Posts

Free open air concert in the Wallenstein...

The Wallenstein Garden will host an outdoor concert Wednesday evening, with music being performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and directed by Czech conductor Jan Kučera. The show will present classical music and also the soundtracks of...

Musician Ondřej Glogar plays the carnyx at...

Visitors to the Crystal Valley Week glass festival, taking place in Liberec this week, were wowed by the sound of an exotic-looking musical instrument that few people could put a name to. It was a Celtic carnyx made of glass, specially produced...

Czech Bikes For Africa project picking up...

When Roman Posolda set up his Bikes for Africa project in Ostrava in 2012, he had no idea how well it would take root in this country and how long it would run for. More than a decade later, the organization is still going strong, attracting...

Anglo American University encourages Unity...

Anglo American University kicked off the 2023-24 school year with its second annual Community Day on Wednesday, inviting students, staff, faculty, and alumni to greet each other and cultivate meaningful relationships. The theme of this...

ICE REFRESHMENT AT THE PRAGUE ZOO

Animals and visitors at the Prague Zoo could enjoy literally icy refreshments today. More than six tons of ice cubes cooled the exhibits and also the visitor areas, which was especially welcomed by the children. For Indian elephants, North...

Children’s school supplies see significant...

Pens, erasers, pencil cases and backpacks – all these items for school children have seen a significant price hike this year as parents prepare their children to return to the classroom in September. New data reveals that it will cost...

Romeo and Juliet to be performed in English...

This Saturday, the Summer Shakespeare Festival will be concluding in Prague, with a special performance of Romeo and Juliet in English. The performance will take place in the courtyard of the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague’s Malá Strana...

Coming to Prague? Don’t take paid street...

The Enjoy Respect Prague campaign that launched last year aims to encourage tourists to behave with more respect towards the city and its local residents, for example by supporting local businesses rather than buying tacky souvenirs, using...

President Pavel on 1968 invasion: Russia has...

August 21 marks the 55th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops. The crushing of the Prague Spring dashed people’s hopes of democracy and ushered in a long period of political and moral decline. More than...

Ethnologists create online museum of Czech...

Folk architecture is one of the cornerstones of regional and national identity, but it is rapidly disappearing. That is why ethnologists from the National Museum and Czech Academy of Sciences worked together with IT specialists from the Czech...

Karolína Muchová misses title, but cracks...

Czechia’s Karolína Muchová lost to Coco Gauff in the Western & Southern Open yesterday in Cincinnati. The final match score was 6-3, 6-4. Despite the loss, Muchová managed to crack the Top 10 ranking. It was a tough loss for Muchová since...

From skaters to picnic goers, there’s...

Letna park is the second largest green space in the heart of the city, and there is something for every kind of visitor that the park has to offer. Skaters can shred by the metronome, children can play in the playgrounds, and friends can gather...

Hollywood strikes having “quite devastating”...

Hollywood film and TV productions have been on hold since the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union went on strike in July, two months after a similar move by the Writers Guild of America. Many international productions shoot in Czechia, so the shutdowns are...

High prices and low wages – Czechia is the...

New numbers are revealing that Czechia is home to one of the most expensive real estate markets in Europe – it would take 13 gross annual salaries to purchase property in the country. This year, Czechia is falling behind Slovakia, the...

New digital nomad program launched by Czech...

A new program being launched by the Ministry of Industry is hoping to attract more highly skilled workers to Czechia, but they don’t necessarily need an employment contract from a Czech company to lock down a visa. We spoke to Lucia Legáthová...

Jiří Dienstbier and the role of the radio in...

As Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia on the night from 20 to 21 August 1968, Czechoslovak Radio played an important role in keeping people informed of what was happening. The radio building was an immediate focus for the invaders, but...

Demand for craftsmen on rise

If you live in Czechia and are planning to get your bathroom or kitchen remodelled this year, you may just be out of luck. Companies and online portals offering the services of tradesmen are reporting a significant increase in demand...

From New Zealand to Prague through a burned...

Helene Ritchie spent many years as a politician in her home city of Wellington, New Zealand. She has just written a book telling the moving story of her search for her family’s past. In 1945, Helene’s mother Lidi Hess, received a letter from a...

Coral Fish That Weed Plant Beds

I swam to that small coral reef almost every morning, but even after more than a week of my stay at the Red Sea I hadn’t made friends with its inhabitants. Dark, about ten-centimetre-long fish that shared it, didn’t show any intention to build...

August 21, 1968: Soviet tanks crush the...

Fifty-five years ago, on the night of August 20-21, 1968, the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia began, marking a definitive end to the hopes that the series of liberalising and democratic reforms that had taken place in the country in the...

Argentina at Prague center

A few months ago for an article in our magazine about Argentinian wine: Salud! World-class wines from Argentina I met Rodrigo Schmidt (a co-founder and co-owner of Productos Latinos, a company focusing on importing and selling wines from many...

Amadeus: Four decades since famous Prague...

Shooting began in Prague in 1983 on one of the most famous movies ever made in the city, Miloš Forman’s Amadeus, which later earned eight Oscars. Forman’s extremely successful film was based on a stage play by Peter Shaffer, who also wrote the...

Interior minister: Czechia not “less safe”...

Czech politicians have moved to quell anti-Ukrainian sentiment in the wake of two violent attacks against Czech women, which were reportedly committed by Ukrainian youths. President Pavel has warned against applying the principle of collective...

New York Times “36 Hours in Prague” author...

Prague was recently featured on the New York Times travel guide 36 Hours – where journalists give their best recommendations for local gems and places that tourists may not find in their guide book. I caught up with writer Evan Rail to talk...

Via Czechia pilgrimage trails offer a great...

Jan Hocek is an enthusiastic traveller, tourist guide and columnist, who has completed some of the world’s most challenging trails. In 2020, he created a comprehensive network of long-distance tourist and pilgrimage routes leading through the...

Perfection in Petrin, one of Prague’s...

Petrin is one of the most popular parks in the city of Prague, attracting both locals and tourists. From the Petrin tower, to the beautiful fruit orchards, there is something everyone can enjoy in one of the cities biggest green spaces. See the...

August 12, 1978: Prague metro’s A line...

Prague’s metro A line passes under Prague’s iconic monuments, has a uniform design and vestibules featuring figures of Czech kings. No wonder one its stations, Staroměstská, was ranked by the CNN among the most beautiful metro stops in Europe...

Festival of new circus and theatre Letní...

The 20th annual festival of new circus and theatre Letní Letná opened in Prague on Wednesday night with a breathtaking water show. The festival offers over 100 performances in its jubilee year. “Awesome, fascinating, incredible”...

Growing concern over encroaching tree line...

The Krkonoše Mountains are a beloved spot in Czechia, but recently, they have become the focal point of growing concern amongst environmental scientists. Movement in the tree line boundary of the mountains is threatening the existence of other...

David Krejčí hanging up his skates after 16...

After 16 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Czech-born David Krejčí announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Monday. Krejčí played all 16 seasons of his professional hockey career with the Boston Bruins, developing a...

Head of prestigious medical institute...

The news site Seznam Zpravy has questioned the moral integrity of one of the most successful managers in the health sector, the head of the prestigious Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) in Prague, suggesting that he had...

Fremr turns down constitutional judge...

No sooner was Robert Fremr nominated as one of three new constitutional judges when accusations began to surface about sentences he handed out pre-1989. Now he has made the decision to step down, although he had already been approved by the...

Why do so few Czech women want to be in...

Czech women remain conspicuously absent from most seats of power in Czechia. The country has never had a female PM or president and NGOs have repeatedly highlighted the lack of women’s representation in national politics. Moreover, female...

Czechia starts the process to obtain a...

After several months of intensive preparations, on Monday 14 August Czechia submitted Basic Design Plan as necessary document before applying for Temporary Building Permit to the Osaka Authorities. This makes Czechia the second country, after...

All aboard the Dvořák ship! 67th edition of...

The Dvořák music festival is a popular annual event, but this year’s 67th edition brings an exciting new twist to the tradition – it takes place on a boat on the Vltava River. Visitors can listen to the music of Dvořák while blissfully floating...

Linguist Danny Bate: Best motivation for...

British linguist Danny Bate divides his time between Prague and Edinburgh, where he is completing a PhD. Given his academic background, the 26-year-old has many fascinating things to say on the Czech language, which he himself is studying. But...

Prague City Gallery Event – Liquid...

Performances by Czech and international performers, students, and volunteers. Through their own bodies they interpret historical and contemporary facts about queer people and works in art history. Liquid Queer Memoria is a performative study of...

Summer music competition: Czech covers of...

What connection do artists such as ABBA, The Beatles, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and Edith Piaf have with Czechoslovakia? Most of them never even performed in the country. However, Czech cover versions of their songs became huge hits in...

Prague for cancellation of concert by opera...

The Prague authorities said this week they were opposed to a planned performance in the city by Russian opera star Anna Netrebko, citing her ties to the Putin regime. The venue for the concert is now set to negotiate with the agency handling...

Sunday’s child that fought for its life

I missed the first two mountain bongos this year – by that I mean I did not see them on the day they were born – but the third one was a Sunday baby and I managed to be there. I found it lying at the feet of his now 14-year-old mother...

Czech scientists take part in Amazonian...

Although the substance known as ayahuasca is illegal in Czechia, there have been some scientific studies showing that it could have potential as a treatment for depression. In order to test its therapeutic possibilities, Czech scientists have...

The Nutcracker TO BE SEEN IN DAYLIGHT AND ON...

From today, visitors to the Prague Zoo can observe the female nutcracker Šiška and her parents in daylight. Newly, the night exposition of the Indonesian jungle will be shrouded in darkness until 10 o’clock. The first nutcracker cub in...

TOP 10 BREEDINGS IN THE HISTORY OF ZOO PRAGUE

The female short-tailed pinecone has reached the age of six months and has switched from mother’s milk to adult food. Last week, therefore, the Prague Zoo declared the first born shellac in Europe to have been successfully bred. In...

Experts testing possibilities of wastewater...

Recycling water from sewage treatment plants is a common practice in many countries with a warmer climate, including Texas, Israel or the southern European states. The purified water is used in industry, agriculture and even in households. A...

Czech police chief sorry for saying women...

The head of the Czech police, Martin Vondrášek, has apologised after saying in an interview that women “very often” make up claims of sexual assault. However, advocacy groups says the force needs to do far more to reassure women. On Monday the...

Exhibition of Ukrainian war photos as a...

A travelling exhibition of photographs by leading Ukrainian war photographers, has currently opened on the premises of the Červený kostel church in Olomouc. The collection includes the winner of the 2022 World Press Photo Award. The collection...

Summer music competition: Czech covers of...

What connection do artists such as ABBA, The Beatles, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and Edith Piaf have with Czechoslovakia? Most of them never even performed in the country. However, Czech cover versions of their songs became huge hits in...

A rock chapel in the Lusatian Mountains has...

Modlivý důl (Prayer Valley) near Svojkov in the Liberec Region is one of the most haunting spots in the Lusatian Mountains. The monolithic rock chapel created in one of the sandstone rocks of a former mine is an old pilgrimage site that has...

The presidents of Mozambique and the Czech...

In Prague on August 7, 2023 At the invitation of the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, the President came to the Czech Republic for an official visit Filipe Jacinta Nyusi and his wife Isaura Ferrão Nyusi of the Republic of Mozambique. The...

Supporting independent media and driving...

The Prague Civil Society Center, located in the heart of the city, works with various stakeholders across 18 different countries, helping civic groups and independent journalists grow their audiences and expand their reach, even those in...

Top Czech diplomat Martin Povejšil dies at 62

Many tributes have been paid to senior Czech diplomat Martin Povejšil, who has died at the age of 62. Mr. Povejšil held several key posts in over three decades at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his death is being described as an enormous...

Ministry will no longer pay for Czech...

The Interior and Education Ministries have proposed a number of changes to the rules governing the language test required for foreigners to obtain permanent residence in Czechia. The proposal envisions an increase in the cost of the test, an...

Authorities will not curb Czechs’ passion...

Mushroom picking and foraging forest fruits is something of a national pastime in Czechia. Indeed, Czechs harvested nearly 39,000 tonnes of forest fruits worth almost eight billion crowns last year, and six out of ten Czechs visited the forest...

“We live in a period of chronic stress”:...

The importance of dealing with and seeking out assistance for mental health has become more common over recent years, but regardless of the decrease in societal taboos, young people in Czechia – specifically Gen Z and Millennials, are dealing...

Prague’s Mămăm Bistro: “The food is a...

Conventional is not the concept when it comes to the new bistro in Prague’s Vršovice operated by couple Meggie and Nugy. The duo have created a space that brings together a fusion of the food they love from all cuisines, curating a unique...

Czech Scouts “in very good spirits” despite...

The World Scout Jamboree, an international meeting of Scout organisations from around the world which takes place every four years in a different country, was plagued by problems from the start this year in South Korea. Heavy rains, a lack of...

August 1983: Record Czechoslovak medal count...

The 1983 World Championships in Athletics, held in Finland’s Helsinki, were the first edition of the competition – and proved the most successful ever for Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia took four gold medals in Helsinki, as well as three...

Fremr’s appointment to Constitutional Court...

The controversy surrounding the nomination of Robert Fremr to the panel of Constitutional Court judges has flared up once again. New allegations have surfaced that he may have knowingly served the regime in over 100 communist-rigged trials pre...

Marian: China, Global South states’ presence...

Czechia was among 40 states attending a meeting in Saudi Arabia at the weekend focused on a possible settlement of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Also present were China, India and Brazil, which has been seen by some as a sign of progress. Czechia’s...

Something for everyone: Diversity in the...

If you’re looking for the perfect place to spend a day in nature, the Botanical gardens in Troja is the perfect destination. Diverse plant life and magnificent views of Prague can be seen, making it the ideal place for plant lovers and families...

The Most Important Breedings of Prague Zoo

The female of Chinese pangolin Šiska was half-a-year-old on Wednesday. We can consider her breeding completed – and we can add another item to the list of historical achievements of Prague Zoo, in this case in bold. The breeding of Šiška...

Gold, gold, silver: A weekend of victory for...

It proved to be an exciting weekend for the world of Czech athletics, as the country collected three medals, two of them gold in men’s basketball, archery, and ice hockey. The 31st FISU World University Games wrap up today in Chengdu, China...

Last Generation’s Arne Springorum: We’re...

Regular blockades of the “magistrála” through road cutting across Prague have become a fact of life in the city, incensing some drivers. The protests are aimed at promoting the idea of a 30 kilometre an hour speed limit in the capital and are...

MELON and Big Turtles WEDNESDAYS AT THE...

In the summer, the Prague Zoo invites you to Melon Wednesdays with the big turtles. Every third day of the week from 1 p.m., visitors can watch Galapagos elephant tortoises and giant tortoises from the Aldabra Atoll enjoying watermelons.

ADOPTION BY OWN PARENTS: YOUNG NESTORS CAN...

Nestor kea chicks inhabited the exhibit together with their parents. The little parrots were artificially fed in the background and therefore only now became acquainted with the parent couple - male Rudy and female Judy.

From 18 to 80: summer school in Poděbrady...

For three decades, the Czech Summer Course for Expatriates has been bringing people with Czech ancestry from all over the world to their ancestral home to get in touch with their roots and brush up on their language skills.

Helppes: Helping people live more...

Helppes is a non-profit organisation based in Prague that trains and matches assistance dogs to clients who have varying disabilities. I took a trip to their training facility to learn more about what they do, and the impact their work has on...

Beauty in the Furstenberg garden

If you’re looking for a tranquil spot to observe the red rooftops of Prague, the Furstenberg garden should be your next trip. With multitple terraces, fruit trees and rose bushes, the garden is a plant lovers' paradise.

Three Czechs recognised as Righteous Among...

Three Czechs who risked their lives to save nine members of a Jewish family from the Holocaust have been recognised in memoriam as Righteous Among the Nations, the highest Israeli tribute to Gentiles who saved the lives of Jews during the...

Pre-1989 case casts pall over top court...

The Senate met on Wednesday to consider three judges nominated for places on the Constitutional Court. However, the candidacy of Robert Fremr for Czechia’s top court sparked controversy, following recent allegations of impropriety pre-1989.

Expert: anti-government movement serious...

According to the Ministry of Interior’s biannual report on extremism, the anti-establishment, anti-government movement in Czechia has been gaining strength and is now overshadowing the traditional xenophobic extremist groups.

PRIME MINISTER PETR FIALA BAPTIZED THE FOAL...

This morning, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, christened the foal Převalský’s horse at Prague’s Maiden’s Castle. The moon mare got the name Barunka from him. Prime Minister Fiala is not only the godfather...

THE MIRACLE PENGUIN CHICKEN IS ALREADY IN...

As soon as it hatched, it was already fighting for its life. The baby Humboldt penguin was kicked out of the nest by an aggressive neighboring couple already on the 19th day of its life. However, the apparently dead bird was saved by a team of...

Survey: Economic optimism on rise amongst...

2022 and the start of 2023 brought a great deal of concern around affordability and inflation for Czechs. But new data from the Czech Statistical Office shows that Czechs are feeling slightly more optimistic about their country’s economic...

Czech Radio’s Studio A: Part of national...

Some of the country’s biggest ever musical artistes, including Karel Gott, Helena Vondráčková and Waldemar Matuška, have recorded hits at Czech Radio’s storied Studio A. Studio A is located not at Czech Radio’s historic building on Vinohradska...

David Strauzz on spreading optimism and...

David Strauzz is a mixed media artist who was born to Czech immigrants in Ontario, Canada. Since 2015, he has lived in Prague, where he came to public attention mainly through his large-scale murals. He also runs the MEGA Gallery, located at...

Jiřina Šiklová among women to be honoured...

Jiřina Šiklová and Madeleine Albright are just two of the women who streets and green areas will be named after in a new Prague district called Smíchov City, after a City Council vote this week. While Albright was a US secretary of state...

The majestic gardens of Prague Castle

If you’ve toured around Prague, you’ve likely visited the historic Prague Castle. But some tourists and even locals in the city may not be aware of the beautiful gardens that lie just beneath the castle walls. Five interconnected...

“Adventurous music festival” Pop Messe...

One of Czechia’s biggest alternative music festivals, Pop Messe, takes place in Brno this coming Friday and Saturday. The third edition of the event has a slightly different venue but, with names like Spiritualized and Young Fathers, boasts...

Petschek Palace: A grand building with a...

With its monumental neo-classicist style and lavish interiors, Prague’s Petschek Palace was one of the most expensive buildings of its time when built in the 1920s. However today most Czechs don’t associate the palace with architecture but...

Orchids, coral reefs, turtles: Prague...

We’ve probably all taken back some sand or a shell from the beach as a souvenir from a holiday before. But what about a gecko or a turtle? According to Prague Airport customs officers, coming across illegal food items, plants or even exotic...

New book highlights Prague Castle’s...

Along with its world famous sites, Prague Castle also boasts an unparalleled collection of historical fabrics. A new book details the 270 items in the valuable collection, which include pieces of garments from the tomb of Saint Ludmila, the...

Hygiene in the times of Maria Theresa

270 years ago, on 24 July 1753, Empress Maria Theresa issued a set of regulations on healthcare in Bohemia, initiating some significant changes in the health sector, including obstetrics. Maria Theresa’s accession to the throne marked the...

Lost works by Prague artist Gertrud Kauders...

After years of negotiations, the Jewish Museum in Prague has received a substantial part of a unique art collection discovered in 2018. Nearly 380 paintings and drawings by the artist Gertrud Kauders have been donated to the institution by her...

Heat islands and Covid-related problems:...

Scientists are warning that 2023 could be the hottest year in the world on record, and heat waves are predicted to become all the more common each year. This summer, heatwaves have swept across Europe, as the El Nino climate pattern leaves...

“By foreigners and for foreigners”: Youth...

Youth Included, a grassroots organization founded in 2013, has been providing opportunities and support for migrant youth in Prague. Managed by foreigners for foreigners, the organization aims to bridge the language gap and create a sense of...