On Tuesday, June 28, you can visit the Lobkowicz palác, usually closed to tourists, for free.
From 14:00 to 19:00, guests will be able to explore the interior of the Baroque palace, built in 1702.
Lobkowicz Palace is one of the most important High-Baroque buildings in Prague. It was projected by famous Baroque architect Giovanni Battista Alliprandi and there is a large decorative garden behind it.
It has been a seat of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague since 1973. It became an important place in 1989: thousands of citizens of the former GDR could move to the FRG from this palace at the time.
The embassy will organize an exhibition of German tourism regions, food tents and other accompanying programs.
The palace was planned with two facades: those of street side and the more impressive garden front. The Lobkowicz family acquired the palace in 1753, and it was given its Late-baroque appearance by Ignác Johann Palliardi in 1769.
The garden (partly open to the public), which stretch the Petín Hill, was restyled in the manner of English “natural” landscaping in 1793 by J. Skalník, who had been responsible for the landscaping of Marienbad Spa.
In the palace gardens, you’ll find a sculpture by David Cerný of a golden Trabant that pay tribute to the thousands of East Germans who slipped into West Germany via the German Embassy in Prague, leaving behind their East German cars.
More information here
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Germany will donate to Czechia 15 tanks Leopard 2A4 and both countries will launch discussions about a purchase of up to 50 first-rate tanks Leopard 2A7 in various modifications. The country may receive the donated vehicles this year.
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Czechia will be promoting accessible and sustainable sport venues during its forthcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union. The result should be a European subsidy program for building energy-saving sports venues or for reconstruction of the present venues.
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The Czech government approved Swedish and Finnish requests for NATO membership as the militaries of both Scandinavian countries meet all acceptance criteria, PM Petr Fiala tweeted today and the decision is yet to be approved by both houses of the Czech parliament.
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Inflation in the Czech Republic was the third highest in the whole of the European Union in March, at 13.2 percent year-on-year, according to data from Eurostat cited by the Czech News Agency on Wednesday.
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The Czech government has approved a request to extend by 30 days a state of emergency imposed to help deal with a wave of Ukrainian refugees, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a cabinet meeting.
The Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon is approaching. This Saturday, May 21, starts one of the most beautiful Czech races!
For several years now, RunCzech has been organizing an international race in Karlovy Vary, which attracts professional athletes and enthusiasts runners.
The 9th edition of the Mattoni 1/2 Marathon Karlovy Vary will start from Nábřeží Osvobození at 6:00 p.m. Since registrations are still free, don’t hesitate and sign up today!
“RunCzech offers to runners a truly unique sports experience. Karlovy Vary, along with ten other European spa towns, is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon is certainly one of the best ways to fully enjoy the heritage of a beautiful spa town,” said Igor Murko, manager of the RunCzech regional races.
The marathon will feature several categories on Saturday. In addition to the 1/2 Marathon, a 2Run is prepared for runners who do not yet feel completely ready for the whole race.
The first competitor runs 10 km and the second then finishes 11 km to the distance of the half Marathon. The relay race is ideal alternative for team runners. Of course, the traditional dm family run which will start at 4 p.m, is prepared for all family members.
The undemanding 3 km long course in the center of Karlovy Vary is really suitable for everybody.
The first steps of the competitors always lead to the Hotel Thermal where runners can pick up the start numbers. The Running Expo starts on Friday 20.5. (12:00 – 18:00) and will last until Saturday between 10:00 and 15:00.
To pick up the start number, you need your ID and an assigned start number from the RunCzech application, which runners will also find in the Runners ID profile.
The new Vltava Philharmonic will be built by the Danish architectural studio Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Prague City selected a total of 19 applicants in an international competition.
The Vltava Philharmonic Hall should have a total of three auditoria: the main concert hall for about 1800 persons, a smaller hall for chamber music with a capacity of 700 seats and a multifunctional hall for other genres and events with a capacity of up to 500 seats.
Bjarke Ingels Group plans to complete the new building, which will cost the city about six billion crowns, in 2032.
The main concert hall should offer state-of-the-art acoustics, excellent spatial and visual characteristics and facilities corresponding to 21st century standards. The building should also accommodate both of the significant Prague orchestras – the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK) and the Czech Philharmonic.
The building should also integrate the music division of the Municipal Library of Prague and other creative spaces, which are to be another important pillar in the building’s construction program.
It should also include a café or a rooftop restaurant. The roof, which offers a view of the capital, is to be a continuation of the square that will be built in front of the Philharmonic.
The bold architecture of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall on the bank of the Vltava river will spearhead the revitalization of the Bubny–Zátory brownfield.
As a result, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall will become a new cultural center for Prague and the entire Czech Republic.
“We tried to imagine the Philharmonic as a contribution to the iconic Prague skyline. We wanted to create a connection between the river and the roof of the building,” said Bjarke Ingels, the founder of the BIG studio.
Why does Prague need a new Philharmonic Hall?
There has been no new concert hall for symphonic music in Prague for more than 100 years. The newest, Smetana Hall in the Municipal House, was opened at the end of 1912.
The Dvořák Hall of Rudolfinum is even older, dating back to 1885. Although both halls have been renovated, they are still rather historic. “Not only do they fail to conform to the demands of the 21st century, but in addition, they do not meet most of the requirements for symphonic music,” said Ondřej Boháč, director of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague.
“Prague’s ambition is to promote itself not only as a city of monuments but also as a center of inspirational live cultural events. The implementation of the new Vltava Philharmonic Hall significantly strengthens and supports these ambitions,” he added.
A series of charitable concerts ‘Music. Support. Freedom.’ organized by Ukrainian singers CONSTANTINE, INGRET and TOHKA (TONKA).
Art illuminates the world even in dark times, helps to express powerful emotions, unites the souls and hearts of the people of Earth,” concert organizers write. “The voices of Ukrainians must be heard. This is what the strength, beauty, love and pain of a beautiful, hardworking and talented country sounds like.
CONSTANTINE, INGRET and TOНKA (TONKA) have already performed in Berlin and Tallinn and continue their charity tour of European cities.
They also attended several meetings with Ukrainian refugees, where they were able to communicate with compatriots and perform music in gratitude for their courage and love of their native country.
The proceeds from the concerts will be deployed to the ‘Masterskaya’ Charity Foundation, where they will be distributed for humanitarian, medical, cultural institutions, and children’s needs.
For Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war, admission to the concert is free by pre-registration.
You can get your tickets here
May 20
Ukrainian experimental indie band Tonka released a new EP, “Znov molodist’ ne bude,” just two days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Tonka has previously featured Ukrainian poetry in their music, and this EP is no different, drawing on works by Ukrainian poets Oleksandr Oles and Mykola Khvilovyy.
May 21
Prior to fleeing the country after Russia’s invasion began, Ingret Kostenko, or Ingret, gained popularity in Ukraine as she starred on “X Factor” and “The Voice of Ukraine.” Her music intertwines indie and pop-rock in what the artist herself describes as an “echo of the soul.” Russia’s war in Ukraine prevented her from releasing a new EP as planned, but Ingret will be performing songs from it live instead.
May 22
Konstantin Dmitriev, known professionally as Constantine, is known on the Ukraine pop scene for being a courageous and lyrical artist with a unique voice and fashion sense. Last year, Constantine released “Симпатичен” (“Cute”), coproduced by Ukrainian singer and producer Ivan Dorn and featuring the singles “Mozol” and “Neonovaya Noch.” He will be performing at Sveta Baar with an acoustic set.
PURE Carl Cox Open Air is an outdoor techno and house music festival, held within the central area of Prague’s Colosseum (Štvanice island).
After unprecedented demand for the dance legend’s return having performed in the city in 2019, Carl Cox has answered the call, with a one-day outdoor rave of epic proportions organized by Apokalypsa.
Joining the techno icon amongst the scenic and historic location is a supporting cast including Dj Rush, Umek, Eric Powell, Lucca, and homegrown talent Pavel Krejdl; rest assured, you’ll be buzzing from start to finish!
You can buy your tickets here
A pioneer of electronic music
Born in Greater Manchester in 1962 to parents from Barbados, Carl spent his early life in south London.
His first love was, and still is, music. Inspired by disco, he bought his first set of turntables aged 15 and started performing as a mobile DJ.
But by the 1980s, influences like the Chicago house scene saw the dance music transform rapidly on this side of the Atlantic.
By the end of the decade, rave culture was sweeping the UK.
It was controversial, it was underground – and at the heart of the hysteria was Carl Cox. Thirty-five years on, he’s widely regarded as a pioneer of electronic music.
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The number of single-person households in Czechia rose from some 24 percent to 30 in the past 15 years, while the number of complete families made up of partners with or without children fell. However, the number of households with children started rising again in 2017, statistical data show.
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The United States Army has bought the ReTwis 5 (Retia Through-Wall Imaging System) small portable radars, also known as POLR-1, from the Czech firm Retia. ReTwis 5, which is a radar detecting living entities behind a wall or a non-metallic barrier, has already been used by the armed and security forces in the United States.
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The Czech Republic wants to coordinate the gathering of evidence of war crimes in Ukraine that is to serve for a possible criminal complaint, in parallel with other countries, Justice Minister Pavel Blazek told journalists.
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Qatari Emir Tamím bin Hamad Ál Thání will visit the Czech Republic at the turn of September to October this year, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Monday after meeting with President Zeman.
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Czechs are more willing to spend on premium healthcare, according to the data by the European Statistics Office, Eurostat.
Last year, premium healthcare expenses accounted for 2.8 percent of overall household spending, which is still considerably less than in Western countries.
The 49-year-old Czech citizen worked in Ukraine as a truck driver before the war, but after the outbreak of fighting, he came to help as a volunteer fighter.
The body of a Czech volunteer fighter was discovered in one of the mass graves near Kyiv along with three other victims, with documentation confirming the Czech victim’s identity, according to the newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda.
The grave was located at the side of the road near Makariv, which was temporarily under Russian control. A fragment from an F-1 grenade, which was left there by Russian soldiers, was also discovered near the grave.
“Two people were killed in the head, one man in the stomach. Documents of one of the victims, a citizen of the Czech Republic, were found at the burial site. The data matches,” said the Kyiv region police chief, Andrij Nebytov.
The Czech foreign ministry also confirmed the information.
The Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper, referring to the police, wrote that a 49-year-old Czech citizen worked in Ukraine as a truck driver before the war. After the outbreak of fighting, he came to help as a volunteer fighter. He stopped communicating with his family on Mar. 3. He had a wife and a brother at home.
“The other two people have not yet been identified, but they were wearing civilian clothes. We will investigate the circumstances under which the murder happened,” said Nebytov.
One week ago, Czech President Miloš Zeman officially approved the entry of 103 Czech citizens into the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In general, Czech citizens are prohibited from serving in a foreign army, an offense for which they face up to five years in prison.
If they want to join one, they must ask the president for an exception. In March, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Zeman promised immunity to all volunteers who left to fight for Ukraine.
According to Defense Ministry Spokeswoman Jana Zechmeisterová, interest in joining the Ukrainian foreign legions fell sharply in recent weeks.
Former professional soldier Lumír Němec told Lidovky.cz news outlet that the interest of the Czechs was enormous before, especially in the first three weeks after the outbreak of the war. However, according to him, people eventually realized that this was not fun and that death was commonplace in Ukraine.
Should Russian gas supplies be halted, Czechia has sufficient reserves to last until the end of the summer, the country’s Industry Minister Jozef Síkela has claimed.
Czech gas reserves are growing rapidly and had exceeded 1.287 billion cubic meters by Thursday morning, and domestic gas storage tanks are now almost 40 percent full, the minister revealed.
“Compared to consumption in previous years, if supplies from Russia are stopped, current stocks should last at least until the end of the summer,” Síkela affirmed.
Czechia Prime Minister Petr Fiala also confirmed the current capacity status Czech gas reserves.
“Today, the tanks are already 40 percent full, and that’s a huge shift, and it’s the most ever at this time of year. We will reach at least 80 percent of the tank capacity before the start of the winter season,” said Fiala.
According to Síkela, current gas reserves have more than doubled from last year. The growth rate of stocks is among the highest in Europe. Deliveries to the Czech Republic are smooth, and the storage tanks are filling at a rate of over 25 million cubic meters per day.
This corresponds to approximately twice the daily consumption in the summer. The suspension of gas supplies via the Ukrainian station Sochranovka has not affected gas supplies to the Czech Republic.
The state will compensate the trades for losses
Síkela also said on Thursday that his office is in contact with traders as he attempts to motivate them to fill their reservoirs, among other things, through a crisis measure issued by the ministry on April 28.
On its basis, the first auctions are happening during which the state financially supports the storage of gas in storage tanks. The state compensates the trades, among other things, for the price difference between the current price and the price of the futures.
“We are also preparing other measures that will further strengthen the state’s influence on the management of gas in domestic storage facilities,” the minister added.
by Maddie Jacobson–Anglo-American University
A mixture of strong emotions is immediately felt upon stepping into the Czech Press Photo exhibit at the National Museum. Surrounded by images capturing the upending world events of the last year, sadness, joy, loss, and unity are simultaneously evoked.
The Czech Press Photo exhibit, open till October 31st, 2022, displays the winners of the Czech Press Photo competition along with other notable submissions.
Located centrally at the National Museum in Prague’s Wenceslas Square, this exhibit is a must-see for everyone, from documentary photography aficionados to those who simply want to view the events of the past year from a different perspective.
The Czech Press Photo Competition is currently in its 27th year, and it highlights Czech and Slovak photographers who are capturing everyday life and notable events in the Czech Republic and around the world. This is the second time that the National Museum has hosted this exhibition.
The exhibition displays notable submissions from the 2021 competition, the winner of the Photo of the Year along with winners of the subcategories.
The Photo of the Year was shot by Petr Topic with the title “Destruction.” It depicts a young man standing with his head in his hands, surrounded by rubble and the foundations of his destroyed home.
The photo captures the personal pain caused by the sudden and destructive tornado in Mikulcice, Moravia on June 24 th .
The exhibit has sections by themes and world events. Significant emphasis is placed on Covid-19, particularly at the entrance, as its impact is far-reaching, therefore still deserving our attention. At the entrance, a photograph by Lukas Biba, depicts a doctor treating a sick patient in a hospital bed.
The photo is taken from outside of the room. This series by Biba also includes an image of the Beatles song “Let it Be,” and in the background, out of focus, is a Covid patient in a hospital bed.
In a series with a different perspective related to Covid-19, there are photographs of patients taking Covid tests. The images, titled “Testing,” were taken by Richard Domos. It includes portraits of individuals receiving nasal swab tests, while making comical faces. Matched with so many of the sadder images depicting the Covid pandemic, this comic relief is necessary.
Everyone can recall taking uncomfortable nasal swab Covid tests, and seeing this in a humorous light is a reminder that experiencing the pandemic was a universal, and almost unifying experience.
Other events captured in the exhibit include Summer 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, a newly opened circus, anti-mask and vaccine mandate protests, the 55th Karlovy Vary film festival, and clashes between police and street gangs. While Covid did take up a significant portion of the exhibit, other themes were covered in order to give a fuller picture of what 2021 looked like around the world.
Overall, the Czech Press Photo Exhibit is emotionally impactful and reminds us of the events we have endured together. However, its display of some of these dark times is not gratuitous, and it is done with respect. It also is coupled with images of positive moments throughout the year.
For those visiting Prague for a few days or long-term residents, the Czech Press Photo Exhibit truly is a must-see.
People will probably no longer be able to drink alcohol after midnight (until 9 am) on either the right embankment at Podskalí or the left one at Hořejší nábřeží in Smíchov.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages should not be allowed in about 1000 other places in the metropolis. The measure could take effect on 1 July.
This is a proposal for an amendment to the decree on alcohol consumption in public places, which was discussed by Prague councilors on Monday.
The amendment was supported by SPOLU (the coalition of TOP 09 and STAN parties) and Praha Sobě.
Whether the amendment enters into force will be decided by the City Council at the end of May. “Tourists are returning to Prague, and with them some problems with order, especially in the streets of the center. The main goal of the new decree is to protect residents as much as possible from noise, “said Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague.
Moreover, it will not be legally possible to drink alcohol in public in selected squares, parks, and some streets of Prague. So far, there are about 800 places on the list. The new decree will expand the number of sites to about 1000 locations.
According to Hlubuček, it will also be punished when people stay in selected public spaces with an open bottle of alcoholic beverage. “Until now, the police officer had to see a man drinking alcohol,” he added.
According to the document, the ban will not apply on December 31 and January 1 during New Year’s and New Year’s Eve celebrations, concerts, or sporting events, as well as in the gardens of restaurants and snack bars.
The fine for drinking alcohol in public in areas of Prague is now Kč 10,000 and can be paid on the spot. Drinking on some Prague streets has been illegal since 2008.
Most of the areas affected are in the touristy center in Prague 1, and also in Prague 4 and 8.
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Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Monday he expected to see some continuity at the Czech National Bank with the next nominations to the board due to be filled by the end of June and markets stirred with prospects of an end to sharp interest rate hikes.
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Certificates, commemorative decrees and badges for taking part in the so-called “Third Resistance” against Communism were handed over by Defence Minister Jana Černochová to 39 individuals on Monday. Among the recipients were the former Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia Petr Pithart and dissident Karel Havelka.
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As part of the International Museum Day, taking place tomorrow, May 18, you can visit some Prague museums for free: National Gallery Prague, National Museum of Agriculture, National Museum, The Prague City Museum, National Technical Museum.
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According to the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), meat production in the Czech Republic fell in the first quarter by 1.5% year-on-year. The decline was seen mostly in beef, less so in poultry and pork. Meanwhile, milk production increased by 2.2% compared to 2019 data.
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Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will discuss bilateral affairs, the Ukrainian war and European affairs with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who will come to Prague on Tuesday.