AuthorMartin Hladík

The male sea lion is still fully dependent on its mother’s milk. He will only start tasting fish next year. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

A young South African sea lion, which was born at the Prague Zoo on June 5, was introduced to visitors on 19 August 2026. The male occupied the exhibit near the main entrance. The breeders gave him the name Jabulani, which comes from South African Zulu and can be loosely translated as “bringing joy”. People can see the little pinniped in the Prague Zoo after seven years. The great-grandson of the famous Gaston can be seen every morning except Fridays, when the sea lions are cleaned in the large exhibition pool.

“The first days of the cub’s life were dramatic, because the female Daisy apparently did not have enough breast milk and did not show too much interest in her offspring. The male survived only thanks to the continuous care of the veterinarian and breeders, who decided to give the otherwise tenacious cub a chance,” says Prague Zoo director Lenka Poliaková.

The baby sea lion is very playful. His favorite pastime is sucking his own fins or catching drops of water. In the picture with Jakub Mezei, chief sea lion breeder of the Prague Zoo. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Breeding now takes place naturally: the situation changed about a week after birth. “Daisy’s maternal instinct was awakened along with lactation, and now we can all watch how the two-month-old male explores the enclosure alongside his mother,” adds Jakub Mezei, chief sea lion keeper at the Prague Zoo.

South African sea lions are born on land and learn to swim from their mothers. Due to the local absence of a gradual entry into the water or sea tidal ponds, where the cubs get to know the water in nature, Jabulani was gradually given different-sized tubs in the background of the zoo. At the beginning of August, he already dared to go to the big pool.

“Every cub that is born in the Prague Zoo is a small miracle. And this is doubly true for sea lions, because their upbringing is not easy. I am very happy that the little male is doing well. Now he can enjoy the pool, the water, and also his new audience. I wish him good health and a lot of joy from the sea lion’s antics,” said the deputy mayor of Prague today. City of Prague for the environment, Jana Komrsková.

A baby sea lion climbs out of a large exposure pool. After birth, it weighed 4,510 grams, now it weighs exactly 14 kilograms, so the male has already tripled his weight. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Jabulani’s father is the male Eda, who went to the zoo in Rostock, Germany last year because of a genetic mutation. Since the Prague Zoo prides itself on successful breeding numbers, it would be very difficult to find other unrelated females for Ed. For over a year, a teenage male Oslo, originally from the Belgian Pairi Daizy, has been living in the Prague Zoo, and he is expected to become the father of more cubs in the future.

Prague Zoo currently keeps five sea lions. In addition to the male Osla, there are also females Abeba, Ronja, and the aforementioned Daisy with Jabulani. The youngest addition will find a home in another zoo in the future. Sea lions live in harems led by one dominant male.

Prague Zoo is the only breeder of South African sea lions in the Czech Republic. Currently, this species is kept in only 16 zoos in the EU. This is not much compared to other well-known sea lion species – for example, the maned sea lion inhabits 32 zoos in the EU, and the California sea lion can even be found in 64 European institutions.

The public can design objects for a mission to the International Space Station. It will be possible to submit proposals using the form on the Czech Journey to Space website https://ceskacestadovesmiru.cz/co-vzit-na-iss/ from August 19 to September 18, 2026.

What should represent the Czech Republic hundreds of kilometers above the Earth? An object reminiscent of Czech history, a scientific discovery, a cultural tradition, a sporting success or something completely different? The Czech Journey to Space national project is opening a public call in which people can design objects that Czech astronaut and project astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA) Aleš Svoboda could take with him to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The public thus gets the opportunity to become part of the preparations for the Czech mission, which is scheduled to start next year.

After all, not only scientific experiments and technology fly into space with astronauts. Space missions are traditionally also accompanied by small objects that tell the stories of countries, institutions and the astronauts themselves. In the past, all kinds of symbols got into orbit – from national flags and medals to sports, cultural or personal objects. Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang took a traditional Dalecarlian horse into orbit, American astronaut Cady Coleman took four flutes to the ISS, astronaut Mark Polansky took a teddy bear into space reminiscent of the story of a Holocaust survivor. Krteček, who American astronaut Andrew Feustel took with him on his mission, also left a Czech footprint in space. Sometimes it is a national symbol, other times a piece of history, culture or a seemingly ordinary thing with a strong story. Now the Czech Republic will also have the opportunity to search for similar objects.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, which coordinates the national project Czech Journey to Space, perceives symbolic objects as another dimension of the mission, which, in addition to scientific experiments and technological projects, will also enable Czech history, culture and values ​​to be transferred into orbit.

“The Czech mission to the ISS will show that we have top companies, universities and research teams that can withstand even the most demanding international projects. But we don’t want it to be just a mission of scientists and technicians. We want to involve the whole country in it. That’s why we’re giving the public the opportunity to choose a Czech story or symbol that will fly with Aleš Svoboda. Even a small object can carry a strong message about what the Czech Republic can do and what we can be proud of,” says the 1st Vice President government and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček.

The Ministry of Defense and the Army of the Czech Republic fully support the Czech mission. Aleš Svoboda is a graduate of the Defense University and an experienced combat pilot who, if approved by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP), whose decisions are taken by consensus of all five partners of the International Space Station, will prepare for the mission as a pilot. At the same time, his career path points to wide possibilities of professional application in the field of aviation, modern technologies and other specializations.

“I am pleased that it is Aleš Svoboda who, as part of the Czech mission, should also transport symbolic objects selected with the public’s contribution to the ISS. His expected position in the crew is also a confirmation of the high level that we have been building in the field of military aviation for a long time. Managing complex systems, managing crisis scenarios or making decisions under extreme pressure are skills that Aleš acquired and developed during his professional career. His journey thus shows not only the attractiveness and prestige of military professions, but also extraordinary possibilities that we can offer. I believe that this story can inspire young people who are thinking about their studies and future career paths,” says Minister of Defense Jaromír Zůna.

What would you send to the ISS?

It will be possible to submit proposals using the form on the Czech Journey to Space website https://ceskacestadovesmiru.cz/co-vzit-na-iss/ from August 19 to September 18, 2026. It can be an object connected with Czech history, a reminder of a scientific or technological achievement, a cultural symbol, a sporting legacy, a craft tradition or perhaps something that describes the current Czech Republic and of which we can be proud as a country. It does not have to be a rare or expensive item. More important is his story – and what he can tell people at home and around the world about the Czech Republic.

Of course, whether the object can be safely transported to the ISS will also play a role in the assessment. Therefore, a small and light object that is visually interesting, has an understandable story and can work well in a photo or video is ideal. It will also be an advantage to be able to use it after returning to Earth for educational events, in schools, museums or on other occasions connected with the Czech mission.

From idea to orbit

The Public Challenge is not a competition for one winning item. It is an opportunity to collect ideas from the public, or to find a unique object that could represent the Czech Republic and its story during the mission to the ISS.

Proposals from the public will be assessed by an expert team in collaboration with ESA, taking into account their story, symbolism, feasibility and the rules applicable to objects transported to the ISS. The space on board and the weight of individual items are limited, so each item must pass a technical and safety assessment. Sending a proposal does not automatically mean that the given object will fly into space.

“The mole showed that even a small and seemingly ordinary object can tell a powerful Czech story in space. This time we want to give space to people from all over the country to say for themselves what they think is worth taking with them. It can be something connected to history, science, culture or even everyday life. It is important that such an object can tell something about the Czech Republic and people beyond its borders,” explains Václav Kobera, coordinator of the national project Czech Way to space.

The objects planned for the Czech mission will be presented to the public in November 2026 during the festival of space activities Czech Space Week 2026.

On the way to the Czech mission to the ISS

The public call comes at a time when preparations for the Czech mission to the ISS are moving towards concrete steps before the flight itself. Aleš Svoboda has completed basic astronaut training at the European Space Agency (ESA) and is preparing for subsequent specific training related to the Czech mission.

Simultaneously, the preparations of thirteen Czech scientific and technological experiments, which are to be part of the mission program, continue. It is the connection of science, technology, Czech industry, education and public involvement that should be one of the main links of the upcoming Czech journey to the ISS.

26. 08. 2026, 18:00 – 22:00, Mandarin Oriental – Nebovidská 459/1, 118 00, Mala Strana

You are cordially invited to the 11th edition of Art of Sharing, this time in the form of a summer garden party/ We’re ready for any weather!

What to look forward to:

• Networking & summer atmosphere with a DJ
  • Silent auction supporting the Children’s Psychiatry Department at Motol Hospital.
  • Design lounge by
  • – a residential project in harmony with nature
  • Culinary experiences
  • Curated tasting of Sunshine Rosé, wines by , premium Cognac by , selected whiskies by the , and signature beers from
  • Red carpet, photo wall & a surprise by
  • Fashion show by
  • Ceske broze by Jewlery designer
  • Raffle giveaway

Get your tickets here.

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Desde la emblemática Casa Danzante hasta la desconcertante distribución de las viviendas checas, Antonella Nicolari comparte en esta entrevista qué es lo que más la enamora de Praga, que le falta a la ciudad para terminar de asumirse como moderna y por qué es necesario pensar espacios que abracen también a quienes llegan de afuera.

Uno de los últimos proyectos en los que trabajó Antonella Nicolari antes de dejar Argentina fue, justamente, la refacción del aeropuerto internacional de Ezeiza.

See more here.

Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Alexandra Mlejnková, ČTK

This year’s edition of the legendary Trutnoff Open Air music festival is dedicated to Václav Havel, marking what would have been his 90th birthday. Even when Havel was president, he was known simply as “the tribal chief” at the rock festival, which he had supported since its underground days.

Trutnov’s festival grounds, August 2008.

See more here.

Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Zdeňka Kuchyňová, Radio Prague International

Burned synagogues and smashed shop windows are some of the best-known images of Nazi persecution of Jews. But the Nazis also systematically confiscated Jewish books, hoping to build a huge collection that could be used to provide a ‘scientific’ justification for their racist ideology. During the war, more than half a million volumes were moved to the occupied Czech lands, where many remained for decades. An exhibition at the Klementinum in Prague, From the Shadows to the Light, now looks at what happened to these books and the efforts to uncover their stories.

I spoke to historians Jana Jirásková and Jiří Blažek, both from the Documentation Centre for Property Transfers of the Cultural Assets of WWII Victims, and began by asking them why the Nazis went to such lengths to collect Jewish books, and what they intended to do with them.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vít Černý, ČTK

Five years ago, the Mělník III power plant, once the largest coal-fired unit in the Czech Republic, ceased operation. Commissioned in 1981, it was a mainstay of the country’s energy system for decades. Its closure in 2021 paved the way for a major transformation of the entire site north of Prague. Energy company ČEZ is investing tens of billions of crowns in lower-emission technologies, including what will be the country’s largest combined-cycle gas-fired heat and power plant. The remaining coal-fired operations at Mělník are due to end by 2030. The transformation is expected to significantly reduce emissions while ensuring reliable heating supplies for around 250,000 households in Prague and the surrounding region.

The Mělník III power plant, located around 30 kilometres north of Prague, was the largest coal-fired generating unit in what was then Czechoslovakia when it entered service in 1981.

See more here.

Author: Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Jan Malý, Czech Radio

Prague is already feeling the effects of a warming climate, particularly during increasingly intense summer heat waves. Jan Richter, a climate change adaptation specialist at Prague City Hall, believes the answer lies partly beneath our feet: giving trees enough underground space, retaining rainwater and bringing more vegetation into even the historic centre. In this episode of Czechast, he also explains how a Fulbright scholarship in the United States and the urban farms of Detroit helped shape his ideas about the resilient city of the future.

Jan Richter has spent much of his professional life thinking about how cities can provide a good quality of life without exceeding the limits of the natural environment.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Facebook of Fiction from Karolinum

Velvet Blues, a collection of 20th century stories by Czech and Slovak Romany writers, is set to be presented at October’s Frankfurt Book Fair, where this year Czechia will be guest of honour. I discussed the anthology with Karolína Ryvolová of Kher, a publishing house focused on Romany literature, which is putting it out in conjunction with Karolinum Press.

“We knew that we were aiming for an international audience – partly a Romani émigré audience and partly just an international audience.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: APF Czech Radio

From reflections in the ionosphere to the musical oasis of Interprogram. Dive into the history of Radio Prague, which connected countries and offered popular music in exchange for political proclamations.

The international service of Czech Radio, now better known under the banner of Radio Prague International, has been keeping the world informed about events in Czechia for an impressive 90 years.

See more here.

Author: Jaromír Marek

Photo: Bioscop

Oscar-winning director Jan Svěrák’s comedy Pět švestek (Five Plums) will be released in cinemas in the United Kingdom this autumn under the title What a Way to Go. It is only the fourth Czech film in the 30 years since the Czech Republic became an independent state to secure a wide release in British cinemas.

The film is about five elderly friends who set off together on one final adventure, sailing around some Greek islands on a rented yacht.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Bioscop

If these two stop-motion puppet characters get their hands on something, you can be pretty sure it will go wrong. Pat and Mat, Czechia’s famously clumsy handymen, have been entertaining audiences for five decades, and their slapstick adventures have won fans around the world.

In one typical episode, Pat and Mat decide to hang a large picture.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Illustrative photo: rcvd, Pixabay, CC0 1.0 DEED

Wild boars are increasingly moving into urban areas across the Czech Republic. Once largely confined to forests, they are now appearing in city parks, gardens and residential neighbourhoods,scavenging for food.

Reports of sightings of wild boar in urban areas, including the suburbs of big cities such as Prague and Brno, have been on the rise in recent years, as has pressure on local municipalities to deal with the problem.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Dušan Dostál, ČTK

The biggest star of his time, a wild performer who had girls falling at his feet, a Czech rock’n’roll king with a tragic fate. All of this is associated with the name Miki Volek, the once-famous singer who died alone and forgotten on August 14, 1996. To mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of this king of Czech rock’n’roll, we decided to dedicate today’s Sunday Music Show to his life and music.

The life of legendary Czech rock’n’roll singer Miki Volek could be summed up as a journey from hell to rock’n’roll heaven.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Katherine Vašíčková, Czech Radio

This week’s solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower once again drew Czechs outside to look at the sky. They also highlighted something unusual about the country: Czechia has one of the densest networks of public observatories and planetariums in Central Europe. Its roots stretch from the astronomers of Rudolf II’s Prague through the rise of amateur astronomy and communist-era “people’s observatories” to today’s European space programme.

The Czech Astronomical Society lists 55 observatories that members of the public can visit.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Wilda3, Pixabay, CC0 1.0 DEED

Conservationists have published the results of their traditional winter survey of large carnivores along the Czech-Slovak border. Trackers covered nearly 200 routes ranging from five to 25 kilometres, confirming the presence of wolves, lynx and bears.

In total, conservationists collected 274 confirmed records of large carnivores.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Illustrative photo: Michaela Kobyakov, freeimages

Drying wells and declining groundwater levels are affecting an increasing number of communities across Czechia. In some areas water utilities and fire crews have had to deliver drinking water to villages where inhabitants are dependent on their own wells.

As the drought deepens, many Czechs are coming to realize the value of a commodity they generally took for granted.

See more here.

Ishita Srivastava, Research Associate

Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, Distinguished Fellow

THE ENERGY AND RESOURCES INSTITUTE (TERI)

Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri

India has become a global leader in making progress on clean energy: by the end of December 2025, non-fossil fuel sources accounted for 51.93 per cent of India’s installed power capacity, crossing the 50 per cent mark set by India’s second Nationally Determined Contribution. According to IRENA’s Renewable Energy Statistics 2025, India ranks fourth globally in total installed renewable energy capacity.

India’s energy transition must be understood in relation to its development needs. The country has not yet reached peak energy demand, and energy access, affordability and security remain central to its development pathway. Its development strategy therefore combines renewable energy growth, energy efficiency, nuclear power, green hydrogen, carbon sinks and carbon markets with industrial competitiveness and job creation.

Green hydrogen has emerged within this as an important facet because it can support decarbonisation in sectors where direct electrification may not be sufficient. Green hydrogen is both a fuel and an industrial feedstock and it’s production using renewable energy can replace fossil fuel-derived inputs in petroleum refining, fertiliser production, steel manufacturing, and other hard to abate sectors, while also supporting the decarbonisation of long-haul automobiles, railways and marine vessels. The Indian Railways has recently demonstrated the capacity to run hydrogen fuelled trains.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission provides the central policy framework for scaling this opportunity linking energy transition with industrial policy and external economic opportunity. It targets a production of 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. Production capacity of 862,000 tonnes per year has already been allocated to 18 companies, while 15 firms have been awarded 3,000 MW of annual electrolyser manufacturing capacity. Three green hydrogen hubs have also been identified at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tamil Nadu and Paradip Port Authority in Odisha.

A sectoral focus is connecting green hydrogen with concrete industrial use cases. In fertilisers, data indicates an aggregate procurement capacity of 7.24 lakh metric tonnes per annum of green ammonia at ₹55.75 per kg. In petroleum refining, green hydrogen is being used to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, while in steel, five pilot projects with public and private producers are testing green hydrogen for iron reduction and other process applications under Indian operating conditions.

India’s green hydrogen strategy also has a clear international dimension with India looking to use voluntary cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This international orientation is consequential because green hydrogen is expected to become part of future clean energy trade.  Thus India’s green hydrogen effort not only responds to domestic decarbonisation needs, but also positions the country to contribute to the rules, markets and supply chains of a future low-carbon economy in the world.

India is also positioning itself in emerging international hydrogen platforms and partnerships. It entered the international hydrogen community at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam in 2024 with its first India Pavilion. Cooperation is expanding under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, where more than 30 joint proposals have been received on hydrogen production from waste. India and the United Kingdom have engaged on hydrogen standardisation, and work is being undertaken with the Germans on market-based mechanisms and joint tender designs for exports. Moreover, Indian companies have secured long-term offtake agreements with Japanese companies for green ammonia and green methanol.

India has been in the forefront of pushing solar energy in the global south not only through its promotion but by the demonstrative effect of its domestic action. Its pro-active actions on green hydrogen would have a similar hugely positive effect in the global south.

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Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri is a former Indian diplomat who has served as Ambassador to the European Union (EU), Nepal, Belgium and Luxembourg. He has been India’s Ambassador & Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.

What is the best way to enjoy a hot August evening in Prague? The Ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Shehryar Akbar KHAN, and his spouse, Mrs. Sonia Shehryar, hosted a Mango Summer Party at their beautiful residence garden.

Without a tie, but with casual dress, many Ambassadors, diplomats, government officials, and friends of Pakistan enjoyed a great evening, with Pakistani food and very delicious desserts made by Mrs. Sonia Shehryar.

It was also an opportunity to wish Pakistan a Happy Independence Day, marked on 14^th of August.

The 16th  edition of Prague Pride, an annual festival celebrating the LGBTQ community, took place in Prague on Saturday, 8^th  August 2026.

The theme for this year is “Times Are Changing”

Tens of thousands of people, 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, Celetna st., Old Town Square, and Pařížská st., to the new main venue on Štvanice Island.

The diplomatic community had a great representation from almost all embassies.

The celebrations continued on Štvanice Island, with live music and other events, until 10 pm.

Watch the video and the pictures from this colorful event.

Indian elephants once inhabited a vast area from Syria to Indonesia. However, they were exterminated in 94% of the area and today they are found only in islands. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, 15^th of August 2026, the Prague Zoo will celebrate the largest land creatures on the planet. The thematic program invites you to take a guided swim with octopuses or make paper from elephant dung.

On the 10th anniversary of Papírny’s founding, a limited edition of paper with unique numbering will also be on sale. In short, even Prague’s elephants will not remain Indian. They will delight breeders with a surprise – a playful and tasty enrichment. The special meeting will commemorate the 50th birthday of the elephant Shanti and the current pregnancy of the females Tamara and Janita.

The atmosphere of Asian culture and a rich program across the Elephant Valley. Saturday’s celebrations at the Prague Zoo will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a commented presentation of enrichment to the female elephants. The engaging narration by the guides of the Prague Zoo will take place several times a day, even during the attractive bathing of the elephants at 2 p.m. During it, people will learn why swimming is important for octopuses or which of Prague’s elephants is the biggest water lover.

Today, Indian elephants are threatened mainly by the loss of habitat and fragmentation of the range, due to which their populations are isolated. In Asia, the population is growing rapidly, and originally rural areas are gradually turning into cities. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Not only for small visitors, Prague Zoo Education Department will also prepare art workshops and an information-game station, thanks to which those interested will learn about the diverse life of elephants, the history of octopus breeding at the Prague Zoo, their influence on culture and the need to protect these iconic creatures.

Dry, color and decorate: visitors can try handmade paper from elephant dung in the lower part of the area near the Geotezka. They can choose from some art techniques. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of Papírny Zoo Praha, there is also a limited edition of colored paper with the anniversary ten and unique numbering.

Across the world, elephants are seen in art and culture as symbols of strength, wisdom and majesty. For example, Indian tradition associates them with the god Ganesha. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Main program in Elephant Valley

at 10.00–16.00 Information and game station (Elephant Valley)

 Meet our elephants, elephants in culture, art workshop

at 10.30 a.m. Commented handing over of enrichment to female elephants (grass enclosure near the Gulab restaurant)

at 11 a.m. Handing over the enrichment element to the male elephant (back enclosure)

at 12.00 and 13.00 Commented encounters with female elephants (grass enclosure near the Gulab restaurant)

at 2 p.m. Guided elephant bathing (swimming pool in the middle enclosure)

Paper mill

at 10.00–18.00 Making paper from elephant dung

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Con humor, cercanía y un método en constante evolución, Ludmila Mlýnková marcó un antes y un después en el aprendizaje del español por parte de los checos. Sus manuales, nacidos del aula y de la práctica cotidiana, continúan siendo una guía indispensable incluso para quienes ya dominan la lengua.

See more here.

Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Source: Znamení Čtyř – Architekti

Charles University is building its largest science centre in modern history. The nearly five-and-a-half-billion-crown Biocenter is due to open in Prague in just a few years, and the university is now looking for a world-renowned scientist to lead it.

Construction of the new Biocenter, located in the Albertov neighbourhood of Prague, just below the historic Vyšehrad fortress, is in full swing.

See more here.

Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade

The European Union plans to build a small network of huge AI computing centres as part of its effort to catch up with the United States and China. Czechia wants one of them to be built on the outskirts of Prague, where České Radiokomunikace is already developing a major data centre. Now, with the support of the government, the company bids to become part of the broader EU project.

Europe is investing heavily in artificial intelligence as it tries to narrow the technological gap with the United States and China.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: František Ortmann, Letní Letná

The end-of-summer blues is setting upon the citizens of Prague. Festival season is over, the holidays are coming to an end, but there are still films and plays aplenty! Here are our top tips to fill your end-of-summer programme in Prague.

The 23rd International Festival of Contemporary Circus and Theatre brings together performers from Czechia and abroad, this year’s international star is Circa, hailing all the way from Australia.

See more here.

Author: Anna Marie Regner

Photo: Profimedia

Milena Jesenská is known around the world primarily through Franz Kafka’s letters to her. Yet her own life story is just as compelling: a pioneering journalist who stood up to Nazism and paid for it with her life in the Ravensbrück concentration camp.

Milena Jesenská was born in Prague in 1896.

See more here.

Illustrative photo: Pavel Polák, Czech Radio

Due to drought and heat, Czech farmers are looking for new crops that can better withstand such conditions. Increasingly, they are opting for sunflowers instead of rapeseed. In the eastern parts of the country there have even been attempts to grow figs or even olive trees.

People driving through Central Bohemia can now admire vast fields of ripening sunflowers.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: YouTube

It was built as a secret Soviet command post during the Cold War and hidden from the public for decades. Now the Jasyr bunker in the Karlovy Vary region in northwest Bohemia is open to visitors, thanks to a group of enthusiasts who have spent years restoring it.

Completed in 1974, Jasyr was a highly secret Soviet military facility on the southern edge of the Hradiště Military Training Area, in the Doupov Mountains.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Česká asociace v Řecku, Krajánek ve světě

One of the challenges of living abroad is gradually losing contact with your native language, and this can be even more difficult for children of expats. Various associations can therefore serve as a bridge to their native language and fellow countrymen, often run by volunteers who want to share their enthusiasm for their native language with children living abroad. One such organisation, focused on the youngest generation, is Krajánek ve světě.

Life abroad certainly brings plenty of excitement, discovery and new experiences.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Václav Široký

Scientists from Brno University of Technology are preparing to observe Wednesday’s total solar eclipse from Iceland and Spain. Five teams equipped with cameras, dozens of lenses and special filters will have just two minutes to collect crucial images and data. While their colleagues in Iceland are battling rain and wind, one of the Spanish teams has already faced insects and a nearby wildfire.

For more than two decades, scientists from Brno have travelled around the world to observe one of astronomy’s most spectacular phenomena.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

Brno’s unique language variety, known as Hantec, has been added to the South Moravian Region’s list of traditional folk culture. It developed among the city’s lower classes in the 19th century and has survived in some everyday expressions. Its promoters now hope to have it recognised at national level and eventually by UNESCO.

Hantec is a distinctive form of speech that emerged among Brno’s working classes in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Václav Pancer, ČTK

The European champions in the youth sailing class took place on Lake Lipno, which provided challenging conditions for the competitors. The overall standings were ultimately decided by the very last race. The best Czech crew, Jakub Lojka and Dominik Szmaragowski (pictured), finished in 19th place.

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Photo: Tomáš Krist, MF DNES + LN / Profimedia

For centuries, paintings, monuments and public buildings have shaped the way Czechs understand their past. According to art historian and Charles University Professor Vít Vlnas, works of art often tell us less about the historical events they portray than about the period in which they were created. In an interview for Czechast, he reflects on Baroque art, Charles Bridge, collective memory and why modern generations are beginning to see Czech history differently.

History is often associated with kings, battles and political events.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Radio Prague International

The international broadcasts of Czechoslovak Radio were never just a one-way stream of news and music disappearing into the airwaves. From the very beginning, they formed a vibrant dialogue between Prague and the rest of the world. Thousands of letters each day, enthusiastic listeners in Africa and Latin America, remote listener clubs in Cuba, and Czechoslovak sailors in the middle of the ocean all found comfort, inspiration and a connection to another world through broadcasts from home. The following story takes you on a fascinating journey through the decades, brought to life by the memories of those who were there.

For those who created the broadcasts, it was not always easy to judge the impact of their work.

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Author: Jaromír Marek

Photo: Ondřej Mikušek, Czech Radio

A newspaper, banknotes, coins and –inevitably – a beer glass are among the items sealed inside a time capsule that was buried beneath the future tramline on Prague’s Wenceslas Square this week. Intended as a message for future generations, it is meant to serve as a testimony of life today.

There are hidden capsules in many parts of Prague –some have been unearthed, others are still waiting to be uncovered.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Entre lecturas clandestinas de Milan Kundera, a quien tuvo nada menos que de profesor, y un viaje que la llevó a descubrir el desconcertante español rioplatense en Buenos Aires, Hana Hanušová construyó un puente cultural único: enseñó checo en el Chaco y Paraguay; y hasta se animó a editar un libro en guaraní sin hablar ni una palabra de ese idioma.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Leah Takata, Prague Pride Festival

The annual Prague Pride festival gets under way on Monday with nearly 200 events across the Czech capital. This year’s edition also brings a major change, with the festival moving from Letná Plain to its new main venue on Štvanice Island. I discussed the event with Prague Pride’s PR and media representative, Nikola Páleníčková.

This year’s Prague Pride theme is Times Are Changing.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michaela Danelová, iROZHLAS.cz

Longer and more intense heat waves are becoming a growing challenge for Prague, where the urban landscape traps heat long after sunset. City officials are responding with a range of adaptation measures, including an interactive map of cooling locations and plans to expand the network of public “cool zones.”

As summers in Prague become hotter, the city is introducing new ways to help people cope with increasingly frequent heat waves.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Gender Studies

One of Prague’s lesser-known but all the more fascinating libraries is the Jiřina Šiklová Library, hidden in the city centre on the banks of the Vltava. Although it is one of the smaller libraries, it has something to offer even the most demanding readers and researchers.

Just a few metres from Jirásek Square, almost directly opposite the Mánes Gallery, a hidden gem of Prague’s literary world occupies the first floor of one of the city’s grand riverside buildings overlooking the Vltava.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Martina Kutková, Radio Prague International

The iconic Villa Tugendhat in Brno is marking 25 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List with a three-day celebration starting this Friday. The programme includes concerts, art installations and a unique videomapping show on the facade of the villa, considered a masterpiece of Modernism.

Villa Tugendhat, designed by the renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was completed in 1930 and has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2001.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: LŠSS

More than a hundred students from around the world have gathered in Prague this summer with one goal: to study Czech. They’re taking part in the annual Summer School of Slavonic Studies, a programme Charles University has been running already for 69 years. Ruth Fraňková went to talk to some of them and find out what brought them here.

Inside the historic Faculty of Arts building in Celetná Street, in the heart of Prague’s Old Town, a Czech language class is in full swing.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: iROZHLAS.cz

One of the oldest “patients” on record has undergone an examination at the St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno. Using computed tomography, doctors scanned the more than 700-year-old statue of the Žarošice Madonna, which depicts the Queen of Heaven holding the infant Jesus. Parishioners from Žarošice hope the non-invasive examination will reveal as much information as possible about the Gothic sculpture.

Žarošice is a small village in the south-east of Czechia, close to the borders with Slovakia and Austria.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo illustrative: wobbuffet13, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czechia has been named Europe’s fastest-growing tourism destination in a major international study, a result that CzechTourism sees as confirmation that its efforts to reshape the country’s image abroad are paying off. Rather than simply attracting ever larger crowds, the agency says its goal is to encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more of the country and bring greater benefits to local communities.

For the head of CzechTourism, František Reismüller, the findings are less a surprise than a welcome confirmation that the agency’s long-term strategy is beginning to bear fruit.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Václav Šálek, ČTK

Brno pulsed to the rhythm of Brazilian samba during the seventh annual Brasil Fest, held over the past few days. Hundreds of dancers, drummers, capoeira performers and other artists filled the city centre with colour and energy as they paraded through the streets, cheered on by large crowds of spectators.

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Photo: Štěpán Macháček, Czech Radio

The network of Czech Centres is heading for its biggest transformation in years. Newly appointed director Ivan Jukl says the goal is not to shrink the organisation but to strengthen its presence abroad while making it more efficient at home.

The Czech Centres, a state-funded organisation operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, form one of the country’s principal instruments of cultural and public diplomacy.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: David Taneček, ČTK

Half tram, half train. Engineers in the village of Dětenice, in the Jičín region, are testing a vehicle that could make regional rail transport more efficient. Powered by onboard batteries, the prototype could begin carrying passengers within two years if everything goes according to plan.

The villages of Dětenice and Libáň, northeast of Prague, are just four kilometres apart.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Digitální knihovna Kramerius

On August 4, 1306, the seventeen-year-old King Wenceslas III, the last male descendant of the House of Přemyslid, was murdered in Olomouc. His death brought the dynasty to extinction in the male line and closed an era of more than five centuries during which the Přemyslids built the Czech state, consolidated its power, and laid the foundations of institutions that shaped Central Europe. The anniversary of the dynasty’s tragic end commemorates a moment that fundamentally changed the course of Czech history.

The House of Přemyslid was the first Czech royal dynasty, with origins reaching back to the Early Middle Ages.

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Author: Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Ondřej Bičiště, MFDNES + LN / Profimedia

For the latest episode of Czechast, regional geographer and president of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University Jaroslav Koutský reflects on the changing map of Czechia. He discusses why some regions have reinvented themselves while others continue to face deep social challenges, and why geography still shapes everyday life.

For many visitors, Czechia begins and ends with Prague.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Czech Radio

An elegant gentleman with a trademark moustache and a bow tie, R. A. Dvorský was one of the biggest stars of Czechoslovak popular music during the First Republic. Some of his songs became timeless hits, and in his heyday there was hardly anyone who did not know his name. His fame, however, later made him a target of the communist regime, which labelled him an “enemy of the people” and pushed him out of public life. On 2 August, exactly 60 years will have passed since this legendary singer, composer and bandleader left the world.

R.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová, Klára Stejskalová

On the occasion of the National Day of the Swiss Confederation, the Ambassador of Switzerland, H.R. Mr. Urs Bucher, and Ms. Anja Siebold Bucher, hosted a garden reception at their beautiful residence.

The Honored Speaker was :

Mr. Karel Havlicek – Deputy PM and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of Switzerland, H.R. Mr. Urs Bucher, Mr. Karel Havlicek – Deputy PM and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and highlights from the culture event.

On the occasion of the 27^th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, H.E. Ms. Hanane Saadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Czech Republic, hosted a reception at the residence’s beautiful garden.

The Honored Speakers were :

Mr. Karel Havlicek – Deputy PM and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic,

and Mr. Petr Macinka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Vaclav Klaus, the former President of the Czech Republic, was the honor guests.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Ms. Hanane Saadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Czech Republic, and of Mr. Karel Havlicek – Deputy PM and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Petr Macinka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Long live the King!          عاش الملك!

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors to the Czech Republic on Wednesday, 29^th of July, 2026, at Prague Castle:

H.E. Mr. Talal Abdulsalam Abdullah Alshatti, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Kuwait, based in Prague;

H.E. Ms. Maria de Lourdes Martins de Sousa Bessa, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, based in Brussels;

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Meziane, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic and People’s Republic of Algeria, based in Prague;

H.E. Mr. Christian Hodges-Nugent Docmac, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Chile, based in Prague.

Daniel Štech will become the new director of the foreign department of the Office of the President of the Republic. He replaces Jaroslav Zajíček, who was appointed extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Portugal.

“I am convinced that Daniel Štech will ensure continuity in the activities of the foreign department and will continue to provide the President of the Republic with professional service in the field of foreign policy. His long-term experience in Czech diplomacy and his previous work in the Office of the President of the Republic are a guarantee of a smooth connection to the work of Jaroslav Zajíček, whom I would like to thank for his professionalism and humanity in providing support to the President,” says the head of the Office of the President of the Republic, Milan Vašina.

Daniel Štech brings to the head of the foreign department more than ten years of experience in Czech diplomacy. He is a graduate of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has worked for several years as secretary to the deputy minister and worked in the department of political planning. He followed it up with a posting to the embassy in Vienna, where he focused on the political agenda and the development of bilateral relations. He is fluent in English, German and French. In the past, he also engaged in professional translation activities. Since 2023, he has been working in the foreign department of the Office of the President of the Republic, where he participates in the preparation of the foreign policy agenda of the President of the Republic and the provision of professional background for the performance of his duties.

“The President of the Republic has long contributed to building the good name of the Czech Republic and promoting its interests abroad. I appreciate the opportunity to create a strong background for the performance of his foreign policy role and to develop open communication with Czech and foreign partners. The Czech Republic can be a country that, in times of growing uncertainty, brings reliability, predictability and a willingness to bear responsibility to its partners. The credibility of our country strengthens our security and at the same time creates new opportunities for the Czech economy, science and innovation,” says the incoming director of the foreign department, Daniel Štech.

Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade

The Czech government is merging CzechTrade and CzechInvest agencies into a single agency called CzechBusiness. Officials say the move will simplify services for companies, strengthen support for exporters, investors and startups, and reduce administrative costs while preserving existing services.

The merger, announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, is intended to create a single point of contact for companies seeking help with exports, investments and startup development while reducing duplication inside the state administration.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Lucie Pavlačiková, Safari Park Dvůr Králové

Honey badgers are only rarely kept in zoos, making the recent new arrival at Dvůr Králové Safari Park an exceptional breeding achievement. The cub is currently staying with its mother behind the scenes, and the first visitors will be able to see it in a few months.

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Photo: ČTK

One hundred and thirty-five years ago, the Petřín Lookout Tower opened and the Petřín funicular began operating. The new attractions transformed Prague’s skyline and remain among the city’s most popular landmarks.

The summer of 1891 brought one of the biggest changes to Prague’s skyline.

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Photo: Kmeron, Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The tragic death of the Irish rock musician Glen Hansard on Tuesday made headlines around the world. There has also been an outpouring of grief here in the Czech Republic, where Hansard touched countless lives on many visits over a 30-year period.

Glen Hansard first performed in Czechia with The Frames in 1996 and subsequently played countless times around the country with the band, solo and as part of The Swell Season.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Martin Knitl, Czech Radio

A unique restoration project is underway in the north-eastern city of Opava, where conservators are rebuilding the glass-block dome of the historic Breda department store. The dome is made up of thousands of individual glass blocks weighing around five tonnes altogether.

One by one, restorers are fitting 4,200 glass blocks into the spectacular dome of Opava’s historic Breda department store.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Source: No-longer-here!, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czechs are among Europe’s least mobile workers. OECD and Eurostat data show they are far less likely than many other Europeans to relocate for work, often preferring to commute instead. Regional geographer and university president Jaroslav Koutský believes geography, family ties and long-standing habits all help explain why.

Freedom of movement has been one of the European Union’s defining principles ever since Czechia joined the bloc in 2004.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: TSK Praha

Anyone visiting Charles Bridge recently may have noticed workers suspended from ropes high above the Vltava or operating from boats below. They are carrying out regular maintenance to help keep one of Prague’s most iconic landmarks in good condition.

Charles Bridge is not only Prague’s best-known landmark but also one of the busiest historic bridges in Europe, with around 30,000 people crossing it every day.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon, Universal Pictures

Although it has been almost two weeks since the Prague premiere of what is likely to be this year’s biggest blockbuster, Prague’s IMAX cinema is still packed. The screening schedule for the 180-minute epic The Odyssey by director Christopher Nolan has even been expanded to include midnight showings. As a result, the last moviegoers leave the IMAX at Prague’s Flora shopping centre after three o’clock in the morning.

If you attend an IMAX screening of The Odyssey in Prague, chances are you will hear not only Czech but many other languages around you.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: House of Lobkowicz

Historic writing instruments often form only a small, supplementary part of permanent exhibitions at castles and châteaux, despite the undeniable historical and artistic value of these frequently overlooked objects. A current exhibition at Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle seeks to change that. Among its highlights, visitors can also see an original letter written by the composer Antonio Salieri.

Since a long time ago, human communication has been able to overcome even the greatest distances.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

When Hanna moved from Belarus to Czechia, it changed her career and her views on sex. Many women from former Soviet countries struggle to discuss sex openly with their partners, says the designer-turned-sexologist.

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Photo: Milan Malíček, Právo / Profimedia

The well-known artist, musician and arts administrator Milan Knížák has died at the age of 86. Knížák was part of the Fluxus art movement and was active in the Czechoslovak underground, before heading Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts and the Czech National Gallery in the post-1989 period.

One of Milan Knížák’s most significant early projects was Aktual, a rock group that grew out of Aktuální umění (Current Art), a collective the painter and sculptor started in 1967.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Eva Kézrová, Czech Radio

Czech researchers are developing a custom-made, 3D-printed implant with a porous structure that can be infused with drugs and release them gradually over time. To support the project, the Prague team has acquired a state-of-the-art 3D metal printer. Czech patients could soon receive joint implants that not only replace damaged joints but also deliver medication directly into the body.

That’s the goal of a project being developed by researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology (UCT) in Prague, together with doctors from Motol University Hospital.

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Author: Eva Kézrová

Photo: Czech Radio/ Verzone

Ninety years after the legendary Slovak Arrow first connected Prague and Bratislava, Czech journalist and author Michaela Vetešková is keeping its legacy alive. Inspired by a rare journey aboard the iconic train, a children’s book she wrote celebrates not only one of Czechoslovakia’s greatest engineering achievements, but also the life of its visionary creator, Josef Sousedík.

Although it was a Czech train, Slovenská strela or Slovak Arrow was given its name because it was designed to provide a fast connection between Prague and Bratislava in what was then Czechoslovakia.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Slavia Praha

Graphic designer Pavel Fuksa has worked with some of the world’s top brands, including Nike, Lego and Google. Now Fuksa has turned his skills to a different field, designing the 2026–2027 strip collection for reigning Czech football champions Slavia Prague, the club he has followed all his life. I spoke to him ahead of the start of the new top flight season this weekend.

I know that you have a long-time passion for football strips.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

The benefit concert of the Grand Finale of the National Festival Smetana’s Litomyšl raised more than 1 million crowns to support seniors from Litomyšl and the surrounding area.

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, and his wife Eva Pavlová made a significant contribution to achieving this amount, donating 150 thousand crowns to the collection for the Good Will Committee – Olga Havel Foundation.

The President’s gift, together with contributions from festival visitors, partners and other donors, helped to exceed the symbolic threshold of one million crowns. The proceeds of the public collection will go through the Good Will Committee – Olga Havel Foundation to organizations that provide care and support for seniors in Litomyšl and the surrounding area. The resulting amount ultimately reached 1,088,336 crowns.

“We greatly appreciate the generous donation of President Petr Pavel and First Lady Eva Pavlová. Their example is an inspiration for other donors, and their contribution significantly contributed to the fact that we managed to cross the one million crown mark. Equally important, however, is the message they sent: that helping seniors is a topic that deserves our attention,” says Monika Granja, Director of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation.

The charity collection was part of the final concert of the Grand Finale – Italian Film Night, which culminated this year’s Smetana’s Litomyšl National Festival. Festival visitors could contribute to the collection when purchasing tickets and during the benefit broadcast by Czech Television and Czech Radio.

The collection continues until the end of July. The funds raised will support organizations providing outreach services, home care and support in residential facilities for seniors. The goal is to help older people maintain a dignified and active life in the environment they know for as long as possible.

Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation

The Committee of Good Will has been operating since 1990, when the foundation was founded by Olga Havel, the first wife of the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. The foundation continues to build on this legacy. It helps those who cannot take care of themselves due to their adverse health and social conditions. It strives to develop education, spiritual values, human rights, and other humanistic values. Thanks to the support of individual and corporate donors, the foundation contributes to health and compensation aids, supports helping organizations and students with health or social disadvantages. During its existence, the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation has helped organizations and individuals in need with an amount exceeding one billion crowns.

Major partners of the collection: Generali Investments, Smetanova Litomyšl, Law Office Kocián, Šolc, Balaštík, Adfors, Saint-Gobain, Czech Television, Czech Radio, Czech Savings Bank, Dino

Cape voles sleep most of the day. Commented feedings are a great opportunity to observe them in action. People can visit them at the Africa House, both weekends at 10:30 a.m. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, 25.7.26 and Sunday, 26.7.2026, Prague Zoo will host a popular insectivore weekend. In addition to thematic animal feedings, visitors will also be offered free tastings of insect specialties, commented food preparations, or demonstrations of farmed insects. There will also be a competition stand for children. The first hundred tickets sold at the main box office will also receive a bonus package of flavored crickets on both days. The complete program can be seen on the Prague Zoo website.

Insect skewers, garlic-covered crickets, or locusts in banana batter – this is what the weekend delicacies for visitors at the Prague Zoo Education Center will look like. People will also learn how Brazilian blackflies, Argentine cockroaches, or so-called mealworms are bred and processed.

Unconventional gastronomic experiences await visitors from 10:00 to 16:00 at the Education Center near the main entrance of Prague Zoo. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Throughout the weekend, Prague Zoo’s insectivorous inhabitants will also enjoy a selected menu. Visitors can go for guided feedings and meetings throughout the entire zoo grounds.

The program starts in the Dja Reservation with the northern talapoins (10.15). The African House invites you to visit the burrowing geckos (10.30) or meerkats (10.45), and the Pavilion of Beasts and Reptiles will present desert lizards in the Kattakum exhibition (10.30) and the equally remarkable Sonora exhibition (10.45). The Prague Zoo guides in the lower part of the garden will reveal interesting facts about the life of anteaters (13.30). The Indonesian Jungle will not be left behind either. It invites visitors to feed critically endangered short-tailed pangolins (15.30).

This weekend, the Prague Zoo will be scented with fresh insect specialties. Packaged insect products will also be available for purchase on site. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Insect menu on the terrace of the Education Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Indian-style mealworms with couscous
• Garlic-fried crickets
• Sweet locusts in batter with banana, pancake and chocolate icing
• Mealworms with caramelized apples
• Skewers of several types of insects with vegetables

The guided feeding of northern talapoins in the Dja Reservation is also a great opportunity to observe this year’s cubs. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Foto: editorial Práh

La prestigiosa historietista checa Lucie Lomová habla sobre Fondo clásico del cuento popular checo, una obra que reúne cinco relatos tradicionales de Karel Jaromír Erben, a quien ella ubica a la altura de los hermanos Grimm. En esta entrevista explica por qué esos cuentos revelan la identidad checa y podrían fascinar también al público hispano.

“La consigna era adaptar al cómic una serie de cuentos checos clásicos y Karel Jaromír Erben me pareció absolutamente ideal para eso”.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Prague is known as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. To preserve its unique character for future generations, its historic city centre was designated the Prague Heritage Reservation 55 years ago, on July 21, 1971. It covers a vast area of 895 hectares, making it one of the largest protected urban centers in the world.

The district in question includes the Old Town, Malá Strana (the Lesser Quarter), Hradčany, New Town, Vyšehrad and large sections of the Vltava River with its islands.

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Photo: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Miloslav “Čurby” Urbanec has a private football pitch in his garden, a statue of Maradona stands outside his house, and the façade of the family home is painted in the colours of Argentina. If Czechia were ever to face Argentina at the World Cup, the country’s biggest Argentina fan says he would not hesitate for a second about which team to support.

Miloslav Urbanec had always loved football, but after Argentina’s victory at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, when he was just four years old, he became a lifelong supporter of the South American champions.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Romana Grajcarová

Source: Spolek Radecký Praha

The monument to Field Marshal Josef Václav Radetzky is set to return to Prague’s Malá Strana after more than a century. While the decision has broad political backing, some history minded members of the public still question whether the location is appropriate.

Josef Václav Radetzky, born in 1766 into a Czech noble family, served in the Habsburg army for more than seventy years and became one of Europe’s most celebrated military commanders.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

There are approximately one million foreigners of various nationalities living in the Czech Republic, contributing to the country’s rich cultural diversity. In this series, Radio Prague Int. presents the stories of people of different ages and professions, opinions and interests, whose life journey has brought them to the Czech Republic.

Source

Photo: Michaela Danelová, iROZHLAS.cz

The future of the Václav Havel Library has become uncertain amid disputes over its leadership, governance and the use of Václav Havel’s name. Former director Milan Babík, who led the institution for less than a year, says many of today’s problems were already apparent during his tenure. In an interview with Radio Prague International, he reflects on his brief experience and on what he believes the library should represent.

The Václav Havel Library, one of the Czech Republic’s leading institutions dedicated to preserving the legacy of the country’s first post-communist president, is facing the deepest crisis in its history.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Shutterstock

The Czech government has approved a proposal to ban the use of mobile phones in schools. Starting in 2027, the ban would apply to children in nursery, primary schools, grammar schools and conservatories. The opposition and the Children’s Ombudsman oppose the proposal, arguing that it is unnecessary.

In the classroom, during breaks, in after-school clubs and even in the school cafeteria.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Czech Television/ ČT24

A monumental concrete sculpture that stood beside Prague’s Barrandov Bridge for more than three decades collapsed late last week, sending tons of debris onto a nearby road and cycle path. No one was injured, but the incident has sparked debate over the state of public art in the Czech capital.

The six-metre-high, 15-metre-wide sculpture, Rovnováha (Balance), was the work of sculptor Josef Klimeš, who is regarded as one of the most important Czech sculptors of the second half of the 20th century.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová, Vladimír Kroc

Prague Council to replace collapsed Barrandov Bridge sculpture

Prague Council has decided to replace a well-known sculpture from the city’s Barrandov Bridge with a copy. The eight-metre high work Rovnovaha (Balance), which was created by sculptor Josef Klimeš and installed in 1990, collapsed last week.

Councillor Tomáš Slabihoudek told reporters that the city had a precise 3D scan of the cast reinforced concrete sculpture that could be used to create a replica.

Photo: Břetislav Tureček, Radio Prague International

It’s one of Czechia’s best-kept secrets: a narrow-gauge railway that snakes through a fairy-tale landscape in the country’s far northeast. We took a ride on the Osoblažka to find out what makes it so special.

All aboard! Finding Osoblaha on a map of Czechia is no easy task.

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Photo: Vladimír Pryček, ČTK

The Colours of Ostrava festival has become an integral part of the Czech summer music scene. With a line-up spanning a wide range of genres, there’s something for fans of virtually every musical taste.

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Photo: Barbora Linková, Czech Radio

Czech psychedelic pop band Bert & Friends is celebrating a decade on the music scene. Led by frontman Albert Romanutti, the group has built a distinctive world with surreal lyrics, colourful visuals and a mix of genres.

Since debuting with the single Haluzinace in 2016, the group has built a reputation for its psychedelic pop sound.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: APF Czech Radio

Shortly after the end of World War II, free voices returned to Prague’s radio studios. However, hopes for independent broadcasting were soon wiped out by the arrival of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain. Within a few years, Czechoslovak Radio’s international broadcasts had been transformed into a strategic weapon, tasked with spreading a particular message to every corner of the globe.

In early 1947, the voice of Prague spoke to the entire world in an impressive 18 languages.

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Author: Jaromír Marek

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

After cementing its reputation in Czechia with an acclaimed multipurpose arena, the young Brno-based architecture studio Chybík + Krištof is increasingly going international. The firm has significant projects in London and Paris in the pipeline – and ambitions to work even further afield in future. I caught up with co-founder Ondřej Chybík, who is 41, at the company’s bustling offices in central Prague.

Your father taught, or teaches, architecture.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Václav Malý, Czech Radio

A new tourist landmark is taking shape near Boží Dar in the Ore Mountains. The “stone heart” monument built to celebrate the international hiking festival EURORANDO 2026, is intended to symbolize the unity of European countries.

Boží Dar, located on the Czech-German border in the Ore Mountains, is the highest-situated town in Central Europe (1,028 m a.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Jana Matznerová, Czech Radio

For more than two decades, guitarist Rudy Linka has brought some of the world’s finest jazz musicians to Czech town squares through Bohemia JazzFest. In an inteview with Vít Pohanka, he looks back on his journey from communist Czechoslovakia to New York and explains why making great music accessible to everyone remains his life’s mission.

When Rudy Linka left communist Czechoslovakia as a 19-year-old, he was driven by a simple desire: to experience the world and hear the musicians he admired in person.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

On the occasion of French National Day, celebrated on July 14 as a commemoration of the 1789 Bastille Day, H.E. Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic, and Ms. Jennifer Zeitlin-Crouzat hosted a special reception at the beautiful garden of Palais Buquoy, the French Embassy in Prague.

The honored guest was the President of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Petr Pavel.

Watch the speech of H.E. Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic, and of the President of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Petr Pavel. And highlights from the culture program.

Viva France – Viva Czech Republic

On the occasion of the commemoration of the 32nd Anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation Day (Kwibohora32), H.E. Dr. Richard Masozera, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda, hosted a reception at OREA Hotel Pyramida.

This Kwibohora marks not only a day of remembrance but also a celebration of Rwanda’s remarkable journey of resilience, unity, and progress, honoring the spirit of liberation and the achievements made since.

The honored speaker was Mr. Vaclav Prášil, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Dr. Richard Masozera, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Czech Republic, and Mr. Vaclav Prášil, Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. And highlights from the culture program.

The event was moderated by Mr. Gerard Firmin Jonathan Byishimo VOLKMAR, First Secretary at the Rwanda Embassy in the Czech Republic.

Photos: Helena Budilova, and Archive

Cheetah cubs begin to walk clumsily and cautiously after less than a month of life. They are still fully dependent on their mother’s milk. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Cheetah cubs were born at Prague Zoo. The quadruplets were born on June 18 and are still far from overcoming the critical period. Despite their inexperience, their mother is taking exemplary care of them, and she remains in the back enclosure with her offspring. If all goes well, visitors will see the rare additions in the second half of August. The cheetah is one of the most endangered felines today. There are only about 7,000 individuals left in the wild. Human breeding has also not been successful recently. Since 2020, the number of cheetahs in European zoos has decreased by a quarter. Each raised cub is therefore a success and a hope. Cheetah cubs are raised at Prague Zoo after eight years.

The little cheetahs are now starting to grow their incisors. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“The mother of the cubs never ceases to surprise us. Years ago, she arrived from France in a weak physical and mental state, and at that time I was convinced that we would never see cubs from this female,” says mammal curator Pavel Brandl. However, the female’s condition has improved since spring 2023, thanks to the care in Prague. “Last year, she became pregnant for the first time and gave birth to a dead cub. But that also gave us hope that she is fertile and can get pregnant. She has now given birth to five viable kittens and is behaving maternally beyond expectations,” he adds.

The seven-year-old female chose an outdoor enclosure for giving birth. On the one hand, this brings the breeding process closer to nature, but on the other hand, it carries greater risks – for example, storms.

They cannot see after birth, but they can now observe their surroundings. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

It is thanks to the mother’s responsibility that all the cubs managed to overcome the heavy downpours at the turn of June and July. Drowning and subsequent pneumonia are also frequent causes of death for cheetahs in the wild, along with predation. Apparently, however, the cheetah dried her offspring by licking the water from their typically bushy fur with a dorsal mantle.

Prague Zoo will provide further information about the development of the cubs and the possibility of seeing or photographing them.

Foto: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

El director de la película checa de la que todo el mundo habla revela qué lo une a su admirado Pedro Almodóvar, por qué en pleno 2026 sigue siendo importante abordar en Chequia el tema de la diversidad sexual y cómo se ha convertido en un férreo defensor del rol de los medios públicos.

En los pasillos, en las filas para retirar entradas, en las charlas ocasionales con café o cerveza de por medio y hasta en los baños.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

The landmark 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival was won by the Myanmar-made, Czech co-produced Fruit Gathering. Meanwhile the great French actress Juliette Binoche received a lifetime achievement award from the region’s biggest film event.

The Grand Prix for Best Film at the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival went to Fruit Gathering.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Peteri, Shutterstock

More and more Czechs are discovering the joys of life on the water. The number of recreational boats registered in the country has doubled over the past decade, reflecting the growing popularity of boating as a summer pastime.

One of the country’s most popular boating destinations is the Slapy Reservoir, south of Prague.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

A new shop focused on Czech design and culture opened at Prague Castle on Wednesday, as officials highlighted changes at the country’s most visited landmark “midway” through the presidency of Petr Pavel.

At Prague Castle’s grand Rothmayer Hall on Wednesday, officials presented some of the changes the complex has seen since Petr Pavel became head of state in 2023.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: APF Czech Radio

Ninety years ago, a broadcast first went on air from Prague’s Strašnice district with a single mission: to make heard the voice of Czechoslovakia, a small country in the heart of Europe. Radio Prague International was not created as a pastime, but as a strategic weapon against Nazi propaganda. Through the crackle of the airwaves, presidents, ordinary people and visionaries spoke to listeners abroad. This is the story of courage behind the microphone that began in 1936 and had to withstand attacks, lies, and the fateful Munich Agreement. Discover an era when radio connected continents in the struggle for freedom.

The year is 1936, and storm clouds are gathering over Europe.

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Author: Jaromír Marek

Photo: Kin Cheung, ČTK/AP

Linda Nosková has become Wimbledon champion after defeating fellow Czech Karolína Muchová in a dramatic three-set final. The 21-year-old described the moment as “incredible” and said the two players had made history together. Muchová admitted the defeat was painful but called her run to the final a motivation to keep chasing a first Grand Slam title.

Linda Nosková appeared not to be quite sure what to do with the Wimbledon trophy.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Michal Augustini, Colours of Ostrava

Visitors to this year’s Colours of Ostrava festival, due to open next week, will be able to explore a brand-new venue. Alongside the more laid-back Steel Stage, organizers are also introducing a new fan zone called Steel Town.

One of the country’s most popular music festivals Colours of Ostrava takes place at the Dolní Vítkovice grounds, a spectacular former ironworks area in Ostrava, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Juan Francisco Muñoz chose Prague over Berlin for his studies. He fell in love with the city, stayed, and ended up launching his podcast Geopolitical Pickle

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Photo: Jaromír Marek, Czech Radio

On Saturday, 4 July 2026, a commemorative ceremony was held in the English civil parish of Cholmondeley that marked the arrival of Czechoslovak soldiers in the UK in July 1940. Their ranks included men from all walks of life – students, factory workers, professional soldiers but also people who lived on the fringes of legality. A painting by one of the soldiers, created in Cholmondeley park in the summer of 1940, has now returned there.

A green park, a pond covered with water lilies in the foreground, and trees and brown tents in the background, where Czechoslovak soldiers slept.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, ČTK

The Between Two Gates vintage car rally continues the tradition of a motor race held in Telč during the First Czechoslovak Republic. This year’s event featured cars built up to 1939, with the oldest entry – a 1906 Franklin – 120 years old!

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Photo: Dan Materna, MFDNES + LN / Profimedia

Vlasta Průchová was one of the defining figures of Czech jazz. She was the singer who brought the spirit of American swing and jazz into Czechoslovak homes at a time when the Iron Curtain separated the country from the West. She performed alongside a young Karel Gott, welcomed music legends into her home, and raised a son who would become an international icon. This year marks the centenary of her birth.

In the early 1960s, viewers of the television programme Studio A witnessed a duet that quickly became a sensation: Až nám bude dvakrát tolik.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Archiv of the village Senetářov

It stands as both an architectural landmark and a symbol of quiet resistance. The Church of St. Joseph in Senetářov was built with donations from ordinary people who fulfilled a wartime vow despite the obstacles of the communist regime.

During the communist era in Czechoslovakia (1948–1989), building new churches was almost impossible.

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Photo: Petr Augustin, FJFI ČVUT

Few universities in the world can offer students hands-on experience with a real nuclear reactor. This episode of Czechast takes listeners inside the Czech Technical University in Prague with Professor Jan Rataj, head of the Department of Nuclear Reactors.

Hidden away inside a modest-looking building on the CTU campus close to the banks of the Vltava river is one of Czechia´s most remarkable scientific facilities.

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Author: Vít Pohanka