Photo: Wojtek Jargilo, ČTK/PAP
Czech leaders have strongly condemned Russia’s drone incursion into Polish territory, which they view as clear evidence of Russia’s mounting aggression. At its session on Wednesday, the Czech cabinet expressed solidarity with Poland and readiness to help protect Europe’s borders against further Russian provocations.
“This incident clearly confirms how deeply the escalating Russian aggression affects us.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Czechia’s population shrank by 27,200 in the first half of this year, dropping to 10.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio
The ferry lines across the Vltava are a fairly inconspicuous but charming part of the city’s Integrated Transport System. For tourists they offer a glimpse of the city from a different perspective, for local residents quick connections between districts.
Ferries have been part of life on the Vltava for centuries.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Plzeňský Prazdroj
At Pilsner Brewery, new coopers are initiated with a symbolic slap or a strike on a handcrafted barrel. After three years of training, they join the eight-member cooperage team. The ceremony takes place during the traditional tarring of oak barrels, which disinfects them and helps preserve the beer’s flavor.
The coopers heated the barrel to help the pitch adhere better.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Lukáš Milota
Photo: Michal Kamaryt, ČTK
After borders opened in the early 1990s, churches in remote parts of Czechia became frequent targets of art-theft. Valuable statues and paintings were stolen, often ending up with resellers or in foreign auction houses. Now, decades later, some of these treasures are making their way back, among them the long-lost Baroque statue of Saint Ludmila, which was handed over to the authorities in Prague last week.
The wooden statue of Saint Ludmila was stolen in 1994 from the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the village of Schořov near Kutná Hora.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Ondřej Deml, ČTK
Hundreds of fans waited overnight in Prague for the release of Dan Brown’s new novel The Secret of All Secrets, a story that is partly set in the Czech capital.
By Tuesday morning, a long line had wound its way outside the Old Town Hall, with some readers waiting up to twelve hours to be among the first to buy a copy.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Kosmas 900 / Czech National Library
This year Czechs are marking 900 years since the death of the country’s most famous chronicler Cosmas, author of Chronica Boemorum or Chronicle of the Bohemians, the first known documentation of Czech history. Many town halls are hoping that the celebration of his legacy could raise interest in a job no one wants.
The National Library and Prague City Tourism are commemorating Cosmas’ life and work with a wide variety of events.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Jan Schejbal, Czech Defence Ministry
A memorial dedicated to Czech pilot František Hekl was unveiled on Sunday at Loch Doon in Scotland. During the Second World War, he served with the 312th Czechoslovak Squadron of the British Royal Air Force (RAF). In October 1941, during a training flight, his plane crashed into the lake, and he did not survive the accident. He was 26 years old.
Despite the rainy weather, over 100 people attended the unveiling of the memorial at Loch Doon.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Jaromír Marek
Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK
British star Robbie Williams pulled all the stops for fans in Prague on Sunday. “An evening packed with hits, stand-up and charismatic energy” is how the local press described the spectacular show in the sold-out O2 Arena. It was the singer’s fourth concert in the Czech capital following appearances in 2003, 2014 and 2017.
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Source: Supraphon
In this edition of our Sunday Music show, we explore Petr Novák, the Czech Romantic of the Rock Era. Petr Novák (1945–1997) was one of the most distinctive voices of Czech popular music in the 1960s and 1970s. Although his name is not widely known beyond the country’s borders, he remains an icon in Czechia; his songs still play on the radio and resonate with new generations of listeners.
At a time when rock ’n’ roll ruled the world, a local version called bigbeat was emerging in then Czechoslovakia.
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Photo: David Macháček, Czech Radio
The Great Balloon Fiesta in Hradec Králové has set a new Czech record in the number of ballons taking to the skies simultanously. The event has attraced many foreign crews.
Hot-air balloons have been filling the skies over Hradec Králové and its wider surroundings these days.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Trigema
The Prague skyline will soon get an imposing new feature. Top Tower, with its shipwreck sculpture is slated to become the tallest building in Czechia.
Construction of the post-apocalyptic ‘shipwreck’ tower was approved by the Prague building authorities this week.
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Author: Fred Byrne
Photo: Temudjin, Pixabay, Pixabay License
After more than six years, people in Czechia will once again have the chance to see a total lunar eclipse. On the evening of September 7, the Moon will rise already in full eclipse, glowing deep red, low above the horizon. To better understand how it happens and what to expect, I spoke with astronomer Jan Veselý from Prague Planetarium.
To begin with, could you explain in simple terms how a lunar eclipse actually happens?.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Daniela Lazarová, Radio Prague International
The exhibition “UNICEF in the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic in UNICEF”, which officially opened on Prague’s Jungmann Square on Thursday, invites visitors to explore Czechia’s role in this global humanitarian organization. From the very first UNICEF postcard born in South Bohemia to present-day projects changing children’s lives worldwide. I spoke to Pavla Gomba, Executive Director of UNICEF Czech Republic, about the main message behind the exhibition.
“This exhibition has multiple objectives.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Josef Kopecký, Czech Radio
The Puppet Museum in Chrudim, East Bohemia, has received a remarkable gift: a collection of tin toys created over four decades by Czech stage designer and artist Jan Červenka. The priceless works travelled more than 31,000 kilometres from Sydney, spending 55 days at sea before arriving at their new home.
The collection includes hand-crafted boats, cars, train stations, and castles, all meticulously made from painted tin.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
H.E. Mr. Raveesh Kumar, the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Czech Republic, hosted a reception, celebrating the 1st anniversary of the Indian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Forum (IPEF). The event took place on the M/S Natal boat, cruising the beautiful Vltava River.
The honoured speakers were: President of the Senate, Mr. Miloš Vystrčil, Mr. David Müller, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, and Mr. Jan Michal, CEO, CzechInvest.
Networking and Dinner followed the ceremony.
Watch the Video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Raveesh Kumar, the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Czech Republic, Mr. Miloš Vystrčil – President of the Senate, Mr. David Müller, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, and Mr. Jan Michal, CEO, CzechInvest. and highlights from the culture program.
Watch the video till the end, a very nice surprise is waiting for you.
The Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic, together with Hainan Airlines and Prague Airport, jointly hosts the “Hello! China” Tourism Promotion Event and the First Anniversary Celebration of Hainan Airlines’ Beijing to Prague Direct Flight.
H.E. Mr. Biao FENG, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Czech Republic, greets the audience.
The other speakers were: Mr. Jiri Vyskoc – Executive Director, Aviation Business Development at Prague Airport, Mr. Li Xinze – the local manager of Hainan Airlines, Ms. Hong HAO, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Prague, and Mr. Tal Aleshkovsky – International Department of Hainan Airlines.
Watch the Video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Biao FENG, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Czech Republic, Mr. Jiri Vyskoc – Executive Director, Aviation Business Development at Prague Airport, Mr. Li Xinze – the local manager of Hainan Airlines, and the presentation of Ms. Hong HAO, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Prague, and Mr. Tal Aleshkovsky – International Department of Hainan Airlines, and highlights from the cultural program.
By M a Cristina Paule-Mercado and Patricia Marie
The Filipino community in Prague and across the Czech Republic warmly invites everyone to Filipínská Barrio Fiesta 2025, a vibrant celebration of Filipino heritage, community spirit, and cross-cultural friendship. The event will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10:00 to 20:00 at the scenic Hostivarská prehrada in Prague.
With the beginning of the school year, the nationwide campaign “It Takes Courage” symbolically starts, which is focused on open communication about mental health. It will last until October 10, when the world commemorates International Mental Health Day.
The event is supported by the Flaminia Foundation under the expert supervision of the organization Nevypusť duši and in cooperation with the Office of the President of the Republic. The ambassadors of the campaign are the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, and his wife Eva Pavlová.
“The beginning of the school year is a time full of expectations, but also of fears and uncertainties for many people. Remember that not everything always goes smoothly. And if you ever don’t know what to do, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s not a shame, but rather a sign of maturity and courage,” said President Petr Pavel.
The campaign was also supported by a number of well-known personalities: actress and singer Barbora Poláková, actor and singer Jan Cina, Olympic snowboard cross champion Eva Adamczyková and her husband, actor Marek Adamczyk, actress Anna Dvořáková, yogi Tereza Hodanová, and Olympic water slalom medalist Vavřinec Hradilek.
The main information pillar of the campaign is the Help Guide on the website www.tochceodvahu.cz, where people can find an overview of contacts for professional help across regions and topics.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bigaMAEd-o8&pp=ygUOVG8gY2hjZSBvZHZhaHU%3D
Photo: Bundesarchiv, R 165 Bild-244-64, CC-BY-SA 3.0
On August 31, 1940, Adolf Hitler received a document that would fundamentally influence the fate of the Czech nation. The plan, titled Endlösung der tschechischen Frage (The Final Solution to the Czech Question) represented a Nazi strategy for the gradual Germanization of the population of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Although it was not a plan for physical extermination like in the case of the Jewish population, its goal was to erase Czech identity and transform Czechs into obedient German citizens.
The Nazis believed that, due to centuries of coexistence with Germans, Czechs carried “suppressed German blood.
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Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International
Barbora Baronová runs Wo-men, an independent publishing house based in Prague. Since 2012 the company has brought out works by such names as photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková and dancer Miřenka Čechová – and earned many admirers for its striking designs. As Baronová explains, she literally puts everything she has into Wo-men, which is a true labour of love.
Your mother was a librarian.
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Author: Ian Willoughby
Photo: Blanka Mazalová, Czech Radio
Organ music lovers are flocking to the Moravian city of Olomouc for the 57th International Organ Festival, which opened on Monday. The annual event, now a well-established cultural highlight, honors the 340th birth anniversary of two towering figures of Baroque music: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.
The historic Church of St.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Illustrative photo: Arnulf Hettrich/imago stock&people, Profimedia
The Prague suburbs could be connected by a new mode of transport: a train-tram. Several proposals have already been made to introduce it in various Czech regions. Now, the Central Bohemian Region is seriously considering this and aims to push through a change in the law for this purpose.
Tomáš Javořík, a railway transport expert from the Czech Technical University in Prague, described the train-trams to Czech Radio:.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: © Hubertl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The University of Vienna is marking a remarkable milestone this year: 250 years since Czech was first taught there. In fact, Czech was introduced as a field of study in Vienna 18 years earlier than at any Czech University.
It was in 1775 when Josef Valentin Zlobicki, an Austrian lawyer, translator into Czech and linguist, was appointed as the world’s first university professor of Czech language and literature.
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Author: Libor Kukal, Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Jiří Matějů, Czech Radio
Martin Kratochvíl and Milan Svoboda – two legends of the Czech jazz scene – have come together for the first time to create a joint album. Kratochvíl is renowned for his pioneering fusion jazz, while Svoboda is celebrated for his modern big band sound. The result is Oxymoron – and you can hear it now in this edition of Sunday Music Show.
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Photo: Václav Pancer, ČTK
Czech Railways set a new record for passenger services on Sunday. A Pendolino tilting train reached 200 km/h on the Prague–České Budějovice line, the first time a passenger tain has been allowed to break the long-standing 160 km/h limit.
Train travel enthusiasts bought their tickets for Sunday’s highly-publicized train ride weeks in advance.
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Illustrative photo: Vetler, Pixabay, Pixabay License
The highly aggressive disease myxomatosis has been confirmed in hares in the Znojmo region of southern Moravia. These are the first confirmed cases in hares in Czechia, though the virus has previously been found in rabbits. Veterinarians warn it poses a serious threat to local hare populations.
Typical symptoms of myxomatosis include swelling of the head, severe inflammation of the limbs or genitals, and reddened brownish eyelids.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Luděk Peřina, ČTK
Giant model aircraft took to the skies over Olomouc. Dozens of model enthusiasts showcased their planes at the Olomouc airport in Neředín during the international Extreme Flight Championships. The models, weighing around twenty kilograms each, performed extreme aerobatic maneuvers that would be difficult to execute with real aircraft.
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Photo: Alexis Rosenzweig, Radio Prague International
The award-winning documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin is the result of a unique collaboration between American director David Borenstein and Russian teacher Pavel Talankin. Filmed secretly in Russia, it portrays how state propaganda shapes the lives of children. In an interview with Radio Prague International’s Alexis Rosenzweig, Borenstein recalls the risks, the Czech role in the production, and the impact the film has had both abroad and within Russia.
When director David Borenstein first began working on Mr.
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Author: Alexis Rosenzweig, Vít Pohanka
Photo: Petr Kotyk, Památník národního písemnictví
The Czech Museum of Literature has announced a remarkable discovery. Literary scholars have uncovered a large part of the original manuscripts of Jaroslav Hašek’s world-famous novel The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War.
The texts, which Jaroslav Hašek wrote or dictated until his death in 1923, resurfaced during the cataloguing of materials belonging to his longtime publisher, Adolf Synek.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Klára Hlubocká, Česká ornitologická společnost
The number of poisoned wild animals in the Czech Republic has risen sharply this year, with conservationists warning of one of the worst waves of illegal killings in recent memory. According to the Czech Society for Ornithology, 55 poisoned birds have been found since January, already surpassing last year’s total. Over a dozen more were shot, trapped, or had their nests deliberately destroyed.
Among the victims are many birds of prey, including some of the country’s rarest and most protected species, such as white-tailed eagles, red kites, and the critically endangered eastern imperial eagle.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Josef Kopecký, Czech Radio
The Puppet Museum in Chrudim, East Bohemia, has received a remarkable gift: a collection of tin toys created over four decades by Czech stage designer and artist Jan Červenka. The priceless works travelled more than 31,000 kilometres from Sydney, spending 55 days at sea before arriving at their new home.
The collection includes hand-crafted boats, cars, train stations, and castles, all meticulously made from painted tin.
See more here.
Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz
The Czech Republic is catching up on its obligations to soldiers, police officers and diplomats who served on dangerous foreign missions. An amendment to the War Veterans Act, which took effect on September 3, will give them more benefits and greater moral recognition.
Markéta Burgetová helps care for her brother, a former special forces soldier, who underwent brain surgery in 2023 and is unable to walk.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, H.E. Mr. Vasyl Zvarych, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Ms. Viktoria Zvarych, and Mr. Petr Krogmann, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Ukrainian–Czech Chamber of Commerce, hosted a reception at the beautiful Villa Richter in Prague.
The Honoured speakers were :
Gen. Karel Rehka – the Chief of the General Staff of the Military of the Czech Republic.
Mr. Vaclav Vydra – Actor, representing the project “drones for Ukraine”
Mr. Dodo Dobrik – Endowment fund “A gift for Putin”
Ms. Konashchuk Kateryna – founder of the Farmerhood and Grain Ukraine Foundation
Mr. Ondrej Vetchy – Actor, group “ Drony Nemesis”
Mr. Martin Kroupa – Post Bellum Ukraine
Watch the Video with highlights from the event and the speeches of H.E. Mr. Vasyl Zvarych, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Gen. Karel Rehka, the Chief of the General Staff of the Military of the Czech Republic, and the other honored speakers.
On the occasion of the Victory Day, H.E. Mr. Metin Feyzioglu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Birgul Feyzioglu, and Colonel Emrullah Altay Ayhan, the Military, Naval, and Air Attaché, and Mrs. Ozlem Ayhan hosted a reception at the beautiful Embassy garden.
Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Metin Feyzioglu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic, and Colonel Emrullah Altay Ayhan, the Military, Naval, and Air Attaché.
Happy Victory Day, Türkiye – Zafer Bayramınız Kutlu Olsun, Türkiye
On Monday, August 18, 2025, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary:
photo: Tomas Fongus
The Václav Havel Library has announced this year’s finalists for its Human Rights Prize: Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, Maksym Butkevych from Ukraine, and Ulvi Hasanli from Azerbaijan. The winner will be announced on 29 September during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session in Strasbourg.
The three journalists have all faced severe repression. While Amaglobeli was jailed for exposing the violent suppression of anti-government protests, Butkevych joined Ukraine’s forces after Russia’s 2022 invasion, was captured, sentenced to 13 years, and released in a prisoner swap in October 2024.
Hasanli has endured detention, torture, and politically motivated charges; in June he was sentenced to nine years and is now on hunger strike in isolation.
Illustrative photo: StockSnap, Pixabay, Pixabay License
Led by Denmark, several EU countries have proposed monitoring online communication to combat child abuse. The so-called “Chat Control” would allow surveillance of private emails and social media messages. The proposal lacks majority support in the EU and faces strong criticism from some EU member states, including Czechia.
A contentious proposal from the European Union, often referred to as “Chat Control,” is gaining renewed support, with 19 of the 27 EU member states reportedly in favor.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Illustrative photo: Romana Kostohryzová, Czech Radio
An illegal menagerie, with many big cats, has been operating for years in Kletečná near Humpolec in the Vysočina Region. The authorities have long lacked an alternative home for the animals, but a breakthrough in the problem came after a meeting of government leaders on Wednesday.
At a site in Kletečná, near the town of Humpolec, big cats have been kept illegally for years and in unsuitable conditions.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Michaela Danelová, iROZHLAS.cz
Prague’s historic Nerudova street, the steep cobbled artery leading up to Prague Castle, has become the testing ground for a clampdown on electric scooters. Prague 1 has just introduced the first official ban on e-scooters in the capital, along the entire length of the street, citing repeated accidents and growing frustration among local residents.
The long-standing battle over the fate of e-scooters in the Czech capital remains unresolved after the Prague City Council rejected a motion to ban shared e-scooters in June of this year.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Monika Vlčková, Zoo Ostrava
Ostrava Zoo is home to over 6,000 animals from 451 species. Around one-third of these species are classified as threatened and seven are already extinct in the wild. The zoo not only helps to protect them in their natural environment, but breeds endangered birds and animals that are returned to the wild.
The early beginnings of Ostrava Zoo date back to the 1950s, but it was decades before the humble project developed into the modern zoological garden that it has become today.
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Author: Libor Kukal, Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Anton Kajmakov, Radio Prague International
For this week’s Sunday Music Show, we’re shining a spotlight on the musical output of Ostrava. The Silesian city is best known in terms of music for the Colours of Ostrava festival of pop and rock, but it also contributes to the artistic life of Czechia through Ostrava Days.
This celebrated music festival, organised by the Ostrava Centre for New Music and running since 2001, aims to champion “contemporary classical music, whether it be avant-garde, experimental, or otherwise challenging musical efforts”.
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Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International
Gorgeous views of Prague, gushing fountains and ornamental flower beds. Greenery and calm amid the hustle and bustle of the big city. Visit the most beautiful gardens and parks in Prague with us!
Read more here.
Photo: Michal Doležal, ČTK
Writer and translator Zdena Salivarová has died at the age of 91. Together with her husband, Josef Škvorecký, she wrote books and published exiled authors through their publishing house, 68 Publishers. In 1990, they were both awarded the Order of the White Lion for their contribution to Czech literature.
Although she became famous as a tireless supporter and publisher of Czech literature, Zdena Salivarová was also a talented singer and actress.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International
On Monday 25th, in the presence of the Czech Prime Minister and Ethiopian Minister of Tourism, the globally famous remains of the hominins Lucy and Selam were unveiled at Prague’s National Museum. The finders of the fossils were honoured guests at the ceremony, and Danny Bate from the RPI team was present too.
For sixty days, the Czech National Museum is inviting all Europe to its new ‘People and Their Ancestors’ exhibition, where it sets out the story of our evolution, from the first hominins to the Homo sapiens of today.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: David Taneček, ČTK
The TrutnOFF Open Air Festival attracted thousands of fans to Trutnov at the weekend. The long-running rock and alternative music festival with underground roots, often called the Czech Woodstock, traditionally features a diverse lineup featuring Czech and international bands across various genres, including hardcore, crossover, jazz, and swing. The late Czech president Vaclav Havel was a big fan. The festival opened with an open-air mass for peace in Palestine, Ukraine, and for life and freedom in the world.
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Photo: Archirun 2025
In its third year now, Archirun combines architecture and urban exploration in the heart of Prague, inviting participants to run or walk through some of the city’s most cherished locations. This year, the route also included several often-overlooked buildings. I spoke with Štěpán Bärtl, director of the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP), to find out how the event has evolved and what runners can look forward to in the future.
Let’s start with the inspiration behind Archirun.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: Jakub Čermák, Palacký University Olomouc
Kroměříž Chateau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Zlín Region, dazzles the country with its architecture and gardens – and now also with hundreds of amethysts, centuries old and recently discovered by accident by a researcher from Palacký University.
Kroměříž Chateau, the former residence of archbishops of Olomouc, is already a jewel of Moravia, but it has acquired further brilliance through the discovery of a cache of amethysts, violet-coloured stones built into its Baroque artificial caves.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Západočeská galerie v Plzni
Václav Špála was a painter whose bold use of color and deep love for the Czech landscape helped shape the face of modern art in central Europe. Although he remains relatively unknown abroad, he is considered one of the most important Czech artists of the 20th century.
Václav Špála was born on August 24, 1885, in a small village in Bohemia.
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Photo: Jaroslav Hoření, Czech Radio
The end of August will once again turn northern Bohemia into a showcase of Czech glassmaking. In the coming week the town of Liberec will host the fourth edition of Crystal Valley Week, a five-day festival dedicated to glass and glass jewellery, underlining the region’s historic role as the heart of Czech glass and jewellery production.
You won’t find it on the map, but it exists: Crystal Valley, a place where the Czech glassmaking tradition was born and has lived for centuries.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: YouTube
In July 2025, Yankele Gross (later known as Alex), an unknown Czechoslovak Holocaust survivor and Korean War veteran, died in the United States. He suffered through a death march and the camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
Yankele Gross was born on September 18th 1928, in Palanok, a suburb of Mukachevo in Transcarpathia, at that time part of Czechoslovakia.
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The contrasting chestnut fur with white stripes and spots helps mountain bongos hide in the dense undergrowth. The picture shows the newly born female cub Rayli. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo
The first male mountain bongo was born at Prague Zoo on August 6th, and then on August 18th; both can now be seen in the enclosure next to the hippopotamus pavilion. These are very rare additions, as the mountain bongo is considered the most beautiful, but also the rarest antelope: in the wild, only around thirty to forty individuals survive in the forests of the Aberdare National Park in central Kenya.
“The breeding of mountain bongos under human care is absolutely essential for their preservation in the wild,” explains Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek. “Individuals raised in zoos have laid the foundation for a population in central Kenya that is gradually getting used to life in the wild. And in the future, it is expected to be further strengthened from European breeding. I am extremely pleased that Prague Zoo is also supporting this project thanks to the activity of its breeders.”
The cubs are born the same color as their parents. They still have to wait for their long spiral horns. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo
The funds earned by Prague Zoo breeders through the organization of experience programs go, for example, to purchase camera traps, which are used to monitor individuals released into large enclosures, or to plant forests in places where the return of mountain bongos is expected in the future.
Prague Zoo has been breeding the rarest forest antelopes since 1988, and the newly born males are the 58th and 59th additions. Their mothers are Dafne and Rayli, Mau’s father.
“None of the females gave birth for the first time, but we still watched the births on cameras to be sure. Both took place without complications. Immediately after giving birth, the females began to dry their young by carefully licking them and guiding them to the udder. The young successfully stood up within an hour and drank colostrum,” describes Lucie Křížová, a long-time breeder of mountain bongos.
The older female cub Dafne curiously explores the enclosure. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo
Those interested can learn more about mountain bongos through unique experience programs. The program Jumping among the Antelopes will also take participants to the breeding grounds. The shorter program Feeding the Bongos runs daily from May to September.
Mountain bongo cubs are usually born weighing around twenty kilograms. Dafne’s cub even weighed four kilograms more. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo
The polar bears Gregor and Aleut usually enjoy the ice treat the most. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo
On Wednesday at Prague Zoo, polar bears, bison, and takinis will receive cooling enrichment. Several tons of ice served the animals not only to cool down but also as a fun way to diversify their day. Enrichment stimulates their natural behavior and physical and mental activity. Prague Zoo also offered refreshment to visitors at the Radegast statue.
New Zealand endemics – kea nesters, who are famous for their curiosity and intelligence, will also play with ice cubes tomorrow. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
On Wednesday, August 20, tons of ice cubes again filled the entire Prague Zoo area and delighted not only the animals, but also visitors. As early as nine o’clock, the high-altitude nesting parrots kea, polar bears Gregor and Aleut, and capybaras enjoyed the icy treat.
Ice will also be given to Indian tamarins, inhabitants of harsh mountain conditions from northern Tibet to central and southern China. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
This year, Prague Zoo has also given other species of animals new ice cubes. On hot days, they can now be used by, for example, moose, reindeer, elephants, and orangutans. People can also try a pleasant cooling off in the numerous ice cream cones. In addition, sweet refreshment is also prepared for them – ice cream can be purchased at more than ten places in the Prague Zoo area. The Gaston or Oceán restaurants also offer popsicles and crushed ice.
Map of the Prague Zoo area with marked locations. Source: Prague Zoo
Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International
On August 21st 1968, people woke to find that the hopeful era of the Prague Spring had ended, as tanks from Warsaw-Pact countries rolled into the Czechoslovak capital. At a solemn ceremony outside the Czech Radio building, political leaders, including President Pavel, laid wreaths in commemoration.
The period of reform and optimism known as the Prague Spring began in January 1968, with the election of reformist Alexander Dubček as First Secretary of the Communist Party.
See more here.
Author: Danny Bate
Photo: NeverMore 68
NeverMore 68 is a festival that commemorates the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968. Now in its fourth year, this year’s edition focuses on “The Foreign Perspective,” particularly how British international media, government officials, and civil society responded to the invasion. The exhibitions feature newly declassified documents, rare media coverage, and testimonies from abroad. I spoke with Barbora Šubrtová, the founder and main organizer of the event, about what else visitors can expect this year.
Tell me about this year’s NeverMore 68 event: the theme and what it’s about.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
The Czech government should not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine, the Senate’s foreign affairs committee said on Wednesday.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Illustrative photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio
The Ministry of Health is launching a pilot program this autumn that will enable people to receive flu vaccinations in selected pharmacies. The project is meant to test whether greater accessibility would increase public interest in vaccinations and whether the system could operate successfully nationwide.
The number of people in this country who get a flu shot is significantly lower than the EU average.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Štěpánka Kadlečková, Czech Radio
A series of presentations and workshops in traditional Slavic art in the USA are set to be led by two ladies from Hovorany, South Moravia. They are travelling as ambassadors of the Moravian Beauty foundation, which promotes folk traditions across the world.
Expats and art lovers in the United States are soon to get a personal visit from the traditional art of Moravia and Slovakia.
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Author: Danny Bate, Vlasta Gajdošíková
Photo: Czech Ministry of Defence
Interest in voluntary military service among Czechs is waning. Since its launch in summer 2023, sign-ups for the Ministry of Defense’s “list of volunteers” have dropped from nearly 230 in the first year to just 100 last year. Volunteers share health info and pledge to prioritize military exercises if security worsens.
An opportunity for people who are interested in defending Czechia but do not want to become professional soldiers and do not currently have time for training or joining the active reserves.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: Lucie Fürstová, Czech Radio
Liberec Zoo, established in 1904, is the oldest zoological garden in Czechia. Spanning 14 hectares, it houses over 170 animal species and plays a vital role in research, breeding, and conservation both locally and internationally. The zoo is especially known for its long-standing work with birds of prey. With the most experienced raptor team among Czech zoos, Liberec has become a key player in international efforts to protect endangered species.
Ruth Fraňková spoke with zoologist and bird specialist Jan Hanel about the zoo’s mission, the challenges of breeding large raptors, and the conservation successes that continue to drive their work.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Source: Action Network
The rapper Ye, who formerly went by the name Kanye West, may perform in Prague in the near future. However, a petition has been launched to protest against the potential performance, and Mayor of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda is likewise opposed to the idea of Prague hosting such an event.
In mid-July, the hip-hop festival Rubicon, planned to be held in the outskirts of Bratislava, was cancelled, shortly before it was due to begin.
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Author: Danny Bate
Illustrative photo: Shutterstock
Up to a quarter of children in Czechia are overweight or obese. As a result, pediatricians have begun regularly monitoring children with obesity. Their goal is to help these children and their families manage excess weight before it develops into more serious health issues.
Adam struggled with weight loss throughout his teenage years until, at 18, thanks to his strong will and support from the children’s health resort in Křetín, he finally began to lose weight.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: National Museum
On Friday 15th, the precious fossils of Lucy and Selam, 3.2 and 3.3 million years old respectively, landed at Prague Airport under strict security measures. They will be on display at the National Museum in Prague for two months, their first trip from Ethiopia to Europe.
Some of us wait a long time before visiting Prague for the first time, but 3 million years is surely an unbeatable record.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Josef Šorfa, Czech Radio
In the upcoming year, the Western-Bohemian city of Cheb will carry the prestigious title of European City of Sport. This was announced in an open letter from the non-profit organization ACES Europe (European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation), addressed to the town’s mayor, Jan Vrba (ANO).
At the end of July, an ACES Europe evaluation committee, led by the organization’s President Gian Francesco Lupatelli, visited Cheb.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: che, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
In this edition of our Sunday Music show, we explore decades of Čechomor, formerly the ‘Czechomoravian Music Society’, a group of ex-rock musicians who revitalized traditional Czech music with fresh energy.
Čechomor is a Czech band originating from Svitavy, known for performing traditional folk songs with a rock twist.
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Photo: archive of Czech Radio
In this summertime episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, I set aside our usual interviews. Instead, I read my own English translation of a short story written and published in the 1930s by Karel Čapek, arguably the most famous Czech writer. Playful yet thought-provoking, it shows that lamenting the “decline of times” is hardly a new phenomenon.
This episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, is a little different.
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Author: Vít Pohanka
Photo: The Museum of South East Moravia in Zlín
An exhibition, titled Then and Now, commemorates the travels of the iconic Czech traveller duo Hanzelka and Zikmund, known for their travels in the 1940s and 1950s. Czech Radio spoke to its curator Magdalena Preiningerová to find out more.
The exhibition of comparative photographs from the travels of Hanzelka and Zikmund and the Z101 Expedition shows what the world looked like Then and Now.
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio
In the winding streets of Prague’s Lesser Town visitors may notice dozens of historic buildings adorned by house signs – lions, golden goblets, violins, suns and many more. Many of these signs are older than the house numbers themselves and once served in their place.
Before Empress Maria Theresa introduced house numbering in the 18th century, the house signs in the Lesser Town below Prague Castle served a practical purpose: they helped people – and the postal service, which was already operating in the 16th century – to find the right address.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: CzechTourism
According to the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, just short of 30,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Czechia in the first quarter of 2025 – a year-to-year increase of roughly 39%. The surge is largely attributed to the successful TV reality show ‘Divas Hit the Road’, whose latest series is filmed entirely in Czechia.
Filming of ‘Divas Hit the Road: Bond of Hearts’ – the 7th series of the program – took place primarily in central Prague, featuring sights like the Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, or Prague Castle.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Aerofilms
On Monday 11th, it was announced that the Czech Film and Television Academy has selected a documentary, director Klára Tasovská’s ‘I’m Not Everything I Want to Be’, as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. The choice of a documentary is a first for the Czech academy.
The Czech Film and Television Academy have announced their candidate for the USA’s 98th Academy Awards (the Oscars), to be held in March 2026, specifically for the category of Best International Feature Film.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Letní Letná
Up on Letná Hill, overlooking the Vltava, the spectacular programme of this year’s Letní Letná international festival of new circus and theatre was inaugurated on August 13th. It runs until the end of the month. The festival attracts acts from across the world and thousands of visitors each year, who come to Letná Park for whole days full of fun, as the festival’s executive director, Ivana Pěkná Vrbíková, explained to Danny Bate.
For people who are not familiar with the Letní Letná Festival, could you introduce it for us? What would you say is the spirit of this festival?.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Iva Roháčková, iROZHLAS.cz
The most promising generation yet. Such is the conclusion of the Czech Athletics Federation following the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, where Czech athletes won a record-breaking number of medals. Following a dry spell, this unprecedented junior success signals a brighter future for Czech athletics.
The Junior European Athletics Championship in Tampere, Finland, finished on Sunday, and the post-tournament conclusions have been very favourable to the Czech delegation, which amassed its all-time best of nine medals.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International
In this episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, we visit Divoká Šárka—one of Prague’s wildest landscapes, filled with rocky cliffs, meadows, and forests. Just a short tram ride from the city centre, this nature reserve blends ancient history, dramatic scenery, and local legends. From swimming in spring-fed pools to hiking past medieval hillforts, it’s a perfect escape into nature without leaving Prague.
Divoká Šárka lies in Prague’s Liboc district, covering more than 250 hectares of gorges, meadows, and woodlands.
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Author: Vít Pohanka
Photo: Boglarka Bodnar, EPA / Profimedia
Two days after his outing at Sziget Festival in Hungary, world music star Post Malone took the stage at Prague’s Letňany on Tuesday. The lively showman famously dabbles in a variety of genres, from hip-hop and pop, to rock and country. The latter was top of the order, dominating both the stage design and a good part of the 25-record set list.
The American singer arrived to the third European stop of his ‘Big Ass’ stadium tour one day in advance, and was spotted around the centre of Prague by fans.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Česká Yoyo Asociace z.s.
After 11 years, the World Yo-Yo Contest returned to Czechia. At the Cubex Centre in Prague, close to 300 competitors contended in 8 categories for the most elusive titles in yo-yo. The annual event provided a blistering show, but little in the way of surprising results.
The sport of competitive yo-yo has enjoyed a growing worldwide popularity, no less so in Czechia.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Zoopark Chomutov
Chomutov Zoo is one of the youngest Czech zoos, but it can boast being the largest by area, stretching over 112 hectares. The zoo has over 1,000 animals of 161 breeds, 14 of them endangered species. Many of the animals can be viewed moving around freely in open spaces.
Chomutov Zoo, located on the outskirts of Chomutov, north of Prague, was officially established in 1975, but as many other zoos established in the regions, the foundations for it were laid much earlier, around 1932, when it started out as an entertainment park with animals.
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Author: Anton Kaimakov
Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International
In this Prague off the Beaten Track episode, we start at Prague’s busiest railway hub—Hlavní nádraží—but head somewhere unexpected. Just beyond the platforms lies the Žižkov Highline, a short walkway born from a temporary art project that’s now a functional shortcut between districts.
The journey begins in perhaps the most “on the beaten track” spot in Prague—its main railway station, Hlavní nádraží.
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Photo: Jiří Čondl, , Czech Radio
Authorities in Šumava National Park have launched an intensive search for several wolves believed to have escaped from their large natural enclosure at the Srní Visitor Centre. The centre has been temporarily closed and the residents of nearby villages have been warned to exercise caution until the crisis is resolved.
Wolves returned to the Šumava mountains after more than 140 years at the start of the millennium.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Vladislava Wildová, Czech Radio
Ratibořice Château stands in Babiččino údolí (Grandmother’s Valley), north of Česká Skalice in the Hradec Králové Region. This national cultural monument has welcomed visitors ranging from Austrian Chancellor Metternich to Russian Tsar Alexander I. Its history and extensive natural landscape attract visitors from all over Europe and beyond.
The Ratibořice Chateau is famous as the residence of Princess Vilemína Zaháňská, a wealthy heiress with great influence and a non-conformist woman, who many in Czechia know from Božena Němcová’s book Babička (Grandmother).
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Author: Jakub Ferenčík
Photo: Luboš Pavlíček, ČTK
Five seasoned carvers took on the task of creating new sculptures for the fairy-tale alley during last weekend’s symposium in Bystřice pod Pernštejnem. Visitors were able to watch the new statues come to life right before their eyes. These new creations will join the existing sculptures of the Grim Reaper, Noonwraith, Water Goblin, and Miner—figures that have adorned the village surroundings since last year.
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Source: Fisher Center
Bedrich Smetana’s third opera Dalibor explores themes of national pride, freedom, and resistance against oppression. Although he was hugely proud of the work, it failed to win recognition during his lifetime.
Bedřich Smetana’s opera Dalibor, completed in 1868, is a brooding, Romantic tale of knightly honor, love, and rebellion set in the 15th century.
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Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International
In this summer edition of Czechast, host Vít Pohanka visits the South Bohemian village of Holašovice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels like a storybook come to life. He speaks with Julia Kňažková, a local guide and heritage expert, about the village’s ancient roots, charming architecture, and sometimes overwhelming popularity with tourists. This episode explores how the community balances preservation with everyday life — and how its future may depend on the next generation.
Known for its beautifully preserved Baroque rural architecture, Holašovice has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
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Author: Vít Pohanka
Photo: Kristýna Barchini, Czech Radio
The legendary statue of Samson is leaving the South Bohemian capital of České Budějovice for the first time ever. Since 1990, the original has been stored inside the city’s town hall, a couple meters away from its original location. Now it is travelling to Prague Castle, where it will become part of the exhibition ‘Vltava: famed and flowing’.
For almost three centuries, the water-spouting statue of Biblical strongman Samson wrestling a lion stood atop the fountain on the central square of Přemysl Otakar II in České Budějovice.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
On the occasion of the 58th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, H.E. Ms. Rina PRIHTYASMIARSI SOEMARNO, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Czech Republic, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, hosted a reception at her beautiful residence.
The honored speaker was Mr. Eduard Hulicius, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
A cultural show from each ASEAN country followed the ceremony.
Don’t miss the Karaoke videos at the end.
Happy Birthday, ASEAN countries.
The 15th edition of Prague Pride, an annual festival celebrating the LGBTQ community, took place in Prague on Saturday, 2nd August 2025.
The theme for this year is ‘Where My Home Is’
Tens of thousands of people, including several Ministers, Czech politicians, members of Prague’s diplomatic community, and big commercial companies and organizations, took part in the parade, which ran from the lower part of Wenceslas Square via the Republic Square, Dlouha st., Old Town Square, and Parizka st., to Letná Park.
The diplomatic community had a great representation from almost all embassies.
The celebrations continued at Letná park, with live music and other events, until 10 pm.
Watch the video and the pictures from this colorful event.
Due to their extraordinary size, strength, intelligence and willingness to cooperate with people, elephants have been irreplaceable helpers in Asia for millennia. Today, they are threatened mainly by the loss of their natural habitat. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
A symbol of strength, wisdom, and majesty – on Saturday, Prague Zoo will celebrate World Elephant Day. Our Indian elephants will receive playful enrichment in the morning, and at 2 p.m., visitors can look forward to a special elephant bathing. There will also be guided meetings or an original art workshop – making paper from elephant dung. On Sunday, Prague Zoo, together with the Czech National Bank, will celebrate World Lion Day.
Saturday in the Valley of the Elephants of Prague Zoo will bring not only a rich program celebrating some of the largest animals on the planet, but also the atmosphere of Asian culture. During the popular guided elephant bathing, visitors will learn why bathing is important for octopuses or which of our Indian elephants is the greatest lover of water. Elephants will also be able to be observed during guided meetings.
Not only young visitors can learn interesting facts about the life of elephants, their influence on culture, the history of breeding and protection thanks to information and game stations. Indian elephants are currently threatened mainly by loss of habitat and fragmentation of the area, which causes the isolation of populations. The population in Asia is rising sharply and rural areas are gradually turning into cities.
Gulab, Shanti or Lakuna. Interested parties can playfully get to know Indian elephants at Prague Zoo. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
Sunday will belong to another inhabitant of India at Prague Zoo – the Indian lion. Prague Zoo will celebrate World Lion Day in cooperation with the Visitor Center of the Czech National Bank. In addition to a commented meeting directly with our lion couple, a varied program is also prepared for visitors at the Archa Theater. It will include creative workshops, quizzes for prizes and lectures that will reveal the unexpected connection between the world of finance and the world of animals. The lion portrait can be found on the Czech five-thousand-czech banknote, for example, but it also reigns, for example, on the Congolese banknote. Rwandan banknotes feature a gorilla, while Indonesian banknotes feature an orangutan. Another iconic animal from Prague Zoo – the Przewalski’s horse – also holds its place in numismatic history. A commemorative silver coin in his honor was issued in 1987.
Celebration of World Elephant Day
at 10:30 a.m. commented handover of an enrichment element to female elephants
at 11:30 a.m. commented handover of an enrichment element to a male elephant
at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. commented meetings with female elephants
at 2:00 p.m. commented bathing of elephants
at 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. tours of the breeding grounds – by prior arrangement
at 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. information and game station (Valley of Elephants)
o get to know our elephants
o elephants in culture
o art workshop for children
at 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. making paper from elephant dung (Paper mill in the lower part of the area – at the beginning of the Geotrail)
The lion, the king of animals, appears not only on Czech coins and banknotes, but together with the Light Bearer, it is also the patron saint of the Czech National Bank. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
World Lion Day in cooperation with the Czech National Bank
Illustrative phoro: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz
On October 3rd and 4th, Czechs will head to the polls in a parliamentary election. For the first time ever, Czech citizens based abroad will have the possibility to make use of the postal vote. However, the deadline to sign up is less than three weeks away and the number of registered voters comes way short of expectations.
When the Czech parliament passed the bill enabling the postal vote in August last year, reactions were mixed, and expectations were high.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: U.S. Army Air Force / U.S. Department of Defense
This could have been just another story of an ordinary family of Czech expatriates in the United States. However, a series of circumstances led Czech-American Joseph Stiborik to leave an indelible mark on history as a crew member of the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima 80 years ago, on August 6, 1945.
The origins of Joseph Stiborik’s family were only conclusively proven a couple of years ago – initially, he was believed to be a descendant of immigrants from Žďár nad Sázavou.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: archive of Michaela Küchler
In this episode of Czechast, we talk to Michaela Küchler, Secretary General of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. She shares her family’s deep Czech roots and her work preserving the memory of the Roma and Sinti genocide. We discuss the story of the Lety camp and why remembrance matters now more than ever.
The International Day of Remembrance for the Roma and Sinti Holocaust is marked every year on 2 August.
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Author: Vít Pohanka
Photo: TV Barrandov
In August 1955, Karel Zeman’s groundbreaking film Journey to the Beginning of Time premiered in Czechoslovakia. Blending live action, animation, and model work, it captivated audiences and sold to more than 70 countries — a remarkable feat for a film from a communist country during the Cold War. Seventy years later, it remains a celebrated milestone of world cinema.
Seventy years ago, Czechoslovak audiences first saw Karel Zeman’s Cesta do pravěku, known internationally as Journey to the Beginning of Time.
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Author: Vít Pohanka
Photo: 2K Games
The Mafia franchise is one of the most commercially successful Czech-made game series ever. ‘Mafia: The Old Country’ will be its fourth instalment, with a storyline going back to the roots of the Sicilian Mafia – a prequel to the first release 23 years ago. The brand new game is launching on August 8.
Czech video game developer 2K Czech, creators of the Mafia franchise, have finalized its soon-to-be newest release: ‘Mafia: The Old Country’.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Kinga Cichewicz, Unsplash
How can food improve our internal sleep cycle? Whether the bad effects of an irregular sleep schedule can be mitigated by diet and exercise is currently under investigation by a team at the Czech Academy of Sciences.
After five days of commuting and working, it’s all too tempting to sleep in at the weekend.
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Author: Danny Bate, Eva Kézrová
Photo: Pavel Novák, Czech Radio
Bohuslav Martinů, one of the great 20th-century composers, will be the focus of the 35th Bard Music Festival, which gets underway at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, on Friday. Subtitled Martinů and His World, it’s the first time this renowned festival has been dedicated to the Czech composer’s life and music. The program will showcase Martinů’s wide-ranging work, from chamber pieces and orchestral scores to two operas, including a world premiere. I spoke with Aleš Březina, director of the Bohuslav Martinů Institute and co-curator of the festival, about the vision behind the event.
This is the first time the prestigious American Bard Music Festival will be dedicated to the work and life of Bohuslav Martinů.
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Author: Ruth Fraňková
Photo: Ondřej Šebestík, Czech Radio
When Czech Railways announced plans to scrap the legendary “Knödel Express” running between Berlin and Prague, the news made international headlines and fans lamented its departure as the “end of an era”. Those addicted to its old-world charm can now take some comfort. Due to modernization delays, the cult dining cars will continue to offer the familiar service for some time longer.
For fans of rail travel, the scenic four-hour long journey between Prague and Berlin was one of the most enjoyable train rides in Europe.
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Author: Daniela Lazarová
Photo: Julien Delfosse, Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Czech racing driver Roman Staněk is on a hot streak in the Formula 2 championship, one step below the elusive Formula 1. The 21-year-old secured his maiden feature race win and first pole position in two consecutive weeks, propelling him into 8th in the overall standings.
On the weekend, Roman Staněk qualified in first place for the feature race around the Hungaroring, in the outskirts of Budapest.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Simona Kubičková, Zoo Jihlava
Jihlava Zoo, officially recognized as a zoological garden since 1982, is nestled in the picturesque valley of the Jihlávka River, not far from the city center. The grounds feature wooded slopes, rocky outcrops, meadows, and water features, creating a rich and varied environment for its 260 animal species, including many endangered ones. The zoo specializes in felines, primates, and reptiles.
The zoo’s early history goes back to 1957 when Oldřich Vávra, a member of the Jihlava city council responsible for culture, came up with the idea of founding a small animal park for children to enjoy.
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Photo: Kira Tripulska, Divadlo MA
The 6th annual theatre festival ‘Summer Grébovka’ kicked off on Monday with the highly anticipated production of ‘To be Marlene Dietrich’. The story of the legendary German actress and singer is the work of Theatre MA, who are staging plays at Grébovka until August 29th.
In a career, spanning nearly seven decades from the Berlin Golden Twenties to the apex of Classical Hollywood cinema, Marlene Dietrich was not only a trailblazer on the movie screen, but also a respected humanitarian figure during World War II.
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Author: Xavier Amedeo Pallas
Photo: Elena Horálková, Czech Radio
Bára Dočkalová is a Prague-based author, teacher and researcher, whose literary output captivates young Czech readers and this year won her a prestigious Magnesia Litera award. She spoke to Danny Bate about receiving the award and the ideas behind her victorious book Kost, as well as sharing her perspectives on teaching English in Czechia and how drama and music can make the language a lot more fun.
Bára, you are a person with many strings to your bow.
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Author: Danny Bate
Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK
A vibrant parade featuring over two hundred dancers, musicians, and capoeira fighters lit up the first weekend of August in Brno, delighting thousands of onlookers. The streets pulsed with the infectious beats of samba drums, the shimmer of sequins, and the swirling colors of carnival costumes as Brazil Fest 2025 brought a touch of Rio to the heart of Moravia.
See more here.
Photo: Správa železnic
Under reconstruction from 2023, Praha–Bubny station is now welcoming trains and travellers. A spacious and light modern edifice replaces the old station from the 1920s, a key part of the planned improved railway connections to Václav Havel Airport and Kladno.
Holešovice, the busy district of Prague north of the city centre, has gained a shiny new railway station.
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Author: Danny Bate
