AuthorMartin Hladík

Sales of new flats in Prague soared by 80% last year, reaching 7,200 units—the second-highest figure in 15 years.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Pavel Vlach, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED

The West Bohemian metropolis is ranked 54th on the Numbeo quality of life index for January, overtaking not only Prague and Brno, but cities such as Oslo, Madrid, Dubai and Berlin. Numbeo is the world’s largest statistical portal that collects data directly from people reflecting their satisfaction with life in the given city.

It is a first for the West Bohemian city of Plzeň, which is famous the world over for being the cradle of the delicious golden brew.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

A series of cultural events will take place in Kutná Hora this year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the town’s historic center being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: APF Czech Radio

Police have reopened the case of the death of former Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk who died on the eve of March 10, 1948. Originally believed to be a suicide, the Office for Documentation and Investigation of Crimes of Communism (ÚDV), a unit of the Czech Police, now suspects murder, based on newly obtained documents from the diplomatic archives of France, the United States, and Great Britain.

The Masaryk case was reopened after new documents were obtained by the Czech Foreign Ministry last August.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Lukáš Milota, Czech Radio

A new model of trams will soon be seen around Prague, as the Škoda ForCity Plus 52T was launched this week for the first time on Škoda’s test track in Plzeň. Ahead of their arrival and test runs in the capital, Danny Bate spoke to councillor and former Deputy Mayor for Transport Adam Scheinherr about what the new trams will offer.

Photo: Lukáš Milota, Czech Radio.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jan Kubelka, Radio Prague International

On January 29th, Dominik Hašek, considered by some to be the greatest ice-hockey goaltender in history, celebrates his sixtieth birthday. He spoke to Danny Bate about his career, looking back on his early years, his time as a professional sportsman, and his favourite memories.

I have the immense privilege to be joined here in the studio by the Dominator himself, Mr.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

A great new way to learn about hidden gems of Prague with Radio Prague International.

In this Czechast special we introduce Prague off the Beaten Track, your guide to the hidden gems of Prague – unique places, stories, and cultural experiences that you won’t find in the usual guidebooks or on the standard tourist paths.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Humanity tends to forget patterns and events leading to tragic outcomes, President Petr Pavel stated at a Holocaust Remembrance Day event at Prague Castle.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Jan Hrdonka, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A student at the Prague University of Economics and Business has invented a new speech-to-text system that can help small airports and small aircraft to communicate better. The system has now caught the attention of pilots, airports and even the Czech Civil Aviation Authority.

If you were piloting a plane, thousands of metres up in the air, you might not want to have to take down notes with a pencil and paper.

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Author: Danny Bate, Eva Kézrová

Photo: City of Jindřichův Hradec

Archaeologists in Jindřichův Hradec have made a unique discovery. During reconstruction work at the castle brewery, they uncovered exceptionally well-preserved furnaces dating back to the late 18th century.

These historic furnaces, which were once used to heat brewing pans containing ground malt and water, were found beneath a layer of soil.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo repro: Radim Kopáč, ‘Nevěstince a nevěstky’/Paseka

Prague may be known for its many gothic structures, medieval alleyways, quaint parks, and bustling pubs. But “the city of a hundred spires” has a darker side too. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, brutal murders and prostitution shocked the capital’s residents. Tour guide for Prague City Tourism Marek Kovář took Radio Prague for a tour of some of these sites, including the so-called “love rooms,” which many, including figures like Franz Ferdinand, would frequent.

Marek Kovář is a tour guide who uncovers the dark side of Prague for Prague City Tourism.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Ema Polívková, iROZHLAS.cz

In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in his 7th presidential election on Sunday. The 70-year-old autocrat, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, was reported to have won 86.8% of the vote. On Sunday, dozens of people protested outside the Belarusian embassy in Prague’s Troja district to show their discontent with the alleged results. I spoke with the Director of the Office of the Democratic Forces of Belarus in the Czech Republic Kryscina Šyjanok to discuss these developments and the role of the Belarusian diaspora in advocating for a democratic transition in Belarus.

Let’s start with just general numbers here.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, ČTK

One of the toughest dogsledding races in Europe, called Šediváček’s Long, is traditionally held in the small village of Jedlová in the Orlice Mountains.

This year, around seven hundred dogs and more than a hundred competitors (‘mushers’) from Czechia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary and Poland competed for the title.

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Photo: Poslední concertino/Czech television

For today’s Sunday Music Show, we will be playing you some music by the Czech composer Vítězslava Kaprálová to mark the occassion of her birth 100 years ago on January 24, 1915.

Kaprálová was both a composer and a conductor, a rare dual role even today.

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Photo: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

The Club for Old Prague, founded on 28 January 1900, is one of the most important institutions dedicated to the protection of historical and cultural heritage in Prague. At a time of intense redevelopment, when many historic buildings were threatened with demolition, it became a strong voice against the destruction of the city’s architectural treasures.

The main figures who led the club were important personalities of the Prague intelligentsia – architects, artists and historians.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

In this episode, we have a truly fascinating guest, Eleanor Janega, an American broadcaster, historian, and author with a deep personal and professional connection to Czech history.

Eleanor’s scholarship focuses on the late medieval period, including gender, urban life, and apocalyptic thought, but her passion for Czech history runs much deeper than her academic work.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Universal Pictures

Although neither of the two Czech films that were shortlisted for this year’s Oscars—the historical drama Waves nor the short film The Countryman—received a nomination, the Oscar statuette may still be headed to Czechia this year. Czech set decorator Beatrice Brentnerová is nominated in the set design category for her work on Nosferatu and spoke to Czech Radio about her stylistic choices.

Robert Eggers’ latest film, Nosferatu, has been widely celebrated since its release.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Štěpánka Budková, Radio Prague International

Supraphon, the venerable Czech record label specialising in classical and pop music, has this month been bought by the American multinational company Sony Music Entertainment.

With a history stretching back to the First Republic, Supraphon is a respected mainstay of the Czech musical scene.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

Historic hockey trophies, medals, and iconic sports gear—these are just some of the artefacts on display at the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame. Located on Prague’s Nekázanka Street in the heart of the city, the Hall reopened last year, showcasing the sport’s greatest moments, with each item telling its own unique story.

Every hockey enthusiast visiting Prague should stop at the Hall of Fame, which officially opened last May, just three days before the World Ice Hockey Championships began in Prague and Ostrava.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: The Museum of Prague

Nestled beneath the Vyšehrad Rock on the banks of the Vltava River, Podskalí is a lesser-known but historically rich area of Prague. Once a bustling port village and a vital part of the city’s economy, Podskalí has transformed over the centuries into a charming destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and leisure.

The name Podskalí, meaning “under the rock,” reflects its proximity to the Vyšehrad Rock, where the ancient Vyšehrad Castle once stood.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Prime Minister Fiala: The conclusion of a strategic partnership with Vietnam will strengthen trade, investment, and cooperation in several areas

Watch the video from  Monday, January 20, 2025, when Prime Minister Petr Fiala welcomed the Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, in Prague. Together, they agreed to upgrade Czech-Vietnamese relations to a strategic partnership, which aims to strengthen trade, investment, and defense cooperation and support joint projects in the fields of science, education, tourism, and others. Important agreements focused on cooperation in education and pilot training were also signed during the meeting.

This year, the Czech Republic and Vietnam are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. “We don’t have such close relations with any other Asian country as we do with Vietnam. Our relations are developing successfully and the intensity of contacts at various levels is growing. This corresponds to the turnover of mutual trade, which was a record last year and exceeded 4 billion dollars. It is gratifying that Czech companies are very interested in further investments in Vietnam. For all these reasons, we are moving our relations to a new, strategic level,” said the Prime Minister.

The joint statement on upgrading mutual relations to a strategic partnership refers in particular to strengthening cooperation in defense and security, economic partnership, trade and investment relations, education, science and technology, environment, natural resources and health care, tourism, culture and other areas.

The heads of government followed up on their last meeting in Hanoi two years ago. Since then, several joint projects have been moved forward. “For example, the year before last I started the construction of the Škoda Auto plant in Quang Ninh province. This March, the automaker plans to start the production line. It is one of those projects that raise Czech-Vietnamese economic cooperation to a new higher level. We are also delivering L-39 aircraft, we have the option of delivering other machines,” added Prime Minister Fiala.

Both countries concluded an agreement on cooperation in the field of education, which, among other things, supports direct cooperation of higher education institutions and enables mutual exchanges of academic staff and university students. A contract was also concluded for the training of Vietjet airline pilots at the F-Air flight school.

The great interest of companies in the development of business relations is also shown by the participation in today’s business forum in Prague, which was attended by representatives of 130 companies from both countries. Vietnam is the most important trade partner of the Czech Republic in Southeast Asia. The potential for mutual cooperation is enormous. Czech and Vietnamese companies already cooperate in the automotive, energy, and defense industries, and there is also close cooperation in the mining industry and the aviation sector. “We see great potential in the petrochemical industry, e.g. while expanding the capacities of Vietnamese refineries. Our companies have extensive experience with this on a global scale. We can also offer experience and technology in the field of nuclear energy. The next step we talked about could be the introduction of a direct flight between Prague and Hanoi, which would have a positive impact on trade, investment and tourism. As it has already been done with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,” said the prime minister.

The joint meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek, Minister of Finance Zbyněk Stanjura, Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Mikuláš Bek and their Vietnamese counterparts.

Read the joint declaration on elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, deepening political cooperation and diplomatic relations between The Social Republic of Vietnam and the Czech Republic.

On Monday, January 27th, there will be a candle-lighting ceremony for Olga Havel, founder of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation.

29 years since her death.

The memorial meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the Vinohrady Cemetery at the grave of Olga and Václav Havel.

The ceremony will be attend by the Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Vojtěch Sedláček, Foundation Director Monika Granja, and Evangelical pastor Miroslav Erdinger.

Musical accompaniment will be performed by the Besharmonie student choir.

The public is invited to come and pay respect.

Photo: Ondřej Němec

Harapan, born last May, lives on one of the islands in the Indonesian jungle with his mother Diri and father Pagy. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo invites visitors to heated pavilions. When observing animals, they can expect pleasant temperatures of more than twenty degrees Celsius and comfortable benches in the immediate vicinity of interesting species. For example, people can watch Mobi and Gaia, small female gorillas from the Dja Reservation pavilion, from a generous auditorium that offers, in addition to rest, the opportunity to charge their phones.

“In the spacious Dja Reservation auditorium, visitors not only hide from the cold but above all, they can watch the games of female gorillas Mobi and Gaia in comfort. In my opinion, it is the most attractive spectacle,” says Prague Zoo Director Miroslav Bobek.

Giraffes are usually closer to home during the winter months than in the summer – and people can also see last year’s born Johanka. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Dja Reservation pavilion offers a friendly 23 °C. First, visitors will walk through a Cameroonian village and a typical school classroom. They will then set off on a journey through a lush forest, home to talapoins, vervet monkeys, brush-tailed macaques, and, in particular, lowland gorillas. At the top of the tiered auditorium, visitors will find two interactive screens that allow them to identify individual members of the gorilla troop.

A unique view of zebras, giraffes, and Cape hartebeests. This is offered by the Africa House, along with 21 °C. Although North Nubian giraffes are surprisingly hardy, they cannot spend the entire winter outside. Thanks to this, visitors can watch these tallest animals in the world from comfortable benches in the warmth of the pavilion. They can look forward to, for example, the giraffe cub Johanka, born in July of last year. Grévy’s zebras like to interact with people near the glass.

An underwater expedition to see Tchéc and Maruška. Hippopotamus spend the winter in the indoor pool in the Hippo Pavilion with 20 °C, which allows an attractive view of the underwater world from the comfort of a bench. It can be seen that these even-toed ungulates weighing up to three tons do not actually swim actively, but gracefully reflect off the bottom.

Visitors can often catch Mobi and Gaia playing. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Tropical atmosphere, diverse environments and 24 °C. In the gigantic Indonesian Jungle greenhouse, visitors will be captivated by impressive Komodo dragons, pig-tailed macaques or the newly bred species of black-bellied flying frogs. People can also learn more about scaly mammals – short-tailed pangolins. In the Indonesian Jungle nocturne, you can observe, for example, the female Šiška, the first pangolin bred in Europe, or her younger sister Connie, born last summer. After climbing to the upper floor of the pavilion, visitors will have a view of two families of Sumatran orangutans with their cubs. While four-year-old “Kawi” is often spotted frolicking in the branches, little Harapan is just taking his first steps.

A walk in the Africa Up Close Pavilion will also warm you up. The interior imitates an abandoned African village, to which nature is gradually returning. Visitors can observe various types of invertebrates, rodents, hyenas or even a honeyeater, a beast that does not hesitate to stand up to even the king of beasts. The Reed Pavilion is also worth a visit, presenting eight unique exhibits, six of which are heated indoors. They are inhabited by rare parrots such as hyacinth macaws, eagle-headed trichi or palm cockatoos. The Pavilion of Predators and Reptiles also provides benches inviting you to rest.

The male Tchéc was named in his native French zoo by the breeders in honor of the Czech national holiday – he was born on October 28. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Even in the colder months, visitors should not neglect the outdoor enclosures and aviaries. Some animal species are even more active in winter. For example, red pandas with thickly furred feet are among the hardiest inhabitants of Prague Zoo. Camels in Plány are growing winter fur, and even bison are getting shaggier.

In total, Prague Zoo offers fifteen indoor pavilions where people can hide from the bad weather. During the winter, visitors can also avoid the summer crowds. It is also worth using the Prague Zoo app, where you can buy tickets more conveniently than at the box office.

Young frogs do not yet have the ability to glide and their skin is bright red and warty. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Visitors to the Prague Zoo can now see black-bellied flying frogs in the Indonesian jungle pavilion. The webs between their fingers can function like miniature “gliders”, and thanks to them, flying insects can overcome a distance of up to fifteen meters. Arboreal amphibians impress not only with their ability to glide but also with their interesting coloring, which changes during their development.

“For the smallest frogs, a distinctive bloody color is typical. This serves as a cryptic coloring that imitates bird droppings,” explains expert reptile and amphibian breeder Vojtěch Víta. “Thanks to this, in the rainforest, they blend in perfectly with their environment, avoiding the attention of predators.” Gradually, white spots appear on the red skin, resembling plant seeds in the droppings. Subsequently, the appearance of the frog changes to a green color, until finally the white spots also disappear. The structure of the skin also undergoes a transformation. “While in adulthood the frog is completely smooth, fresh after metamorphosis its skin is covered with bumps,” adds Vojtěch Víta.

For its bright green color, black-skinned butterflies owe to carotenoids. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Black-skinned flies, whose food is crickets, cockroaches, and other invertebrates, inhabit Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. They are strictly an arboreal species and do not visit water even when breeding. Their large fingers with suction pads thus acquired a new function. When, for example, they need to escape predators in a tropical rainforest, they jump down from a branch and spread their membranes. It can even change direction during a flight.

Flycatchers, like other amphibians, belong to the lowest links of the food chain. Nevertheless, they have an irreplaceable role in the ecosystem and their disappearance has a devastating impact on the environment. This is followed by the extinction of other species that depend on them for food – for example, snakes. At the same time, amphibians are currently among the most endangered animals.

Visitors will find black-bellied kites right at the entrance to the Indonesian Jungle, where they inhabit the circular aquaterrarium on the right. They spend most of their time on the leaves of plants above water.

Females use their hind legs to whip up a foam nest made of special mucus, in which they lay their eggs. The hatched tadpoles then fall straight from the nest into the water. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Pavla Niklová has been the director of the Jewish Museum in Prague, one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the world, for around a year and a half. When we spoke at her office on the edge of the city’s Jewish Quarter, the conversation took in everything from Niklová’s own background to whether the museum has been much impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What’s your background, Pavla? What kind of family do you come from, that kind of thing?.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Wolfgang Zauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Czech language from the perspective of a linguist, broadcaster and soon an author Danny Bate.

In this episode, we’re delving into the fascinating world of language with someone who has made it both a profession and a passion – linguist, broadcaster, and my colleague at Radio Prague International, Danny Bate.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

With the eyes of the world on the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, Czechia’s Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, spoke about what he expects for Czech-US relations over the next four years.

On January 20th, Donald Trump returns to the White House, taking over from the president who both followed and preceded him, Joe Biden.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Radio Prague International

According to a forecast from the Institute of Planning and Development, Prague is expected to have 400,000 more residents by 2050. If this projection is underestimated, the result could be a sharp increase in housing prices, as demand would outstrip supply by thousands of units each year. So, what can be done?

Czechia’s government has set an ambitious agenda when it comes to housing, with a clear focus on ensuring that Czech families have access to affordable, quality homes.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Jiří Klůc/Donio

Jiří Kluc is a young historian with a profound interest in World War II history and particularly in forgotten war heroes scattered the world over. With time fast running out for the last remaining survivors, he feels compelled to find them and tell their stories to the public. When he visited Radio Prague’s studio we talked about what sparked his interest in history, his mission to record the stories of WWII heroes and where that journey has taken him.

“I started to be interested in history when I was 15.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: IPR Praha

Situated on the Vltava River near the Hlávka Bridge, Štvanice Island, is a lesser-known yet fascinating part of Prague. With a rich history spanning centuries and modern activities like river surfing, the island seamlessly combines tradition and contemporary recreation.

Štvanice has long played a vital role in Prague’s history.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Michal Šafařík, Czech Radio

The Czech Academy of Sciences’ Institute of the Czech Language is recruiting young language enthusiasts to document dialects and the endangered speech of older generations.

Czechia may seem fairly unified in its speech today, but the country still contains a lot of linguistic diversity.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: VZLÚ

Czechia launched its largest satellite yet, SATurnin-1, into space on Tuesday. Unlike previous satellites, it is not dependent on foreign technology. Its mission will be to take detailed pictures of the Earth for defense and security purposes. The satellite was carried into orbit by a Space X Falcon-9 rocket from the US.

The name of the new Czech satellite, Saturnin, refers to a popular novel about a quirky yet perfectly proper butler, written by Zdeněk Jirotka in 1942.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michal Köpping, Společnost Česká krajina

The Milovice nature reserve is the first in Czechia to win the country’s top three ecological awards. By reintroducing large herbivorous mammals to the area, the project has successfully rewilded the former military zone northeast of Prague, restoring its unique ecosystem.

In the 1990s, Milovice’s biodiversity faced a sharp decline following the departure of military machinery.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Pavel Petr, Czech Radio

There is a shortage of train drivers in the Czech railway sector. Many are gradually retiring, with no replacements lined up. This shortage is unlikely to be significantly affected by the decline in demand for freight transport. As a result, railway operators are offering various incentives, such as signing bonuses and full training, to attract new drivers.

Jaroslav Vondrovic, president of the Federation of Train Drivers and a former train driver for over four decades, told Czech Radio that the unattractive working conditions, along with demanding professional and health requirements, are the reasons why candidates are not rushing to apply, but instead are leaving the profession.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Illustrative photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The number of foreigners living in the Czech Republic has been steadily increasing since the fall of communism. In the past decade, their number has doubled to the present 1.1 million.

Due to its geographic location in the heart of Europe, low unemployment and rich cultural scene Czechia continues to attract a growing number of foreign residents who settle here long-term or even permanently.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

In today’s Sunday Music Show, we’ll be listening to pianist and composer Nikol Bóková’s most recent album, Feathers, released at the end of last year.

Nikol Bóková was born in the Moravian-Silesian town of Ostrava and trained as a classical pianist.

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Photo: Alte Nationalgalerie/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

250 years ago, the first public library in Prague opened its doors, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the city’s literary history. On January 17, 1775, bookseller Wolfgang Gerle and his brother Ondřej established the first lending library for fiction and newspapers, making literature accessible to the general public.

Wolfgang Gerle transformed part of his apartment on Prague’s Charles Street into a reading room for newspapers and magazines, called the “Learned Club.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year! To mark the occasion, we explore some of the most iconic stations on the Czech capital’s metro network. In this episode, we go to Háje, the southern terminal station of line C. Our guide Martin Karlík from Prague City Tourism awaits us at the station, promising “a journey through time and space”.

Our tour begins in front of a sculpture situated close by to Háje metro station.

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Author: Fred Byrne

Photo: National Heritage Institute, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 CZ

Archaeologists in Prague have uncovered one of Europe’s largest mass burial sites from the Seven Years’ War. The discovery, made in the courtyard of the historic Břevnov Monastery, reveals the skeletal remains of over 1,000 soldiers, offering a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of 18th-century warfare.

The excavation, conducted from June to November last year, confirmed that the graves were created in May and June 1757, during the Prussian invasion of the Czech lands.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jakub Ferenčík, Radio Prague International

The National Gallery Prague is Czechia’s foremost and largest art institution. Its goal is to preserve the nation’s artistic heritage and promote it to both its domestic population and an international audience. With that goal in mind, what does it really mean to be a “national” gallery?

“Your questions, which are obviously one part of this story, are also what concerns us, and these are the kind of everyday questions we ask ourselves.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Radek Petrášek, ČTK

A group of hardy climbers set off to the top of Ještěd, the famous mountain outside Liberec, with very limited equipment: shorts, gloves and hats.

In temperatures slightly below freezing, they managed to reach their destination in approximately fifty minutes.

See more here.

The Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Ronald DOFING, organized a New Year´s Gala concert with catchy show tunes from Berlin to Broadway “Let’s Misbehave” performed by an international cast at the beautiful Kaiserstein Palace.

The proceeds of the charity concert will go to the Pink Bubble Foundation, which helps young people with cancer (www.pinkbubble.cz).

The talented international cast includes Sascha Ley from Luxemburg, Fabio Lesuisse from Belgium, Patricio Arroyo from Chile, Filip Martinka from the Czech Republic, and Juraj Skoda from Slovakia.

Attached is the program and a few words about the cast.

Watch the video with the welcome speech of The Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Ronald DOFING, and a few moments from that great concert.

The Czech pavilion is among 20 of the best countries at the Expo 2025, which will open in Osaka – Japan in April 2025.

Read the article that was published at blooloop.com – the magazine of Museums & Trust.

Copyrights: blooloop.com and Charlotte Coates

Prague’s Václav Havel Airport handled 16.35 million passengers last year, marking an 18 percent increase compared to the previous year. At the beginning of last year, the airport had anticipated 15.5 million passengers for 2024, thus exceeding this forecast by more than 800,000 passengers.

The Prague airport offered flights to 181 destinations last year, an increase of 14 destinations year-on-year. The flights were operated by 76 carriers. Last year’s number of passengers was the third highest in history. The airport plans to handle 18.4 million passengers this year, the highest number in its history.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Read this interesting article related to this topic.

Photo: Universal Pictures

The American horror film Nosferatu, one of the most talked-about movies of the year, has a unique Czech connection. Not only was it mostly filmed in Prague – it also features traditional Czech Christmas ornaments.

Nosferatu, a Gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and a terrifying vampire, was filmed in 2023 primarily at the Barrandov Studios in Prague and other locations in Czechia and released internationally at the end of last year.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: National Museum

Prizes have been handed out in the 30th edition of the prestigious Czech Press Photo competition. More than 250 photographers competed in eight categories, submitting over 4,500 photographs. A selection of the best photos is now on display at the National Museum in Prague.

The main prize at Czech Press Photo went to AP photographer Petr David Josek, who captured an image of an athlete in the hurdles at the Summer Olympics in Paris.

See more here.

Photo: Daniel Šabík, DPP

A newly restored historic Mevro tram, a distant relative of the legendary trams in Milan, can now be seen roaming the streets of Prague. The 76-year-old veteran is running along one of Prague’s historic routes, attracting tourists and locals alike.

Mevro is a distant relative of the legendary trams used in Milan.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Military History Institute

On January 16, 1945, the Nazis cracked down on Operation Barium, one of the most successful resistance networks in the Protectorate during World War II.

On the night of 3 to 4 April 1944, three paratroopers from the Barium group were parachuted near Vysoká nad Labem within a resistance operation organized by the Czechoslovak government in exile.

See more here.

Photo: Anna Kubišta, Radio Prague International

The National Gallery Prague is hosting an exhibition, “École de Paris: Artists from Bohemia and Interwar Paris,” from 8 November 2024 to 2 March 2025 at the Waldstein Riding School. It highlights artists like Georges Kars, Othon Coubine, and François Zdeněk Eberl, to the Czech audience since they were more known in interwar Paris than in interwar Czechoslovakia. I spoke with National Gallery Prague Director Alicja Knast to learn more.

After World War I, artists responded to a conflict unlike any other in history, grappling with their experiences from the war and the unpredictable nature of the 20th century.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Source: Radio Prague International

Franz Kafka was born in Prague, but where specifically did the world-famous writer grow up? Where did he draw inspiration, or even go on holiday?

See more here.

Photo: Památník Lidice

At the end of December, Eva Kubíková-Bullock, who was one of the surviving children of Lidice, died at the age of eighty-seven. She lived in Canada but visited Lidice repeatedly throughout her life. During the Second World War, the Nazis murdered 88 of the 105 children from Lidice. After 1945, 17 of them returned to Lidice. Six are still alive today.

Eva Kubíková-Bullock was born on April 29, 1937, in Prague and died on December 28 in Hamilton, Canada.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Západočeská galerie v Plzni

The West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen has received a collection of 66 works by the world-renowned Czech writer, poet, and artist Jiří Kolář. The works, acquired directly from Kolář in the late 1990s, have been donated to the gallery by ČEZ. I asked the gallery’s international project coordinator Tomáš Hausner to tell me more about the collection:

“Until now, there were about 16 collages and other works by Jiří Kolář in the collection of the Gallery of West Bohemia in Plzeň.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The Czech government has moved to liberalize its policy on kratom and other psychoactive drugs. Under a new law that came into force in January, substances considered low-risk will be sold under strict conditions to adults only. However, the premature lifting of the ban on their sale is causing problems.

After many years of controversy on the issue, last year the Czech government opted for a new approach to soft drugs –aiming to get them off the black market in favour of strictly regulated sales.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Světla vyprávějí

Visitors to Prague can now experience the fascinating world of space in an impressive light exhibition on the banks of the Vltava River. Space Park Prague in the city’s of Žluté lázně (Yellow Spa) area depicts giant luminous planets, rockets, astronauts and flying saucers.

The third light exhibition at Žluté lázně focuses on the fascinating world of space, guiding visitors through the planets of the solar system, black holes and constellations.

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Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Danny Bate talks to Vít Pohanka, the host of “Prague off the Beaten Track.”

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Český rozhlas

Miroslav Wanek is the leader of Už jsme doma, a Czech alternative band who this year are celebrating 40 years of existence. Už jsme doma have performed in over three dozen countries, most notably in the US, where they have notched up a remarkable 800-plus shows. Wanek, today 62, also has other strings to his bow. He could have entered politics after playing an active role in the Velvet Revolution in his hometown of Teplice, has taught at Prague’s FAMU film school and worked on a highly popular animated series.

You’re from Teplice.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Petr Vilgus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Karel Čapek’s villa, located in Prague’s Vinohrady, is undergoing plans for restoration. The goal is to restore the villa to reflect the atmosphere of the Friday gatherings once held there. The renovation is expected to begin in the spring and the villa is anticipated to open for visitors around the end of 2026 or early 2027.

Prague 10 Deputy Mayor Tomáš Pek met with Czech Radio to showcase the current state of the villa and discuss the future restoration plans:.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Illustrative photo: Brian Yurasits, Unsplash, Unsplash License

Are bioplastics and plant-based materials safer than conventional plastics? Scientists from Mendel University in Brno have been investigating one type of bioplastic, and their findings are alarming. Even plastics marketed as eco-friendly, can negatively affect the soil, causing an overgrowth of microorganisms, which then compete with plants for vital nutrients.

The scientists focused on a specific bioplastic commonly used in cosmetics as a substitute for scrubs.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Luboš Pavlíček, ČTK

The Skiman race from Polnička to Radostín in Žďárské vrchy is not only a sporting experience on historic wooden skis, but also a fun event in period costumes. Fifty enthusiasts successfully conquered the eight-kilometer course this weekend.

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Researchers at Mendel University’s Faculty of Agronomy in Brno are collaborating with the University of Hradec Králové and the University of Defence to create effective treatments for nerve agent and pesticide poisoning.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Symfonický orchestr hl. m. Prahy FOK

The Prague Symphony Orchestra’s story is closely intertwined with the history of the Czech capital, and this connection is clearly reflected in their repertoire, which we feature on today’s edition of our Sunday Music Show.

Following the success of their 2021 recording of Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968 (Supraphon), the orchestra and its chief conductor have released another album dedicated to Prague.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

The Prague metro turned 50 years old last year. To mark the occasion, we explore some of the iconic stations on the Czech capital’s metro network. Metro station Petřiny lies only a short walk away from the Břevnov monastery and the battlefield of the Battle of White Mountain in the Thirty Years War.

Jan Nevyhoštěný, a journalist at the online magazine zdopravy.

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Author: Fred Byrne

Photo: archive of Kateřina Ferenčíková

The story of Kateřina Ferenčíková: how Czech identity can stretch across borders and generations.

Kateřina Ferenčíková is a Czech woman from Ostrava whose life has taken her far beyond the borders of Czechia.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Czech Television

January marks 60 years since the launch of Večerníček, a beloved Czech children’s TV programme that airs every evening. Czechoslovak Television broadcast the first episode of the bedtime series on January 2, 1965, and it has since become a treasured part of Czech cultural heritage.

The very first episode of Czechoslovak Television’s bedtime series, called Večerníček, was a nine-minute film by Ludvík Ráža titled The Boy and the Comet.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

The Ambassador of the United States of America, H.E Mr. Bijan Sabet & Ms. Lauren Sabet, hosted at their beautiful residence a farewell reception, to express their heartfelt gratitude for our friendship and partnership.

Here are selected sections of H.E. Mr. Bijan Sabet’s speech at the event.

Pink pigeons form pairs during the nesting period, which guard and defend the nesting territory. When sitting on the eggs, the parents take turns, the male warming the eggs during the day and the female at night. Photo by Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo commemorates 100 years since the birth of Gerald Durell, a well know writer and natural scientist who advocated for saving of the pink pigeons which Prague zoo successfully raised.

One hundred years have passed since the birth of the prominent naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell. He became famous not only for his efforts to save endangered animal species but also for his books. The Prague Zoo is therefore preparing a reading of his works for visitors in May. The book Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons became famous. It was this species of soft-billed bird that survived thanks to his rescue work, which became a model for many zoo workers around the world. The Prague Zoo was the first Czech zoo to acquire rare pigeons for breeding already in 2000.

Last year, six baby pink pigeons hatched at the Prague Zoo. It was a significant contribution, as it was the only breeding of that year in continental Europe. The Prague Zoo has been an important breeder for a long time, it raised its first cubs in 2001 – just one year after it acquired the rare birds from Mauritius. At the same time, pink pigeons are not easy to pair due to the aggressiveness of the males, and many of them are also unable to raise their young. Therefore, garden doves often become substitute foster parents. The year 2019 also became an important milestone, when the Prague Zoo raised five cubs completely naturally. “Together with the British zoological gardens, we are now a ‘superpower’ of our kind in pink pigeon breeding, says the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. “There is even talk now that bred pink pigeons would be sent from Europe to Mauritius via Prague. If it did happen, it would certainly be the best repayment of the gratitude we feel towards Gerald Durrell.’

The photo shows a young pink pigeon. Pink pigeons feed their young in the same way as other soft-billed pigeons, the so-called pigeon milk. Photo by Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

The ancestors of the Prague pink pigeons were brought to Europe by Gerald Durrel, who acquired these endemics for his zoo on the island of Jersey in the 1970s directly from Mauritius. He thus demonstrated his experience and foresight, as their numbers later fell twice in the wild to just ten individuals – the last time in 1991. Durrell’s organization Wildlife Preservation Trust, later the Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary, was responsible for saving them directly in Mauritius. Thanks to this, in 2018 it was able to be reclassified from the original classification among the critically endangered species of the IUCN Red List to the “vulnerable” category. However, the pigeon bound to the evergreen mountain forests has lost 98% of its habitat, its nests destroyed by cats and other invasive species. It is also less resistant to trichomoniasis. In addition, it is currently threatened by very low genetic diversity. It is with this problem that zoos could significantly help, whose genetically valuable pigeons can restore populations in Mauritius. “The situation today is not entirely optimistic and outside the British Isles this species is kept in only 5 zoos in Europe. In 2024, apart from the United Kingdom, it was bred only in the Prague Zoo. But the path to breeding was not easy,” explains bird curator Antonín Vaidl. “Although we have been breeding this species for twenty-five years, it does not succeed as a breeder every year. To our delight, the year 2024 was successful, even though the obtained genetically valuable male did not seem promising at first. Surprisingly, however, immediately after meeting the female, he began courting the female, was peaceful, and managed to raise young. Once again, we were able to contribute to saving the species.”

The naturalist, who lived between 1925 and 1995, will introduce visitors to the Prague Zoo on May 10 and 11, 2025. He will read from his books in the Africa class of the Dja Reserve pavilion.

Photo: Raph_PH, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The 2025 concert season will offer Czech music fans pop-music legends, rock stars and a metal icon. Check out what international performers you can look forward to in the coming year on this week’s Sunday Music Show.

80’s pop lovers are sure to be familiar with hits like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time or True Colors.

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Author: Danny Bate

Illustrative photo: Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels

Beer is the national drink of Czechia and holds the same status in Belgium. This shared cultural importance is why both countries have been at the forefront of efforts to unite European beer nations and resist efforts to classify beer as a hard alcohol, which would subject it to stricter regulations. Czechia has now also taken the lead as the head of the European Parliament’s Beer Club.

Since 1995, the Beer Club has brought together MEPs from across political groups to support and develop European beer culture.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Filip Nerad

Photo: X of the Government of the Czech Republic

In October 2024, Czechia signed a treaty with the Vatican, becoming one of the last countries within the European Union to do so. Such a treaty has been a long time in the making, having been rejected by the Czech parliament back in 2003. The 2024 treaty, signed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in December, but has now met with criticism by members of the Senate, some of whom have recommended a review of it by the Constitutional Court. Dr Daniel Bartoň, an independent lawyer with a focus on religious freedom and human rights, and an assistant professor at the Evangelical Theological Faculty of Charles University, joined me to discuss the treaty and the objections to it.

Let’s start with a general question: we have Vatican City, this landlocked micro-nation entirely immersed within the city of Rome, with no exports or imports to speak of, no trade deals to make or anything like that – why then do countries sign treaties with the Vatican?.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Petra Hajská, The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Jakub Hrůša, the acclaimed Czech conductor, has reached an extraordinary career milestone, as he prepares to take over as music director at the Royal Opera in Covent Garden. His current focus, however, is bringing Jenůfa by Leoš Janáček to life on the London stage.

For Hrůša, Jenůfa speaks for itself through its emotional depth and cultural resonance.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Martin Wágner / 400ASA

Over the years, Czech photographer Martin Wágner has taken on a fascinating mission: rescuing discarded photographic negatives and giving them a second life. His efforts have drawn thousands of followers to his Facebook page, Negatives from the Trash. A selection of these images has now been published in a book of the same name.

The book, Negatives from the Trash 1900–1945, features over 200 unique photographs from the early 20th century and was released earlier this month.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Muzeum Českého ráje v Turnově

Archaeologists in northern Bohemia have announced a unique discovery. While conducting a rescue excavation during the construction of an emergency services call centre, they uncovered evidence of a Neanderthal settlement, dating back between 126,000 and 115,000 years BC.

The discovery, made by archaeologists from the Museum of the Bohemian Paradise in Turnov, provides unique insights into Middle Paleolithic life.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Celebrity v autoškole/Facebook

Driving on Czech roads can be a nerve-racking experience. Speeding, drink-driving, inattention and road rage all contribute to the high number of accidents. And even on a good day, transgressions such as failing to keep a safe distance or break checking can wear down the patience of those sticking to the rules.

Despite the introduction last year of a tougher penalty points system aiming to enforce greater discipline on Czech roads, they still remain a big challenge for infrequent or foreign drivers.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Warhorse Studios

The first installment of the Czech video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance has sold more than six million copies globally. The highly anticipated sequel, which continues the story of Henry of Posázaví, is set to be released on February 4.

In the prequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, players are not portrayed as superheroes defeating enemies individually.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

If you’ve been to Prague in recent years, chances are high that you’ve encountered the work of Pavel Fuksa. The graphic designer is behind a series of official posters welcoming visitors to the city – and encouraging them to be on good behaviour. Fuksa, who is 42, has in the past worked for several of the world’s largest brands, including Nike, Facebook and Lego. What’s more, he is deeply interested in football, so when we met in the downtown area I also spoke with him about which Prague club has had the most visually impressive strip, and when.

We’re speaking right in the centre of Prague, at Můstek, and you were just telling me that you don’t come to the centre of town often.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Masaryk University Brno

A team of scientists from Brno’s Masaryk University has set off to the world’s coldest continent, Antarctica, with a second team to follow on January 11th. Ahead of the second departure, Danny Bate spoke to Pavel Kapler, manager of the Czech Antarctic Research Programme, about the purpose and logistics of their twenty-first expedition.

I think some people will be a little surprised, perhaps delighted to know that Czechia has a presence in Antarctica.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Sean Kilpatrick, ČTK / AP

Czech hockey players have won their third consecutive medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship in Ottawa. In their final match on Sunday night, the Czech team defeated Sweden 3-2 in a shootout for the bronze medal.

The bronze match between Czechia and Sweden was decided by Czech captain Eduard Šalé in what became the longest shootout in World Junior history.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Tomáš Vodňanský, Czech Radio

Built in 1888, the Prague State Opera has undergone several renovations, with the latest being the most extensive. The stage turntable and air-conditioning system were upgraded, artists received modern rehearsal rooms, and new facilities were added, including chairs with subtitling equipment and a new curtain. The reconstruction, which cost CZK 1.3 billion, took nearly three years.

The opening ceremony held five years ago was intended to be a spectacular event with the participation of European politicians.

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Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

In this episode of our series on the Prague metro, we head to Vyšehrad, on Line C, to visit one of the city’s oldest and most distinctive stations, renowned for its unique layout and design. Anna Švarc, the architect behind the Prague metro, guided us through the station.

For this episode, we let you choose which station you’d like to feature.

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Author: Fred Byrne

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Martin Palouš served as Czech ambassador to Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2005 and later as the Czech ambassador to the United Nations in New York. After concluding his diplomatic career, he became the Director of Václav Havel Library and then the Director of the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy at Florida International University.

Over the past three decades, Martin Palouš has dedicated significant effort to supporting Cuban dissidents and the island’s opposition movements.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative Photo: Gerd Altmann, Pixabay, Pixabay License

A recent survey by the Czech Chamber of Commerce reveals that nearly 70% of Czech companies have yet to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations. However, over a third plan to integrate AI within the next three years, suggesting that businesses are slowly warming up to the technology.

While Czech companies may appear hesitant compared to some European counterparts, the survey’s findings surprised analysts at the Chamber of Commerce in a positive way.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

The cub is typical for its camouflage coloration. Its fur is decorated with stripes and dots just like adult females. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The first cub of 2025 was born at the Prague Zoo. It was the West African sitatunga antelope. The new addition to the herd was born in the early morning hours and is doing well, according to breeders. The little female became the 442nd cub of this species in the Prague Zoo, which has been breeding West African sitatungs continuously since the 1960s.

The baby sucks mother’s milk without any problems and the experienced mother takes excellent care of it. From birth, this species, formerly known as the mud antelope, has long claws and claws that prevent digging into soft ground. West African sitatungs live near rivers, lakes or wetlands and flee into shallow water in case of danger. Their hooves expand when stepped on and function similarly to snowshoes.

Females are pregnant for 220-250 days and give birth to one young. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Sexual dimorphism is typical for West African sitatungs, females are smaller, rusty and hornless. Males, on the other hand, are brownish gray and boast spiral horns and a long mane.

Visitors to the Prague Zoo can usually find this traditionally bred species in the Water World in the lower part of the premises. However, this is a heat-loving species of antelope, so our herd is more in the hinterland during the cold months. With the arrival of spring, people can look forward not only to this New Year’s cub, but also to three more females that were born in the last three weeks.

Photo: Roman Vondrouš, ČTK

In his New Year’s address to the nation, Czech President Petr Pavel urged Czechs to have confidence in the future and not to be swayed by scaremongering and populism ahead of the 2025 general elections.

The president began his New Year’s address by expressing solidarity with those who feel exhausted by fear of the ongoing war in Ukraine, their own unfulfilled expectations and worries about the rising cost of living.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Even before the elephants arrange the conifers, they have a lot of fun with them. The elephants will receive a tasty enrichment at noon on both days. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo will ring the Christmas trees. More than ten species of animals will receive thematic enrichment during special guided feedings. For example, for elephants, bison or porcupines, unsold conifers will not only be a delicacy, but also great fun. Curious kea nesting parrots will explore the trees and our golden pigs, the African brushbirds from the Dja Reserve, will also play with them.

Bison like to throw Christmas trees into the air. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

In short, not even carnivores will come. Breeders will attract conifers with quails to the bear-like devils, and trees decorated with wicker balls of meat will await the Cape honeyeaters. For the very first time, polar bear twins Gregor and Aleut will receive Christmas trees with apples or squid at the Prague Zoo.

Playful and inquisitive kea nesters will receive Christmas enrichment on Monday at 11:30 in the outdoor aviary of the Rákos pavilion. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Different types of enrichment, i.e. unusual toys or food, encourage animals to play, explore or discover, which is important for their mental and physical activity and well-being.

Photo: ČTK

Václav Havel was elected president exactly 35 years ago, on December 29, 1989, more than a month after the Velvet Revolution began. His election marked the final confirmation of the fall of the totalitarian regime.

In January 1989, Havel was arrested for political reasons, convicted in February, and released on parole in May.

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Last year in Czechia was the hottest in 250 years, since monitoring at Prague’s Klementinum began in 1775, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institure reported.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Luboš Pavlíček, ČTK

At the start of January, the Three Kings will again be seen in cities, towns and villages across Czechia, raising money for the Catholic charitable organisation Caritas Czech Republic and its many good causes.

Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar – the three Magi or ‘kings’ whose journey to Bethlehem is recounted in the Bible’s Gospel of Matthew – are set to return to Czechia for another year, raising money with their performances of traditional carols.

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Author: Danny Bate

Illustrative photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

In a country known for its beer tradition, the rise of non-alcoholic beer is turning heads. More Czechs are choosing alcohol-free options, driven by health concerns and changing habits, with breweries responding to the growing demand. Even in pubs, non-alcoholic beer is becoming a staple on tap.

“I decided to stop drinking alcohol two years ago, on August 14th.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Waves by Jiří Mádl wasn’t only the most successful Czech film at the box office in 2024: the movie, which centres on events at Czechoslovak Radio at the time of the Soviet invasion, is also one of the biggest cinema hits the country has seen in the modern era. Now Waves is also aiming for international glory, having made the shortlist of 15 pictures in contention for the Best International Oscar, with the actual nominations set to be announced in mid-January. Just after the shortlist was announced, I spoke with writer-director Mádl, who first found fame as an actor and had made two previous films before coming out with a gripping story set in one of the most tumultuous moments of Czechia’s modern history.

Waves has been a huge success, with over a million viewers in Czechia and Slovakia.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Prague is expecting a 10% increase in visitors this festive season, anticipating at least 100,000 visitors in the city on December 31 and January 1. This rise in tourism continues a trend seen throughout 2024, with Prague welcoming more visitors overall.

This influx will include both Czech nationals and international travelers, primarily from Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy, Spain, the UK, the USA, and several Asian nations.

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Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: TungArt7, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czech courier and delivery companies have once again experienced unprecedented growth during the Christmas season, breaking almost all historical records.

All major companies in the Czech delivering sector are reporting record figures for this Christmas season, with some days in December seeing three million parcels delivered per day in total.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Explore the life of Martin Palouš, a dissident and diplomat whose story reflects Czechia’s journey from communism to democracy in this special two-part Czechast episode.

The newest episode of Czechast delves into the remarkable life of Martin Palouš – a key figure in the Czech dissent movement and one of the architects of the country’s democratic transition.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Zdeněk Zajíček, Czech Radio

Bells across Czechia may now get a new lease of life, thanks to a technique developed by scientists at the Czech Technical University in Prague, which uses fast-moving metal particles to repair parts cracked or worn down over time.

The clear ringing sound of a bell at the Faculty of Nuclear and Physical Engineering in Prague demonstrates the effects of a new way to repair old metal objects, without welding on additional material.

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Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

More than 360 people took part in the annual Polar Bear Dip in the Vltava River near Prague’s National Theatre. The temperature of the water was 4.3 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the air was -3.5 degrees. The tradition of winter swimming was established in 1923 by Prague hardy-man Alfréd Nikodém who propagated a healthy lifestyle.

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Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

With intertwined Soviet and Czechoslovak flags, inscriptions in Cyrillic, cosmonauts, and a portrait of Pushkin, Prague’s Anděl metro station on line B is a trove of artistic and historical curiosities.

Tomáš Nigrin, Social Sciences Professor at Charles University and a specialist in the history of Czech railways, takes us on a tour of Smíchov’s Anděl metro station, originally built to celebrate the friendship between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union.

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Illustrative photo: brendageisse, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czechia has long struggled with one of the lowest shares of female researchers in the EU, and a recent report from the Czech Academy of Science’s Centre for Gender and Science has revealed that the country now ranks last in this regard. I discussed the key findings with the centre’s director, Marcela Linková:

“In the Czech Republic, we have approximately 49,500 employees in research and innovation.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Hana Řeháková, Radio Prague International

A unique nativity scene is currently on display in the Prague district of Žižkov. Alongside the traditional Biblical figures, it features notable Žižkov personalities, including Jaroslav Hašek, the celebrated author of Švejk, and Jára Cimrman, a beloved fictional character. Each year, a new figure is added, keeping the display fresh and connected to Žižkov’s history.

The Žižkov nativity scene, showcased at the information centre on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, was conceived by the Prague 3 Town Hall around a decade ago.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Paul-Henri Perrain, Radio Prague International

In this episode of our Prague metro series, we take you on a tour of Můstek metro station accompanied by Prague City Tourism guide Martin Karlík. The journey includes unexpected archaeological discoveries, a former underground passagway, deliberately chosen colours, a murdered duke, and a renamed horse market!

Můstek is one of the most iconic stations on the Prague metro system.

See more here.