Czechia

Czechia Ready to Host the Start Tour de France, Says Fiala

Hosting a stage of the Tour de France in the Czech Republic is no longer just a dream discussed behind closed doors — it’s now a real possibility. Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed on Tuesday that the country is open to negotiating the chance to host the race’s Grand Départ, the prestigious opening stage of the world’s most famous cycling event. Speaking at the National Conference on the Promotion of Sport and Movement, Fiala said, “We’ve shown that we can organize tournaments at the highest level. There’s no reason to hesitate. I can confirm that the Czech Republic is prepared to negotiate the opportunity to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France.” While the idea has been informally floated for years, it gained new momentum after former footballer Petr Čech — whose agency Petr Čech Sport helps organize cycling events — publicly voiced his support. This summer, Tour legends Bradley Wiggins and Andy Schleck will be racing in the Czech Republic during the L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France series, further highlighting the country’s growing ties to the iconic race. Beyond cycling, Fiala expressed interest in co-hosting major football tournaments, such as the UEFA European Championship. “I...

 by Prague Morning May 14, 2025

Czech Unemployment Rate Remains at 4.3 Percent in April

Despite a rise in available jobs, the Czech Republic’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3% in April, signaling structural mismatches in the labor market. The unemployment rate in the Czech Republic stayed at 4.3% in April, the same as in March, according to data released by the Czech Labour Office (Úřad práce ČR) on Monday. While the overall number of people without work fell slightly, the labor market remains under pressure from sectoral imbalances and low demand in key industries. By the end of April, 318,540 people were officially unemployed, down by about 3,600 compared to the previous month. However, the number of registered job vacancies increased by 4,046 to 95,798. Compared to April 2023, the unemployment rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points, up from 3.7%. Economists had predicted that unemployment would drop slightly due to seasonal hiring in agriculture and construction. Instead, stagnation in other sectors, especially manufacturing, appears to have offset those gains. Regional Disparities Persist The Ústí nad Labem Region reported the highest unemployment rate in April at 6.6%, followed by the Moravian-Silesian Region (6%) and the Karlovy Vary Region (5.4%). On the opposite end, Prague recorded just 3.1% unemployment. While unemployment rose slightly—by 0.1 percentage...

 by Prague Morning May 12, 2025

Cold Mornings, Warm Afternoons: What’s Ahead for Czechia’s Weather

This week’s weather in the Czech Republic will bring a mix of sunny days, cold nights, and occasional showers, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). High pressure over northern and later northwestern Europe will dominate Central Europe’s weather pattern. However, a weak trough from the north is expected to bring temporary changes on Thursday. Monday: Sunny but Frosty Morning Monday will be mostly clear, with light winds and minimal cloud cover. Night temperatures will fall between 5°C and 1°C, with ground-level frost in many areas — especially where skies remain clear and winds are calm. In some low-lying spots, temperatures may dip to -2°C. Daytime highs will range from 13°C to 18°C. Tuesday: A Repeat of Monday Expect another clear to partly cloudy day on Tuesday. Morning frost will return, with night temperatures again between 5°C and 1°C. Daytime highs will rise slightly, reaching 14°C to 19°C. Winds will be light to moderate, mostly from the northeast or north. Wednesday: Showers in the East Wednesday will continue with mostly sunny skies, but occasional showers are likely in the northeast and east of the country. Overnight lows will be between 6°C and 2°C, and once again, patchy frost may occur....

 by Prague Morning May 12, 2025

Europe’s Largest Architecture & Design Festival Returns to Ostrava

Architecture and design are being redefined—not by aesthetics alone, but by the urgent global need for transformation. That’s the premise behind PULSE Ostrava 2025, Central Europe’s largest architecture and design event, returning May 15–16 under the theme “RESTART”. Held in the industrial space of Dolní Vítkovice, this third edition of the PULSE Festival will explore how creative disciplines can adapt to social, ecological, and economic shifts. More than 1,000 professionals—from architects and designers to business leaders and city planners—will gather to discuss how architecture can respond to today’s fast-changing world with resilience, flexibility, and innovation. Unlike traditional conferences, PULSE brings together theory and practice. Visionary architects will share the stage with developers, investors, and policymakers from across Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, fostering cross-border collaboration. Most events will take place inside the stunning GONG Hall, a symbol of Ostrava’s own architectural renewal. Beyond the talks, PULSE will feature interactive exhibitions and installations that blend architecture, design, and technology. These works will highlight how design can offer solutions—and hope—in an uncertain world. Day 1 – May 15: From Product Design to Architecture This day will follow the journey from small-scale design to full architectural vision. Topics include circular design, material...

 by Prague Morning May 10, 2025

Prague Sees Increase in Foreign Tourists, Decline in Czech Visitors

Prague continues to attract foreign tourists, according to new data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). In the first quarter of 2025, a total of 1,584,864 guests stayed in accommodation facilities across the capital, representing a 0.5% increase year-on-year. While international tourism is growing, the number of domestic visitors has declined. Between January and March, 368,638 Czech guests checked into hotels, guesthouses, campsites, and other facilities — a 0.9% decrease compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, foreign tourists rose by 0.9%, with 1,216,226 international guests visiting Prague in the winter months. In total, guests spent 3.5 million nights in Prague’s accommodation facilities. Foreigners accounted for 2.93 million overnight stays, while Czech visitors made up 586,060. The average length of stay was 2.2 nights, with international tourists staying longer (2.4 nights) than Czechs (1.6 nights). Germany remained the largest source of international visitors, with nearly 173,000 guests. The United Kingdom followed with over 121,000 tourists, and Italy came third, with just under 100,000 arrivals. Across the Czech Republic as a whole, 4,147,993 people used mass accommodation services in the first quarter, totaling 10.55 million overnight stays. This reflects a 1.4% increase in guests and a 0.6%...

 by Pavel Páral May 09, 2025

Jiří Bartoška, Actor and President of Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Dies at 78

Jiří Bartoška (1947–2025), one of the most influential figures in Czech cinema and longtime president of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, has died at the age of 78. Bartoška’s death marks the end of an era for Czech film. As the face of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) for nearly three decades, he helped elevate the event into a globally respected celebration of cinema. His presence, charisma, and love for the arts shaped Czech cultural life like few others. In recent years, he had battled a series of serious health issues. In 2014, he was diagnosed with lymph node cancer, which he managed to overcome. However, the disease returned in 2023, requiring another round of treatment. He also suffered a bout of appendicitis in 2020, which forced him to leave the filming of A Wish for Santa Claus and undergo emergency surgery. This year, he is believed to have contracted COVID-19 while attending the Czech Lion Awards. Despite these challenges, Bartoška remained deeply active, regularly appearing at public events and continuing his organizational role at KVIFF. In interviews, he often spoke candidly about his illness: “It was a completely new situation for me. I’ve never really been...

 by Prague Morning May 08, 2025

Czech Highway Flooded with Beer Cans After Truck Crash Near Brno

A truck transporting cans of Pilsner beer overturned on the D2 motorway early Wednesday morning, spilling its cargo across all lanes and severely disrupting traffic near Brno. The accident occurred around 9:00 a.m. on May 7 at the third kilometer of the D2 highway, heading toward Bratislava. According to police, the vehicle first collided with a guardrail before slamming into an overhead information board, causing the trailer to tip onto its side. As a result, hundreds of beer cans were scattered across the motorway, forcing authorities to shut down the area to clear the debris. Two people were injured in the crash — the driver and a passenger. “One person suffered moderate injuries, the other more serious,” said Michaela Botová, spokesperson for the South Moravian emergency services. “Paramedics treated both victims on-site. One was transported by ambulance, while the more seriously injured patient was airlifted to hospital.” Police immediately began rerouting traffic, instructing drivers to exit at Olympia shopping center (Exit 3) to avoid the blockage. Photos from the scene showed the motorway littered with crushed and unopened beer cans, while emergency crews worked to stabilize the trailer and clear the roadway.  

 by Karolina Kubičková May 07, 2025

Czech Households Pay Most for Electricity in Entire EU, New Data Shows

In the second half of last year, the Czech Republic recorded the highest household electricity prices in the entire European Union, when adjusted for purchasing power. This comes from new data released by Eurostat on Tuesday. Using Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) – a metric that levels out price differences between countries – Eurostat calculated that Czech households paid 41 PPS per 100 kilowatt hours of electricity. That figure was the highest in the EU, followed by Cyprus (35.70 PPS) and Germany (35.23 PPS). PPS is used to ensure a fair comparison between countries by accounting for local income levels and cost structures. This approach shows the real burden of electricity prices on households, not just nominal costs. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Malta reported the lowest electricity price for households at 14.33 PPS per 100 kWh, followed by Luxembourg (15.39 PPS) and Hungary (15.45 PPS). Electricity Prices Rise 11.8% in Czechia Year-on-Year Alongside having the highest adjusted prices, the Czech Republic also saw the second-steepest year-on-year increase in electricity costs, with prices rising 11.8% in the second half of 2023. Only Portugal experienced a greater jump, at 14.7%. According to Eurostat, the rise is attributed to higher grid...

 by Jakub Dvorský May 06, 2025

New Synthetic Drug Clephedrone Hits Prague’s Nightlife

A dangerous new synthetic drug is spreading across the Czech Republic, raising alarm among authorities and health experts. Customs officials in the Ostrava region recently uncovered the country’s first clandestine laboratory producing clephedrone—a powerful stimulant that belongs to the synthetic cathinone group, also known as “designer drugs.” The seizure included nearly a ton of material valued at over 310 million Czech crowns. Clephedrone shares chemical similarities with mephedrone and MDMA (ecstasy), but its effects are more intense and pose a significantly higher risk of overdose, according to experts. “When people start mixing it with alcohol or other substances, it can be deadly,” said Jindřich Vobořil, former Czech national drug coordinator, in an interview with Seznam Zprávy. Clephedrone is just the latest in a wave of synthetic drugs infiltrating Prague’s nightlife and broader drug scene. Emergency services have also documented overdoses linked to Nitazene, another potent and unregulated substance. Nitazene was originally developed as a synthetic alternative to morphine, but was never approved for medical use. Health experts warn that Nitazene is 10 to 40 times more toxic than fentanyl—a substance already considered one of the deadliest on the market. In the United States, fentanyl is now the leading cause of...

 by Sarah Duchêne May 05, 2025

Weather Forecast: Czechia Braces for a Week of Rain and Cold

First tropical temperatures of the year? Don’t get used to them. After a short burst of summer-like heat, the Czech Republic is set for a return to cold and rainy weather. A cold front will move across Central Europe early next week, pulling in chilly air from the north and bringing ground frosts, cloudy skies, and widespread rain. Monday: A Cold, Cloudy Start to the Week Expect another overcast and rainy day on Monday. Occasional showers will appear across most of the country, although the north and northwest may see some clearing by evening. Morning lows will fall between 10 and 5°C, dropping to 3°C in northern and western Bohemia. During the day, highs will struggle to reach 9 to 14°C. Winds will remain light to moderate from the northwest, calming again by the evening. Tuesday: Ground Frost Returns Tuesday will begin with partly cloudy skies, although southern regions will remain overcast until midday, with light rain gradually tapering off. Overnight lows will fall sharply to 1–5°C, and ground frost is expected in several locations. Daytime temperatures will range from 12 to 17°C, with a persistent northerly wind at 2 to 6 m/s. Wednesday: Freezing Point in Sight By midweek,...

 by Prague Morning May 05, 2025

Friday Marks Hottest Day of 2025 in Czech Republic

Friday, May 2, was officially the warmest day of the year in the Czech Republic, according to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Temperatures across much of the country climbed to between 24°C and 27°C, with the highest temperature recorded in Kopisty, a village in the Ústí nad Labem Region, where the mercury hit 29.8°C. This reading made it the most extreme temperature seen in 2025 so far, although no national temperature records were broken for this specific date. In Prague, the Vinohrady-Flora weather station recorded a peak of 28°C, giving the capital an unusually warm start to May. Looking ahead, forecasters expect similar heat on Saturday, though the highest temperatures are predicted in South Moravia, a region known for its warmer climate. Meteorologists warn that residents should be prepared for continued summer-like conditions, even as spring technically continues. Such unseasonably warm weather has raised concerns among climatologists, who have pointed to a trend of rising average spring temperatures across Central Europe. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more

 by Prague Morning May 03, 2025

Never Forget: Prague Honors 80 Years Since Uprising

Eighty years after the Prague Uprising, the city will mark the anniversary with a powerful mix of remembrance and celebration. Prague 1 is organizing two days of events that will take over some of the city’s most iconic spots on May 5 and May 8. “We’re not just marking a date—we’re remembering the bravery that stood firm when everything seemed lost,” said Terezie Radoměřská, mayor of Prague 1. “These moments shaped our identity. And they remind us that freedom isn’t something to take for granted—it was paid for with lives.” May 5: Commemorating the Start of the Uprising The commemorations begin at 10 a.m. on May 5 at the Old Town Hall, where officials and members of the Czechoslovak Legionary Community will gather by the memorial plaque to honor those who died during the 1945 uprising. A short ceremony will also be held in the nearby Cross Chapel and courtyard. Later that afternoon, the Old Town Square will turn into a kind of living history experience. At 2 p.m., an event titled “Old Town Square in Flames” will bring the past to life through sound, visuals, and performance. Organized by Prague City Hall, Prague 1, Media Park, and the Museum...

 by Cara McErlean May 02, 2025

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