* POLITICS:

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has arrived in Washington for a two-day official visit. On Monday, Mr. Fiala is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss security cooperation and support for Ukraine, as well as mutual economic relations and nuclear energy.

* CHARITY:

People around Czechia donated 467 tonnes of non-perishable foodstuffs and hygiene products for the needy on Saturday within the bi-annual National Food Collection. Some 2,100 shops and supermarket chains joined the charity effort, which has been held twice a year since 2019.

* WEATHER:

Monday will be mostly overcast with rain and temperatures ranging between 13 and 17 degrees Celsius.

* PRAGUE:

Hundreds of people took part in Sunday’s Culture against Antisemitism event in Prague, organised by the Czech branch of the humanitarian organization International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.The event started with a march leading from Old Town Square to the Wallenstein gardens, where the main part of the program took place, including theatre performances and speeches.

* UKRAINE:

Ukraine’s situation warrants a coordinated international response similar to that received by Israel in the wake of Iranian drone and missile strikes, some Czech officials who expressed support for Israel said.

After enjoying a taste of spring with unseasonably warm temperatures in early April, the Czech Republic is in for a rude awakening.

A significant cool-down is expected across the country, bringing rain, showers, and even the possibility of snow, not just in the mountains but potentially at lower elevations as well.

Monday to Wednesday: Cloudy with Rain and Potential Snow

Monday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms and showers in some areas. While daytime temperatures will remain relatively mild, ranging from 13 to 17 degrees Celsius, snow is expected at higher altitudes.

Tuesday will see cloudy skies persist, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 4 degrees Celsius and daytime highs reaching only 8 to 12 degrees Celsius. Showers, including some snow showers in the mountains, are again forecast. Meteorologists warn that snow may even appear at lower or even exceptionally low elevations later in the week.

Wednesday offers a glimmer of hope with skies potentially clearing towards the evening. Overnight temperatures could dip to freezing (0 degrees Celsius), while daytime highs will range from 6 to 10 degrees Celsius, with occasional peaks of 12 degrees Celsius. A moderate north-westerly to northerly wind is also expected.

Thursday and Beyond: Continued Cool Temperatures

Thursday night brings another drop in temperatures, with lows reaching -2 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs are expected to remain similar to Wednesday.

The outlook for next weekend isn’t much brighter either. From Friday to Sunday, expect cloudy skies with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celsius. So, it seems that spring may have to wait a little longer to fully arrive in the Czech Republic!

Prague is a city where bars are abundant in nearly every corner, however, for those more adventurous, there are only a handful of places that can offer both good drinks and a unique experience.

The Magical Owl (Bar Magická Sova), is one of those places where you can enjoy a nice cocktail with a shot of fun and magic. Located in the beautiful Vinohrady, the bar offers a variety of magical potions and snacks for those daring.

Customers have the unique chance to try specially prepared magical potion drinks while also having the opportunity to mix and concoct their own potions.

To immerse into the magical world of spells, customers can also roam around the place borrowing hats, cloaks, or wands, to dress up in and get a first-hand experience of wizards and witches on a night out!

These magical potions can also be complemented with thematic cupcakes or some quick witchy snacks. Those wanting to take on a challenge and make their own potions will receive a magical vessel (mini cauldron or flask) and a magical letter they unseal, with instructions on how to mix together their enchanted elixir.

These drinks are not just limited to alcoholic options as there are plenty of non-alcoholic ones for expecting witches or for those needing to fly home on a broomstick later that night. Some sparkle, others smoke or ignite but every customer is bound to have a magical night of fun!

 

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

 

Un post condiviso da Bar Magická sova (@magickasova)

Those seeking a relaxed atmosphere rather than a bar-like setting will find themselves enjoying The Magical Owl the most, as the ambiance is not that of a conventional bar. The goal of the establishment is to offer patrons a place to grab a drink, immerse themselves in fantasy, and unwind after a stressful day. Therefore, customers should not be concerned about loud music playing in the background, as the bar is intended to provide a magical ambiance with a chill vibe.

Initially, the place was planned to be a café bar but after discovering the overwhelmingly positive reaction to their magical drinks, the place decided to focus on providing a variety of fairytale-like drinks, served in an atmosphere that reminded Harry Potter book. The bar is perfect for those looking to take a break from their nine-to-five, and to just sit down, have a drink, and escape the dreading boredom of the real world.

Like many of us in this generation, the owners of the bar were inspired by the world of the Harry Potter series, seeing it as the ultimate chance for fantasy fans to transport themselves into a parallel realm, of course, minus the fight against dark lords and evil sorcerers. The owners wanted to gift fantasy fans an opportunity to be safe from the mundane worries of the real world and indulge in their guilty pleasure of some magical time off.

While the bar offers many interactive activities for customers such as magical quizzes and VIP screenings of thematic movies, this is only the beginning for fantasy fans and The Magical Owl, as the bar aims to expand this magical universe by leaving room for future interactive events and opportunities for customers to engage in creativity and a love for a world of mystery and enchantment.

We advise you to make a reservation, especially on weekends due to limited space.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

Do you want to replace the car with another means of transport for a while? Plan a trip on an extraordinary train in the Osoblaha area.

A unique narrow-gauge railway line, which was put into operation in the late 19th century, still operates in the remote Bruntál district area near the Czech-Polish border.

Its track leads from Třemešná to Osoblaha and offers a stylish trip across interesting countryside.

Get on the train and enjoy the surrounding natural scenery accompanied by the sound of a motor or steam locomotive.

Historic trains run there from early May to November.

Find more info here

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

If you’re looking for fresh fruit, head to the orchards: they’re free, and Prague has the most in the world!

Most Praguers have no idea that there are a number of fruit orchards in the capital, where one can pick various fruits for free, from apples to pears and cherries to blackberries.

The forthcoming book Prague Fruit Orchards (Pražské ovocné sady), will introduce 15 publicly accessible orchards and readers will find out when the individual fruit ripens or what trips can be made in the area.

Pluck a few cherries or pears from the tree and eat them right away. For many of us, the fruit carries many memories, especially from our childhood when we used to go to our grandmothers in the countryside or to summer camps as children. We all probably had secret expeditions to neighbor’s gardens where cherries were blushing. But it would probably occur to few that free and completely legal expeditions for fruit can be undertaken in Prague today.

Nowadays, when the prices are going up, a little fresh fruit is vital. Just go to one of the 70 Prague orchards. Yes, Prague really has so many–the most in the world.

“The Prague City Council manages 70 orchards with a total area of 115 hectares. Even one or two orchards are added per year, either by getting one into the administration or by setting up new ones,” explains Jiří Rom from the Prague City Council.

These secret parts of the capital want to be introduced by a new book, Prague Fruit Orchards, which is planned to be published by the organization Na Ovoce. It has been mapping orchards all over the Czech Republic for 6 years and on their website, you can use the interactive map to find the nearest orchards in your area.

“We have selected 15 of the most beautiful Prague orchards and we have described them in detail in the book,” describes Lenka Linhartová from Na ovoce.

The book describes the history of orchards, what fruit grows here and when the harvest season is. “The orchards are ideal for family picnics or meeting friends. There is peace and shade, people can pick fruit and take it home. The book also includes excursion routes around the individual orchards, so you can spend the whole day in peace in them,” Linhartová continues.

Now they are choosing a book through a crowdfunding campaign, and there are also interesting rewards on offer, such as a musting course, fruit fermentation, tree planting or a pruning course. So far, they have managed to choose to publish the book and the campaign continues.

“If the selected amount rises to CZK 200,000, we will expand the book on the audio version of the guide, which will be available in the Na ovoce mapping application,” concludes Linhartová.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

Good news for walkers and cyclists in Prague! The Prague 8 municipality is working to improve the riverside path along the Vltava River in Libeň.

They aim to create a peaceful and enjoyable space for everyone.

The current walking path will be resurfaced with a mixture of mortar and stone paving, replacing the originally planned asphalt.

This will create a quieter and more pleasant experience. The path will also be widened to 2.5 meters, and benches will be added for people to relax and enjoy the scenery. Greenery will be planted along the path to enhance the natural feel.

The current bike lane is narrow, unsafe, and too close to traffic. To address this, a new, separate path will be built on the slope along Povltavská.

“Together with the capital, we had a study prepared by TSK Praha, which is designed to make the cycle path wider, with a good surface and separated from the road. The project includes replacing the asphalt surface, moving the public lighting lamps and a new connection between the two levels with two staircases with space for parking bicycles,” explained Martin Jedlička (TOP 09 + STAN), chairman of the Prague 8 Transport Commission.

This new path will be wider (3.5 meters) and made of a higher-quality surface, making it safer and more comfortable for cyclists. Two staircases will connect the path to the riverbank, and the existing lamp posts that obstruct cyclists will be relocated.

The total cost is estimated to be around 50 million Czech crowns, funded entirely by the municipality.

“This location will become a popular recreational place, the so-called Povltava promenade, after the completion of all its project stages, including the completion of the City Ring Road,” added Jedlička.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

* ENERGY:

Imports of Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline to Czechia rose slightly last year, Czech Television reports. The Russian share of total oil imports to Czechia was 58 percent, an increase of about two percentage points year-on-year. The rest was oil from the German IKL pipeline, which connects to the Italian TAL pipeline.

* POLITICS:

Czech President Petr Pavel met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Vilnius, Lithuania on Thursday, where the two heads of state are attending the Three Seas Summit. The Ukrainian president thanked Mr. Pavel for the Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine from outside the EU.

* WEATHER:

Friday should continue to be relatively warm and sunny with highs of up to 19 degrees Celsius. No rain is expected.

* HEALTH:

In addition to whooping cough, the Czech Republic has seen a year-on-year increase in several other infections in the first quarter of this year, including measles, legionellosis, scabies and diphtheria, and monkeypox has also returned, according to information from the National Institute of Public Health (SZU).

* ECONOMY:

The Czech Republic sees its unemployment rate drop below four percent after two months. As of the end of March, the unemployment rate had fallen to 3.9 percent, a significant decrease influenced by warmer weather. At the end of March, there were 288,623 individuals without employment, 7,484 fewer than the previous month

Get ready for more burger options! Popular American fast food chains Wendy’s and Five Guys are setting their sights on the Czech Republic market.

American fast food chains are setting their sights on the Czech Republic market. Wendy’s, the world’s third-largest hamburger chain with over 7,000 locations, and Rave Restaurant Group, which operates Pie Five and Pizza Inn, are seeking franchise partners to expand into Central Europe, including the Czech Republic.

The announcement was made at the U.S. Embassy in Prague on Wednesday.

Wendy’s is famous for its square hamburgers and spicy chicken sandwiches. “We’re looking for a franchisee to introduce our popular menu and exceptional dining experience to Czech customers,” the company stated in a press release on the embassy’s website.

Pie Five, another brand under Rave Restaurant Group, offers customizable pizzas made with fresh ingredients, prepared to order in under five minutes.

Following the successful launch of Louisiana-based Popeyes last year, another popular American chain, Five Guys, is expected to arrive in the Czech Republic this year.

Five Guys focuses on offering juicy burgers with generous portions of meat, at slightly higher prices than other fast-food options. Their first branch is expected to open in Prague on Národní třída, occupying the renovated space of the former Máj department store.

Construction is expected to be completed by early summer.

The influx of American franchises extends beyond fast food. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, with over 20 hotel brands including Baymont, Days Inn, and La Quinta, is also seeking franchise operators in the Czech Republic.

Finally, Mobile Outfitters, a US company specializing in mobile phone accessories like screen protectors, is searching for partners to expand into the Czech market.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

Inflation in Czechia remained at 2% in March, the same year-on-year growth as in February, which is the lowest inflation rate since December 2018.

It increased by 0.1% month on month, driven by higher prices in the transportation sector, including the government raising those for motorway vignettes.

As of March 1, the price of annual motorway vignettes was raised after ten years from CZK1,500 to CZK2,300 to reflect inflation development and will be indexed from now onwards. The change was approved last year as part of austerity measures aimed at tackling the budget deficit.

Despite the y/y stagnation, “the price development in individual divisions of the consumer basket was different,” commented Pavla Sediva of the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). “Food and non-alcoholic beverages was the only division where prices were lower, approximately by 6% y/y,” she added.

Prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment increased by 4.8% y/y, and the price of highway vignettes increased by 53.3%. In the food and non-alcoholic beverages sector prices of flour decreased by 27.8% y/y, prices of pork were down by 5.7%, yoghurts by 7.9%, fruit by 2.9% and vegetables by 4.9%.

CZSO highlighted that “the biggest influence on the growth of the y/y price level in March came again from prices in housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels”, with an increase of 7.1%.

Prices of materials and services for maintenance and repair of dwellings went up by 4.6%, water supply by 10.9%, sewage collection by 10.5%, electricity by 13.1% and heat and hot water by 3%.

Prices of natural gas dropped by 5.2% y/y and prices of solid fuels by 4.4%.

In m/m terms, prices of highway vignettes increased by 53.3%, and fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment by 1.6%. The increase was also registered in the restaurants and hotels sector, while price decreases came from food and non-alcoholic beverages, where prices of fruit dropped by 2.6%, eggs by 6%, pork by 1.7%, cheese and curd by 1.1% and yoghurts by 3.7%.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

The Czech parliament on Wednesday voted to toughen legislation on rape, with stricter definitions that classify all sexual abuse of children under 12 as rape or assault.

The amendment, which has to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president to take effect, was approved by lawmakers across the chamber.

Following the “no means no” principle, the bill changes the definition of rape from forced intercourse to intercourse without consent.

It says disapproval can be expressed by a gesture or crying, and also protects victims unable to protest because of an illness, inebriation, sleep, or bondage.

The bill also introduces the crime of sexual assault for acts that do not involve intercourse.

In defending the new rules, lawmakers noted that 16 European countries had also recently changed the legal definition of rape.

Some use the “yes means yes” concept, which insists on a declaration of consent, while others employ “no means no” like the Czech Republic.

Other European countries including France, Italy, and Poland use the traditional definition of rape based on violence or threat.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

The City of Prague has joined forces with Prague City Tourism and the Prague Municipal Library to launch the Franz Kafka Year, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the author’s death.

A rich program of events aimed at both children and adults has been curated, encompassing film, literature, theater, and music.

A special website has been launched to provide information about the program’s offerings for Prague residents. Additionally, a “Kafka tram” adorned with illustrations by Czech artist Simona Lore will travel through the city throughout the year.

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda emphasizes the importance of commemorating Kafka’s legacy and the indelible mark he left on the city. “We are committed to preserving the capital’s historical and cultural heritage,” he states. “This celebration of Franz Kafka is a unique event, and I believe it will resonate with both Prague residents and visitors from all over the Czech Republic and abroad.”

The program features a project by illustrator Magdalena Jetelová titled “Franz Kafka-Elevation,” which showcases a striking visual transformation of the New Mill Water Tower (Novomlýn) in Prague 1 with engaging illustrations. This project represents a unique fusion of visual art and literature, with Prague contributing CZK 1.2 million to its realization.

Beyond this project, the city is supporting 14 additional projects. These include theatrical productions such as “Kafka has left the building” at the Zábradlí Theatre and “Kafka’s Cause” by the Prague Chamber Ballet.

Exhibitions and publications are also part of the program, with partnerships established with the Jewish Museum, the Jewish Community, the Prague Literary House of the German Language, Revolver Revue, and the Architecture Association.

“The sheer variety of activities planned for this anniversary year underscores Franz Kafka’s enduring influence as one of the 20th century’s most significant writers,” remarks Minister of Culture Martin Baxa.

“His legacy continues to hold immense power. I am delighted that the Ministry of Culture is actively involved in shaping the Kafka Year program. This commemoration presents a remarkable opportunity to explore Kafka’s work from diverse perspectives and to engage with his enduring message. The Ministry’s contributions include supporting the dedicated platform kafka2024.cz, allocating a special grant of CZK 4 million to dozens of projects, and backing a creative learning project within the NPO that will culminate in a video game.”

A website dedicated to the Kafka narrative offers visitors basic information about the author, highlights iconic locations in Prague associated with him, and provides guided walking tours that explore the places he frequented during his youth and later years. In collaboration with the Prague Municipal Library, the website also facilitates exploration of Kafka’s literary works.

Franz Kafka was born in Prague on July 3, 1883, to a Jewish family of merchant Hermann Kafka. Only six of his short stories, including The Metamorphosis, were published during his lifetime. Kafka had instructed his friend to destroy his writings after his death, but fortunately, the request was not fulfilled.

He was not well-known during his lifetime and was recognized only by a small group of people. Kafka died on June 3, 1924, after a long battle with tuberculosis in a sanatorium near Vienna. Most of his works were published posthumously.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

* LEGISLATION:

The Czech parliament on Wednesday voted to toughen legislation on rape, with stricter definitions that classify all sexual abuse of children under 12 as rape or assault. The amendment was approved by lawmakers across the chamber. Following the “no means no” principle, the bill changes the definition of rape from forced intercourse to intercourse without consent.

* ECONOMY:

Heat consumption from central heating plants in Czechia fell by 9.4 percent year-on-year in 2024, according to data released by the Energy Regulatory Office on Wednesday. A total of 67.8 petajoules of heat was consumed, which is the lowest figure in seven years.

* WEATHER:

Thursday is expected to be mostly sunny with day temperatures ranging between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius.

* EVENTS:

British singer-songwriter Raye will be the main star of Prague’s Metronome festival, which is to take place in the Czech capital in June, the festival’s organizers announced on Wednesday. The pop singer, who won a record six Brit Awards this year, will perform in Czechia for the first time.

* ECONOMY:

The Czech Republic sees its unemployment rate drop below four percent after two months. As of the end of March, the unemployment rate had fallen to 3.9 percent, a significant decrease influenced by warmer weather. At the end of March, there were 288,623 individuals without employment, 7,484 fewer than the previous month