Wednesday, April 23, 2025
On Friday, April 25, churches across the Czech Republic will join in a solemn tribute to Pope Francis, ringing their bells simultaneously to honor the late pontiff.
At the heart of the memorial will be a mass held at Pragueโs St. Vitus Cathedral, scheduled for 6:00 p.m., led by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic, Jude Thaddeus Okolo. The service will mark a moment of unity and reflection, bringing together both the faithful and the broader public.
The Archbishopric of Prague has invited all parishes nationwide to participate in the bellโringing at the same time, a gesture that has historically been embraced by churches across the country.
Although Pope Francis never visited the Czech Republic, his connection with the nation was more than symbolic. Archbishop Jan Graubner of Prague emphasized the popeโs warmth and interest in the countryโs religious and social life.
โHe followed what was happening here and showed genuine care,โ said Graubner. โHe may not have come in person, but his faith and commitment to reconciliationโacross ideological or theological dividesโwere deeply felt.โ
Pope Francis, known for his efforts to bridge divides between conservatives and progressives within the Church, passed away on the morning of Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican. He was 88 years old.
In the next 24 hours, Pope Francisโs body will be moved to the Chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where he opted to live after becoming Pope, as opposed to the more lavish papal apartment used by his predecessors.
Francisโs death sets in motion the process of selecting a new Pope through an election known as a conclave, which typically takes place 15 and 20 days after a Popeโs death.
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Pragueโs Municipal House (Obecnรญ dลฏm) has seen it all and still stands triumphant on Nรกmฤstรญ Republiky.
Since 1912, historical and cultural events have taken place inside and the tradition continues as the House keeps hosting events such as catering, exhibitions, banqueting, cocktail refreshments, and coffee breaks.
In 2022, the Pilsner Urquell Beer Hall got all dolled up with a little help from Vyลกehrad 2000, a local catering company known for its culinary creativity that offered the place a chance to live a second youth.
A new bar (vรฝฤep) has been added, much to the delight of guests who can now enjoy freshly poured Pilsner Urquell right next to their tables.
The menu is built around Czech classics, starting with appetizers like beef tartar and moving on to hearty mains such as Pilsner beef goulash and svรญฤkovรก. All ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. Guests can also enjoy a traditional soup and finish with a homemade dessert.
Vegetarians arenโt left out โ dishes like fried cheese (smaลพรกk) are not just an afterthought here but are treated with real care, earning their spot among the highlights.
Meat eaters are well treated as the quality sausages and smoked meats are sourced from Bio Farma Drรกb. Guests loyalty is valued and can be rewarded as the house offers a membership with a 15% discount on everything.
The dining experience is elevated by the elegant setting, surrounded by Czech Art Nouveau design that echoes through the entire Municipal House. The interiors, shaped by artists such as Alfons Mucha, Jan Preisler, and Ladislav ล aloun, create a unique atmosphere.
The building itself is full of history and detail, making a guided tour well worth it. Offered in multiple languages and suitable for all ages, the tours explore the houseโs richly decorated halls and salons. Private and customized visits are also available.
Most tours begin at Smetana Hall โ the cultural centerpiece of the building.
Named after composer Bedลich Smetana, the hall seats 1,200 and remains a key venue for concerts and events.
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The Czech national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, has officially opened to the public, showcasing a bold fusion of architecture, glassmaking tradition, and contemporary Czech art.
Designed by Apropos Architects, a Prague-based studio, the four-story structure will welcome visitors on the artificial island of Yumeshima until October 13.
The opening ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavskรฝ, Czech Ambassador to Japan Martin Kluฤar, and Expo Commissioner General Ondลej Soลกka.
Located along the coastal promenade, the Czech pavilion stands out with its striking spiral walkway, which wraps around the building and leads visitors to the rooftop.
The structure is built primarily from wood and glass, a deliberate reference to the Czech Republicโs centuries-old glassmaking heritage.
The exterior spiral, stretching 260 meters, is also glass-covered, transforming the pavilion into a dynamic visual space that shifts with the natural light.
Inside, visitors are greeted by installations from leading Czech artists, including Rony Plesl, Jakub Matuลกka, and multimedia collective Lunchmeat Studio.
At the heart of the pavilion is an auditorium set to host cultural performances, discussions, and lectures throughout the exhibition. A restaurant section will serve traditional Czech cuisine along with Pilsner beer, further immersing guests in the countryโs cultural offerings.
More than 200 Czech artists will participate in the six-month event.
Highlights include performances by the Brno National Theatre and the Brno Philharmonic, presenting Janรกฤekโs ballet Capriccio. Also scheduled are shows by Cirk La Putyka, as well as concerts from the Childrenโs Choir of Czech Radio.
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Prague City is working on a new decree to regulate noise from outdoor concerts, potentially allowing music events to continue past the usual 10 PM cutoff.
According to information from the Prague City Councilโs website, the decree aims to set clear rules for outdoor music performances, defining when they can be extended beyond 10 PM or, conversely, restricted.
The draft is currently under review, with city districts invited to submit feedback.
The issue first emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerts at the former Branรญk ice cream factory sparked debate over noise regulations.
The council, at the time, did not approve the decree, as it only addressed that specific venue. Now, Pirate Party councilor Adam Zรกbranskรฝ has revised the proposal, expanding its scope.
New Rules for Music Events
โThe proposed decree sets binding conditions for organizing, running, and ending public cultural events,โ the draft states.
Among the key provisions is a requirement for events exceeding 300 attendees to be officially reported. It also establishes exceptions that would allow performances to extend past 10 PM in certain cases.
However, Councilor Hana Kordovรก Marvanovรก has criticized the proposal, arguing that it fails to address complaints about excessive and repetitive noise. โThe decree does not include any provisions to regulate excessively noisy or recurring events,โ she said at a city council meeting on Thursday.
Push for Stricter Noise Control
Marvanovรก proposed expanding the cityโs noise regulation commission to include representatives from various city districts. However, her motion was rejected. The city council is set to discuss the issue further at its next meeting, once feedback from the comment period is reviewed.
Councilor Zรกbranskรฝ defended the proposal, stating that it would provide a direct legal framework for regulating music-related noise, which is currently a legal gray area. S
ince a 2015 amendment to the Public Health Protection Act excluded music from the law, hygiene stations have been unable to intervene in noise complaints related to concerts. The new decree would close this loophole, preventing venue operators from arguing that music does not constitute noise.
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People begging for money with a litter of kittens sleeping in their lap or a forlorn-looking dog lying on the ground beside them are a common sight in Prague streets, but could soon become a thing of the past if a proposed change to the law is accepted.
People have been fooled by this trick, resulting in more and more animals being kept on the streets in harsh weather conditions, which harms their health and well-being.
This problem is growing, especially in larger cities, and often involves foreigners, particularly Romanian gangs.
โThese people get animals and force them to stay in the hot city center for days without being able to move properly,โ explains Pavel Burลกรญk from OBRAZ (Obrรกnci zvรญลat).
Fortunately, these practices might soon end, as Prague City is preparing changes to the rules that restrict begging. If everything goes as planned, begging with an animal and public performances involving animals will be banned throughout the capital.
Councilors will vote on the proposals, and municipal districts can comment on them until tomorrow. According to Jiลรญ Pospรญลกil, the deputy mayor of Prague who initiated the changes, the new rules could take effect next year.
He noted that the proposals had not encountered major issues during the comment period.
However, there is still a risk that the proposals will not pass the Ministry of Interior, which could stop the whole process, as it has the power to suspend the decree and go to court. According to a ministerial document available on Seznam Zprรกvy, the proposals are seen as interfering with the rights of beggars. The ministry also argues that the animals do not need such protection.
โIt is a matter of legal debate, which we will still have. Something that seems innocent can have an impact on legal issues,โ states Jiลรญ Pospรญลกil.
The association โBฤhejme a Pomรกhejme Utulkลฏmโ has created a petition urging politicians to accept the changes. Petr Sokolรญk, the author of the petition, has already gathered more than 14,000 signatures.
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Recently, Prague Morning had the pleasure to meet LaDana Edwards, a successful entrepreneur and the founder of skincare clinic Face Place.
She shared with us her inspiring story, including her challenges and what brought her to Prague.
In 1999, LaDana came to Prague for a two-year assignment with Deloitte, where she worked as a tax manager. Captivated by the weather and the cosmopolitan culture, she fell in love with the region and joyfully decided to extend her stay.
โI find Prague to be my spiritual home; I really love it here,โ she says. Since then, she has built a life in the city. โMy son was born here, and Doug, my partner, came in 1991, fresh out of university,โ she states.
Edwards retired as a partner of the company and now thrives as an evolutionary leadership facilitator.
โI help executive leaders, I facilitate their own self-discovery, and I explain what it means to be a leader in this very complicated time we live in,โ she clarifies. To top it all off, she is just finishing her PhD in transformative studies, and two years ago, she opened her own skincare clinique, Face Place.
Source: FacePlace
Living as an expatriate is no walk in the park. LaDana admits that despite her efforts, her demanding schedule at Deloitte made it challenging to learn Czech.
โI always say I speak like a 3-year-old,โ she laughs. She empathizes with other non-natives, understanding their daily struggles with language barriers, and feels apologetic and guilty about not being able to speak Czech fluently.
Coming from a different background, Edwards enjoys certain aspects of Prague that might seem unusual to locals. She still remembers her first night in the Czech Republic:
โIn Texas, we had 60 days above 40 degrees Celsius. When I arrived in August, I wore a sweater at night,โ she smiles. She also appreciates Pragueโs culture, which makes her feel like a โglobal citizen.โ LaDana rejoices in the present vitality of the city and its constant evolution:
โFrom โ99 until now, thereโs been a resurgence of positive energy and young entrepreneurs who observe trends elsewhere or reintroduce retro elements from the Czech Republic. I think this fusion is really cool, creative, and humble; it has been beautiful to watch,โ she reflects.
Source: FacePlace
LaDana is still on a journey to find the perfect connection between personal transformation and leadership. โI am just finishing my PhD in transformative studies and getting ready to start my research and dissertation on leadership awakening,โ she explains.
She recently opened her own clinic, Face Place, where she helps clients address their skin issues and preserve their youth.
โI realized that my whole life is about transformation; leadership, and Face Place is really just about helping people transform themselves,โ she reflects.
LaDana raised her son in the Czech Republic, and as a teenager, he went through the same severe acne as his mother. As a response to his problems, she flew back home to Texas with him and took him back to the clinique where she healed her skin.
After four treatments in ten days, amazing results from the iDerm facial were showing, so Edwards requested to buy the original equipment so she could recreate the process in Prague.
โI opened it just to get my son feeling good about himself. What was beautiful for me was to take a family picture, for him to be right up front, smiling full face,โ she expresses.
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Prague aims to become a prime destination for cultured visitors over the next three years.
Tourism in Prague is on the rise. Last year, 7.4 million tourists visited the city, a 24% increase from the previous year. Germans were the most frequent visitors, followed by Americans and the British.
City councillors have approved the โRespect Pragueโ strategy for 2024 to 2027. The goal is to maintain the quality of life for residents while supporting tourism.
โI believe this strategy will economically support Pragueโs entrepreneurs and enrich local culture,โ said Jiลรญ Pospรญลกil, Deputy Mayor of Prague for Culture.
The strategy document still needs approval from city representatives. It aims to preserve Pragueโs environment and cultural heritage while leveraging the economic benefits of tourism.
Prague City Tourism (PCT) will support the strategy through various projects. One such project is a new app called โMy Prague,โ set to launch soon. The app will manage tourist flow and raise awareness about respectful behavior in Prague.
Additionally, PCT plans to create a card for Congress tourists and further develop the Prague Visitor Pass.
Guide services will be enhanced, and new tourist infrastructure will be developed outside the city center. Marketing campaigns are also planned to promote pilgrimage tourism and unify the tourism industry.
About MyPrague
The mobile application offers an easier orientation in Prague, particularly when searching for individual locations or institutions for their everyday needs.
Apart from offices, healthcare facilities, free parking spots, playgrounds and parks, the application also includes lists of public toilets, waste collection yards, municipal police offices or information obtained from traffic cameras.
The application also provides information about cultural events and offers important notifications and news from the Prague City Hall.
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Modern city of short distance: the new project of J&T Real Estate on the Rohan Island.
More than 1000 apartments, shops, and services are about to come to life in Prague 8.
The first stage includes 258 apartments with 1+kk to 4+kk layouts, and the construction is to start next year in the direction of the Libeล bridge on the corner of Voctรกลova and ล torchova streets.
The total investment cost is over three and a half billion crowns, while the entire new neighborhood is estimated at a total of about CZK 15 billion.
Considering living in Novรฉ Rohan offers a significant advantage for potential buyers. This neighborhood is ideally located by the Vltava River, in the city center, and next to a popular cycle path.
Additionally, public transport is easily accessible, with the Invalidovna metro station just a few steps away. For nature lovers, the 56-hectare city park โManinyโ adds to the areaโs appeal.
The concept of a modern city with everything within a short distance means all essential services should be available within a 15-minute walk. This includes shops, medical services, and a new elementary school, to which the Sekyra Group will contribute a total of 650 million crowns.
Due to high demand, the apartments will be larger. Around 60 percent of them will have layouts of 3+kk and 4+kk, promising views of the greenery, the Vltava River, and even Prague Castle.
โIn addition to streets, we wanted to focus on spaces that old Karlรญn lacks, namely yards and courtyards between houses. We have therefore created a new layer of permeable courtyards to complement movement along the streets,โ explains Jana Mastรญkovรก, chief architect of the LOXIA studio, which is coordinating the entire Novรฉ Rohan area.
The prices of the apartments will range between CZK 165,000 and 200,000 per square meter, including VAT. This does not discourage newcomers. โThe price level is slightly above the Prague market average, yet we already registered numerous interested buyers during the spring pre-sale,โ said JTRE board member Jiลรญ Ochetz.
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Spring Fever spread all over Prague and the only cure is to get on board and discover the city through thrilling activities and exhibitions. The journey is already starting this weekend
Do you like sci-fi and horror? Turn your fantasies into reality and meet your real-life superheroes at the legendary pop culture festival Comic-Con.
It is happening from Friday 5th until Sunday 7th at O2 universum (Prague 9) where you can look forward to a program full of concerts, exhibitions, workshops and competitions. You might want to pose next to your favorite artists and actors, namely Bill Skarsgรฅrd, Emily Swallow or the Red Dwarf company for a limited photoshoot and autograph signing.
If, however, you want to see actors on screen, you have the unique opportunity to support the smaller European scene at the Eurofilmfest, taking place in different cinemas all around the Czech Republic, starting this Friday and ending on the 14th of April. Stay alert by following one of the many films about the ecological cause after lunch and witness a very special interview with Dalรญ after dinner. There will be films for all tastes and at all times.
Evoking Mother Earth, have you ever wondered how the metropolis world is perceived by plants and animals? Dive into the living world next door and discover beyond-belief facts at the new exhibition prepared by CAMP in collaboration with the creators of Planeta Praha. All your questions will be answered through virtual reality, you can even observe a unique panoramic projection of the hidden nature of Prague and all of that until the first of September.
Understandably, you want to enjoy the first signs of summer so enroll in an exclusive party at the Opening Vlny ล tvanice this Saturday. Diverse and varied arsenal of activities for the little ones such as water and land boards, live music or dancing and/or for the big ones: pub quiz, drinking and drunk dancing, you might even end up with an everlasting memory (a tattoo?) on your left shoulder. Many more surprises await for you at this very special summer fest so do not miss your chance.
Until Sunday 7th, the engaged artist Veronika Richterovรก will be exposing her colorful creations in the Fata Morgana greenhouse. Her unique garden is full of exotic flowers and animals made out of PET bottles she adopted along the sidewalks, inspired by her traveling history.
And if your weekend plans only made you want more adrenaline, take friends or family to the very famous St. Matthews Fair. Delightful attractions, exotic and local snacks, chills and thrills in the haunted castle and playgrounds count on you to show up at the holeลกovickรฉ Vรฝstaviลกtฤ until Sunday 14th.
Luckily, the world is not ending after this weekend and you can look forward to two exhibitions lasting all summer long. One of them KAFKAESQUE, offers the opportunity to jump back and retrace the steps of the 20th-century Prague author Franz Kafka as this year marks the 100th anniversary of his death. More than thirty artists will honor him in their way at the DOC Center for Contemporary Art until September 22.
The Czech Press Photo Exhibition volunteers to take a step back in the closer past and celebrate 2023 when the Czech Photo journalistic competition took place. More than 470 printed photographs, 240 images on screens and projections from 120 authors will be exposed in the New Building of the National Museum until the end of August.