AuthorMartin Hladík

The sale of fireworks in markets and stalls will likely be banned.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Pavel Novák, Czech Radio

Czech tramping, a unique cultural tradition born over a century ago, is still going strong—even across the Atlantic. Recently, Czech expatriates gathered at the Czech Embassy in Ottawa to sing their favourite tramping songs, including the legendary Rosa na kolejích—Dew on the Tracks—by Wabi Daněk.

The Czech Embassy regularly hosts events showcasing Czech culture, literature, and classical music.

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Author: Pavel Novák, Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Anifilm 2025

The annual Anifilm Festival of animated films kicks off this Tuesday in the northern Bohemian town of Liberec. Over the course of six days, audiences can look forward to dozens of screenings, but also exhibitions, concerts and workshops, across various venues throughout the town. I spoke with programme coordinator Radek Hosenseidl to find out more:

This year’s main theme is science fiction in animation.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Raised on science, trained in biology, and now a project coordinator in Austria—Hana Huszár combines expertise and empathy to shape the future of research. As part of the Czexpats in Science network, she also supports Czech scientists abroad who dream of returning home.Find out how she’s turning experience into impact in the latest Science Without Borders interview.

Watch the new series, Science Without Borders, from Radio Prague International and the Czech Centre Vienna in collaboration with Czexpats in Science and Tschechisches Zentrum Wien.

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Author: Barbora Navrátilová, Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: Petr Kološ, Czech Radio

141% more new electric passenger cars were registered in Czechia in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period last year, according to statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. This put the country in first place across the European Union. To understand this recent uptake, Danny Bate spoke to demographer, researcher and electric-car owner Tomáš Sobotka.

You are in the minority in Czechia in having an electric car.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Agáta Nezbedová, Czech Radio

Writer and artist Martina Skála grew up in Prague’s picturesque Malá Strana district before leaving for France in the mid-1980s and eventually settling in California. Skála, who studied history and set design, has also had an unusually broad range of jobs, from acting as an advisor to the female leads on The Unbearable Lightness of Being to literally dancing with horses.

You grew up in Malá Strana in Prague.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Martina Schneibergová, Radio Prague International

In May 1945, World War II came to an end in Czechoslovakia with scenes of liberation and chaos. While most of western Bohemia was freed by the American army under General George S. Patton, Soviet forces took control of Prague and much of the rest of the country.

The days leading up to the German surrender were marked by the Prague Uprising and violent retribution against German soldiers and civilians.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Michal Kamaryt, ČTK

For the first time in thirty years, the same runner won the Prague Marathon as in the previous year. Lemi Berhanu Hayle from Ethiopia crossed the finish line in 2:05:14. The race, in which more than 10,000 runners took part, also produced a new national champion. Yann Havlena earned the title even at the cost of total exhaustion as he crossed the finish line.

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Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Experts have argued over the exact origins of Czech’s distinctive word for ‘elephant’. It shares this word with other Slavic languages (for example, Polish słoń, Russian слон), but where Slavic as a whole got it from is a linguistic puzzle.

The prevailing theory seems to be that Slavic adopted it from one of a group of languages known as the Turkic family.

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Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Czech Radio

The renowned Czech opera singer Adam Plachetka celebrates his 40th birthday this weekend. The popular bass-baritone is the only Czech artist to have performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York before the age of 30. He has been a member of the Vienna State Opera for nearly 15 years and has appeared on leading opera stages in New York, Vienna, London, Milan, and beyond. To mark the occasion, we’ll be listening to a selection from his 2015 album Arias, recorded with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.

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Photo: Český rozhlas Plzeň

Eighty years ago, on May 5, 1945, the first words of freedom rang out over the airwaves in Plzeň. Resistance fighters captured a German transmitter and launched a revolutionary broadcast, laying the foundation for what would become local radio.

No Czechoslovak radio station began broadcasting at the end of World War II as dramatically as Plzeň did.

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Photo: Barbora Hakenová, Radio Prague International

Freedom Celebrations kick off in the West Bohemian city of Plzeň on Friday, marking 80 years since its liberation by US troops. This year the city has planned the biggest celebration in decades – with the traditional Convoy of Liberty, a period war camp, a flyby of historical planes and meetings with the families of the veterans who liberated parts of western and southern Bohemia.

The West Bohemian city of Plzeň has pulled out all the stops for the 2025 Freedom Celebrations marking 80 years since its liberation by General Patton’s troops.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Adam Trachtman, archive of Maya Kvetny

Maya Kvetny is a successful casting director based in Prague and the founder of the agency Myrnyx Tyrnyx. She has become a key figure in international productions filmed in the Czech Republic, with credits including Jojo Rabbit, Spiderman: Far From Home, Nosferatu and Blade Runner 2099. I caught up with her in her studio to talk about her career and the craft of casting.

Could you talk to us about how you got started in the film industry?.

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A half century has passed since the end of the American War in Vietnam. The sense of national pride as well as the values of benevolence, peace, and reconciliation remain intact when the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of 30 April, officially known as
The Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day.

The burning desire for peace, national independence, and reconciliation of the Vietnamese people is well reflected in Ho Chi Minh’s immortal sayings: “We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, than live as slaves. Dear fellow countrymen!  We must rise up!” and “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode, but that truth will never change.”

To have a better understanding of the indomitable will of the Vietnamese people and of how far Vietnam has moved beyond war consequences and adversities to become a middle-income country today, the Embassy of the S.R. of Vietnam in Czechia has a pleasure to introduce to readers of the Czech & Slovak Leaders magazine an artilce written by H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, namely “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one” and his remarks at the national celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

https://en.baoquocte.vn/vietnam-is-one-the-vietnamese-people-are-one-party-chief-312500.html#google_vignette

An article written by H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam DUONG – Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Czech Republic, about this historic event, will be published in our upcoming Summer Magazine ( June 2025)

The name for the first-born offspring of the female Diri was chosen by the breeders last year from almost two thousand suggestions from the public. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Every day, he becomes bolder and more active – that is the one-year-old Sumatran orangutan Harapan, the youngest ape at Prague Zoo. Thanks to his ancestors from the wild, he is a great genetic asset for the preservation of his critically endangered species. On Friday, May 2, “Hari” will be exactly one year old. The Prague Zoo will celebrate its first birthday a day later, on Saturday, May 3, in the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion.

Little Harapan still spends most of his time near his mother Diri, who takes exemplary care of her firstborn cub, and visitors are thus witnesses of her tender care every day. “Diri had already gained experience earlier when she helped her mother Mawar with raising her now four-year-old brother Kawi, whom she liked to carry in her arms,” explains chief primate keeper Martin Vojáček. But he is also interested in his father. “We are happy that Pagy is showing himself as a calm male and letting the cub actively explore him. Male orangutans do not normally get involved in their upbringing,” adds Vojáček.

Harapan means “hope” in Indonesian. He is the grandson of the famous Kama, whose parents came directly from the Sumatran forests, which are disappearing at a dizzying rate today. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Although the one-year-old “Hari” practices his climbing skills every day, he will have to wait some time for bigger acrobatic feats. “Mother Diri is still watching him closely, and when her cub embarks on a too-risky adventure, she does not hesitate to intervene. She offers him a helping hand or pulls him into her arms,” describes Vojáček.

Harapan will be breastfed by his mother until he is approximately four years old, but he already has developed baby teeth and is eager to try fruits, vegetables, and even granules for leaf-eating primates.

Prague Zoo will celebrate Harapan’s birthday all day on Saturday in the Indonesian Jungle pavilion. At 3:00 p.m., the one-year-old orangutan will receive special enrichment – ​​mixed fruit in a termite mound. Every full hour from 10:00 to 16:00, visitors can look forward to commented meetings at the orangutan islands. Young visitors can learn more about these largest tree mammals at the game station Into the Jungle for Orangutans.

Little Harapan is one of the most popular residents of Prague Zoo and is also one of the most important cubs in terms of breeding. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Orangutans can be seen every day not only on the upper floor of the Indonesian Jungle pavilion, but also in the adjacent outdoor enclosure in good weather. They are active throughout the entire opening hours, which will be extended by an hour from May 1st – the gates of the Prague Zoo will now close at 19:00.

Przewalski’s horse mare Gruhne and her two-day-old foal at Prague’s Maiden’s Castles. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The breeding of Převalsky horses at Prague Zoo is experiencing an unprecedented baby boom. Today, the third April foal was born at Prague’s Dívčé hrady. Another foal was also born today at the Převalsky horse breeding and acclimatization station in Dolní Dobřejov. In addition, people can see the foal directly on the Prague Zoo grounds. The two-month-old mare Dagina, named by the Mongolian president in March, can be found by visitors in the Gobi exhibit near the upper cable car station. This year, the Prague Zoo has added a total of five young of these last wild horses on the planet.

“The baby boom of foals has its reason, of course, and that is our planned project to reintroduce Przewalski’s horses to eastern Mongolia, to the Valley of the Monasteries. We will start transporting the foals there as soon as there are enough of them in the Golden Steppe in central Kazakhstan,” says Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek.

In the huge enclosure at Dívčí hrady above Prague’s Smíchov, a total of eight horses can now be seen: a stallion, four mares and three foals of unknown sex. One foal was born to the mare Vereda last Saturday, April 26, another followed on Monday, April 28, with the mother being the mare Gruhne. The third foal gave birth today to a mare named Khamina. People can see them, for example, from the lookouts there.

Prague’s Maiden’s Castles now offer unique views of wild Przewalski’s horses with their foals and the city skyline. On the left is the mare Vereda with her foal, on the right is the mare Gruhne with hers. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The foal was also born at the Prague Zoo’s breeding and acclimatization station in Dolní Dobřejov. In the area of ​​the so-called The largest breeding herd of the Prague Zoo lives in the Bohemian Siberia in the south of Bohemia, which currently numbers three dozen horses. The horses are also being prepared there for demanding transports to the wilds of Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Coincidentally, the mare Yara gave birth to today’s offspring on her tenth birthday.

The oldest of this year’s foals was born directly in the Troja area of ​​the Prague Zoo. On February 27, the mare Victoria II gave birth to a female named Dagina in the Gobi exhibition, which opened last year. She was personally baptized in March by the Mongolian President Uchnágín Chürelsüch. The name Dagina means “Heavenly Fairy” in Mongolian. The president said at the time that if Dagina were to be transported to the Valley of the Monasteries, she could be renamed “Eastern Fairy”.

Prague Zoo plays a crucial role in the story of the last wild horse. It manages its International Stud Book and the European Breeding Program and is actively returning Przewalski’s horses to the wild. Between 2011 and 2019, it carried out a total of nine transports to western Mongolia together with the Czech Army. While it is preparing a project to return them to the east of the country, last year it launched a reintroduction project in central Kazakhstan, where Przewalski’s horses became extinct hundreds of years ago. It transported the first seven horses there last year at the beginning of June.

People will see the mare Dagina in the Mongolian Gobi exhibit at Prague Zoo. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The next transport to Kazakhstan is also planned for the first week of June this year. Eight horses – two stallions and six mares – should head to the Altyn Dala area, i.e. the “Golden Steppe”, this year by CASA military aircraft. One will fly from Prague with horses from Dolní Dobřejov and the other from Debrecen in Hungary with horses from the Hortobágy National Park, which is a partner of Prague Zoo for this project.

Czech female members of parliament from all political parties and movements face psychological and sexualised violence.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: National Museum – Czech Museum of Music

Nearly 50 photographs of Antonín Dvořák, one of Czechia’s most famous composers, are now on display at the Antonín Dvořák Museum in Prague. Captured by both well-known photographers and amateurs, these images offer a rare glimpse into the composer’s life.

The great Czech composer Antonín Dvořák was born in 1842, just two years after the invention of photography.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Adam Bejšovec, Czech Radio

The reconstruction of Jiřího z Poděbrad Square in Prague could be completed as early as next spring. Workers have already planted most of the trees, the special irrigation system is complete, and the fountain, which has not worked for years, is partially ready. The entire park will be adapted for leisure activities, including grassy areas.

The entire area is surrounded by barriers, excavators, machines, and construction workers.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: ralf82, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Beavers in Czechia recently made international headlines after a colony in the Brdy region built a series of dams faster than local authorities could finish the planning phase—highlighting just how quickly these animals can reshape their environment. But the attention also points to a broader trend: these once-rare animals are now spreading rapidly across the country. Not long ago, beavers had completely disappeared from the Czech landscape and were only reintroduced in the 1970s. So what helped them return? And how is it that they have even settled in parts of Prague? I discussed these questions with Aleš Vorel, a scientist from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.

“In the Czech Republic, beavers were extinct in the past.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Just a short walk from the center of Prague rises Vítkov Hill—a quiet, unassuming ridge that separates the districts of Žižkov and Karlín. Though technically part of Žižkov, it’s visible from much of the city and offers some of the best panoramic views of Prague. Still, it remains surprisingly uncrowded, a perfect candidate for those seeking a different kind of city experience.

Climbing up from the Žižkov side in late April or early May, you’re greeted by a lush park in full bloom.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Archive of Jiří Klůc

Among the lesser-known stories of World War II are those of American soldiers captured after the D-Day landings in Normandy. In June 1944, hundreds of American paratroopers who had jumped behind enemy lines on D-Day, ended up in German captivity. Surprisingly, many of them would later have unexpected connections to Czechoslovakia.

Leonard Gaj currently lives in New York State and recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

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Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

Alois Ullmann was a key figure in the Sudeten German social democratic movement. He fled to Great Britain during the Nazi regime but later returned to Prague. After being imprisoned in concentration camps, he worked to rebuild his party, Seliger Gemeinde, but was thwarted by the expulsion of Sudeten Germans. He later organized the resettlement of Sudeten German anti-fascists, known as “Aktion Ullmann.”

Thomas Oellermann: “When we talk about Czechoslovakia and the Czechoslovak Republic during the interwar period, we are talking about a state with significant minorities, the largest of which was the German minority, known as the Sudeten Germans.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum, said that museums need to seek out new themes and innovative ways to present their collections so that visitors enjoy their experience and find information that is interesting and relevant to them.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Mathis Elias-Jean, Radio Prague International

In response to the Czech Railway Administration’s proposal to replace the famous railway bridge over the Vltava at Vyšehrad, an advisory mission of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites visited Prague last December to review the plans themselves. Their report, now published and submitted to the Ministry of Culture, has instead recommended the reconstruction of the listed bridge.

You were previously involved another report about the Vyšehrad bridge.

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Author: Danny Bate

How do plants know how to shape themselves without anyone telling them how? Lukáš Fiedler thinks the answer lies in a powerful plant hormone called auxin. From collecting beetles in a small South Bohemian village to conducting cutting-edge research at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), his journey is fuelled by curiosity about how plant cells communicate, self-organize, and respond to signals.

Watch the new series, Science Without Borders, from Radio Prague International and the Czech Centre Vienna in collaboration with Czexpats in Science and Tschechisches Zentrum Wien.

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Author: Vít Pohanka, Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Archive of Jan Trčka

As Europe commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, another fierce conflict rages at its borders. Ukraine continues to resist Russian aggression, fighting a war that many see as pivotal for the future of European democracy. Among those defending the West’s ideals on Ukrainian soil are Czech volunteers, including Jan Trčka, a legionnaire widely known by his nom de guerre, “Santa.”

Jan Trčka arrived in Ukraine on the third day of the invasion, making him the longest-serving Czech volunteer currently on the frontline.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Antonín Kokeš is the man behind Antonínovo pekařství, a successful chain of bakeries. The Moravian-born entrepreneur is also the owner of Albi, a company best-known for the board games that can be found in many Czech homes. We discussed both those businesses and much more at Kokeš’s latest venture, a new branch of Antonín’s Bakery due to open on May 1 in a grand building on Prague’s Náměstí Míru.

You’ve said in the past that your grandfather was your role model in business.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Muzeum východních Čech Hradec Králové

Archaeologists in Eastern Bohemia have announced the chance discovery of a rare treasure near the north-eastern town of Trutnov. Hidden in a forest, the 7-kilogram hoard includes nearly four kilos of gold coins, worth over CZK 7.5 million.

The sensational discovery took place in early February when two hikers were walking on the southwest slopes of Zvičina Hill, located at the foothills of the Krkonoše Mountains.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vít Šimánek, ČTK

The Kbely Aviation Museum is one of the best in Europe thanks to the quality of its collections and the number of exhibits. This year, visitors will see for the first time, among others, the Aero L-29 Delfín, the Mil Mi-8P “Hip” medium multi-role helicopter and the Avia Av-14FG twin-engine propeller aircraft.

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Source: Světozor 22. 5. 1874

U Apolináře Hospital, originally known as the Royal Provincial Maternity Hospital, first opened its doors on April 22, 1875. Designed by renowned architect Josef Hlávka, its iconic red-brick building is one of the oldest maternity hospitals in Europe. Hlávka, known for his attention to detail, designed the facility to be not only functional but also aesthetically striking. The red brick façade lends the building its distinctive historic character.

At the time of its opening, the hospital was designed to handle up to 3,000 births annually.

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Photo: Petr Horník, SOČR

Close to the age of 50, Antonín Dvořák embarked upon a music testimony of his relationship with God and an attempt to answer the most fundamental issues of human existence.

Given the emotional depth of this work, it is somewhat surprising that Dvořák’s decision to write a mass for the dead was not motivated by the death of someone close to him, or by a premonition of his own demise.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Josef Kopecký, Czech Radio

Celtic symbols and festivals remain surprisingly popular in Czechia. But how much did 19th-century historians really know about the ancient Boii who once lived here? František Palacký’s classic history offers a revealing glimpse into early efforts to understand the region’s pre-Slavic past.

The journey begins in the rolling hills near Nasavrky, where a reconstructed Celtic oppidum now stands.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Source: T Hansen, Pixabay, Pixabay License

With the rise of AI, the European Union introduced regulations to standardize some rules for its use. The so-called Artificial Intelligence Act introduces significant changes for all companies and employers using AI systems across the EU. So, what does this new legislation seek to accomplish, and what is Czechia doing to implement it?

Under the AI Act, it is completely forbidden to use artificial intelligence to manipulate public opinion or to create databases with biometric data, such as people’s facial features.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Škoda Museum

April 1945 marked the final month of Allied bombing raids on Czechoslovakia. Among the targeted cities were Kladno, Chomutov, Karlovy Vary, and most notably Plzeň. In today’s episode of our series How did WWII end in the Czech lands?, we recall the last bombing raids on this West Bohemian city with historian Karel Foud.

Plzeň had been a consistent target of Allied attacks throughout the war due to the presence of the Škoda Works.

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Author: Klára Stejskalová, Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Masaryk University Model United Nations

From April 11–13, one of the largest Model UN (MUN) conferences in the Czech Republic was held in Brno. The event saw approximately 200 participants this year. While there, I spoke with one of the invited speakers, former Slovak ambassador to NATO, Peter Bátor. Acting as the former advisor to the former Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová, among other Slovak presidents, Bátor has years of experience engaging with both Czech and Slovak youth. But how has that changed over the years?

First, let’s talk about the place for young people in politics.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Sekyra Group

Rohan City, a planned neighbourhood east of Prague city centre, is set to include a series of streets that honour both nationally and internationally famous thinkers.

Located on a big bend of the river Vltava, Rohan Island is today an island only in name.

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Author: Magdalena Hrozínková, Danny Bate

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, sent a telegram of condolence to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.

Your Eminence,

It is with deep emotion and sorrow that I received the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.

Pope Francis was a figure of fundamental influence not only for the Catholic Church but for the entire world. His kindness, unwavering commitment to truth, and boundless love for people were a gift to all. He was a respected spiritual leader whose sincerity, strength of spirit, and natural humility touched countless people.

Your Eminence, on behalf of the citizens of the Czech Republic, on my own behalf and on behalf of my wife, I would like to express my most sincere and deepest condolences.

In respect

Petr Pavel
President of the Czech Republic

African brush piglet piglets stand out with their stripes, as is the case with other pig species. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

For the first time in the history of Prague Zoo, African bushpigs were born here. A total of three piglets of these Central African forest pigs can be seen in the Dja Reservation pavilion. Eight-year-old female Jasna is taking exemplary care of her young ones born yesterday and regularly breastfeeds them. However, it should be remembered that the piglets have not yet overcome the critical period.

“We promoted African bushpigs as ‘golden piglets’ at Christmas, and now we have their young; for the first time ever at our zoo,” says Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek. “The three ‘golden piglets’ are very active, even digging in the substrate, and arouse extraordinary interest among visitors, which even turns into enthusiasm.”

African bush pigs were bred at Prague Zoo from 2001 to 2016 in the African House, but they were always only males. Breeding was resumed in the Dja Reservation pavilion at the end of 2022, while the Prague Zoo only acquired the female last summer.

Brush piglet piglets often stay close to the exhibition glass, so they can be observed in the Dja Reservation pavilion from a distance of just a few centimeters. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

“The male Štěpán and the female Jasna did not hesitate and during their first day together last September, we observed their mating. Thanks to regular weighing, we then discovered that Jasna was continuously gaining weight,” says curator Jan Mengr, adding that the piglets were born directly in the exhibition yesterday shortly after midnight. “The birth went smoothly and we saw them sucking their mother’s milk on the night-time camera footage,” he adds.

Although it is natural for female bush pigs to chase away males before giving birth and to be aggressive towards them, this situation did not occur here. Jasna, on the other hand, tolerates three-year-old Štěpán for now and remains calm even in his presence. Visitors will therefore see the entire family of baboons in the exhibit. The sex of the three cubs is not yet known.

The only change compared to the usual regime is the separation of the troop of Brazza’s monkeys, who normally share the exhibit with the baboons. The monkeys will temporarily use only the outdoor enclosure.

The little “golden piglets” were born at Prague Zoo for the first time. The female gave birth directly in the exhibition and, due to her calm nature, the breeders do not disturb her at all and let the breeding process proceed as naturally as possible. Photo Monika Dolejšová, Prague Zoo

African baboons can be found in the wild in West and Central Africa from Senegal to Uganda in the east and Angola in the south. These brightly colored even-toed ungulates mainly inhabit deciduous and mixed forests up to an altitude of 4,000 m above sea level. They got their name from their elongated earlobes topped with a brush of longer hairs. Although this species is considered relatively abundant, it is also a favorite target of bushmeat hunters. In some countries, it is also persecuted by farmers because it damages their crops. Among other things, the brush pig is also threatened by the loss of natural habitat due to logging and the expansion of human settlement.

Photo: Thorsten Wagner, ČTK / imago stock&people / W2Art

On April 21st, it was announced to the world that Pope Francis had passed away in the Vatican, at the age of 88. Many Czechs have been affected by his death, and political and religious leaders in Czechia have expressed condolences and shared their memories of the late pontiff.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, Francis was elected pope in 2013, following the shock resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

In memory of victims of excessive speed on Czechia’s roads, the iconic astronomical clock on Prague’s Old Town Square stopped for thirteen minutes on Wednesday morning. Events and meetings across the country are also taking part in the initiative through thirteen-minute postponements.

The astronomical clock, the iconic symbol of Prague that stands on Old Town Square, stopped its ticking for thirteen minutes at 11 AM on April 23rd.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Otto Ballon Mierny, ČTK

Simona Monyová was a successful Czech novelist who authored around thirty hugely popular fiction books for women focusing on interpersonal relationships and domestic violence. It was only after her husband stabbed her to death in 2011 that her readers realized how much of her writing was autobiographical. A film series about her life now aims to highlight the plight of women caught up in a spiral of violence.

Good looking and self-confident, Simona Monyová appeared to be living a success story.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová, Tomáš Kremr

Photo: Tomáš Kremr, Czech Radio

The town of Hrušovany near Brno plans to renovate a unique villa designed by the pioneering modernist architect Adolf Loos. The municipality bought the dilapidated building five years ago, aiming to turn it into a cultural centre. It has now announced a public collection to fund the reconstruction.

Adolf Loos designed the villa in 1914 for Viktor Bauer, the renowned Brno industrialist and the director of the local sugar refinery.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková, Tomáš Kremr

Photo: Thibault Maillet, Radio Prague International

The destruction of monuments during armed conflicts in various countries prompted the National Heritage Institute to take preventive action in the case of Český Krumlov. The Institute has asked UNESCO to register the castle among the cultural assets granted enhanced protection. The nomination was submitted by the Institute in February, and a decision is expected in December.

If the nomination is accepted by the relevant UNESCO committee, the two monuments will be under “enhanced protection in the event of armed conflict” in Czechia.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Petr Sznapka, ČTK

In the village of Lukavec in the Nový Jičín area, fifteen horse riders set out on the traditional Easter Monday ride around newly planted fields. According to an old custom, they asked for blessings for their fields and families.

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Can the social sciences shape international policy? Dagmar Vorlíček believes they must. From researching military institutions in Czechia to studying ethics in health data, her work bridges disciplines and reminds us that taking the human element into account is vital in shaping international policy today.

Watch the new series, Science Without Borders, from Radio Prague International and the Czech Centre Vienna in collaboration with Czexpats in Science and Tschechisches Zentrum Wien.

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Author: Barbora Navrátilová, Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Helena Lukas, daughter of the major Czech photographer Jan Lukas, escaped to the West with her family in the mid-1960s. In New York the Lukases were part of a Czech cultural elite in exile that included such names as Jiří Voskovec, Ferdinand Peroutka and Alexander Hackenschmied. Helena Lukas is currently in Czechia preparing an exhibition of her father’s work that will open in the town of Dobrovice next weekend.

Your dad, Jan Lukas, was born in 1915.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: DPP

Prague’s metro system is, for many people, one of the jewels of the city, and it has fans all over the world. Its three lines (the green A line, the yellow B line and the red C line) are iconic, and they give the impression of being fixed. But what people may not know is that actually plans are in place for a fourth line, the blue-coloured D line. But why? Why does Prague need another metro line?

When did this whole idea of giving the Prague Metro another line originate?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Masaryk University Model United Nations

Over the weekend, one of the largest Model UN (MUN) conferences in the Czech Republic was held in Brno. The event saw approximately 200 participants this year, doubling in size consecutively from previous years. Typically, similar events are held in capital cities across the world; Brno is leading the charge to show that other cities can hold prominence in political representation.

The Masaryk University Model UN is completely student-run, adding to the uniqueness of the event.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Šárka Rusnáková, Radio Prague International

The popular cruise ship Arnošt of Pardubice is once again taking passengers along the Elbe River after a three-year renovation. The overhaul cost eighteen million crowns.

Last weekend, the eye-catching white and red boat Arnošt of Pardubice returned to the waters of the Elbe (Labe), journeying from Pardubice upstream to Kunětice and then downstream to Srnojedy.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Prague’s famous St. Vitus Cathedral, symbol of Czech statehood and home to the Czech crown jewels, is getting a new organ that will better resound through the monumental house of prayer. The instrument, which is being financed from a public collection, will put the finishing touch to the cathedral’s glory more than 700 years after work on it started.

The Cathedral of St.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Illustrative photo: Tomáš Adamec, Czech Radio

To mark the opening of the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Prague has launched a dedicated Japanese-language website aimed at promoting the Czech capital to Japanese travelers.

“In 2024, over 53,000 Japanese tourists came to Prague, which is quite a lot,” says Štěpánka Váchová from Prague City Tourism noting, that this number represents a 29 percent growth year-on-year.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Jan Malý, IPR Praha

Prague is an expanding city. By 2050, projections expect that up to 2 million people could live in Czechia’s capital. To make this transition easier for its residents, the city is investing heavily in its public infrastructure. The latest exhibition at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP) shows the extent to which the city is investing in its future. I spoke with the director at CAMP, Štěpán Bärtl, to find out more.

“So, we’re standing in the middle of a new exhibition called ‘Prague Tomorrow: Connected City.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Source: DendroNetwork

Czech scientists have developed a network of monitoring stations across the country’s forests, allowing researchers, state officials, and foresters to track the health of trees in real time. Their next goal is to expand the system to cover all of Europe.

Since 2016, scientists have been installing special sensors at various sites throughout Czechia.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Embassy of the United States

In May 1945, Western Bohemia was liberated by US forces under the command of General Patton. Few veterans who took part in the liberation effort are still alive to tell the story. Czech historian Jiří Klůc was able to locate a number of them in the United States.

The 97th Infantry Division, nicknamed “Trident division” because of its shoulder patch (a vertical trident in white on a blue background), took part in some of the heaviest fighting involving Western Allied forces in the final weeks of World War II on the territory of Czechoslovakia.

See more here.

Photo: The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

BBC Music Magazine announced its annual awards at a gala evening on Wednesday, with the winners chosen by public vote. The Czech Philharmonic took home the Orchestral Award for its recording of Má vlast (My Country) by Bedřich Smetana, conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

The recording of Má vlast was released last March to mark the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth and the Year of Czech Music 2024.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

Unlike most episodes of Prague Off the Beaten Track, this one doesn’t take you to just one place. Instead, it takes a step back to look at the bigger picture—because before we head out to places like Libeň, Karlín, or Jižní Město, it helps to understand how Prague became what it is today.

The city we know wasn’t built all at once.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

What makes you unique? Scientist Hana Marvanová studies parent-of-origin effects—how the genes we inherit from our mother and father don’t always express equally. As a PhD student at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology in Vienna, she co-authored a paper in Nature hat uncovered a missing piece in this genetic puzzle. But how did she go from studying anthropology to cutting-edge molecular biology? That and more, in our latest Science Without Borders interview!

Watch the new series, Science Without Borders, from Radio Prague International and the Czech Centre Vienna in collaboration with Czexpats in Science and Tschechisches Zentrum Wien.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová, Vít Pohanka

Photo: Masarykovo muzeum v Hodoníně

World War II was longer for the Czechs than for most European nations. The Czech lands were occupied by Nazi Germany from as early as March 15, 1939, and the first Czech town was liberated from the Nazis on April 12, 1945, less than a month before the German surrender. That town was Hodonín in South Moravia.

The town of Hodonín, located about 50 km from Brno, lies on the right bank of the Morava River, which forms the Czech-Slovak border in the Lower Morava Valley.

See more here.

Author: Libor Kukal, Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Klára Škodová, Czech Radio

This week’s Sunday Music Show is a celebration of a colourful life cut short by illness. After a long battle with cancer, singer Anna Julie Slováčková passed away on April 6th, at the young age of 29. The singer became famous, above all, as a musical performer and actress.

The daughter of actress Dagmar Patrasová and saxophonist Felix Slováček, Anna Slováčková began her career in 2014, appearing in the musical The Snow Queen, in which she starred as Gerda.

See more here.

Photo: Budweiser Budvar

In 1895, a significant chapter in the Czech brewing industry began. This distinctly Czech company was established in response to the Czech-German rivalry in Budějovice and the dominance of the German Měšt’anský Pivovar.

Czech national brewers, led by August Zátka, established a brewery that continued the long-standing tradition of Budějovice beer production.

See more here.

Photo: František Tichý, Czech Radio

Once the industrial powerhouse of Czechoslovakia, Ostrava is reinventing itself. In the latest episode of Czechast, geographer Jan Hradecký from Ostrava University shares how the city is embracing its industrial heritage while reconnecting with nature.

Ostrava, the third-largest city in Czechia, has long been synonymous with coal, steel, and heavy industry.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: Tomáš Adamec, Czech Radio

To mark the opening of the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Prague has launched a dedicated Japanese-language website aimed at promoting the Czech capital to Japanese travelers.

“In 2024, over 53,000 Japanese tourists came to Prague, which is quite a lot,” says Štěpánka Váchová from Prague City Tourism noting, that this number represents a 29 percent growth year-on-year.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

National park directors are sounding the alarm over amendments to the National Parks Act proposed by MPs. According to them, the amendments would set nature protection back 30 years. The Ministry of the Environment also disagrees with some of the proposals.

Most of the amendments to the National Park Act were put forward by Civic Democrat Member of Parliament Jan Bureš.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Ľubomír Smatana

Photo: Michaela Danelová, iROZHLAS.cz

Prague plans to disallow the parking of shared electric scooters under its upcoming shared transport system. Residents of the city center have long complained about their use, particularly by tourists, leading to the move to drastically limit their use.

Prague has been preparing a new system for regulating shared transport vehicles since 2024.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Archive of Dominik Lutz

Dominik Luks is a top resilience and strength coach who trains MMA fighters and works with Czechia’s top athletes. His desire to overcome limits has led him to break three world records in just over a year.

You could say that Dominik Luks has already reached the top.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Perhaps the only time Czech rock bands have made a significant splash internationally was in the early 1990s, when groups like the Ecstasy of St. Theresa were covered in the UK music press. EOST, who made the independent charts in England, were the vanguard of a local iteration of the shoegaze genre then in vogue in London. And that scene is the subject of the new book Šeptej nahlas: Český shoegaze mezi Východem a Západem (Whisper Aloud: Czech Shoegaze Between the East and the West) by music journalist and academic Miloš Hroch. I spoke to the author at our Prague studios.

Miloš, you were born in 1989, pretty much the time that this music genre was starting.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Legend has it that eggs were needed for the construction of Charles Bridge. But the people of Velvary brought boiled eggs and became a lasting target of ridicule.

The legend of Charles Bridge, the iconic Prague structure, tells us that eggs were needed for its construction, as they were added to the mortar mixture to strengthen it.

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Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Petr Neugebauer, FEL ČVUT

In Abu Dhabi, a team of Czech scientists came third at the world’s first racing competition for autonomous drones – drones that fly without direct human control, but rather through on-board programming and AI.

Drones are a common sight these days, usually accompanied by a pilot controlling them from a location on the ground.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Austria-Forum, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Sloka may seem like a humble Czech word, referring to the verse of a song or a stanza of poem, but it has a very distinct origin. It’s also a testament to how individuals can have a big impact on a language, if the conditions are right.

Josef Jungmann (1773 – 1847) was a leading figure in the Czech National Revival, a movement that wanted to promote and raise up Czech culture, society and language, to counteract the strong influence of German.

See more here.

Photo: Prague Beer Fest

Prague Beer Fest is returning for another year, running from midday on Friday 11th of April to midnight on Saturday 12th. Danny Bate spoke to Miroslav Brada from the team behind the festival, to find out what’s new this year and how the international celebration of beer works.

This will be the seventh annual Prague Beer Fest.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Jeffrey Martin, a pioneer in the field of 360-degree photography, has been living in Prague for a quarter of a century. Recently his company Mosaic launched a 15-terapixel open-source data set of high resolution street view imagery of the city. How is this incredibly detailed mapping carried out? And who are the many users already accessing the resource, which is free for non-commercial use? I spoke to Martin, who is from the US, in a small park near his office in the Smíchov district.

What brought you to Prague?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

This year marks the 31st Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The commemoration period, known as Kwibuka (Kinyarwanda for “Remembrance”), serves as a time for Rwandans and the global community to come together, reflect on Rwanda’s tragic history, and draw lessons to promote lasting peace both in the region and worldwide.

H.E. Mr. Richard MASOZERA, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic organized a Commemoration ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies.

The honor speakers were Ing. Jan Bartošek – Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, And Mr. Jiri Kozak – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Commemoration was attended by many Ambassadors, diplomats, and friends of Rwanda.

Watch the Video with parts of the Commemoration ceremony.

H.E. Mr. Metin Feyzioğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Birgül Feyzioğlu hosted, at their beautiful residence a lecture “Istanbul-three Cities, Three Stories” by Lukáš Kubín to discover the ancient world through his eyes, to explore why history matters and to understand the profound importance of Istanbul in shaping our human experience

It was a very interesting lecture in a very friendly and tasty atmosphere.

Watch highlights of the event.

In our Summer Magazine ( June 2025 ), we will bring you a full article written by Lukáš Kubín.

The Czech National Pavilion welcomed an exceptionally rare visitor. The Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited the Czech Pavilion as the first international pavilion at EXPO 2025. Over the weekend, the World Expo exhibition grounds on Yumeshima Island also opened to the public for the first time ever as part of a trial run for around 90,000 people. Preliminary figures are reported by Japan News. The Czech Pavilion was only open for half a day on Sunday due to the Prime Minister’s visit. Despite this, 10,000 people passed through it in this short time and 1,200 beers were sold within a few hours.

“I am truly delighted that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba chose the Czech pavilion for his visit, which reflects the theme of sustainability and CLT technologies, the use of which he has long supported in the construction industry. The Prime Minister highlighted the architectural sophistication of the building and expressed his belief that the Czech pavilion will become a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. He also appreciated the rich program of cultural and business events, which he believes will contribute to further deepening cooperation between the Czech Republic and Japan. Finally, he enjoyed traditional Czech cuisine during lunch in the CTP Lounge on the roof of the pavilion, thus concluding his visit,” says Ondřej Soška, ​​the Commissioner General of the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, describing the details of the meeting.

The Prime Minister was accompanied to the visit to the Czech national pavilion by his wife Yoshiko Ishiba, the president of the Japanese construction company Daisue Kazunori Murao, and the Czech Honorary Consul in Sakai Kazumasa Kuzumura. As part of the visitor’s tour (permanent exhibition), the Prime Minister left his signature on the wall as a memento and drew a popular Japanese character, Oba Q, for visitors. He also praised the mascot of the Czech participation, René. Lunch included kulajda, stuffed dumplings with smoked meat, buns with shodó and Pilsner lager.

A test run was also held throughout the EXPO area over the weekend. Thanks to it, the Czechs received valuable feedback from visitors and are working on implementing the suggestions. However, a number of participating countries did not open their pavilions over the weekend because the final inspection had not yet taken place or they had not received the final inspection decision, or they were continuing with preparations for the opening. The Czech Republic received the final inspection decision last week and is in the first half of countries that have a final inspection pavilion, despite the fact that this is an exceptionally demanding construction that has no parallel in Japan. The EXPO 2025 World Exhibition begins on Sunday, April 13, 2025, and will last for the next six months.

About the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025

In December 2022, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open anonymous architectural competition for the design of a national pavilion for EXPO 2025 after more than twenty years. 38 teams applied, from which the expert jury headed by the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning design in the shape of a glass spiral by Apropos Architects in March 2023. The supporting structure of the building is made of modern wooden panels, while the facade is made of art glass, which has a tradition of several centuries in the Czech Republic. The National Pavilion will offer a dignified backdrop for the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, which will take place from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. The pavilion houses a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, restaurants, a CTP lounge, and in front of the pavilion, there is a relaxation area with a sea view for visitors. The pavilion was successfully approved at the beginning of April 2025 and is the largest wooden building of its kind without a metal supporting structure in Japan.

About the Czech participation in EXPO 2025

The Czech Republic will participate in the EXPO world exhibition for the sixth time as an independent state. The position of Commissioner General has been held since September 2022 by Ondřej Soška, ​​who won the tender of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with his concept and theme “Talent and Creativity for Life”. The Czech Republic will present itself in Osaka not only with what the Japanese know very well and have long admired, such as Czech glass and classical music, but also with Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising startups and talents from the regions.

More information can be found on the website of the Czech participation in the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition. You can also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Video:

Jane Goodall, who celebrated her 91st birthday this month, named Gaia after the Greek goddess of the earth and a young chimpanzee living in Gombe. Today, Gaia is the last animal in a family line that dates back to the very first troop that Jane Goodall studied and became close to in Tanzania in the 1960s. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, April 12, it will be one year since Gaia was born. The name of only the second lowland gorilla cub in the Dja Reservation pavilion was chosen and given last year by world-renowned primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall. Gaia is a tenacious cub, barely a year old, who most often plays with her sister Mobi, who is a quarter of a year older. The celebrations at the Dja Reservation will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m., with Gaia receiving a gift at 3 p.m.

“The birth of both gorilla cubs and Jane Goodall’s visit were extraordinary moments for us. Jane, who, by the way, celebrates her birthday just a few days before Gaia, has left a huge impression on visitors and employees of Prague Zoo. Every time I go to see Gaia, I remember Jane’s enthusiasm and tirelessness. I think that this legacy of hers, which is present here not only in Gaia’s name, is an inspiration to many of us,” says Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek.

Almost a year old, Gaia is already tasting adult food with gusto, while still drinking breast milk from her mother, Kijivu. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Gaia is increasingly confident in walking on the ground and climbing ropes and parkos. When she is not sleeping or resting on her mother Kijiva’s back, she plays with her sister Mobi.

“Unlike the older Mobi, she is more cautious and still stays close to her mother. While Mobi is more like our little devil – Gaia’s little angel,” says Martin Vojáček, head primate keeper. “They wrestle with each other in play and then both laugh loudly with their mouths wide open until all their teeth are visible,” describes Vojáček.

Both cubs can still be easily distinguished. Mobi, who is a quarter of a year older, is bigger and his mother Duni still maintains her “hairstyle” by pulling out hair from her head. Kijivu, on the other hand, does not interfere with her fifth cub for the first time. At first, Gaia caught up with her sister unusually quickly in development and watched all her progress, but recently she has shown a rather mild nature and stands out for her calmness even compared to the previous cubs.

The games of gorilla sisters are currently one of the most attractive spectacles at Prague Zoo. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

In addition to her mother and sister, she has also established a relationship with her father Kisum, who likes to play gently with the cubs, and also with the oldest member of the group, Kamba, who is happy to accept the interest of both cubs. Unlike Mobi, Gaia does not yet seek out play with their roommates – the Cape gerbils.

Although Gaia will be breastfed for approximately three years, she is already happily tasting everything like an adult. “She especially enjoys sweet vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes or carrots. However, she is still reluctant to accept food directly from us keepers. She often sleeps during feeding time. As she grows, however, her habits will gradually change and Gaia will get used to the daily rhythm of life of the entire troop.”

The first cub of the female Kijivu was the famous Moja, the first gorilla born in the Czech Republic. Kijivu is now an experienced and patient mother. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo invites visitors to celebrate Gaia’s first birthday in the Dja Reservation pavilion on Saturday, April 12. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will always be commented meetings with gorillas on the hour, and at 3 p.m., the keepers will prepare special enrichment for the gorillas. In the African class, not only young visitors will be able to make Gaia’s wish and play educational games about the protection of gorillas in Central Africa.

In general, the best time to observe lowland gorillas is around 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when they are feeding. In nice weather, they also visit the outdoor enclosure.

Photo: Post Bellum

Fifty years have passed since Václav Havel wrote his open letter to Gustáv Husák, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, titled “Dear Dr. Husák.” But is the document merely a relic of the past, or does it still hold significance in understanding the former totalitarian regime and the value of democracy today?

The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and the Archive of the Security Services hold approximately 21 kilometers of archival materials, managing 755 archival collections.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Václav Pancer, ČTK

The Eggenberg golden carriage, one of the Czech Republic’s rarest historical artefacts, will leave Český Krumlov castle after more than 350 years. It is being loaned to Eggenberg Castle in Graz, Austria where it will be one of the highlights of the Ambition & Illusion exhibition.

The rare golden carriage will leave its home in Český Krumlov to present the Eggenbergs’ legacy on the premises of the family seat.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Barbora Němcová, Radio Prague International

This year’s season at the state castles, chateaus, and other monuments managed by the National Heritage Institute (NPS) will begin on Saturday, April 5. Visitors can look forward to new guided tours, and, starting in mid-April, Easter traditions and fairs. The 2025 season will be extended through the autumn holidays and will run until November 2. To find out more about what visitors can expect from this year’s season, I spoke with the Institute’s spokeswoman, Blanka Černá.

About one hundred sites across Czechia are opening for this year’s season at the state castles and chateaus.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Juan Muttoni, Radio Prague International

Would you live on a houseboat floating on the Vltava River in Czechia’s capital? Our team visited a couple who are lucky enough to do just that. Join us as we discover this unique experience that Prague has to offer.

The interior of the home is spacious and includes a guest room, a master bedroom, a similarly large bathroom with a shower, and even an internal terrace with a built-in grill.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Petr Kubát, Czech Radio

Pablo Picasso, one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century, is drawing visitors to Český Krumlov. A new exhibition at the Monastery Gallery offers a rare look not only at his artworks but also at the life of the man himself.

Český Krumlov is famous for its picturesque architecture and beautiful cobbled streets.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ludmila Křesťanová, Czech Radio

Teachers at a Prague primary school are changing how the Czech language is taught to foreign children, and have produced new textbooks that implement their method.

In today’s interconnected and multicultural world, Czech primary schools cannot count on all their young pupils being familiar with the Czech language.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Illustrative photo: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Allied pilots targeted strategic locations in Czech cities during the Second World War. How do veterans recall these missions? What significance did they hold for them, and how do they view them now? I explore this and more in our next episode of our series on the end of the Second World War.

From 1944 onwards, residents of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia increasingly witnessed Allied bombers in the sky—American bombers by day and British bombers mainly by night.

See more here.

Illustration photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

As EXPO 2025 in Osaka opens this coming Sunday, the acclaimed Prague-based contemporary circus company La Putyka is putting the final touches on a unique production for the Czech National Day. Blending tradition, modern performance, and international collaboration, the show Strings will bring together the Czech Philharmonic, the Children’s Choir of Czech Radio, and 150-year-old marionettes from Novák’s family collection.

Czech artists are finalizing plans for their showcase event at EXPO 2025.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: kaicho20, Pixabay, CC0 1.0 DEED

Over 20 organizations, including the Czech office of the World Health Organization and the Czech Medical Chamber, are urging politicians to implement stricter alcohol controls in Czechia. The country has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world, with an alarming 7,000 alcohol-related deaths each year. I spoke with Zsofia Pusztai, head of the WHO’s Czech office, to discuss the reasons behind this appeal.

First of all, why have you decided to issue this appeal for stricter alcohol controls in Czechia?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

What happens when an elite ruling class suddenly loses its power? Historian Luděk Němec explores the topic of the dramatic transformation of the Czech aristocracy in the 20th century in in Vienna in this episode of Science Without Borders.

In a country where nobility is often viewed with skepticism, historian Luděk Němec uncovers why some noble families remained loyal to Czechoslovakia even after losing everything.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová, Vít Pohanka

Photo: Michal Šafařík, Czech Radio

Ten years ago, Kateřina Snopková from Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine brought back samples from Antarctica. Now she has announced that they contained a new bacterial species.

Despite the geographical distance, Masaryk University in Brno has a close connection with Antarctica.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, ČTK

Various folklore associations across Czechia took part in the traditional ritual of carrying away the Morana on Sunday. In Telč, a two-meter-high figurine, representing the death goddess, was cast into the pond by a vibrant costumed procession. This ancient Slavic pagan ritual marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, and it continues to be observed in many parts of the country.

See more here.

Photo: CERN

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is the world’s largest laboratory for particle physics. It’s a unique place where scientists from around the globe work together to explore the fundamental mysteries of the universe. In an exclusive interview with Czech Radio, CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti spoke about the role of Czech scientists and engineers in this remarkable international collaboration.

CERN is a symbol of international scientific cooperation.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Monkey Business/ YouTube

Monkey Business is a Czech funk and pop band that was formed in Prague in 1999. It is one of the musical projects of multi-instrumentalist and producer Roman Holý. As of 2025, they have released a total of eleven studio albums. For this week’s Sunday Music Show, we will be playing you a range of their tunes.

See more here.

Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

On April 6, 2015, Prague’s metro system took a significant step forward with the opening of four new stations on the A line: Bořislavka, Nádraží Veleslavín, Petřiny, and Nemocnice Motol. This extension greatly improved accessibility to the western parts of the city, offering faster connections for commuters and visitors alike.

The Nemocnice Motol station, located at the western end of the line, became a crucial link for thousands of patients and employees at the largest hospital in Czechia.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Born in France, Constantin Kinský studied there, and made a successful career in international finance. But when communism fell in Central and Eastern Europe, Constantin Kinský came back. With his late father, he returned to the family’s ancestral estate in Žďár nad Sázavou — my very own hometown — and set about reclaiming not just a chateau, but a legacy.

This episode of Czechast is about more than history.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Vaiva Bezhan, archive of Reza Bird

Reza Bird, an Iranian-American filmmaker and founder of Nxt Animal Project premiered his documentary Revolution 3.0 at the One World Festival in Prague. The documentary is autobiographical and shows us his journey of exile as an artist in Iran to then forging a new path for himself in L.A. The documentary highlights social media as a tool. Reza, along with other Iranians all over the world, uses social media footage to come together and fight back.

I wanted to ask how you feel about premiering the documentary here for the first time and showing it in front of an audience.

See more here.

Photo: AŽD Praha

The first-ever driverless train in Czechia started operating on the Kopidlno to Dolní Bousov line in the Mladá Boleslav region on Friday. This marks a historic milestone as Europe’s first autonomous train to carry passengers, with the first public rides scheduled to start on Saturday.

Czechia’s ground-breaking driverless train features a Czech-made, specially modified 811 series engine known as Edita.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Salvadori’s monitor lizards command respect, among other things, with their massive heads and strong jaws, equipped with long teeth. Their slender bodies are decorated with a distinctive black-and-yellow pattern. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo has recently welcomed Salvadorian monitor lizards. A young couple named Salva and Dorian have taken up residence in the Large Turtle Pavilion, which until recently was inhabited by adolescent Komodo dragons. After 17 years, the giant terrarium has returned to its original purpose and has been transformed into a densely green New Guinean rainforest. This reptile species, which is considered the longest lizard on the planet, is active during the day, so visitors have the opportunity to observe the new monitor lizards throughout the entire opening hours of the Prague Zoo.

Salvadori’s monitor lizards spend most of their lives in the treetops, where they move with surprising agility. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“Salvadori’s monitor lizards are often cited as the longest lizards in the world. They could even surpass Komodo dragons in length, but the proportions of these slender tree lizards with a very long tail significantly reduce the impression of their massiveness. The traditional 470 cm has not yet been reliably documented, and until that happens, we will be content with stating their length with a more modest, although equally impressive 250 centimeters,” says Petr Velenský, curator of reptiles at Prague Zoo.

Salvadori’s monitor lizards lurk among the branches for prey and seize it with a quick lunge. They mainly hunt smaller mammals and birds, but they also do not disdain carrion or bird eggs. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The one-year-old cubs of the future tree giants arrived from Fuengirola, Spain, but their total journey was much longer. The resumption of breeding at Prague Zoo is part of the plan of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Reptile Advisory Group (EAZA RTAG) to build a viable European population of this species. Not only Prague Zoo and Bioparc Fuengirola, but also zoos in Marwell, England, and Düsseldorf, Germany, joined forces to organize the transport of nine cubs from the USA, from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. A European quarantine was held in Spain, and the monitor lizards traveled to their final destinations during March.

“In American farms, Salvadori monitor lizards are more common than in European ones. The arrival of young individuals from the United States is a welcome and important revival of the genetics of local individuals in human care,” explains Velenský.

The very long tail is probably the most distinctive attribute of Salvadori’s monitor lizards. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Although the Salvadori monitor lizard is not considered an endangered species, its population faces threats associated with the destruction of rainforests and the expansion of plantations in New Guinea. Another risk factor is hunting for meat and the illegal trade in animals. This species is still rather rare in zoos, and therefore, in addition to protection, human-assisted breeding also contributes to a better understanding of its biology and ecology.

UN Tourism and the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of Lithuania have agreed on a shared vision for tourism development in the country for the period 2025–2027. In addition to accelerating digital transformation, innovation, and investments in the sector, the strengthened partnership will also focus on governance and destination management to ensure the continued growth of Lithuanian tourism.

The collaborative plans were set out during an official visit to Vilnius by UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, as he met with Minister of the Economy and Innovation Lukas Savickas, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julius Pranevičius, members of parliament, and key tourism stakeholders.

“Lithuania has demonstrated remarkable resilience and vision,” said Secretary-General Pololikashvili. “The country’s leadership in innovation and inclusivity sets a strong example for the region and beyond. Our cooperation reflects the shared commitment to building a smarter, more sustainable, and more competitive tourism sector.”

You can read more here: https://www.unwto.org/news/un-tourism-and-lithuania-partner-to-boost-innovation-and-visibility?utm_source=news&utm_medium=crm

Photo: HZS Olomouckého kraje

Czech authorities declared a state of emergency near Hustopeče nad Bečvou on February 28 following a train crash that led to the spread of 1,000 tons of toxic benzene. Olomouc Governor Ladislav Okleštěk stated that the declaration was necessary to expedite the cleanup of the affected soil and water. But what could have been done better in dealing with the disaster?

Czech Environment Minister Petr Hladik commented that the situation at the accident site was worsening quickly.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Copernicus/European Union Space Programme

As the ice on the Lipno Reservoir in South Bohemia has gradually melted over the past few weeks, satellite images have revealed an unexpected sight. The original meander of the Vltava River, known as the “Heart of the Vltava,” has begun to reappear beneath the receding ice, offering a rare glimpse of the river’s natural shape.

The Vltava, often referred to as the Czech national river, is the longest river in Czechia, stretching about 430 kilometres from its spring to its confluence with the Elbe.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

In February and March 1945, the Americans fought a bloody battle for the small Pacific island of Iwo Jima. The island of less than thirty square miles, was strategically located, a crucial “stepping stone” on the way to mainland Japan and securing overall victory in World War II. A number of our compatriots fought in the ranks of the American troops and helped make history.

You have probably seen the iconic photo of the Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima, even if you’re not very interested in World War II history.

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