The new Vltava bridge connecting Prague 4 and 5 will be named “after a significant female figure”.
The eventual name of the bridge, known as Dvorecký, will be decided by citizens in a poll, with the municipality’s local history commission determining acceptable names.
The name will be picked as soon as the building is completed.
The bridge will span Vltava River from Podolí to Zlíchov, connecting Prague 4 and Prague 5. The aim is to improve connection between the banks in the southern part of the city, primarily for public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The new bridge is needed because of a lacking tram, pedestrian and cycling connection between Smíchov and Podolí districts on opposite banks of river Vltava. The construction adheres to Prague’s zoning plan.
The eastern end of the bridge will be at the Žluty lázně north of Jeremenkova street, the western end will be near the Lihovar tram stop. It will be 388 meters long and 16 meters wide.
So far, the last bridge in Prague over the Vltava, Trojský most, was put into operation in October 2014. It replaced a temporary tram bridge from 1981, nicknamed “Rámusák”, whose operation ended on October 7, 2013.
The municipality also started the construction of the Štvanická bridge from Holešovice to Karlín last year. There is also talk of building the so-called Rohan Bridge, which would connect Jateční Street in Prague 7 with Urxová Street in Prague 8. No decision has yet been made about its construction.
- The average price of older apartments in Czechia has declined by 9 percent year on year to CZK 82,351 per square metre, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday, citing a study by real estate group European Housing Services (EHS). Sales of older apartments in Prague are at their lowest level in four years.
- The Prague authorities do not plan to raise the price of individual public transport tickets or long-term travel passes, the deputy mayor in charge of transport, Zdeněk Hřib, told the Czech News Agency. He said more attention would be devoted to supporting electronic ticketing.
- Some 132 Czechs have secured official permission to fight for Ukraine since Russia invaded the country, the news website iRozhlas.cz reported on Saturday. In all cases they were given the go-ahead by former president Miloš Zeman.
- Ice hockey legend Jaromír Jágr says he will continue playing next season. Jágr, who is 51, made the comment to journalists after his club Kladno – which he also owns – won a playoff for the Czech top flight Extraliga on Friday evening.
- The riverbanks in Prague have reopened after being closed due to flooding over the past few days. Visitors are urged to remain cautious as water levels are still high, and the current flow rate is substantial. While flood activity is expected to subside soon, tributaries leading to the Vltava river are still experiencing higher water levels.
The international festival presents contemporary and traditional Roma culture during an intensive week (from 28 May to 3 June), full of music, dance, theater performances, workshops, seminars and other events.
Khamoro (“Sun” in Romanes) is the most famous professional Roma festival in the world. It has been organized by Slovo 21 together with SP Saga annually since 1999.
For two decades of existence, the festival has established itself as an all-cultural cultural event that attracts approximately 10,000 visitors from the Czech Republic and from abroad each year regardless of age, gender or nationality.
During the festival, Roma music will play a major role in being an important part of the world’s cultural heritage. A great spectacle will be the traditional parade of the participants through the city centre.
The program will feature many great names of Roma culture, distinctive and inspiring personalities of international reputation.
The most spectacular event of the festival will traditionally be a march of musicians in national costumes through the historical center of Prague.
The festival is held with the support of the City of Prague and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Its main media partner is Czech Television.
On Wednesday 26th April from 9 am to 10.00 pm, some amazing live performances are taking place across the Prague metro entrance halls at Můstek (A), Florenc (C), Hradčanská, Náměstí Republiky and Hlavní nádraží.
“Live music performances in metro stations are arranged annually by the Prague Public Transit Company (PPTC) and have always won very positive reactions from the passengers. Live music within the Prague metro is just a pleasant addition to their daily travel. On top of it, the artists have an opportunity to meet their potential fans and audience. We would like to keep this tradition going in future,” commented Jaroslav Ďuriš, the general director of PPTC.
A total of 34 bands from 17 different genres will be performing.
Passengers can listen from old blues, soul rhythms to rock and funk beats, modern jazz and drum & bass. Participation is free of charge. No tickets are required.
More information here
The Czech Republic’s industrial producer prices increased at the slowest pace in one-and-half years in March, figures from the Czech Statistical Office showed on Wednesday.
The industrial producer price index climbed 10.2 percent year-on-year in March, much slower than the 16.0 percent surge in February.
Economists had expected inflation to moderate to 11.3 percent.
Further, this was the weakest rate of increase since September 2021, when prices had grown 9.2 percent.
However, inflation has remained in double digits since October 2021.
The annual price growth in the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning segments slowed to 21.4 percent in March from 28.5 percent in the prior month.
Among the main industrial groupings, prices for non-durable consumer goods grew the most by 29.4 percent and those for energy goods by 12.3 percent.
Excluding energy, industrial producer price inflation eased to 9.5 percent in March from 12.4 percent in February.
On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 1.0 percent in March. Economists had expected prices to fall slightly by 0.1 percent.
NATO countries have no choice other than supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia since not doing so would mean victory for Moscow, the Czech Republic’s president said on Wednesday.
There is “no alternative to supporting Ukraine because the alternative to it is the success of Russia,” Petr Pavel said at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
After talks at the alliance headquarters in Brussels the two discussed Prague’s contribution to NATO and the security challenges involved in the war in Ukraine, along with China’s more assertive foreign policy.
Paval said his country would meet NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of gross national product next year and revealed that they were ready for “discussions on spending more if necessary if linked to capabilities.”
NATO leaders are expected to adopt a more ambitious defense investment target at their upcoming July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Pavel acknowledged that public opinion in NATO countries had started to tire of the news on the Russia-Ukraine war, but noted that it was the duty of politicians to maintain support for Kyiv.
For his part, Stoltenberg said “the will in Europe to continue supporting Ukraine is enormous,” adding that it was a moral duty and a security interest for NATO countries.
He said he believed people care when they see that “civilians are killed, that women are raped, and that children are forcibly abducted, taken away from the parents.”
Beginning next year, the X-ray equipment used for security checks at Prague Airport will be gradually replaced.
According to airport spokesman Klára Divková’s, the new equipment will allow travelers to leave their electronic gadgets inside their bags.
The upgrade will also remove the current limitations on the number of liquids that travelers can bring with them.
The change will affect only Terminal 2, which handles flights to Schengen countries. The airport’s administration anticipates that the improvements will be finished by 2026.
As a result, passengers may expect a more comfortable and seamless experience when going through security procedures.
The new X-ray machines will use computer tomography technology, which allow all liquids and electronic gadgets to stay inside the bags.
Passengers will no longer be required to report liquids or be limited to the 100 cc restriction that has been in effect since 2006.
Establishment of such scanners is also supposed to help in speeding up the security check-in procedure at airports, the report adds.
Milan Linate Airport was the first in Europe to adopt the smart screening systems and will soon be followed by several other European airports in the coming year.
The UK is moving forward with plans to implement the CT scanners across British airports and has set a Summer 2024 deadline for what it deemed “the biggest shake-up of airport security rules in decades.
- A recent study by InsureMyTrip has revealed the top destinations for a digital detox, with Prague being named the best city overall. European cities dominated the top 10, with 7 making a list. Prague scored an impressive 7.96 out of 10, with high marks in all categories, including safety, activities, and relaxation.
- Prague City Hall officials met with representatives of the Last generation (Poslední generace) protest movement on Thursday, the city’s mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, informed via Twitter. The movement, has organised several demonstrative blockades, or gatherings as they claim, in the Czech capital in recent months, demanding that speed limits be lowered in Prague to 30 kilometres an hour.
- Prague City Hall is considering buying the main building of Czech Post on the capital’s Jindřišská street near Wenceslas Square. One of the options being considered for the building’s subsequent use would be as an office space for City Hall employees.
- Prague Airport is upgrading its security system with advanced X-ray machines that will eliminate the need to remove electronic devices from luggage and lift the current restrictions on liquids. According to airport spokesperson Klára Divíšková, the new technology will be installed in Terminal 2 by 2026.
- The riverbanks in Prague have reopened after being closed due to flooding over the past few days. Visitors are urged to remain cautious as water levels are still high, and the current flow rate is substantial. While flood activity is expected to subside soon, tributaries leading to the Vltava river are still experiencing higher water levels.
Agatha Christie’s great novel about crime and punishment as presented by the Mad and Merry Men, in an unusual setting, in English.
On a journey from Istanbul to Calais, a group of strangers who couldn’t be more different meet in the most luxurious train in the world: among them a countess, a seedy businessman, a governess, a soldier and a princess. But when they get stuck in the middle of a snowstorm, tensions begin to rise.
The next morning, one of the passengers is found murdered, and as his dark past is revealed, the number of suspects grows… But the world’s greatest detective also happens to be travelling with him, and he won’t let the killer get away with it.
On May 12, 18, 19, and 26, you can attend the theatre adaptation on „Murder on the Orient Express”, considered Agatha Christie’s most famous novel.
Even Christie herself considered it to be the best case involving her most beloved creation, the Belgian Detective (and Dandy) Poirot!
Presented by “The Mad and Merry Men” in an unusual setting – the Second-Empire Ballroom of Spektrum Karlín, a venue that itself carries an old-word elegance – by a 10-people ensemble of award winning actors from all over Europe.
And not only that: The stage will be in the middle of the Room, like a run way, or rather: A Train track.
- Tickets via GoOut.net here
- Normal Admission: 400 CZK / Student Admission 300 CZK
- Produced by The Mad and Merry Men
- Directed by Gordon L. Schmitz
April 30th is a special day in the Czech Republic as it is a celebration of pálení čarodějnic which means “witch-burning”.
There are several interpretations regarding the roots and meaning of Čarodějnice. But experts most commonly believe that this ceremony is meant to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
The night of April 30th is considered magical and was originally celebrated at midnight. People believed that on this night, witches gather together.
So, families lit fires to protect themselves from evil. Today, pálení čarodějnic is a family holiday. Young and old gather around the fire. Girls dress as witches, families grill sausages, play music, dance, and sing.
It’s also one of the most significant outdoor events of the year and is usually held in every Prague’s district.
In Karlín you will find great food, drinks and fun for the whole family. Live music by DJ Hlava, and from 13:00 – 16:00 the Lovesong Orchestra.
You can also look forward creative workshops, the popular face painting and gingerbread decorating workshop. Children will have lots of fun on the trampolines, carousel, train and bouncy castle.
Find all the info here.
In the future years, the Prague 2 Municipal District will continue its anti-graffiti campaign. It has been in operation since 2010.
In just one year, 3,206 square metres of graffiti were erased in Prague 2, at a cost of more than CZK 2.6 million.
Last year, the area of undesired graffiti removed from building facades topped 1,400 square meters, while the area of parks exceeded 1,700 square meters.
The initiative involves 711 houses, and demand grows year after year, with over 100 additional sign-ups last year alone. “Prague 2 is a lovely residential area with many historically significant buildings and a distinct genius loci.” “We don’t want any spray-painted houses or monuments,” stated Alexandra Udženija (ODS), Mayor of Prague 2.
However, the number of vandals is on the rise. “The number of illegal graffiti on Prague 2’s territory has recently increased. As many as half of all citizen complaints that I receive are over illegal graffiti and drawings, both in public and on the façade of private houses. And the damage to historic and listed buildings is increasing,” stated Deputy Mayor Jan Recman (ODS).
The removal technology combines mechanical washing with high-pressure hot water and chemical agent application. The process needs a great deal of human work.
Right on the spot, operators carry out testing, based on the information about the surface (plaster type, façade paint, damage seriousness etc.) and the quality of the paint, and decide on the combination of water pressure and temperature and the use of chemicals, together with the technological procedure.
Prague’s residents can report graffiti to the municipality using a mobile application called “Bez Graffiti”.
- The ruling government of Petr Fiala has received the worst rating from the public since the cabinet of Petr Nečas in 2013, suggests a new survey conducted by the CVVM polling agency. Sixty-nine percent of people said they were dissatisfied with the activities of the ruling coalition, while 63 percent rated Prime Minister Fiala negatively.
- The inflation rate in the European Union decreased to 8.3 percent in March from the February value of 9.9 percent, the lowest since last May, according to the European statistical office Eurostat. In the Czech Republic, inflation fell to 16.5 percent from 18.4 percent in February, roughly double the EU average.
- From Thursday it will no longer be compulsory for people in Czechia to spend seven days in isolation if they test positive for Covid-19. A Ministry of Health edict ending that requirement has just entered the country’s statute books. However, doctors and hygiene station staff will be able to order seven-day isolation in individual cases.
- Vysoké Mýto in the Pardubice Region has been named Czechia’s Historical Town of the Year 2022. The award recognises the best use of funding to renovate historical landmarks provided by the Ministry of Culture. It comes with a financial reward f of CZK 1 million, to be used for further monument care.
- The director of the Czech counterintelligence organisation, Security Information Service (BIS), Michal Koudelka, is expected to be promoted to the rank of general in May. The government on Wednesday approved a proposal for President Petr Pavel make the promotion, Labour Minister Marian Jurečka told reporters after the meeting.