Posts

On the 12th of December 1952, a senior academic died in Prague. This lifelong scholar was Bedřich Hrozný, a Czech man born in the Bohemian town of Lysá nad Labem, and he remains famous today for his work on ancient languages. Most notably, it...

The Senate has passed an amendment to the gun law that will oblige arms dealers and shooting range owners to report suspicious clients to the police. The measure is a forerunner of a massive overhaul of the gun law that will come into force in...

On Thursday, Czech Radio Vltava will premiere the documentary Postscriptum of Bedřich Smetana. Created by Tomáš Dufka, head of the radio archive, the project examines pivotal political and social events, such as the Nazi occupation of...

Conservationists discovered extensive Baroque paintings on the walls and vaults of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Dolní Věstonice. They describe it as a fundamental contribution to the history of early Baroque art in Moravia. Its...

Scientists from Mendel University in Brno have cultivated highly efficient algae capable of removing residues of fertilizers and pharmaceuticals—including paracetamol and antibiotics—from water. These algae are grown in specialised bioreactors...

A unique exhibition called Crystal Garden is currently underway at the Prague Botanical garden in Trója. The special showcase features glass flowers and animals crafted by renowned Czech glassmaker Jiří Pačinek and his team. Visitors can admire...

Ewa Farna, Marek Ztracený, the band Kabát, and rapper Calin have repeated their wins in the 2024 Český slavík music poll. Farna, who also received the Absolute Slavík award, praised her band and joked about performing at Prague’s Eden stadium...

Three out of for Czechs have at least some experience with mushroom picking. You would find similar if not higher proportion of mushroom pickers in other Central and East European countries. In Britain or Scandinavia the picture is completely...

The Czech animated film Život k sežrání (Living Large), a co-production with Slovakia and France, is set to compete at this year’s European Film Awards, which will be presented on Saturday. Directed by Kristina Dufková, it tells the story of 12...

Sports organizations in the Czech Republic are learning to measure their carbon footprints—a crucial first step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding their own future. The Czech Olympic Committee has introduced a carbon...

Czech photographer Ivan Ivánek has made it to the final stage of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, with his photograph of langurs taken in Vietnam. His image is one of 25 selected for the People’s Choice...

The project to build a metro in the Czech capital dates back to the 1970s, but the first plans for an underground in the Czech capital date back to a much earlier time at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. We meet our guide Martin Karlík...

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

On the occasion of the National Day of the Kingdom of Thailand and the birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great and the Father’s Day, The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand H.E. Mr. Suwat  Kaewsook and Mrs...

On the occasion of the 112th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Albania, H.E. Mr. Ilir TEPELENA – the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Czech Republic, and Mrs. Marsela Tepelena, hosted a reception at the...

The Event that took place on 5.12.2024 at the beautiful Korean Embassy had 2 parts: In the first part, H.E. Mr. Youngki HONG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, hosts a Press Briefing. Watch the video for the Press Briefing with a very nice...

On the occasion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Czech Republic, H.E Mr. Emil KRSTESKI – the Ambassador of North Macedonia, hosted an official reception at Kaiserstein Palace in Prague. Mr...

Georgian Ambassador to Czechia Tea Maisuradze announced her resignation on X, citing her belief in Georgia’s future within the European Union. See more here. Author: Vít Pohanka Read the interview with H.E. Tea Maisuradze “Living...

Petr Pavel is currently exploring the southern hemisphere, as the Czech president continues his two-week visit to Australia and New Zealand. Together with First Lady Eva Pavlová, the president is working through a full programme of meetings...

As Christmas draws near, the familiar melodies of traditional holiday songs start to fill the air. So, for this week’s Sunday Music Show, we are also taking the occasion to play you some classic Czech pieces that have become an inseparable part...

The Negrelli Viaduct, the iconic railway bridge that carries trains across the Vltava between Holešovice/Bubeneč and Karlín, now has a social and cultural space nestled within one of its arches. Created by adding a glass front to one of the...

The proportion of young Czechs planning to have children in the next three years has significantly declined, with the sharpest drop among those in difficult economic situations. These findings are part of the ongoing ‘Contemporary Czech Family’...

From December to March, the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts (UPM) is playing host to the world-famous photography of Josef Koudelka. Presented in an exhibition entitled ‘Ruins’, the photographs are the product of over two decades of visits to...

Czech designer Anna Marešová has presented two designs for the new cable car to the Ještěd Mountain in north Bohemia. One design is inspired by the original cable car, which was damaged in a 2021 accident, while the other offers a more modern...

Carp, a traditional centerpiece of Czech Christmas dinners, has sparked debate over its sale as a live product. This year, Prague launched a campaign urging more humane treatment of carp from pond to table, though it stops short of calling for...

According to the Association of Driving Schools, almost 18,000 young drivers are already driving on Czech roads under the supervision of mentors. Despite the high number, according to police statistics, fears that they would increase the...

Silvia Vezzuto, originally from northern Italy, discusses the story of her arrival in Prague, learning Czech from scratch, and the role of art as a light in a dark world. See more here.

The ski season in Czechia officially kicked off this past weekend, with a number of winter resorts welcoming their first visitors. After last year’s disappointing season and the ongoing challenges of climate change, how are Czech ski resorts...

Town squares all over Czechia have officially opened their festive markets with a rich cultural programme, which in many places will last until 2025. Thousands of people have been to watch the traditional lighting up of Christmas trees. On...

Prague’s Semafor theatre was the most significant arts institution in 1960s Czechoslovakia, ushering in a new era against the backdrop of a slow political thaw in the communist country. Semafor was centred on the song-writing duo of Jiří Suchý...

By abolishing visas for Czechoslovaks, the Austrians launched an era of free travel. In December 1989, a dream came true for thousands of Czechoslovaks: they were able to travel freely across the border to the West. See more here. Author: Klára...

“I really enjoy everything I do, but agents sometimes find it difficult to sell my work” says pianist, singer and songwriter Beata Hlavenková. What is her big professional wish? And why she does not enjoy songs around the campfire so much...

Sonjašnyk is an all-female Czech-Ukrainian choir, based in the eastern-Bohemian city of Litomyšl. Founded two years ago to help Ukrainian women who had fled the war, it has continued to tour and raise money for charitable causes around Czechia...

Czechs are wary of the euro. Despite the fact that Czechia has been a European Union member country for more than two decades, the common European currency is viewed with suspicion by the majority of the population. The Czech cabinet this week...

Simon Goff, a British musician and composer, is the visionary behind the soundtrack of this year’s celebrated Czech film Vlny (Waves). He spoke to Danny Bate about his British background, his move to Berlin, his process of making music, and his...

Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, will take place from 13.4.2025 to 13.10.2025. Ondřej Soška – Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025, organized a press conference in Letenskt Zamecek to update how the construction of the...

The Fassati Art Festival is an art project full of unusual experiences encompassing music, fine arts, architecture, design, epicurean delicacies, emotions, and interpersonal harmony. The main idea of ​​the festival was prepared by the beautiful...

On November 26, Anglo-American University (AAU) hosted a lively and insightful public debate marking the anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. Organized in partnership with the Strategeo Institute, the event brought together a diverse...

The prize for climate change communication, which is awarded annually by the UN Information Center in Prague and the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, was won this year by Czech Radio climate reporter  Jan Kaliba. He started his journalism...

On Sunday, December 1, the Prague Zoo will light up the Christmas tree in the Veselovského meadow. Visitors can look forward to the traditional procession to the tree, the nativity scene, and the presentation of the new adoption campaign. The...

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, together with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Subcommittee for European Funds and Cross-Border Cooperation, Vladimír Zlínský, paid a two-day visit to Albania. In Tirana, they...

The city of Brno has won the title of European Capital of Christmas in the category of cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. The European Capital of Christmas and European City of Christmas awards have been given out since 2017 under the...

On Monday, the organization Platforma pro včasnou péči (“Early Care Platform”) hosted a roundtable discussion in the Chamber of Deputies to explore the importance of early childhood development and ways to make the Czech Republic a more family...

Seven experts from Czechia have been ranked among the top one percent of the world’s most cited scientists, according to the Highly Cited Researchers 2024 list by Clarivate. The list includes ecologist and botanist Petr Pyšek and physicist...

The military air base in Prague-Kbely is planning to establish a new memorial featuring a Russian/Soviet Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft. A petition opposing the idea has been initiated by soldiers, who advocate for showcasing a Czech aircraft instead...

Tom Gross campaigned for Roma rights and was active in the media in early 1990s Prague. However, the Englishman had had some remarkable experiences in the city even before joining the influx of young westerners to Czechoslovakia’s new democracy...

“More funding, more soldiers and more active reserves” that was the message Czech army commanders sent to politicians and the public in connection with the growing threat of war. The army chief-of-staff said NATO’s new collective defense...

Israel’s recently appointed foreign minister, Gideon Saar, will visit Czechia on Thursday during his first official foreign trip. The Czech Republic supports the Jewish state in its fight against Hamas and Hezbollah with fewer...

Antonín Dvořák, one of the most celebrated composers of the 19th century, is not only associated with his birthplace Nelahozeves but also with Vysoká u Příbrami, where he spent many summers. During these stays, he was a regular visitor to the...

Born in Brno to Angolan parents, Linette Manuel is a pioneer in the world of fashion design, integrating new technology into the process. She shares with us the story of her family, her current work and the goals of her platform Makeful. See...

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský paid a two-day working visit to Kyiv at the weekend. In addition to meetings with President Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Minister Sybiha, Mr. Lipavský attended a summit on food security...

Although Mělník lacks a formal founding charter, the first historical mention of its status as a city appears in a document issued by King Ottokar II of Bohemia on November 25, 1274. Nestled in Central Bohemia, approximately 40 kilometers from...

Leoš Janáček was a classical music composer with a distinctly Czech style. Although one of his greatest works – Taras Bulba –was inspired by Russian literature, the music itself reflects the cadence of Janáček’s mother tongue and its...

During the autumn round of the nationwide food collection on Saturday, 640 tonnes of goods were donated in stores across the country—a record in the event’s 11-year history, surpassing last autumn’s total by several dozen tonnes. See more here...

Osamu Okamura was born in Tokyo to Japanese-Czech parents but moved to Prague while still an infant. An architect by profession, he is involved in a wide slew of activities, from academic work to popularising the concept of liveable cities...

On 14 November, Places to Grow hosted a conference under its name that brought together early childhood development (ECD) experts to share research on early childhood development and what policymakers can do to stop educational imbalances and...

The city of Brno has approved a property exchange that will pave the way for a museum honoring composer Leoš Janáček. This significant cultural development coincides with the 170th anniversary of Janáček’s birth, an event celebrated by the...

Over 220 people in Czechia donated organs for transplantation last year, but a shortage of donors persists, especially among foreigners who have been living in the country. To help address this issue, the Prague-based Institute for Clinical and...

On the occasion of the King’s Day, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium H.E. Mr. Jurgen Van Meirvenne hosted a reception at his beautiful residence. Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, was the...

From December 2 to 20, Prague Zoo will offer free special pre-Christmas tours for kindergarten and elementary school students. Such guided walks will go after creatures known mainly from fairy-tale books or television screens and dispel various...

Cartagena de las Indias, Colombia, 19 November 2024 – The heightened importance of boosting investments and innovation was underscored as public and private sector leaders met to shape the future of the global tourism sector.  Further...

Are Czech men in crisis? What do Czech women want from them? And what does “being a man” actually mean today? Solvo publishes unique research on the Crisis of Masculinity The Solvo Institute, founded by Ivana Tykač, publishes...

The 7th year of the CZECH TRAVEL MARKET international tourism contracting day took place on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the PVA EXPO PRAHA. It was an advantage and a unique opportunity for business negotiations with several foreign and...

With less than a year to go before the general elections, President Petr Pavel is calling on Czechs to listen more to one another. Speaking to Czech Radio on the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, President Pavel shared his thoughts on...

The brutal massacre of Lidice by the Nazis in the summer of 1942 sent shockwaves around the world. Communities created memorials and organized events in memory of the victims, and some towns were renamed Lidice in defiance of the Nazis’ efforts...

November 17th this year is the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, the events of late 1989 through which Czechoslovakia transitioned from a one-party communist state to a democratic and capitalist country. The day is being marked...

For the first time in 30 years, Prague Castle is set to receive new outdoor lighting. The aim is to better highlight the city’s iconic landmark while making the lighting more economical and environmentally friendly. Prague Castle, the largest...

Organisers of this year’s UN climate change conference, known as COP29, which began last week in Baku, Azerbaijan, have not shown great optimism as the event reaches its end on Friday. The atmosphere has not been helped by the re-election...

An exhibition celebrating the legendary protest singer Karel Kryl got underway in Prague on Sunday. The showcase marks two important anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of his birth and 30 years since his death. It aims to highlight Kryl not...

After Russia attacked Ukraine, more than one thousand days ago, Czechia welcomed more Ukrainian refugees relative to population than any other country. Among them were thousands and thousands of children who needed an education. Based on the...

Mixed reality (MR) has the potential to revolutionize storytelling by blending the physical and virtual worlds, which creates immersive experiences people would not be able to access otherwise. This innovative approach is at the heart of a...

The Czech government has moved to address a pressing problem in health care for people living in the border regions who often have to travel long distances to see a specialist or dentist. A proposed amendment to the law should open the way for...

A 5000-crown banknote, produced in April 1919 for the newly independent state of Czechoslovakia, was sold at auction on Friday 15th of November for 25.68 million crowns. It therefore became the most expensive paper currency ever sold within the...

This episode of Czech Music Greats looks at the unique genius of Leoš Janáček, through his 1915-18 rhapsody for orchestra Taras Bulba. Based on a novella by the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol, this rhapsody in three movements tells the tragic...

Fair trade, the idea that shoppers should pay a fair price for crops grown in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, is gaining recognition in Czechia. In 2004, the idea of fair trade in the Czech Republic was still new, and efforts...

Since moving to Czechia originally for the sole purpose of playing rugby, Nicolaas Uys has made a successful life for himself in Prague, with a business selling biltong, and as a cornerstone of the South African community in the city. He spoke...

The poet and veteran broadcaster Igor Pomerantsev has been living in Prague since the mid-1990s, when his station, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, moved to the Czech capital. Born in Russia but raised in Ukraine, Pomerantsev left the Soviet...

Today, we’re marking the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which saw the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. To celebrate, we’ll be listening to some of the songs that filled the public squares during those historic...

10 years ago, former goaltender Dominik Hašek became the first Czech NHL hockey player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a rare and prestigious honor, reserved for only a select few. In...

To commemorate the anniversary of the death of the great Moravian thinker and religious leader John Amos Comenius, Danny Bate spoke to scholar Lenka Pospíšilová about his life, legacy and relevance for the modern world. On November 15th 1670, a...

In October, the team at Charles Games, the creators of such games as Playing Kafka and Attentat 1942, released Velvet 89, an immersive and educational experience that invites players to turn investigator in five cities across Czechoslovakia...

The President of the Republic Petr Pavel  received the Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan at Prague Castle on Thursday, November 14, 2024. At the official meeting between the Czech delegation and the Vietnamese...

A beautiful exhibition “Fotogrammi di moda italiana: dagli anni ´50, l´Italia che veste il cinema internazionale” is open at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Praga, at the Baroque Chapel of the Institute in Vlašská Street 34 Prague...

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová together with MP Petr Fifka, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee for European Affairs,  visited neighboring Bavaria. In Munich, they discussed closer inter-parliamentary...

The Prague Zoo invites you to visit even during dry weather. Animals grow winter fur and many of them can be proud of their bushy coats. Fallen leaves diversify the diet of many species and at the same time provide an impressive backdrop for...

Focused on cinematography with the exhibition “Fotogrammi di moda italiana” and the 12th annual MittelCinemaFest. Concert by Oscar winner Nicola Piovani The Italian Cultural Institute (IKI) in Prague offers a program full of...

Prague Castle will open its doors again on Saturday, November 30, for the second time this year. Visitors will be able to visit the Christmas-decorated and normally inaccessible representative spaces, where President Petr Pavel holds important...

Introducing the Best Korean Cuisine Chef in the Czech Republic! The Korean Embassy in the Czech Republic is delighted to announce the winners of the Korean Food Festival and Korean Cooking Competition, held on 13 November at ChefParade. The...

Czechia approaches the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and end of Communism in 1989. To commemotrate the historic milestone, Freedom Week kicks off in Prague. The series of events and happenings is organized by “Díky, že můžem”...

Eighty years ago, U.S. pilot William L. Kiggins was killed during a combat mission over Brno, becoming the only American soldier to die in the Moravian capital during World War II. On Wednesday, the American Ambassador to the Czech Republic...

As the holiday season draws near, Czech households face a bitter challenge to their holiday baking traditions: soaring butter prices. With a 40% year-on-year increase, the cost of butter reached over 70 crowns in some stores. Some, including...

An exhibition exploring the fascinating world of mushrooms is currently on display at the National Technical Library in Prague. Titled Do hloubi houby, or Into the Depths of the Mushroom, the exhibition presents the potential uses of mycelium...

Summer is over, and now CzechTourism, the country’s state-funded central tourist office, is reflecting on its successes and problems. The organisation’s director, František Reismüller, spoke to Danny Bate about the season just gone, as well as...

Prague’s car problem is not a secret. High car ownership persists, mainly because of political resistance and historical preservation laws which inadvertently hinder efforts to reduce car dependency. The dependency poses a challenge to its...

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, was released in a landmark prisoner exchange in August, following nine months in Russian detention. The mother of two was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on...

As the country approaches the 35th anniversary of Velvet Revolution of 1989, hundreds of dissidents have seen their income rise by an average of 4,400 Czech Crowns. It is often said that the winner takes it all. See more here. Author: Vít...

Archaeologists from the Moravian city of Brno have reported an unprecedented discovery. During a rescue excavation in the broader city center, they unearthed the bones of at least three mammoths, alongside remains from other animals. They also...

Lidija Kovařík, who comes originally from Croatia but has lived in Prague for the last fifteen years, is the managing director of the Illusion Art Museum in Prague. She tells us about her story and career, the future of museums, and her work...

November 11th is the feast day of St. Martin in the Christian calendar, a day that brings with it a variety of traditions in Czechia. Most notable among these is a particularly hearty meal, consisting of roast goose, cabbage and dumplings...