AuthorMartin Hladík

Photo: Archive of the Pilsen Philharmonic

Less than a year after the establishment of the regional Pilsen Radio station, a 32-member orchestra was founded in February 1946. It was named the Pilsen Radio Orchestra. The ensemble is one of the predecessors of today’s Pilsen Philharmonic.

The orchestra made its first public appearance on 16 April 1946, performing works by Antonín Dvořák and Vítězslav Novák under the baton of its first chief conductor, Gabriel Vágner.

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Photo: Profimedia

Around one fifth of Czech children and adolescents aged nine to fifteen spend more than five hours online every single day. This is according to a new survey conducted by the Czech Statistics Office (ČSÚ).

The survey, which included nearly 84,000 pupils from 1,100 schools across the Czech Republic, focused on students in years four to nine of primary schools and the lower years of grammar schools.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Prague Castle Guard

The Prague Castle Guard is looking to take on new recruits and has relaxed its long-standing selection criteria. For many years, only candidates between 178 and 188 centimeters tall were eligible to serve. The new height range is more tolerant.

The Prague Castle Guard is a specialized military unit with over 100 years of history.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

The Good Will Committee – Olga Havel Foundation has launched a public collection Light and Heat for Kiev, which responds to the dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine during this winter. The goal of the collection is to ensure the operation of Save Ukraine centers in Kiev and its surroundings.

During blackouts, these places provide children and families with safety, warmth, light, food, and the opportunity to stay connected to the world.

Russia’s ongoing and intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are causing long-term power, heating, and water outages at a time when temperatures are falling well below freezing. “Winter without electricity and heat is not just a matter of discomfort. It poses a real health risk and further trauma for children and vulnerable families.

With this collection, we want to help keep the places that literally decide today whether people will have somewhere to warm up and feel safe in operation,” says Monika Granja, Director of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation.

The Save Ukraine centers in Kyiv, Irpin, and Hatny currently operate as places of psychological and social support. During power outages, people find heated spaces, the opportunity to prepare hot meals, charge mobile phones, use emergency shelters, or take shelter during air raids. Hundreds of children and adults depend on their operation every day.

The funds raised from the Light and Heat for Kiev collection will be used exclusively for urgent and critical needs, in particular to provide alternative energy sources (generators, charging stations, power banks), heating and fuel for the operation of the centers during long-term outages, equipment for emergency overnight stays and shelter (beds, sleeping bags, thermal blankets), the ability to prepare hot meals even without electricity, basic lighting and safety in the dark.

“The President of the Czech Republic visited Kiev in recent days. In these difficult times, such visits are more important than words can express. It is a great honor for us to have friends who are not afraid to come to Ukraine, join us in person, and show solidarity even when the war continues. Please accept our sincere gratitude for the unwavering support and friendship of the Czech Republic,” said Dariia Bolgar, a representative of the Save Ukraine organization, commenting on the wave of solidarity.

The Light and Heat for Kiev collection is intended for the coming winter months, when the situation is most critical. Every day without help increases the health risks and endangerment of children who have already been deprived of a sense of security by the war.

People can support the Light and Heat for Kiev collection through the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation on https://www.darujme.cz/

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 already helped 32,000 organizations and individuals with the amount of 984 million crowns.

A summary of the key points from the recent address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

 In his remarks, President Tokayev presented a package of constitutional and institutional reforms aimed at modernizing the state system and strengthening long-term political stability, including proposals to formalize the transfer of presidential powers, establish the position of Vice-President, and move towards a new constitutional model to be endorsed through a nationwide referendum.

Factsheet on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Speech at the National Kurultai

Overview

On 20 January 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the National Kurultai (Congress) held in Kyzylorda, outlining a new stage in Kazakhstan’s political development, alongside priorities in foreign policy, economic governance and digital transformation.

In his speech, President Tokayev presented a package of constitutional and institutional reforms aimed at modernising the state system, clarifying governance architecture and strengthening long-term political stability. Central to the address were proposals to formalise presidential succession rules, establish the position of Vice President, and transition to a fundamentally new constitutional model following a national referendum.

The President also addressed Kazakhstan’s foreign policy posture in a changing global environment, reaffirming a balanced, pragmatic and interest-driven diplomacy, as well as economic integration priorities, food security concerns, and the strategic importance of digitalisation and artificial intelligence for national competitiveness.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Speech

Key Points

Foreign Policy in a Changing Global Environment

• President Tokayev noted that international relations are undergoing profound changes, marked by declining trust, erosion of international law, and rising global militarisation.
• In this context, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy must remain balanced, cautious and firmly anchored in national interests.
• He stressed that diplomatic decisions carry long-term consequences and must be made with professionalism and restraint.
• Diplomacy, he said, should function as a tool for compromise rather than confrontation, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s role as a predictable and responsible international actor.

Human Rights, Rule of Law and Civic Responsibility

• President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to building a rule-of-law state, emphasising that legal reform must go hand in hand with the strengthening of civic responsibility and national self-awareness.
• He highlighted the impact of the 2022 constitutional reforms, including the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the creation of cassation courts, and the granting of constitutional status to the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), as key steps in strengthening the protection of citizens’ rights.
• The President noted that reforms to administrative justice and judicial procedures have improved citizens’ and entrepreneurs’ ability to defend their lawful interests before the courts.
• Tokayev stressed that the principle of “Law and Order” applies equally to all.
• He reiterated the state’s obligation to protect the rights, freedoms, dignity and security of all citizens.

Additional Key Points of Significant Interest

Introduction of the Office of Vice President

• President Tokayev proposed the establishment of the position of Vice President, to be appointed by the President with the consent of Parliament.
• The Vice President would represent Kazakhstan internationally, engage with Parliament, work with domestic and foreign organisations, and perform duties assigned by the President.
• These responsibilities would be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, providing legal clarity and institutional stability.
• The President stressed that this reform is intended to strengthen governance coherence, not dilute presidential authority. Kazakhstan will continue to function as a presidential republic.

Clear Constitutional Rules for Presidential Succession

• President Tokayev underscored the importance of unambiguous constitutional regulation of presidential succession.
• In the event of early termination of a presidential term, presidential elections must be held within two months, ensuring that any head of state comes to power exclusively through elections.
• He described this principle as fundamental and non-negotiable, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s commitment to electoral legitimacy and political predictability.

Transition to a New Constitutional Model and Strengthening Checks and Balances

• Tokayev stated that the reforms launched in 2022, together with upcoming initiatives to be submitted to a national referendum, mark a transition away from the 1995 constitutional model toward a fundamentally new political system.
• Public endorsement of these reforms, he said, would lead to a renewal of the political system and strengthen long-term stability.
• He noted that 26 laws have already been adopted based on proposals from previous National Kurultai sessions, demonstrating the forum’s growing institutional relevance.
• It is proposed that the appointment of members of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Audit Chamberand Central Election Commission be carried out exclusively with the consent of Parliament.
• Parliament would also receive the power to elect all judges of the Supreme Court upon nomination by the President, marking a significant step in strengthening checks and balances between branches of power.

Reconfiguration of Parliamentary and Advisory Institutions

• The proposed reforms include a move toward a unicameral parliament (to be called “Kurultai”), designed to streamline legislative processes and governance efficiency.
• The new Parliament is proposed to consist of 145 deputies, with up to three deputy speakers and no more than eight standing committees, prioritising efficiency and professionalism over numerical expansion.
• Deputies will be elected exclusively on a proportional basis, strengthening the institutional role and responsibility of political parties. Deputies will be elected for a five-year term, with a revised three-stage legislative procedure: conceptual approval, amendment approval, and final adoption of laws.
• A new Khalyk Kenesi (People’s Council) would be established, assuming key functions of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan in the areas of interethnic and interfaith harmony.
• The People’s Council would also:
• Develop proposals to improve domestic policy
• Promote and explain matters related to state ideology
• Be granted the right of legislative initiative
• Organise the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and other major humanitarian forums
• The reforms also envisage the abolition of certain administrative structures supporting the current Parliament, the elimination of the post of State Counsellor, and adjustments to the Presidential Administration to better reflect practical governance needs.

Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence as Strategic Priorities

• President Tokayev emphasised that digitalisation and artificial intelligence are reshaping global realities, reducing the importance of population size and rewarding countries that adapt quickly.
• Kazakhstan, he said, has chosen a path of accelerated digital and AI adoption across all sectors of the economy and public administration.
• At the same time, he cautioned that technology alone cannot compensate for weak governance.
• Effective digital transformation requires streamlined management processes, improved organisational culture, and modern public-sector management practices.

Infrastructure for the Future Digital Economy

• Tokayev highlighted the need to build a strong infrastructure base to support a future digital and energy-intensive economy.
• President Tokayev proposed enshrining in the Constitution the institutional and legal foundations of digitalisation, reflecting its growing impact on daily life and fundamental rights.
• He called for the early designation of zones for high-capacity data centres, equipped with:
• Reliable power supply
• Advanced cooling systems
• Robust physical and cyber security
• These measures, he said, are essential for Kazakhstan to remain competitive in emerging digital industries and global value chains.
• President Tokayev stressed that only states that successfully digitise and integrate their history and culture into global digital civilisation will retain agency.
• The President supported the creation of a national digital repository of memory and knowledge, (National Digital Heritage), aimed at systematising archival materials, museum collections, scholarly research and works of art in digital form.

Cultural and Spiritual Development

• President Tokayev emphasised that cultural and spiritual development is a strategic priority of state policy, noting that the success of political and economic reforms depends on the transformation of public consciousness and the strengthening of national values.
• He highlighted large-scale plans to develop cultural infrastructure, modernise museums, theatres and libraries, and support the creative industries.
• The President underscored the importance of promoting Kazakhstan’s cultural and historical heritage internationally, including through UNESCO mechanisms, noting Kazakhstan’s strong standing in the number of elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
• He stressed the need to deepen scholarly research into Kazakhstan’s history and civilisation, including the publication of a seven-volume academic history of Kazakhstan, and the organisation of international conferences on the Golden Horde and Turkic civilisation.
• He also linked cultural policy to digital transformation, stressing that only states that successfully digitise and integrate their cultural heritage into the global digital space will retain agency in the modern world.

The collection point will be at the main entrance to the zoo. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo has prepared a special event for schoolchildren for the autumn holidays. Every child under 15 who hands in their old mobile phone for recycling at the main entrance will receive entry to the zoo on Friday, January 30 for just one crown.

The mining of rare metals, such as niobium and tantalum, which are crucial for the production of mobile phones, contributes to the deforestation of Central African forests. Their reuse reduces the pressure on the local inhabitants – including pangolins, elephants, and gorillas. In addition, the Prague gorillas will have a special program on Friday.

Demonstration of the meaning of recycling old phones. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

In addition to the above, recycling mobile phones also reduces the amount of electronic waste, which can release toxic substances into nature when decomposed in a landfill. Last but not least, for each mobile phone handed in, the Prague Zoo will receive 10 CZK from the company Remobil and another 10 CZK from the company Asekol to the collection account, helping them survive. From these funds, support will be provided for the protection of lowland gorillas in Cameroon, where Prague Zoo has been running the Wandering Bus project for the fourteenth consecutive year.

Special feeding of lowland gorillas will take place on Friday in both pavilions. The first to receive enrichment will be the gorilla family group in the Dja Reserve pavilion, led by the silverback male Kisumu (pictured). Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On the occasion of Friday’s event, gorillas at Prague Zoo will receive gifts. At 10 a.m., a family group with cubs in the Dja Reservation pavilion will share the new enrichment, and at 3 p.m., a male group inhabiting the Méfou Center will be delighted. The accompanying program in the Dja Reservation African Class will also show interested parties how to recycle mobile phones in practice, while the children will be entertained and educated by thematic game stations.

More information can also be found at https://remobil.cz/mobiljakovstupenka/ 

Source: Kristýna Marková, Radio Prague International

Radio Prague International is celebrating 90 years since the launch of international broadcasting this year. To mark the anniversary, it has prepared a new series of QSL cards, which are among the most distinctive visual artefacts linked to the tradition of shortwave radio.

To this day, Radio Prague International has preserved the decades-long tradition of issuing QSL cards—postcards sent to listeners to confirm reception reports.

See more here.

Author: Klára Stejskalová, Ruth Fraňková

Photo illustrative: RebeccasPictures, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Over the past five years, total fertility rate in Czechia has fallen from 1.83 to below 1.3 children per woman. While declining fertility is a trend shared by most countries of comparable wealth, the drop in Czechia is among the steepest – fifth worldwide. What lies behind it? What has Covid-19 got to do with it? And what has changed since the 1990s? Radio Prague International spoke with sociologist Martin Kreidl to find out.

Last year, the United Nations reported that global fertility rates are in “unprecedented decline.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Naoki Morita, AFLO/Profimedia

With the Winter Olympics in Milan just around the corner, we’re taking a closer look at some of Czechia’s biggest medal hopefuls. One of the brightest new stars is speed skater Metoděj Jílek, just nineteen years old and already a newly crowned long-distance World Cup champion.

For many years, Czech speed skating was almost synonymous with one name: Martina Sáblíková.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Radek Šrettr Úlehla, CAMP

The 1990s were a period of optimism following the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. The country underwent a rapid crash course in capitalism, and its sudden shift was also reflected in its architecture. Today, 1990s buildings are often mocked for their excess and perceived lack of taste. A new book and exhibition, DEVADE, aim to challenge that judgement. But has enough time passed?

To find out, Radio Prague International spoke with Štěpán Bärtl, Head of CAMP.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Václav Hodina, PKF – Prague Philharmonia

The Prague Philharmonia performed at Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, marking its return to the United States after several years. Conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, the concert offered not only a showcase of European repertoire but also a moment of direct encounter with American audiences, whose openness and diversity Villaume sees as central to the U.S. concert experience.

For any European orchestra, a concert in the United States carries a particular weight — and a performance at Carnegie Hall more so than anywhere else.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Petr Hejna, DPP

In January 2006, the Škoda 14T tram, nicknamed the “Porsche” because of its design by Porsche Design, made its debut in Prague. Today, two decades later, these controversial vehicles are an unmistakable part of the streets of Prague.

When the first 14T appeared on the tracks, expectations were high: a modern, partially low-floor tram with a capacity of 270 passengers and a futuristic look.

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Photo: Andy Paradise, BBC Proms

Conductor Jakub Hrůša has become a pop star of Czech classical music. In this episode of Sunday Music, he takes us on a journey through Richard Strauss’s Lieder, spanning nearly seventy years of the composer’s creative life. Hrůša – here not only conducting but also accompanying on piano – works in harmony with soprano Kateřina Kněžíková to guide us from Strauss’s youthful early songs to the deeply reflective ‘Vier letzte Lieder,’ composed near the end of his life.

Recorded live at Prague’s Rudolfinum with the Bamberger Symphoniker, the album ‘Richard Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder & Songs with Piano – Tag und Nacht’ (Supraphon, 2024) captures Strauss’s extraordinary gift for musical intimacy, lyrical beauty, and nuanced emotional expression.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Peasants have long been sidelined in history books. Jakub Beneš, Associate Professor at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London, seeks to restore them to the historical narrative, focusing on the area of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. In his new book, he reveals the overlooked peasant movements and revolutions that shaped the politics of the first half of the 20th century. In an interview with Radio Prague International, he explains why this underrepresented perspective is so compelling and draws possible parallels with the present.

Until 1918, the Czech lands formed part of the Habsburg Monarchy, ruled from Vienna.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Kateřina Cibulka, Czech Radio

In a new episode of Czechast, the podcast in English about all things Czech, former Czech NATO ambassador Jakub Landovský reflects on Ukraine, NATO and Europe’s hard lessons. Drawing on his own experience inside the Alliance, he speaks openly about disillusionment, strategy and power. He also looks back at 1989 and explains where he still finds hope today.

Jakub Landovský does not believe that good intentions alone can protect international order.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Source: Adept

Miloš Forman Square in central Prague is set for a major transformation. This week, city officials announced the winner of an international architectural competition for the site at the end of Pařížská, Czechia’s most expensive street, near the Vltava riverbank. The redesign will be led by the Danish studio ADEPT.

The winning design by Danish studio ADEPT was announced at a ceremony at Prague’s Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning, known as CAMP.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jan Salač, Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Scientists from the Faculty of Technology and the Centre of Polymer Systems at Tomas Bata University in Zlín are developing an advanced model of the human small intestine. The main goal behind this effort is to replace animal testing in developing new drugs.

In cooperation with the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, researchers in Zlin aim to create laboratory-grown tissue that closely mimics the real small intestine and could help drug development and research into intestinal diseases without the need for animal testing.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Lukáš Kaboň, Deník / Czech Press Photo

An image capturing a miner at work has won the main prize at this year’s Czech Press Photo competition. Photographer Lukáš Kaboň was awarded for documenting life underground as the country’s last operating hard coal mine approaches closure. The lifetime achievement award went to veteran documentary photographer Viktor Kolář.

The winning photograph of Czech Press Photo 2025 shows a miner in the ČSM-Sever mine in Stonava, in the Moravia-Silesia region, which is due to cease operations at the end of this month.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Source: Gufex

In just over two weeks, the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will get under way in northern Italy. The Czech Republic is pinning its hopes not only on its skiers, snowboarders and speed skaters, but also on its ice hockey team. Hockey fans will be interested to learn that the pucks used at the Games are made in the Czech Republic – in a small town in Moravia.

The family-run company Gufex, based in Kateřinice, is no newcomer to puck production.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: PKF Prague Philharmonia/Morris Media

This week, Prague Philharmonia embarks on a concert tour of the United States, performing in six cities across the American Southeast before culminating its journey at New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall. Ahead of the opening concert in Florida, RPI spoke with the orchestra’s chief conductor, Emmanuel Villaume, about the tour and the upcoming Carnegie Hall debut.

“Tours are always extremely important for any orchestra, and US tours are very special for European orchestras.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Muzeum hlavního města Prahy

Štvanice Winter Stadium, designed in 1932 by functionalist architect Josef Fuchs, was the first arena in Czechoslovakia with an artificial ice surface. It hosted the country’s first-ever ice hockey world championship win in 1947, as well as the first televised hockey game in 1955.

The first game ever played at the Štvanice Winter Stadium was on 17 January 1931, when LTC Praha faced Canada’s Manitoba University Graduates.

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Foto: Langley, M.C., Škrdla, P., Kmošek, M. et al. Engraved Limestone Block from Švédův stůl Cave, Czech Republic, 2026 / ARÚ AV ČR /

Czech scientists have announced an extraordinary discovery in the Moravian Karst in South Moravia. Inside one of the region’s caves, they found a rare engraving of a horse — an image created around 15,000 years ago, at the very end of the last Ice Age, when people still lived in and around caves.

An international team of archaeologists, led by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, uncovered the engraving in the Švédův stůl Cave.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková, Zdeňka Kuchyňová

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Malá Strana is one of Prague’s most visited neighbourhoods and very much part of the beaten track. But behind its busy streets lies a network of stairways that lead away from crowds and into calmer, more intimate spacesand take you suddenly off the beaten track.

Malá Strana’s steep terrain has shaped how people move through it for centuries.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK

January and February are traditionally the months when universities across the Czech Republic hold open days. The University of Defence in Brno was no exception, offering prospective students the chance to explore courses and get hands-on experience with available military equipment.

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Photo: NFA

Few Czech silent films are as renowned as Erotikon, directed by Gustav Machatý in 1929. The intimate romance, provocative for its time, has now been digitally restored and will receive a major new premiere on Tuesday. The screening will feature the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra performing a newly commissioned score by Jana Vöröšová. The restoration, led by the National Film Archive, was made possible by the combined efforts of its team. Radio Prague International spoke with Matěj Strnad, head of curation at the Archive.

Eroticon is one of the gems of Czech silent cinema and Czechoslovak film history in general.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Michal Fanta, SOČR

This Friday, the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra celebrated a major international success in Paris, where it received the Diapason d’Or de l’Année award for its triple album of the complete symphonic works of Bedřich Smetana. The award, presented by critics from the French classical music magazine Diapason and the radio station France Musique, was accepted at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées by the Director General of Czech Radio, René Zavoral.

The album was recorded over two and a half years under the direction of the orchestra’s chief conductor, Petr Popelka, who also works with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Bet Orten studied fashion photography in London after a stint as an assistant to a well-known celebrity photographer in New York. But for the last decade and a half Orten, whose Instagram profile describes her as a “female photographer taking pictures of other females”, has been living here in her native Prague. We spoke at our studios ahead of an exhibition she has coming up in the Czech capital this spring.

Where does the name Bet Orten come from?.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Jan Bachorík, Czech Radio

Exactly 120 years ago, in 1906, the Austro-Hungarian Empire began systematically registering motor vehicles, requiring the few car owners in the Czech lands — then still part of the Empire — to display a clearly visible registration plate.

One of the best people to explain the origins of number plates is Martin Leška, chairman of the Association of Friends of Number Plates, which brings together enthusiasts and collectors.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan, Ľubomír Smatana

Photo: Tereza Cedidlová, Cech Radio

One of Prague’s most picturesque squares – Námestí míru – was the selected site for a wedding scene in Netflix’s upcoming series The Age of Innocence, an adaptation of the famous novel by American writer Edith Wharton. Its shooting this week attracted a crowd of onlookers.

A section of Prague’s Naměstí míru square went back in time this week.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Lukáš Kaboň, Deník / Czech Press Photo

An image capturing a miner at work has won the main prize at this year’s Czech Press Photo competition. Photographer Lukáš Kaboň was awarded for documenting life underground as the country’s last operating hard coal mine approaches closure. The lifetime achievement award went to veteran documentary photographer Viktor Kolář.

The winning photograph of Czech Press Photo 2025 shows a miner in the ČSM-Sever mine in Stonava, in the Moravia-Silesia region, which is due to cease operations at the end of this month.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Dominik Jůn, Radio Prague International

Czech type designers have become significant players in the field of global typography – the design of glyphs and letterforms, better known as fonts. As Dominik Jůn discovered, this field of artistic graphic design is also strongly linked to Czech history and national identity.

As with any field of human endeavour, Czech type design has its own list of key people that have built up this unique profession – names such as Vojtěch Preissig, Oldřich Menhart, Ladislav Sutnar and František Štorm.

See more here.

Author: Dominik Jůn

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Prague Castle:

H.E. Mr. Ruslan Abashidze, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia, based in Prague;

H.E. Ms. Theresa Adjei-Mensah, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana, based in Prague;

H.E. Mr. Kairat Abdrakhmanov, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, based in Prague.

Photo: Národní památkový ústav, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 CZ

Snowfall on Friday transformed much of the Czech Republic into a winter wonderland. While the mountains are drawing visitors for winter sports, historic sites also take on a special charm at this time of year. And judging by last year’s figures, interest in Czech heritage sites is clearly on the rise – so which castles and chateaux are the most popular, and which can be visited year-round?

Heritage sites managed by the Czech National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) welcomed around 4.

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Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

One of the best ways to experience Prague off the Beaten Track is not on foot, but from a tram. Line 22 crosses the city from Bílá Hora to Hostivař, passing castles, squares, and residential districts along the way. Seen from street level and in motion, Prague reveals itself as a lived-in city, not just a collection of sights.

Most visitors experience Prague on foot — climbing hills, crossing bridges, ticking off landmarks.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

As of January 1, 2026, Czechia introduced a new amendment to its Criminal Code, placing communism on the same legal footing as Nazism. So, what does the law actually prohibit? Why was it adopted, and how does it reflect Czechia’s understanding of its past? I discussed these questions and more with historian and First Deputy Director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes Kamil Nedvědický.

Starting in the new year, Czech law criminalizes the promotion and endorsement of communist ideology.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo illustrative: ilovetattoos, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Getting a tattoo may leave a lasting mark not only on your skin, but also on your immune system. This is the conclusion of a groundbreaking international study involving researchers from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The research shows that commonly used tattoo pigments can influence immune function, trigger inflammation and even alter the effectiveness of certain vaccines.

Immediately after a tattoo is applied, pigment particles do not remain confined to the skin.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Andy Paradise, BBC Proms

Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša has been named Artist of the Year for 2026 by the International Classical Music Awards. Often described as the “Oscar of classical music,” the honour recognises his exceptional international career and his work with leading orchestras.

The jury of the International Classical Music Awards, made up of editors-in-chief of leading music magazines and representatives of major cultural institutions, praised Hrůša’s ability to combine a deep understanding of musical scores with intense expression and a clear artistic vision.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

Celebrations of regional folk music and dance take place around Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia each year, drawing hundreds of admirers. And while the tradition is only brought out on special occasions, the good news is that those charmed by their vibrant appeal can learn to dance them like a pro!

A defining feature of folk dances, which emerged during the 17th and 18th centuries, was that they were not taught in any formal way.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Metoděj Vlach Aviation Museum

The Metoděj Vlach Aviation Museum in Mladá Boleslav has a new exhibit: a replica of the Kuňkadlo sport aircraft. It was built by designer Juraj Tinka and donated to the museum. The original aircraft was constructed 100 years ago by brothers Bohumil and Vladimír Šimůnek in 1925.

The Šimůnek brothers became interested in aviation at the very beginning of the First World War, initially focusing on building model aircraft.

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Photo: Česká obec sokolská

Marie Provazníková ranks among the most outstanding figures of modern Czech history. As the head of Sokol, an Olympic coach, and a pioneer of women’s physical education, she managed to resist both Nazism and Communism.

She was born in 1890 in Prague’s Karlín district.

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Photo: Věra Hájková, Czech Radio

A treasure trove of more than a thousand rare books has been returned to the monastery library of the Association for the Preservation of the Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi in Votice. The books were taken away 75 years ago, and for many years their whereabouts were unknown.

The Association for the Preservation of the Monastery of St.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Oto Bernad

Women in the South Moravian town of Lednice have created a new online collection documenting more than one hundred traditional woollen shawls known as vlňáky. Once a common part of winter folk costume in the Podluží region, these scarves survive today mostly in family collections.

Vlňáky, or woolen shawls, are a traditional part of women’s folk costume, especially in Moravia.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Česká televize

In the deep forests of the Vysočina region, in the unassuming village of Tři Studně (Three Wells), Bohuslav Martinů composed one of his most lyrical works. Two small forest springs – Barborka and Vitulka – inspired the composer to create the cantata Otvírání studánek (The Opening of the Wells), which celebrates 70 years since its premiere this year.

Martinů visited Tři Studně in 1938 at the invitation of his pupil and muse, Vítězslava Kaprálová.

See more here.

Photo: Petr Znachor, Czech Academy of Sciences

Visitors to the Lipno Reservoir in South Bohemia witnessed something unusual at the end of last year. The ice on the lake turned green, a striking sight in the middle of winter. The cause was an unexpected build-up of cyanobacteria trapped beneath the frozen surface.

Cyanobacteria are a common sight on Czech ponds and reservoirs, particularly in the summer months.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In this episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, we head to Baba, a rocky plateau just north of Hanspaulka. Built in the 1930s as a model housing exhibition, the Baba villa colony combines functionalist architecture with sweeping views over Prague. From here, even the city’s most familiar landmarks appear — just from angles most visitors never see.

At first glance, Baba feels like a natural extension of nearby Hanspaulka.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

TEDxUNYP returns to Prague on Saturday, March 7th, bringing international speakers to the Prague Congress Centre for a one day event focused on how we connect in a changing world.

The 2026 edition introduces the theme “Currents of Connection”, focusing on the often unseen forces that shape how people connect — with each other, with technology, and with the systems that influence daily life. Through stories and ideas drawn from leadership, innovation, psychology, education, and public life, the event will explore what connection really means in a world that is constantly shifting.

The English-language event will bring international speakers to Prague, including Adam Radcliffe, a British Guinness World Record-holding adventurer whose experiences range from trekking through remote jungles and living with hunter-gatherer communities to rowing 3,500 miles across the North Atlantic. He will be joined by Stephen Oommen, flying in from the United States, a former Managing Director at Microsoft and Accenture, who will share insights on how trust and human relationships shape meaningful professional connections.

The programme will also feature voices closer to home. Tereza Hrbková, co-founder and COO of Citymind, will speak about how cities and public institutions can build trust as artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday decision-making. She is joined by Ivana Šedivá, a board member and mentor at Google for Startups and former CMO at companies including Johnson & Johnson, Tesco, and McDonald’s, bringing a global leadership perspective on how questioning and curiosity drive better decisions.

Speakers will tackle questions many organisations and individuals are grappling with right now — from how leadership is changing, to how language shapes belonging, how AI is reshaping identity, why burnout is becoming global, and what education means for the future of democracy.

“We live in a world that’s more connected than ever, yet many people feel more disconnected than before,” said Amit Grinvald, Lead Organiser of TEDxUNYP. “Currents of Connection is an invitation to slow down and notice the forces shaping how we relate — to question what’s pulling us together, what’s pushing us apart, and what kind of connections we actually want to build.”

TEDxUNYP has become a platform for bringing global perspectives to Prague while creating space for meaningful dialogue within its international community. The one-day event will feature live talks alongside opportunities for attendees to connect with speakers and one another throughout the programme.

Tickets for TEDxUNYP 2026 are now available, with limited capacity.

More information and tickets can be found at GoOut.

Visitor numbers at heritage sites managed by the Czech National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) rose year-on-year last year.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

In 2025, sales of new passenger cars in the Czech Republic rose by 7.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Archive of Cynthia Paces

Cynthia Paces is the author of Prague: The Heart of Europe, which traces the city’s fascinating history from the 10th century to the modern era. The US historian also has strong personal ties to the city, from which the Pačes family were forced to flee after the 1948 Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia.

Please tell us about your own background and your own family’s story.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Shutterstock

Czechia is in for a musical onslaught in 2026 the likes of which it has not seen in a long time. Prague, Hradec Králové and Vizovice will welcome hard-rock legends, metal icons, pop-punk stars and unique projects linking music with gaming culture. Fans have plenty to look forward to – and tickets for many of the concerts are already on sale.

The Masters of Rock festival in Vizovice will welcome Marilyn Manson – a controversial artist known for concerts that balance between chaos and perfect control – provocative visuals, a dark atmosphere and an unforgettable experience.

See more here.

Photo: Petra Hajská, Prague Spring Festival

For this week’s Radio Prague Sunday music show, we are presenting one of the musical highlights of 2025: the 80th Prague Spring International Music Festival, featuring Smetana’s My Country—the pinnacle of the Czech classical music calendar and marking its eightieth edition.

See more here.

Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

Winter coats roads and bridges with salt, and when mixed with moisture, it slowly and relentlessly eats away at metal structures. Scientists at the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Academy of Sciences are trying to combat this. In their laboratories, they subject steel to extreme stress, monitor its failure, and develop new metal alloys designed to last longer, whether on bridges or in space.

Jan Klusák from the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Academy of Sciences shows an ultrasonic pulsator used for testing material fatigue.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

Jiří Viktor Daneš is a name many Czechs may not recognize today. He was a geographer, explorer, and diplomat who set out for Australia in 1920 as Czechoslovakia’s very first consul on the continent. During his travels across Australia, and later through the Pacific, Japan, and Canada, he took thousands of photographs—capturing landscapes, people, and everyday life along the way.

To start off, who exactly was Jiří Viktor Daneš?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Source: Florenc21

Florenc21 is Prague’s largest urban renewal project. It’s taking a neglected brownfield along a major road and transforming it into a green walkable neighborhood. Launched through an international urban design competition in 2021, the project was shaped by architectural competitions from more than 160 teams, resulting in designs by 15 architectural offices. I spoke with Luboš Križan from the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) about the project’s vision and its transformation of the site.

Let’s start with the vision behind the Florenc 21 project.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Hannah Vaughan, Radio Prague International

Bohem Brewery is a London-based Czech brewery that does more than just brew authentic Czech lager. It also runs two pubs and a taproom, all with a wider mission in mind: to teach Britons what good lager can taste and look like.

I visited one of Bohem’s pubs, the Nicholas Nickleby in North London, to meet the people behind the beer.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Evan Agostini, ČTK / AP

Time magazine has named Tomáš Cihlář, a Czech virologist at the US biopharmaceutical company Gilead, among the 100 Most Influential People of 2025, alongside biochemist Wesley Sundquist of the University of Utah. Their work focuses on developing drugs that protect against HIV.

Today, access to antiviral medications can turn an HIV infection, including AIDS, from a fatal disease into a chronic condition.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Vít Šimánek, ČTK

Thanks to freezing temperatures, Czechs are enjoying the winter season not only in the mountains. Ideal conditions for winter fun can also be found in Prague’s parks, for example in Stromovka.

See more here.

Photo: Petra Hajská, Pražské jaro

When Antonín Dvořák conducted the Czech Philharmonic’s very first concert on January 4, 1896, few could have foreseen that it was an orchestra destined to become one of the symbols of Czech culture.

Standing on the podium of Prague’s Rudolfinum that evening was Antonín Dvořák himself—the greatest Czech composer of all time—conducting a programme made up exclusively of his own works.

See more here.

Author: Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

Hanspaulka is the focus of a new episode of Prague off the Beaten Track, now part of the podcast Czechast. This quiet Prague 6 neighbourhood is known for its interwar villas, famous artists and intellectuals, and a strong sense of place. Today, it remains one of the city’s most rewarding areas for slow walking and architectural discovery.

Perched above the Šárka valley and the bends of the Vltava, Hanspaulka feels far removed from the busy centre of Prague.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: public domain

The Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World, popularly known as the New World Symphony, was composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893 when he was director of the National Conservatory of Music of America. It premiered at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1893, getting a triumphant reception. It has since become one of the most famous symphonies of all time, an integral part of the repertoire of symphony orchestras and conductors the world over.

See more here.

Photo: Jaroslav Ožana, ČTK, Profimedia

The Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm marked the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2025 with a record-breaking celebration. A total of 1,449 people wearing traditional folk costumes gathered in Masaryk Square in late June, making the Czech Book of Records.

The 100th birthday anniversary of the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm attracted people from around the country –both those who have roots in the region and those who have a love for folk traditions.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Jan Kolský, GHMP

An exhibition devoted to activist art is currently underway at Prague’s Municipal Library. Organised by City Gallery Prague, it explores Czech activist art of recent decades in dialogue with international movements such as Black Lives Matter, Me Too, or Fridays for Future.

Public protests against violations of civil rights or environmental destruction often take the form of artistic performances.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Tomáš Adamec, Czech Radio

Commemorating exactly fourteen years since the death of former president Václav Havel, candles and flowers are laid in remembrance – not only of a president, but also of an artist, playwright, dissident, and public figure. Havel has come to symbolise the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, in which he played a key role. Yet, political analyst Jiří Pehe, who served as Havel’s advisor and knew him well, argues that his legacy goes far beyond this and is increasingly important today.

“I think that what comes to mind today is his legacy, because he fought for a lot of things which are currently endangered, human rights, human dignity, global responsibility.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Precisely ten years ago, the Paris Agreement was adopted by a record 195 parties – a moment of relief and euphoria for Stéphane Crouzat, who was among the architects of the landmark deal and is now France’s ambassador to Czechia. What does he make of Czechia’s stance on climate change ten years on from the Agreement?

In 2015, at COP21 in Paris, the Paris Agreement was adopted as a legally binding pact.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan, Jan Kaliba

Illustrative photo: geralt, Pixabay, Pixabay License

In 2025, Czechia ranked as the world’s sixth-best performing economy, according to The Economist. But did it really perform that well? In my interview with Vladimir Vano, Chief Economist at Wealth Effect Management, I asked him what factors contributed to The Economist’s favorable ranking of the Czech economy, how artificial intelligence might affect the country, and much more.

Czechia ranked as the world’s sixth-best performing economy this year.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo illustrative: Profimedia

The debate over mobile phones in Czech schools has moved from the margins to the mainstream. One of the voices shaping this discussion is lawyer Jan Vobořil, who supports the parental initiative “Cell-less Childhood” (Dětství bez mobilu) and argues that banning phones at school is both realistic and beneficial.

The initiative does not call for rejecting technology outright.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, ČTK

A magical evening took place at the pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelená Hora in Žďár nad Sázavou. Dozens of worshippers honoured St. Lucy’s feast with songs and prayers, celebrating her name, which comes from the Latin word for “light.”

See more here.

Illustrative photo: Sharon Drummond, Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

New data on alcohol addiction treatment reveal stark regional differences. Most Czechs undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction come from eastern, northern, and central Moravia. The districts of Vsetín, Zlín, Jeseník, Kroměříž, and Přerov are particularly critical, with more than 300 people undergoing treatment per 100,000 inhabitants.

Alcohol addiction treatment in Czechia is unevenly distributed, with the eastern part of the country bearing the heaviest burden.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Ludmila Opltová, Czech Radio

Fragments of some of Brno’s best-known buildings are about to travel hundreds of kilometres to Britain. They’re headed for a Liverpool cemetery, where they will become part of a new memorial to Ernst Wiesner, a leading architect of interwar Brno.

The Villa Stiassni, the Villa Neumark, the headquarters of Czech Radio Brno, and the Morava Palace are all landmark buildings of interwar Brno — and all were designed by architect Ernst Wiesner.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková, Tomáš Kremr

Photo: Ondřej Tomšů, Radio Prague International

The statue of 82 children in Lidice, which commemorates the destruction of the Central Bohemian village by the Nazis in 1942, is set to undergo a major restoration in the next five years. The Lidice Memorial has now presented what the renovation will involve and how the work will be carried out.

The memorial, dedicated to the 82 children murdered by the Nazis in the summer of 1942, is the work of academic sculptor Marie Uchytilová.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Slavík, National Gallery Prague

Thirty years ago, on 13 December 1995, Veletržní Palace reopened after a long reconstruction. The National Gallery thus gained a representative home for its collection of modern and contemporary art, spread across 13,500 square meters. The opening was seen as a symbolic step — after decades of cultural isolation, Prague once again aligned itself with European modernism.

The reconstruction itself, which cost one billion crowns and took nearly ten years, was a major story in its own right.

See more here.

Photo: che, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5

In this episode of the Sunday Music Show, we’ll be presenting music from the rock group, Čechomor, A group of ex-rock musicians who’ve revitalized traditional Czech music.

Czechomoravian Music Society, better known simply as Čechomor, originally a group of rock musicians, is a Czech band known for revitalizing traditional Czech and Moravian folk music by blending it with modern styles.

See more here.

Photo: Klára Škodová, Czech Radio

For Prague Off the Beaten Track, Masarykovo nádraží, known as Masaryčka, is one of those places that feels both central and strangely overlooked. Opened in 1845, it is Prague’s oldest railway station and a rare example of a historic terminal still in everyday use. Named after the first Czechoslovak president, it quietly connects the city’s 19th-century beginnings with its 21st-century transformation.

Masarykovo nádraží may not be the largest station in Prague, but it is certainly the oldest.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

In the Winter issue of the Czech & Slovak Leaders magazine, ( next week it will be online), we will feature a travel article about Rwanda.

Until then, in every newsletter, we will publish a promo for it.

The big adventure – the Zip Line Tour.

After a safety training, you get a helmet and harness. 1,850 meters across three scenic sections await you. You soar through the treetops and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the forest’s rolling hills and the jungle. Václav had the courage to do it – I preferred to walk all the way down to the Canopy Walkway, a 160-meter-long suspension bridge hanging 70 meters above the forest floor. This was definitely an unforgettable experience.

Watch the Video.

The Vietnamese Heritage Club “Ao Dai” in the Czech Republic celebrate his first year of activity in a glamorous event, which took place at the Hoang Thanh Convention Center, Sapa, Prague

Opening remarks by Mrs. Nguyen Tuyet Hanh, Chairwoman of the Heritage Club for Ao Dai in the Czech Republic

Welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Duong Hoai Nam, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Czech Republic (followed by an award certificate presentation to the Club)

Congratulatory remarks by Mr. Hoang Dinh Thang, President of the Confederation for the Overseas Vietnamese in Europe, and at the Czech Republic.

Congratulatory remarks by HE Mrs. Petra Quittova, ( STAN)  Mayor of the Černovice – Brno City District

Congratulatory remarks by Guest of Honor  Mr. Daniel Blažkovec, Deputy Minister of Defence

A rich culture program, including live show of various Ao Dai styles and Club’s birthday ceremony.

Watch the Video of highlights from this magnificent event.

Rutland & Partners established in 2010 by Monika Rutland, is also a part of Andersen Global, an international network providing best in class tax and legal services around the world.

Photo: Václav Šálek, ČTK

On Saturday, Czech scouts lit lanterns with the Bethlehem Light in Linz, Austria, and brought it to Brno by train that evening. The flame, taken from the so-called eternal fire that travels annually from Bethlehem around the world, will be available to the public from December 13.

Shortly after 8 p.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

The Christmas market on Old Town Square is rated by the world media as one of the most beautiful in the world. Every year it attracts some 750,000 visitors from at home and abroad. So what makes this Christmas market so special and what is in store for visitors this year?

Prague’s Old Town Square, with its Gothic and Baroque architecture and its famous astronomical clock, attracts hordes of visitors all year round.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Online communication with authorities should be accessible to everyone by law, but in practice, this is often not the case, as Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, the government’s human rights commissioner, points out. She explains that people with visual or hearing impairments face various obstacles when using government websites and applications.

A data box or a request for a criminal record extract via the Citizen Portal is, for most people, an everyday convenience that makes life easier.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Behind the doors of a small workshop in Velvary, near Prague, simple ingredients are transformed into soft, delicious gingerbread. Gingerbread maker Kateřina develops her own recipes and shows that gingerbread can be more than just a Christmas classic. She seeks a balance between tradition and new flavours, and encourages everyone to create their own spice blend. Step inside her workshop with us and discover how to make the best gingerbread, and how modern gingerbread desserts are being reimagined.

See more here.

Photo: Mikuláš Vochozka, Czech Radio

A digital replica of Prague’s famed astronomical clock is now on display in the Knights’ Hall of the Old Town Hall. Thanks to the virtual model, visitors can gain a clearer understanding of how the world’s oldest functioning mechanism actually works.

Every full hour, the astronomical clock – the Orloj – draws crowds who gather to watch it come to life.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Vojta Berka, a Czech artist and illustrator, recently took a trip to the United States and saw it all — from the skyscrapers of New York City, to the vast countryside of Utah. Along the way, he filled his notebook with sketches of American cities, landscapes, and animals, capturing the North American continent from a European perspective.

Now, Vojta’s drawings are on display in the Ink Trail exhibition at the American Center in Prague, from Wednesday until January 23.

See more here.

Photo: Profimedia

Arnošt Lustig, one of the great figures of Czech literature, would have turned 100 next year. On the occasion, FestivAL100 will celebrate his enduring legacy. His powerful message of humanity, even in the darkest of times, resonates to this day, attracting readers both at home and abroad.

As a child, Arnošt Lustig survived Auschwitz, and the horrors he witnessed during the Holocaust profoundly shaped his writing.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Michal Sladký, Czech Radio

The Czech Republic has dozens of castles and chateaux whose history is well documented and whose interiors are open to visitors. However, some castle ruins have yet to reveal their secrets and modern technology is helping to uncover what lies buried deep underground.

Around twenty volunteers are busy cleaning up the surroundings of the Střílky Castle ruins in the Kroměříž region.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

Keep getting lost in Prague’s city centre? Residents and visitors can now find their way more easily thanks to “Prague Walker”, a new pedestrian signage system that shows that sometimes walking really is the quickest way to get around.

The new signage system will gradually replace the brown signs attached to lampposts and poles across the city, familiar to most residents.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

The Czech Nightingale Awards, Český slavík, are the country’s annual popularity poll for singers and bands, decided entirely by public vote. This year, Ewa Farna triumphed among female singers for the third consecutive year, also claiming the overall top spot. Other familiar names also reinforced current trends in Czech music, with rock band Kabát winning the group category for the 15th time, defending last year’s title, and rapper Calin (Călin Panfili) claiming the hip-hop/rap award for the third year running. One surprise was Václav Noid Bárta, who won the male singer category for the first time. Bárta is also known as a composer, producer, songwriter, actor, and frontman of the metal band Dymytry. The Objev roku (Discovery of the Year) award, reserved for emerging talent, went to Czech-Vietnamese rapper, singer, and songwriter Renne Dang. His 2024 album Problémy v ráji blends pop, rap, and punk-rock.

See more here.

Photo: Oční klinika Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc

In December 1905, Austrian ophthalmologist Eduard Konrad Zirm performed in Olomouc the first successful corneal transplant in the world. Czech medicine thus became a pioneer in a field that continues to develop even in the modern era – for example thanks to unique methods used in Ostrava.

At the beginning of the 20th century, blindness caused by corneal damage was practically untreatable.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Czechs embrace the Christmas season with enthusiasm, but long-term statistics show that church attendance in Czechia is among the lowest in Europe. In this episode of Czechast, we explore why these two realities coexist — and where the roots of this paradox lie. Religion editor Adam Šindelář offers historical context and insight into Czech attitudes toward faith, tradition and spirituality.

As Advent lights appear across the country and Christmas approaches, Czech towns and cities fill with markets, music and familiar traditions.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: BoysPlayNice, Prague City Museum

After five years of renovation, the main building of the Museum of Prague at Florenc is reopening to the public. Visitors will find a completely new digital and interactive exhibition called City Through Time, based on the museum’s most valuable piece, the Langweil Model of Prague. Radio Prague International spoke with the museum’s director, Ivo Macek:

We’re standing in the renovated main building of the Museum of Prague, which now houses a new permanent exhibition that is both interactive and digital.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Dáša Kubíková, Czech Radio

The UNESCO committee has added amateur theater in Czechia to its list of intangible cultural heritage, the Czech Ministry of Culture announced on Wednesday. This is the tenth item that Czechia has on the list.

Since Tuesday, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been meeting in Delhi to consider new entries for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

On the occasion of the National Day of Romania, The Ambassador of Romania in the Czech Republic, H.E. Mrs. Antoaneta Barta, and Mr. Bogdan Barta hosted a reception at Prague – Kaiserštejnský Palác.

In the Winter issue of the Czech & Slovak Leaders magazine, we will feature a travel article about Rwanda.

Until then, in every newsletter, we will publish a promo for it.

Lake Kivu is the biggest lake in Rwanda, with many islands in the middle. We took a sunrise boat excursion on this beautiful lake.

Watch the Video of Lake Kivu

On the occasion of the 113rd Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Albania, H.E. Mr. Ilir TEPELENA – the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Marsela Tepelena, hosted a reception at the Oriental Mandarin Hotel in Prague.

Mr. Radek Pech, the Chief Director of the European Section at the ministry of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, was the honored speaker.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Ilir TEPELENA – the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Czech Republic, and of Mr. Radek Pech, the Chief Director of the European Section at the ministry of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, was the honored speaker.

It’s become a great tradition, to support Ukrainian youth by the Korean Embassy in Prague, at their beautiful hall of events.

The concert starts with a Christmas Song performed by H.E. Mr. Youngki HONG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus OKOLO, H.E. Mr. Eduardo MENEZ, Ambassador of the Philippines and his spouse,and Ms. Helle Kelstrup – the spouse of the Denmark Ambassador. Ms. Hyojin Kim – The spouse of the Korean Ambassador accompanied them on the piano.

Watch the speech of H.E. Mr. Youngki HONG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea,H.E. Mr. Vasyl ZVARYCH, Ambassador of Ukraine, , and Ms. Yulia Oleinik – Head of UNICEF in the Czech Republic.

At the Rich Culture program appearance: Kroky Dobra ( Ukrainian Choir), Praha Korean Choir, Korean Musicians and Theater group UAkidsSchool, and a Very talented Korean opera singers.

Watch Highlights from the culture performance.

Excellent news reached us from Riyadh on Friday, November 28, 2025: the winner of the Best Cookbook award at the Gourmand Awards International, during the Saudi Feast food festival, was announced. It was the Indonesian cookbook “Indonesia at Home” by Eka Moncarre, founder of La Maison de l’Indonésie in Paris. It is with great pride that La Maison de l’Indonésie Paris announces that this book, published in 2025, has not only won the award for best cookbook, but also two other awards:

1. Best Asian Cookbook (ahead of Japan, Malaysia, Korea, and Vietnam) and
2. Best Bilingual Cookbook (second edition in English and French) (ahead of Bulgaria, Guatemala, Jordan, the United States, and Uzbekistan).

Created by Eka Moncarre, founder of La Maison de l’Indonésie, the cultural, artisanal, and gastronomic showcase of Indonesia in Paris, this book is the first bilingual French-English book dedicated to the culinary and cultural richness of the Indonesian archipelago. A unique book to discover Indonesia at home Indonesia at Home features: an immersion in Indonesian culture, its traditions, and its local products; a selection of the best Indonesian products, some of which are well-known and rare; authentic, simple, and comforting recipes for cooking “just like at home.” This success will undoubtedly contribute to making Indonesian gastronomy even more famous worldwide, as more than 100 countries are participating in the Gourmand Awards International 2025 in Riyadh from November 27 to 30, 2025.

International Recognition

The Gourmand Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of the culinary book,” reward the most outstanding works in the world of gastronomy each year. Founded in 1985 by Mr Edouard Cointreau (founder of the Cordon Bleu cooking school), it is a prestigious competition for international cookbooks.

The distinction awarded to Indonesia at home is a major recognition for the international promotion of Indonesian cuisine.

The international network of the Gourmand Awards includes 205 participating countries and is the only international competition for culinary cultural content. Each year, it distinguishes the best books, print and digital, as well as TV shows and social media content devoted to the culinary arts. Participation is free and open to all languages. The Gourmand Awards gathering is always an opportunity to meet the most influential people in the sector: the biggest publishers, authors, chefs and journalists come together to present their work and share their knowledge. This year’s Gourmand Awards ceremony was exceptional, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the competition. Riyadh was chosen to host the Saudi Feast Food Festival.

Mr Abdul Aziz Ahmad, Indonesian Ambassador in Riyadh, and his team were also present as guests of honor to deliver a speech at the prestigious ceremony.

Eka Moncarre, author of the book “Indonesia at Home,” said she was touched and proud to have made Indonesia shine on the international stage and that her efforts to ensure the country’s success are finally being recognized around the world.

Located in Paris, La Maison de l’Indonesia is a unique space dedicated to promoting Indonesian culture, knowhow and gastronomy.

It offers a selection of coffees, teas, artisanal and gourmet products, as well as a regular programme of cultural events, workshops and meetings.

These two international awards certainly demonstrate the importance of gastro-diplomacy for Indonesia and should serve as a starting point for continued improvement and preservation as an Indonesian cultural heritage throughout the world.

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

Alfons Mucha’s sculpture “Nature” sold at a major Prague auction for CZK 18.35 million including fees, setting a new domestic record for the artist, according to the European Arts Investments auction house. The bronze bust, created in 1900 and listed as a protected object of Czech cultural heritage, had a starting price of CZK 14.8 million.

The 70-centimeter bust of a woman, made of patinated bronze and malachite, was originally created by the Czech artist for the renowned Parisian jeweller Georges Fouquet.

See more here.

Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Josef Vostárek, ČTK

The Renaissance chateau in the east Bohemian town of Pardubice will have a new representative hall with a unique wavy bubble ceiling designed by architect Eva Jiřičná. It consists of 1,100 bubble-shaped pieces made of plaster that will ensure ideal acoustic conditions.

The first bubbles made of plaster are currently being installed on the ceiling of the future representative hall, situated in the northern wing of the Pardubice chateau.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michaela Říhová, ČTK

The Madonna from Havraň, a rare medieval sculpture of the Virgin Mary, has gone on display in the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague. The National Gallery acquired the object three years ago, and it has since undergone careful examination and restoration.

The wooden statue is believed to have been carved in the 1360s or 1370s, during the reign of Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Lenka Šipošová, Czech Radio

Have you ever wondered where to send your Czech Christmas wishes to? It’s not to Santa Claus at the North Pole, but instead to little Baby Jesus (or Ježíšek) whose “official” Christmas address is the post office in Boží Dar, the highest-located town in Czechia.

The post office in Boží Dar, nestled in the Ore Mountains, not only receives Christmas wishes from children around the world but also stamps holiday greetings and packages with a special Christmas postmark.

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Author: Hannah Vaughan

Photo: Zdeněk Němec, MAFRA / Profimedia

Roráty, the centuries-old Advent dawn Masses, remain one of the most distinctive spiritual traditions in Czech and Central European culture. Celebrated in darkness and by candlelight, they offer a quiet moment of reflection before sunrise. A Catholic priest and a mother from Zlín explain why these early-morning gatherings continue to touch both adults and children.

It is still dark outside when the first lights begin moving through towns and villages across Czechia.

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Author: Vít Pohanka