views, hosting numerous gastronomic events and farmers markets. On Friday and Saturday, the embankment on Rašínovo nábřeží will host “Pivo na Náplavce”, an annual microbrewery festival.

This year’s 13th edition will present 34 breweries from around the country, along with live music, a flea market with beer memorabilia, and several food trucks.

See more here.

Author: Zdeňka Kuchyňová

Photo: Vít Šimánek, ČTK

Thousands of fans braved the rain to attend Bruce Springsteen’s long-awaited live concert in Prague on Sunday. In a characteristically energetic performance, the 75-year old rock singer also left the audience with a political message.

On a stage decorated with a Czech and American flag, Springsteen captured the audience with platinum hits such as “Born in the USA” or “Dancing in the Dark” in a show lasting roughly 2.

See more here.

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

The Czech Academy of Sciences has unveiled a series of unique archaeological finds discovered during a rescue dig along the future Prague Ring Road. The research, one of the biggest of its kind in Czechia’s history, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of prehistoric communities near the Czech capital.

A collection of gold ornaments from the Hallstatt culture, spiral hair accessories, decorative clothing fasteners, and ceramic vessels buried with food offerings for the dead: these are just a few of the remarkable items uncovered during archaeological work on the missing section of the future Prague Ring Road.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Workers in Prague have started building tracks that will connect Vinohradská třída, near the National Museum building, with Wenceslas Square. Trams will return to the area after almost half a century. The construction work is already limiting traffic on the main line, and the restrictions will be extended in the direction of the city center from July. Public transport passengers will have to prepare for traffic complications.

Representatives of municipal companies and the municipality started the construction near the National Museum building in Prague on June 12.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Illustrative photo: StockSnap, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Starting this July, the Czech government will adjust its quotas for foreign workers, putting greater emphasis on attracting skilled professionals from outside the European Union, and tightening access for low-skilled laborers.

Under the new plan, Czechia aims to welcome 24 IT specialists from India, 650 highly qualified workers from China, and another 120 from other Asian countries.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: National Technical Museum

Eight vintage Praga cars have gone on display at the National Technical Museum in Prague as part of a new temporary exhibition. The vehicles come from the private collection of Emil Příhoda, who spent over sixty years preserving the legacy of one of Czechoslovakia’s most iconic car brands.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, the Prague-based carmaker Praga led the Czechoslovak market in both passenger and commercial vehicle sales.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo illustrative: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Pursuits involving fleeing vehicles pose a persistent challenge for law enforcement officials across Europe. Traditional methods used to disable or stop fleeing vehicles, such as spike strips or physical ramming, often carry significant risks to public safety, the pursued driver, and police officers themselves. In response to this long-standing issue, Czech researchers have now developed a safer, non-destructive alternative.

The system, jointly developed by the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) and the Brno University of Technology (VUT) allows law enforcement officers to remotely disable or slow down a targeted vehicle using secure digital communication.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Jakub Ferenčík, Radio Prague International

The 20th GLOBSEC Forum, held in Prague from 12 – 14 June 2025, brought in more than 2,000 attendees representing 78 countries to discuss the geopolitical challenges of our era. While there, I spoke to former ambassador to the US, Israel, the UK, and biographer of Václav Havel, Michael Žantovský, about the current political landscape and Czechia’s response to today’s challenges.

First, I really want to get your sense of Havel’s legacy.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Fakulta strojní VŠB – Technická univerzita Ostrava

The restoration lab of Ostrava Technical University successfully revived British-built motorcycle AJS 500 OHV from 1929. After successful test drives, the vehicle has been displayed to the public at Kunín Chateau, half an hour away from Ostrava.

The motorcycle is part of a collection counting 41 vehicles, donated to the Moravian-Silesian region in 2019 by late sculptor Miroslav Rybička.

See more here.

Photo: Jan Kubelka, Radio Prague International

There are plenty of guides to Prague, but few consider the city from a child’s point of view. Meanders through Prague, first published in 2024 and now heading into its second edition, offers a fresh and creative way to explore the Czech capital, with the city’s youngest visitors in mind. The book is a collaborative effort by local writers, artists, and food lovers, each sharing their favourite spots, including galleries, bookstores, parks, and playgrounds. But in a world dominated by social media, do we still need paper guidebooks? And how valuable is local insight when discovering a city? I sat down with Emma Hanzlíková, the editor of Meanders through Prague, to find out.

What inspired you to create Meanders through Prague? Was there any particular moment that sparked the idea?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Pastorius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Filip Topol, the late frontman of the legendary Czech rock band Psí vojáci (Dog Warriors), was born 60 years ago this week, on June 12, 1965. He gave his first performance in the spring of 1978 at the cottage of then-dissident Václav Havel. That same year, he founded Psí vojáci with two of his classmates. In the early 1980s, the band clashed with the authorities and was limited to performing at illegal underground events. After the fall of communism, however, they became a major force on the Czech rock scene. This edition of Sunday Music Show pays tribute to the charismatic songwriter, singer, and pianist.

See more here.

Photo: David Neff, MFDNES + LN / Profimedia

In June 2000, Czechia experienced the biggest banking crash in its history. The Investment and Postal Bank (IPB), once the third largest bank in the country, found itself in a deep crisis, ultimately resulting in a dramatic intervention by the state.

Following the 1989 revolution, Czech banks grew rapidly, handing out loans easily and without sufficient oversight.

See more here.

President Petr Pavel and other state officials attended a ceremony on Saturday marking the 83rd anniversary of the Nazi destruction of Lidice.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Eva Kézrová, Czech Radio

For the first time in history, a team of Czech students is taking part in the Shell Eco-marathon, global competition focused on energy efficiency, sponsored by the oil and gas giant. Until Sunday, the team from the Czech Technical University’s Faculty of Transportation will be at Poland’s Silesia Ring, aiming to drive their electric car prototype as far as possible on a single kilowatt-hour of energy.

Ljubov Kozlova, the driver for the Green Gliders team, is tiny.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková, Eva Kézrová

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

Petr Brod, a veteran journalist who grew up in a Jewish, German-speaking family in Prague and moved to West Germany in 1969, was one of the recipients of the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy on June 3rd.

How does it feel to be a recipient of this award?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Andrea Strohamierová, Czech Radio

The Hendrich family tomb in Skalná in the Cheb region, which was seriously damaged by vandals, was opened after a difficult reconstruction. After the archaeological research that preceded the reconstruction, experts also discovered the mummified remains of the six-year-old boy for whom the tomb was originally built. The monument now serves as a reminder of the family tragedy.

Since the end of the Second World War, the tomb has gradually decayed, compounded by extensive destruction by vandals who have forced their way into most of the coffins.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Martin Balucha, iROZHLAS.cz

Amid the roar of engines and the hum of innovation at the prestigious Paris Air Show, a small Czech company is turning heads with something unusual: whistling drones.

At the 55th edition of the event, which this year focuses on space technologies and unmanned aerial systems, the Czech startup FlyinDiamonds is showcasing its tiny, glowing quadcopters affectionately nicknamed “Mandrakes”.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

The Fassati Art Festival is an art project that offers a unique blend of experiences, encompassing music, fine arts, architecture, design, epicurean delicacies, emotions, and interpersonal harmony.

The main idea of ​​the festival was prepared by the beautiful soprano Markéta Fassati, who guarantees the festival’s uniqueness.

The 2025 Gala evening took place at the beautiful church, Saint Thomas Church, and the Augustinian garden in Lesser Town (Malá Strana), Prague.

It was founded in 1285 by Czech King Wenceslas II. At his invitation, the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine came to Prague when the king decided to found a monastery in the foothills of his royal residence “for the salvation of his father’s soul”.

The beautiful garden was decorated with special metal statues of “Hefaistos” – Art blacksmithing and locksmithing “Hefaistos” was founded in 1991 by Milan Dubským as a purely Czech company, which has remained until now. Hefaistos specializes in custom and modern metalworking industry.

And beautiful and talented Barbora Plachá – founder of the Arpeggio Harp Studio, the Arpeggio Harp School, the Prague Harp Festival, and the Norsk Harpe fell the garden with a joyful sound.

This year, the soprano Marketa Fassati was accompanied by the modern string quartet “Melody Quartett” : Dana Jelink – violin, Petra Elznic – Violin, Frantisek Jelinek – viola, and Petr Malisek – cello.

Watch the video with moments from this great concert, that us a great joy.

For the 8^th year, Prague 6 is organizing a special and unique festival – the Festival of Embassies – Food & Culture.

This year, 56 countries and Ambassadors participated in this big festival.

 The festival was hosted by Mr. Jakub Starek, the Mayor of Prague 6, Mr. Jan Lipavsky – Foreign Minister of the CR, Mr. Jan Lacina – a member of the Parliament of the CR, Mr. Jiří Růžička – a member of the Senate of the CR, MUDr. Bohuslav Svoboda – Mayor of Prague,and other officials.

Ambassadors greet the big crowd by saying “Bon Appétit” in their language.

A unique cultural show from all over the world entertains the crowd.

It was a big success, even though the weather was wet– Tour around the world in 12 hours.

Enjoy the video.

The SenSa restaurant organizes a month of Filipino food at the Prague Centre. The Embassy of the Philippines in the Czech Republic is promoting this event.

At SenSa,  a very design Restaurant, a few steps from Nam. Republicy, at Senovazna 8, Prague 1. The main focus of SenSa is Nikkei cuisine, a fascinating blend of Japanese and South American culinary influences.

The place is beautiful. Friendly and elegant atmosphere, with a summer garden. The service was friendly and professional.

We were there for a special lunch of Filipino food. The Food was very tasty, making you feel like you were in the Philippines.

You can see the special menu in the pictures.

Don’t miss this opportunity to have Filipino food close to home, only by the end of June 2025.

Almost five-year-old male common wombat Cooper came to Prague Zoo in December 2021 as the first representative of his species in the Czech Republic. Since then, the Hanover native has built a large fan base among supporters and visitors to Prague Zoo. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Digging burrows, searching for signs of habitation, or curiously being pushed through backgrounds – the wombat way. Saturday’s program at Prague Zoo will offer a day inspired by Australian Peter John Nicholson, who, as a teenager, studied the life of wombats and contributed more to their knowledge than anyone else. In addition to fun activities for children, the Prague Zoo offers an extra treat: commented feedings and meetings with these popular marsupials, which it breeds as the only facility in the Czech Republic.

Visitors to Prague Zoo on Saturday will experience a day with three Prague wombats – the cute Cooper, the wild Winkleigh, and the first Czech wombat cub, the female Mersey. Young and old interested parties will playfully learn about the life of these marsupials, similar to how the then high school student Peter J. Nicholson studied them in the 1960s.

Female wombat Winkleigh (left) arrived at Prague Zoo the year before last, and this Tasmanian native surprised the keeper and her companion Cooper (right) with her temperament. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

“During the time examined, during one school year and at the age of just fifteen, Peter Nicholson gained a surprising amount of knowledge about wombats, which scientists nodded in approval even after decades – and in fact, he still does today,” explains the director of Prague Zoo Miroslav Bobek. The “wombat boy” not only found out when wombats are active, what they eat, how they build and maintain their burrows, but also how their young behave. His student work laid the foundation for further scientific research.

The thematic program at Veselovský meadow will start at 10 a.m. Children will also try digging burrows, distinguish the sound of a wombat from other Australian fauna, or find out how unexpectedly small newborn cubs are. The push-pull competition will be particularly interesting, in which children will try out the unusual wombat defense. Wombats have hard plates on their buttocks, with which they can, for example, push predators to the ceiling of their burrows.

Wombat keeper David Vala has built a close relationship based on mutual trust with his charges. This makes preventive veterinary examinations easier for him, for example. Pictured with male Cooper in the Darwin Crater exhibit. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Day with Wombats – program

• 11:00 and 14:00 commented feeding of wombats (Darwin’s Crater)
• 12:00, 13:00 and 15:00 commented meetings with wombats (Darwin’s Crater)
• 10:00–16:00 research station (Veselovský meadow and surroundings)

o searching for traces of residence

o digging burrows

o measuring burrows

o treasures in burrows

o wombat communication

o small big wombat

o atypical defense

o stacking cubes

o creative workshop

Photo: Michal Kalina, ČTK

Thirty-five years ago, on June -8-9, Czechs and Slovaks went to the polls in the first free elections held after the fall of the communist regime. Elections were held to both chambers of the Federal Assembly and the Czech and Slovak National Councils. In the Czech Republic, they were won by Civic Forum (OF), established by the Czech dissent, in Slovakia, by the movement Public Against Violence. Surprisingly, the Communists did unexpectedly well, coming in second.

The first free elections after the fall of the communist regime attracted unprecedented public interest.

See more here.

Photo: International scientific team/Heritage

Saint Wenceslas, the Czech patron saint, was a key figure in the early history of the Czech lands. Now, more than a thousand years after his death, an international team of scientists has recreated what the Christian martyr may have looked like, using a skull believed to be his and state-of-the-art technology.

The international team, led by Brazilian forensic facial reconstruction expert Cicero Moraes, based their work on a digital scan of a skull held in the St.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Petr Sznapka, ČTK

In the foothills of the Jeseníky Mountains, there is a unique narrow-gauge railway, the only one of its kind in Czech Silesia. In the summer season, tourists can enjoy a ride on the Silesian Provincial Railways trains.

See more here.

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

Cricket, while not a sport associated with Czechia, has many fans in the country, and is very much integrated into the wider world of the sport. From June 8th to 13th, the Central Europe Cup, a tournament organised by the Czech Cricket Union, has brought the national teams of Austria, Norway and Gibraltar to play the host country in Vinoř, on the outskirts of Prague.

It’s a traditional English scene: a perfectly kept grass field, cricketers practising their batting and bowling under a blue sky, tents for the players, officials and refreshments.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jiří Klůc

Ronald Waterman is one of the last living Dutch Jews who passed through the Terezín Ghetto during World War II. At the age of 90, he still works, publishes in the field of environmental engineering, and speaks several languages.

Ronald Waterman is one of four children born to university professor Hein Israel Waterman and his wife Marie.

See more here.

Photo: Jiří Matějček, Radio Prague International

Vintage car lovers from around Central Europe are getting ready for the annual “1,000 Miles of Czechoslovakia” race leading from Prague to the Slovak capital Bratislava and back. The festive event is traditionally accompanied by live music and a period fashion show to enhance the atmosphere.

The vintage car race of the year originated in 1933 when it was first held under the auspices of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Czech Radio

One of the most influential figures in Czech film, cinematographer Vladimír Smutný, has died at the age of 82. With a career spanning over five decades, he helped define the visual style of many notable Czech films. Among his most celebrated collaborations were the Oscar-winning Kolya, directed by Jan Svěrák, and The Painted Bird, Václav Marhoul’s haunting adaptation of the controversial novel by Jerzy Kosiński.

Released in 2019 and based on Kosiński’s novel, The Painted Bird is set in Eastern Europe during the final days of World War II.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Illustrative photo: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Czechs love a good bargain, whether it’s clothing, electronics, or groceries at an open air market. So much so that many consumers often wait for discounts rather than buying at full price. But this weekend they got more than they bargained for when Reebok forgot to translate euros into crowns offering its goods for next to nothing.

Men’s T-shirts for 28 crowns, women’s for 16, sneakers for 80 — the Reebok e-shop mistakenly swapped euros for Czech crowns, offering its goods for less than the price of an ice-cream.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: archive of Serge Borenstein/Karlín Group

No foreigner can have had such an impact on Prague in the modern era as Serge Borenstein. Indeed in three and a half decades, the Belgian-born developer has been behind new constructions totalling a remarkable half a million square metres in and around the capital. His most notable projects have been in Karlín, a district he has almost single-handedly transformed with a series of gleaming office buildings. And it was at Borenstein’s offices there that we spoke recently.

You first came around the time of the revolution to do a property deal for Belgium.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Jan Kholl, ČTK

Activists with the Greenpeace organisation climbed onto the roof of the Tesla customer centre in Čestlice on June 11th, with banners and an image of Donald Trump and Elon Musk setting the world on fire.

Among those on the ground in front of the store were the actress Antonia Formanová, granddaughter of director Miloš Forman, and the writer Jiří Stránský.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

At a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 3rd, Radek Špicar was among the honourees awarded the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy.

At the moment, how would you evaluate the Czech Republic’s and the EU’s response to the developments in the United States?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

For this week’s Sunday Music Show, we’re bringing you a profile of a rising star in the world of composing: Darja Kukal Moiseeva.

Born in 1998 in Karlovy Vary, Darja has already achieved success with her victory in the Under 30s category of the International Rostrum of Composers, a prestigious forum that has promoted new pieces of classical music since 1954.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Radio Prague International

Peter Bísek left Czechoslovakia in the 1960s using a clever trick on a travel form. He arrived in Brooklyn with two suitcases, $180, and no plan. In this episode of Czechast, he shares how he turned exile into a mission to connect Czech-Americans through journalism.

In this episode of Czechast, we speak to Peter Bísek, a man whose personal journey mirrors the story of many Cold War exiles.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: OKO Opava

A small badge dating from the fourteenth century has gone on display in the Czech city of Opava. This unassuming object can tell us a great deal about how interconnected the world of a medieval Czech person really was.

Pilgrimage badges were big business in the later Middle Ages – like souvenirs that travellers could buy as proof of their journeys to saints’ shrines and other sacred sites.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Kristina Kellnerová, Radio Prague International

The Pilsner Urquell brewery is the most visited destination in West Bohemia and one of the top 15 attractions in Czechia. On a typical day, it hosts around 40 guided tours in multiple languages, including Czech, German, and English.

Rudolf Šlehofer: “We have three breweries in the Czech Republic.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Archive of František Vejmělka/Czech Academy of Sciences

A Czech science student has made a rare discovery on the island of New Guinea. František Vejmělka from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia became the first person in the world to capture the giant woolly rat on camera — one of the world’s largest and most elusive rodents. The animal lives high in the cold, misty mountain forests and was previously known only from old museum specimens. I asked him to tell me more about his discovery:

Can you first tell us about his elusive rodent species? How come no one has ever documented the animal before?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

At the invitation of the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Her Majesty Queen Máxima paid a state visit to the Czech Republic on June 4 and 5, 2025.

Upon arrival at Prague Castle of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Her Majesty Queen Máxima, President Pavel and the fist lady Mrs. Eva Pavlová welcomed the Royal couple.

Watch the video from the ceremony

The program concludes:

Private meeting of the presidential and royal couple at Habsburg Salon

Meeting of members of the official delegations of the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, Mirror Salon

Meeting with media representatives, Social Salon – Watch the Video

Memorial service at the Milada Horáková monument

Tour of the branch of the non-profit organization People in Need

Visit to the Prague – Kbely military airport, inspection of military equipment and military material provided by the Dutch and Czech sides in support of Ukraine

Awarding of a state decoration to His Majesty the King of the Netherlands by the President of the Republic, Throne Hall

Gala dinner given by the President of the Republic and Mrs. Eva Pavlová in honor of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Her Majesty Queen Máxima

His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands returns to the Netherlands after Wednesday’s program in response to the political situation in the country.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima participates in Thursday’s program.

Visit to the Church of the Most Holy Saviour, consecration of a new bell cast from weapons used during the war in Ukraine by Monsignor Tomáš Halík

Visit of the presidential couple and Her Majesty Queen Máxima to the headquarters of Radio Free Europe

Ceremonial opening of the Czech-Dutch Business Forum with the participation of the presidential couple and Her Majesty Queen Máxima

Performance by the Dutch National Ballet hosted by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Her Majesty Queen Máxima in Honor of the President of the Republic and Mrs. Eva Pavlová

On June 2, 2025, the Romanian Embassy in Prague organized, with the support of the Czech-Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group, whose president is the deputy Martin Hajek, a first in bilateral relations, Romania Day at the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Parliament to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and The participation of the Romanian army in the battles for the liberation of Czechoslovakia.

The event, held under the auspices of the First-Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Věra Kovářová, was attended by deputies, representatives of the ministries of foreign and defense, the Czech academic environment, members of the Czech-Romania Association, and Romanian communities in Prague.

Also, a delegation of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Mrs. Clara Staicu, Secretary of State for European Affairs, who is in Prague for bilateral consultations.

“Romania Day” at the Chamber of Deputies, an event that constitutes a premiere in the Romanian-Czech bilateral relations, is part of the series of events organized between April – May 2025 by the Romanian Embassy in Prague to mark the role of the Romanian Army in the liberation of Czechoslovakia, under the motto “Solidarity – Memory – Gratitude”.

The event also included a lecture on the role of the Romanian army in the liberation of Czechoslovakia by Professor Emil Voráček from the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, followed by a performance of Romanian folk dances by the folk group “Tarabostes” and a tasting of wines and traditional Romanians products.

In his welcome speech addressed to the participants, Mr. Martin Hájek emphasized the importance of commemorating the common history, the moments of solidarity between Romania and the Czech Republic, which represent a solid basis for the development of bilateral cooperation, and he welcomed the presence at the event of representatives of numerous central, regional and public institutions. Czech local. The Czech deputy appreciated that the holding of the “Day of Romania” is a testimony of the friendship between the Romanian and Czech peoples and a confirmation of the new stage in the development of Czech-Romanian relations

H.E. Mrs. Antoaneta Barta, the ambassador of Romania to Prague, highlighted the significance of this chapter of history, less known to the public opinion in the Czech Republic, context in which the Embassy organized an unprecedented series of commemoration events in the towns liberated by the Romanian military 80 years ago.

She thanked Mrs. Věra Kovářová for the patronage of this event and Mr. Martin Hájek for his generous support of the initiative of the Romanian Embassy. At the same time, she expressed her special appreciation to Professor Emil Voráček, for his major contribution to the restoration of historical truth by emphasizing the crucial role of the Romanian Army in the liberation of Czechoslovakia.

The ambassador of Romania mentioned the numerous events organized in Moravia and shared with those present the emotion experienced in the visited towns, following the very moving testimonies of the locals about the courage, civilized behavior, and friendly attitude of the Romanian army towards the local population.

In her speech, the vice president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Věra Kovářová, pointed out the necessity of “repairing the historical injustice done to the Romanian people”, through the ignorance of the Czech public of the major role of the Romanian Army in the liberation of Czechoslovakia, and at the same time recalled another moment in history that Czechs need. to remember it, respectively, the refusal of our country to participate in the Soviet invasion of 1968.

Mrs. Secretary of State Clara Staicu hailed the importance of this event for preserving the memory of Romanian soldiers, underlining the excellent level of bilateral relations, transformed into a real partnership, in a time of major geopolitical turbulence. In this context, he pointed out that the presence of the MAE delegation in Prague for consultations on European issues with Czech counterparts represented a reaffirmation of the mutual desire to develop a solid partnership, based on the similarity of foreign policies, security objectives, and common values.

At the end of the conference, there was a show of Romanian folk dances by the folk group “Tarabostes”, an event organized in cooperation with Institutul Cultural Român / Romanian Cultural Institute, and a tasting of traditional Romanian wines and products, particularly appreciated by the present audience.

Watch the Video from the event.

The Hilton Hotel Prague is celebrating its 30^th Anniversary.

Ryan Gauci, the hotel GM, and the entire Hilton Prague team hosted a beautiful event called “ Travel Beyond Your Imagination” at the Grand Ballroom.

The Hilton Prague has a long tradition of supporting important Czech charities, and this year, 300,000 CZK were collected and donated.

Watch the Video with highlights from this special event.

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová received King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima in the Chamber of Deputies.

A royal visit to the lower house of the Czech legislature is a completely unique event that symbolically reflects excellent mutual relations.

After the meeting, the Speaker highlighted the extraordinary scope and intensity of Czech-Dutch cooperation and the value of mutual partnership in today’s world.

“Our countries are united by a strong partnership. It is manifested in many areas, be it security or intensive cooperation in trade, science, research, and innovation. The Czech-Dutch cultural exchange is also significant. Thanks to these diverse and lively relations, both countries are close allies and reliable partners in NATO and the EU. We share common values, a sense of responsibility and a will to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity across Europe,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, after the meeting.

The reception of the Dutch royal couple, who arrived in our country on a state visit, was also attended by the Deputy Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies, Věra Kovářová and Aleš Juchelka, and MP Josef Flek.

The Przewalski’s horses only returned to the Golden Steppe in central Kazakhstan yesterday, when the harem led by the stallion Zorro left the acclimatization pen after a year. From left: Sary, Wespe, Ypsilonka, the stallion Zorro, Umbra and on the far right, the mare Tessa. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

Wednesday, 4 June 2025, at 6 p.m. local time, the gate of the acclimatization enclosure opened, and the first Převalsky’s horses in central Kazakhstan ran out into freedom. The Převalskys’ horses, imported last June, have adapted well to the local conditions, and the stallion Zorro was able to lead his harem of five mares to their new home – the vast Golden Steppe (Altyn Dala). Researchers fitted the mares, Wespe and Umbra, with GPS collars so that the group could be monitored further. Thanks to Prague Zoo and its partners, the wild horses have now returned to the wilds of Kazakhstan, from where they disappeared hundreds of years ago due to human activity. The horses transported from Europe this week have meanwhile survived their first night in the reintroduction center in excellent condition.

“This is, without exaggeration, a historic moment,” said Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek. “The Przewalski’s horses are back in their new home. When the herd came out of the acclimatization pen, they were completely calm, and in the low evening sun, they allowed us to take impressive photographs. It was a touching moment, in which months and months of preparation and extremely demanding transports by CASA aircraft of the Czech Army paid off. This is the highest goal in the efforts of modern zoos.”

The first moments of the first Przewalski’s horses in the wild of central Kazakhstan. From left: The mares Sary, Wespe, Ypsilonka, Umbra and the stallion Zorro. The mare Tessa is hidden behind the stallion in this photo. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The stallion Zorro and the mares Ypsilonka, Umbra, Wespe, Sary and Tessa behaved completely naturally after running out of the pen. They immediately started grazing and were even soon rolling around in the steppe vegetation.

Zeta II, imported last year with Zina II and Grâce, transported this year, and the stallion Galvan with four mares from the Hungarian Hortobágy National Park remain in the acclimatization pens in the Golden Steppe.

A captivating sight – the first herd of Przewalski’s horses runs through the landscape where their ancestors became extinct hundreds of years ago. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The UN Tourism Executive Council had its 123^rd meeting. The Council assessed progress made around the priorities of innovation, investments, and education.

At that meeting, the Council nominated Shaika Al Nowais as the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism from 2026.

Upon confirmation by the UN Tourism General Assembly, Ms. Shaika Al Nowais will become the first woman to hold this position.

You can read more : https://www.unwto.org/news/shaikha-al-nowais-nominated-as-first-woman-secretary-general-of-un-tourism-as-executive-council-builds-on-strong-legacy?utm_source=news&utm_medium=crm

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

On June 3rd, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský awarded the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy to sixteen people and institutions who have made a significant contribution to Czech diplomacy and foreign relations. Danny Bate was present at the ceremony, and spoke to two of the honourees.

At a resplendent ceremony at the Czernin Palace, sixteen individuals and representatives of organisations shook hands with Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and received the ministry’s Medals for Merit in Diplomacy for this year.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Tereza Preisová, ČTK

On Tuesday, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife, Máxima, arrive in Prague. One of the highlights of the first-ever state visit of a Dutch monarch to Czechia will be the christening of a unique bell cast in the Netherlands for the Church of the Most Holy Salvator. Remarkably, the bell was made using metal from Russian munitions used in the war against Ukraine.

“This bell has a lot of symbolism in it and it’s a very special project for us,” says owner Joost Eijsbouts at the Royal Eijsbouts bell shop in Asten, the Netherlands, after gently striking the bell standing on its pedestal on the ground with a mallet.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Filip Nerad

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, listeners are guided through SAPA—Prague’s sprawling Vietnamese market complex in the district of Libuš. It’s a unique space where commerce meets culture, offering everything from street food and household goods to legal services and community events. Far from Prague’s tourist hotspots, SAPA reveals a vibrant side of the city that many have never seen.

If there’s one place in Prague that truly lives up to the idea of being off the beaten track, it’s SAPA.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

This Sunday marks exactly twenty years since the opening of the first baby box in Czechia — a place where mothers can anonymously leave their babies to be cared for and adopted. Today, there are 88 baby boxes across the country, and so far, 277 children have been safely placed in them.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Ema from Prague, a lively girl with curly hair and big black eyes, is one of the nearly 280 children who have been anonymously given up by their parents in a baby box.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Petra Ševců, Radio Prague International

The sculptor Václav Lemon has been working on Olomouc’s central square to recreate a famous Baroque depiction of the Holy Trinity, only this time not out of sandstone, but out of sand!

Olomouc’s Holy Trinity Column is an icon of the city, having stood proudly on Upper Square (Horní náměstí) since the eighteenth century.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

A month before its opening, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival organizers have unveiled the official line-up for this year’s 59th edition. Two Czech films—Broken Voices and Better to Go Mad in the Wilderness—will compete in the festival’s main competition. Another Czech title, On the Other Side of Summer, will appear in the Proxima section.

Broken Voices (Sbormistr in Czech), directed by Ondřej Provazník, stars actor Juraj Loj as a choirmaster whose character is loosely inspired by Bohumil Kulínský—the once-celebrated conductor of the Bambini di Praga choir, who was later convicted of sexually abusing underage girls in 2009.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

The monumental bridge, which once elevated the railway above Karlín and the Vltava River, is not only one of the most significant engineering feats of its time but also a symbol of progress and engineering ingenuity.

When completed on June 1, 1850, its length of 1,111 meters was unparalleled in Europe.

See more here.

Illustrative photo: StockSnap, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Between 1990 and 2010, about 2.3 million Czechs were born. Often categorized as younger Millennials or older Gen Z, they came of age in a free country—but not an easy world. From the explosion of social media to pandemics and wars nearby, they’re facing challenges few generations before them could imagine.

One of the most prominent voices of this generation is Karel Kovář, better known as Kovy.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Miroslav Tomeš, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

They are veterans from the 1970’s and because of their characteristic front windows resembling glasses, they were nicknamed “Brejlovec”. They may be old-fashioned, but these diesel engines are not ready to retire. Czech Railways has announced it is giving them a new lease on life.

Czechia is investing millions of crowns into high-speed rail lines that will enable modern trains to travel at higher speeds across the country in the years to come.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Archive of Matt Welch

Matt Welch was among the first wave of young Westerners who flooded into Prague in the early 1990s. Today a prominent journalist and commentator in his native US, back then he was one of the founders of Prognosis, Czechoslovakia’s first English-language newspaper. And Welch shared lots of colourful recollections of that formative period of his life from his study in New York.

What brought you to Prague in the first place in 1990?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Roman Vondrouš, ČTK

Every year Prague hosts the largest Romani festival in the world. This year’s 27th edition brought not only concerts of Romani music, but also theatrical performances and the Czech premiere of a documentary film about one of the most iconic figures in film history: Charlie Chaplin.

See more here.

Photo: Abaca Press / Profimedia

Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala extended congratulatory wishes to Karol Nawrocki on his victory in Poland’s presidential election. Pavel expressed optimism that Poland would uphold democratic principles and maintain its pro-Western orientation under Nawrocki’s leadership.

“I congratulate Karol Nawrocki on being elected President of Poland.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

Comedian Mark Watson, a household name in the UK, was a star act at this year’s edition of the Prague Fringe. Having previously appeared on British shows like Taskmaster and Would I Lie to You?, his three performances at Malá Strana’s Metro Comedy Club brought Mark and his distinct style of stand-up to Czechia for the first time. Ahead of the second night on May 30th, Danny Bate met up with Mark to hear his impressions of Prague and to discuss what it’s like to perform comedy in another country.

Is this your first time in Prague?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Illustrative photo: Czech Radio

To celebrate International Children’s Day, traditionally observed on June 1st, this edition of Sunday Music Show highlights Czech children’s songs across a range of styles—from folk and jazz to rock and playful “baby punk.” While originally created with young listeners in mind, these songs often carry a charm and creativity that appeal far beyond childhood.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jiří Šeda, Czech Radio

Czech Radio station Plus hosted the Truth in Motion conference, focusing on the quality of information and the role of the media. Among the speakers was Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

“The European Union alone cannot compel Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire.

See more here.

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan

 H.E. Mr. Yashar ALIYEV, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, hosted a reception at the Hilton Hotel in Prague.

Mr. Jan Marian – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic- was the honored speaker.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Yashar ALIYEV, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan,  and Mr. Jan Marian, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Happy Independence Day Republic of Azerbaijan

Azərbaycan Respublikasının Müstəqillik Günü mübarək

On the occasion of the National Day, Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Croatia, and 1100 Years from the first Croatian King Tomislav,  the Ambassador of Croatia, H.E. Mrs. Ljiljana Pancirov, and the Defense Attache Col. Zdravko Barbaric host a reception and presentation of the tourism in the region is Central Dalmatia at the historic New Town Hall in Prague.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mrs. Ljiljana Pancirov – Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Josko Stella from the tourism in the region is Central Dalmatia, and the beautiful cultural program.

Happy National Day, Croatia

Sretan Dan državnosti, Hrvatska

Cobra is the traditional and largest Czech supplier of door hardware, established by Corner Boda 35 years ago.

The company is a family-owned business managed by Corner Boda and his daughter, Kristina.

We can open any door. And any window. We can decorate the interior of your apartment and secure the doors of your house, it’s their way of life.

Read the interview with Cornel and Kristina Boda, published in our printing magazine – https://www.czechleaders.com/interviews/cornel-kristina-boda/

We wish you continued success in the years to come.

Bongs in a picture taken in the breeding and Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy rescue station. Through it, Prague Zoo supports the program for the reintroduction of bongs into the wild, specifically by financing the planting of forest cover, to which this species is strictly tied. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The upcoming weekend at Prague Zoo will belong to one of the rarest mammals in the world and to child visitors. On Saturday, World Bongo Day will be celebrated, when people will get to know these critically endangered antelopes, which Prague Zoo also protects in their home country of Kenya. On Sunday, on Children’s Day, all children under 15 years of age will have one crown of admission to the Prague Zoo, while the program will be traditionally provided by the Prague City Police. In addition, with the arrival of June, commented feedings and meetings with the animals will begin to take place every day – their schedule will be available in the Prague Zoo mobile application.

“Mountain bongos are beautiful but critically endangered antelopes: only a few dozen of them survive in the forests of the Aberdare region in Kenya. The hope for saving this subspecies is to strengthen the wild population with individuals raised in human care, which, however, must be accompanied by efforts to preserve or restore their natural environment. Thanks to the initiative of breeder Lucie Křížová and her colleagues, Prague Zoo is also involved in this,” says Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek. On the last Saturday in May, visitors can expect two commented bongo feedings at 11:00 and 13:30. In addition, they will be able to meet long-time bongo breeder Lucie Křížová during special meetings at 10:00 and 12:00 at their enclosure next to the Hippo Pavilion. Prague Zoo is now home to four bongos – eight-year-old females Daphne and Rayli, a young female Mimi Pipi born in 2023, and an almost three-year-old male Mau.

Mountain bongs are the rarest of the forest antelopes due to habitat loss, poaching and disease. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

***

Anyone can support the protection of mountain bongos in Kenya through the Prague Zoo collection account. We help them survive. For example, by transferring any amount to the account 43–680 466 0247/0100 or by purchasing souvenirs at the Prague Zoo e-shop in the section called We help them survive. Last but not least, visit Prague Zoo.

***

On the first Sunday in June, when all children under 15 years of age will have admission to the Prague Zoo for a symbolic one crown, there will be a varied program in the area directed by the Prague Municipal Police. Children will enjoy a bouncy castle, a traffic school, face painting or artists on stilts. Adults can look forward to live music performed by the Dixie Band of the Municipal Police at the Educational Center. The full program is attached below.

Children’s Day with the Municipal Police of the capital. Prague, 9:00–18:00

• Stilts Kašpar and Klaudie (main entrance and its surroundings)
• Bungee running (Children’s Zoo, meadow behind the children’s tram ticket office)
• Children’s traffic school (Children’s Zoo, behind Virtual Reality)
• Photo corner (Archa Theatre)
• Airbrush tattooing (Children’s Zoo, benches next to the snowman)
• Face painting (Children’s Zoo, by the children’s tram)
• Sack jumping (Children’s Zoo, by the Hanuman panel)
• Target shooting (Children’s Zoo)
• Bouncy castle (Veselovský meadow)
• Monkey track (Veselovský meadow)
• Regular performances by the Dixie Band of the Municipal Police (terrace of the Educational Centre)
• Giving out gifts (terrace of the Educational Centre)

Long-time bong keeper at Prague Zoo Lucie Křížová will tell visitors about her charges right at their enclosure on Saturday – first at 10 a.m. and then again at noon. Photo Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

Award-winning organization Memorial finds asylum in the residence of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies for its human rights, research, and educational activities

The human rights and educational organization Memorial, after being banned from operating in the Russian Federation, has found refuge in the Prague residence of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. From there, members of the organization have continued their professional work and research activities since 2022. These are focused both on mapping the crimes of the Soviet regime and on their current interpretation. Among other things, researchers have organized dozens of workshops and countless working meetings in the villa. They were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

The internationally recognized historical, educational and human rights organization Memorial has been operating in the villa of the Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies since 2022. Memorial has long been professionally focused on researching the Soviet repressive system and its contemporary reflections. It was banned by the Russian authorities for its activities, and its members faced persecution, bullying, and harsh treatment in their homeland.

“Memorial researchers systematically contribute to shedding light on the darkest chapters of the Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation. Their efforts were even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. It is therefore not surprising that they have long been in the crosshairs of Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial regime for their research and civic activities. I am glad that the villa, which I do not live in myself, was put to meaningful use and could serve a good purpose,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

For the past two and a half years, up to eight members of the organization have been working in the building of the First Republic functionalist villa from the 1930s on Ladronka in Prague.

“Thanks to the “asylum” provided, Memorial was able to continue its activities and projects, which were forcibly interrupted by the forced judicial liquidation of the organization’s largest branches in Russia and the emigration of many key collaborators. Some of those who had to leave Russia due to the threat of criminal prosecution found long-term refuge in the parliamentary villa – for example, the director of the Memorial library Boris Belenkin or the archivist and historian Irina Ostrovská. They were thus able to smoothly continue their previous activities, continue to expand the Memorial collection with other books, documents or objects, and record further interviews with eyewitnesses – victims of Soviet repressions. Dozens of workshops and working meetings were held in the Prague villa with colleagues from many other Memorial branches who had to leave Russia or continued their work there in difficult conditions. At these meetings, further interconnection of electronic archives and databases, school projects, etc. were agreed upon. Dozens of researchers and activists found temporary residence in the house at Ladronka as part of “The special scholarship program that Memorial announced for its collaborators to maintain its activities. Thanks to the gesture of Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Prague has become, alongside Berlin or Paris, the main support in preserving the important work of Memorial, which works in a unique way with the memory of Soviet repression and also monitors the current enormous human rights violations in Russia and the situation with the growing number of political prisoners,” added Štěpán Černoušek, Chairman of the Memorial Czech Republic.

The period of use of the premises was initially agreed with the management of the Chamber of Deputies for six months. Taking into account the mutual interest, it was then repeatedly extended after its expiration. The Memorial organization undertook to cover the costs of using the facility, which was provided to them free of charge.

Photo: APF Czech Radio

It’s been nearly 60 years since Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia. But as investigative journalist Jaroslav Spurný argues in his new book, “Vrbětice: The Attack that Changed the Czech Republic”, Russia’s security services never truly left. Their tactics evolved—from military occupation to covert sabotage, money laundering, and disinformation campaigns. And Czech politicians, knowingly or not, often helped make it possible.

In the early hours of August 21, 1968, the people of Czechoslovakia woke to the rumble of tanks.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

A new mural has just been completed on a building along Milady Horákové Street in Prague’s Holešovice district, near Štrossmayer Square. Created by the masked street artist Toy Box, the large-scale work pays tribute to Milada Horáková, the democratic politician executed in a communist show trial in 1950. Featuring a fragmented portrait and a quote from Horáková’s final letter to her daughter, the mural was finished earlier this week.

We are standing here at the bottom of Milady Horákové Street, in front of your stunning new mural—who was the driving force behind this project?.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

After years of debate and determined civic effort, Czechia has finally adopted postal voting for its citizens living abroad. For many, it’s not just a logistical reform, but a powerful act of recognition. In this episode of Czechast, we speak with those who helped make it happen—and those who will now benefit from the change. It’s a story of activism, identity, and democratic belonging.

In the latest episode of Czechast, Radio Prague International speaks to three people closely connected to this achievement: Julie O’Donovan, Marta McCabe, and political scientist Petr Just.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

The Museum of Literature in Prague is hosting a powerful new exhibition—centred around a remarkable item on loan from London. At its heart is a rare English edition of Karel Čapek’s Letters from England, signed and dedicated in the autumn of 1941 by twenty Czechoslovak parachute trainees in the UK. Among them was Jan Kubiš, one of the men who would later carry out the assassination of Nazi official Reinhard Heydrich.

The exhibition at the Museum of Literature began on Tuesday, May 27, at exactly 10:31 a.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Children and teenagers in Czechia are increasingly turning to violence as a way to express themselves, according to the Interior Ministry’s annual report on extremism for 2024.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Archive of Veronika Novotná

Depression, loneliness, and suicide rates continue to increase. According to some data, in 2021, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 29. As a result, some UN Youth Delegates have called on the UN and other world leaders to make mental health one of their top priorities in the coming years, and perhaps, decades. One of them is Czech UN Youth Delegate Veronika Novotná, who outlined the document she co-wrote that focuses on this salient issue.

So, the Global Youth Call to Action on Mental Health.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Miloš Skácel, Prague Coffee Festival

Filtruj! 2025 is a sister event to Prague Coffee Festival, that functions as another opportunity for coffee enthusiasts in Prague, and for those visiting the city, to celebrate the country’s coffee culture. This year’s Filtruj! festival was held at the scenic National Library of the Czech Republic in Klementinum on May 24. Due to my fondness for great coffee, I went there to speak to its head coordinator Tereza Vybíralová.

First, let’s talk about some of the inspirations behind this year’s coffee festival, Filtruj.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Sixteen EU countries, among them Czechia, have expressed deep concern over Hungary’s recent laws targeting the LGBT+ community.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

On May 27th, the ‘Day of Czech’ (Den češtiny) is serving up a multi-genre programme of linguistic events, designed to inform Czech speakers about their language and help them to look at it with new eyes. Aimed in the morning at school groups, and later on the general public, the Day of Czech is being held in Prague’s Kampus Hybernská, where Danny Bate met with one of the team behind the event, Dr. Ondřej Dufek.

Who are the organisers of the Day of Czech?.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: X / Jan Lipavský

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the National Development Day for the second time. The public was invited to the gardens of the Czernin Palace on Friday, where information stands and key players provided information about the government’s development policy projects and humanitarian aid. Along with this, Africa Day was held on the premises of the Foreign Ministry, where diplomats, investors, and NGOs discussed development policy.

Africa is a geopolitical player of constantly growing importance, as stated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský at the start of Africa Day.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Daniela Honigmann

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Tyrš House celebrated 100 years since its reconstruction and reopening as the Prague headquarters of the Czech Sokol community in 1925. To mark the occasion, the organisation christened a colourful mural by artist Michal Škapa.

Tyrš House, previously known as the Michna Palace, is an iconic sight of Prague’s Malá Strana district.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Dr. Tomáš Páleníček is a leading Czech proponent of the use of psychedelics in certain kinds of psychiatric treatment. The psychiatrist and several colleagues recently appeared in a documentary named Doctor on a Trip that followed them to the Amazon rainforest, where they mapped brain activity during ceremonies centred on ayahuasca, a traditional hallucinogenic drink. I spoke to Páleníček at our Prague studios.

The recent Czech documentary Doctor on a Trip [directed by David Čálek] shows you and your team going to the Amazon fainforest and conducting tests with ayahuasca.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Jan Brychta, ČTK

Junior world cyclo-cross vice-champion Barbora Bukovská defeated her rivals by a huge margin of 1 minute and 22 seconds in a spectacular race at the Vysočina Arena. Cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing that combines cycling and running, since the terrains force riders to dismount and carry their bicycles over some distances.

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Photo: Petr Vidomus, Czech Radio

Czech guitarist and composer David Dorůžka and Polish pianist Piotr Wyleżoł – two leading names on the Central European jazz scene – have teamed up for a new album titled When the Child Was a Child. Officially launched this week at JazzFestBrno, the record takes its name from Wim Wenders’ film Wings of Desire and offers an acoustic journey drawing on both jazz and folk traditions.

The David Dorůžka & Piotr Wyleżoł Quartet is rounded out by double bassist Michał Barański and drummer Michał Miśkiewicz.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková