In the second week of September (7-15th) European Heritage Days (EHD) will be held in the Czech Republic. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit interesting sights that are otherwise inaccessible! European Heritage Days’ goal is to make the most interesting monuments of all kinds available to the general public, i.e. architectural, archaeological, sacral, technical, as well as museums, galleries and libraries and even other areas in which incredibly extensive collections of movable cultural heritage are kept. In the context of the European Heritage Days various accompanying events – lectures, concerts, town festivals, as well as competitions and other cultural programs are held. The event will take place under the patronage of the Association of Historical Monuments of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. About 800 state-protected sites are expected to join the event. Most of them (but not all) will be free of charge for the days of the festival. These are not only castles, palaces, churches, monasteries, museums, theatres, old houses, gardens and villas, but also industrial buildings – factories, mills, breweries, craft workshops and mines. In 2024 the main theme of the festival will be ‘Sights unite the world’. A rich accompanying program awaits visitors – classical music...
In response to rising costs, major Czech grocery chains are now offering substantial discounts on fruit and vegetables. Here’s a look at how you can take advantage of these deals. Kaufland is spearheading the initiative with its new “Don’t Feed the Basket!” campaign. The chain is setting up dedicated discount stands in all its stores, featuring reduced-price fruit and vegetables. According to Kaufland, “The so-called discount displays will be gradually installed in all stores. These displays will showcase discounted items from the fruit and vegetable sections. Initially, the stands will feature originally packaged goods from Kaufland’s suppliers, with discount details and final prices clearly labeled on the packaging.” Similarly, Lidl has rolled out its own savings program. Through the “With Lidl We Save on Food” initiative, Lidl offers bundles of fruit and vegetables, such as three kilograms for just CZK 25. Additionally, Lidl stores have special corners dedicated to discounted items that are approaching their expiration dates. Billa has recently joined the trend with its “We’re Not Throwing Away” campaign. This program provides bags of fruit and vegetables intended for immediate consumption. According to spokeswoman Dana Bratánková, “These items are often at a higher ripeness level, which would typically lead...
Starting in 2025, Czech municipalities may get the powers to determine the number of short-term rental permits on their territories, following the approval of draft law amendments by the country’s government that still need to be passed in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The passing of the new legal changes would affect the operations of platforms, such as Airbnb and Booking, where most of these properties are advertised to tourists. Also, in terms of cities, this will most likely affect Prague more than any of the other municipalities, since it’s the capital that gets the most visitors due to its unrivalled size and popularity. According to the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the short-term rental offer is highly concentrated in the historical centre of Prague, with landlords owning multiple apartments making up 80 per cent of the total listings. As recently as last April, there were roughly 8,000 apartments for short-term accommodation in the Czech capital. The Czech authorities are specifically irked by the opaque nature of platforms like Airbnb, which refuse to share internal data about the tourist numbers. That’s a problem as it can be an obstacle when it comes to proper law enforcement, such...
Müller, a prominent German retail chain known for its drugstores, toys, and other consumer goods, is preparing to expand further east. The company plans to open its first store in Slovakia this year, with the Czech Republic likely to follow. However, entering the Czech market won’t be easy, as it is already dominated by established players such as dm, Teta, and Rossmann. The recent entry of the Polish drugstore chain Hebe has further intensified the competition. In mid-August, Müller announced its intention to continue expanding into Slovakia, where it has already registered a dedicated internet domain. “Müller has successfully operated in neighboring countries like Austria and Hungary for many years, and also has positive experience in Slovenia and Croatia, making it well-prepared for its entry into Slovakia,” the company stated. However, the company’s ambitions appear to extend beyond Slovakia. Müller has posted a job opening on its website for an expansion manager for both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Many in the Czech retail industry expect Müller to enter the Czech market soon, although the company has not confirmed when this might happen. Zdeněk Skála, managing director of analytics firm Skála a Šulc, agrees. “While the market is saturated with...
Natalie Stichová, a 23-year-old Czech gymnast, tragically fell to her death after plunging nearly 80 meters down Tegelberg Mountain in Bavaria, Germany, on August 15. The incident occurred during a sightseeing visit near the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle, known for inspiring Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The accident reportedly took place while Natalie was attempting to take a selfie at the edge of the mountain, hoping to capture the perfect shot with the picturesque castle in the background. According to a friend who spoke to Czech media, Natalie was standing dangerously close to the edge when one of her legs appeared to slip, causing her to fall. The friend, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We will never find out whether she slipped or whether a piece of the rock edge broke off.” Natalie was accompanied by two friends and her boyfriend, David, at the time of the fall. Police described the route as a “challenging climb.” Despite the severe injuries from the fall, Natalie initially survived and was airlifted to a hospital by helicopter. However, after six days in critical condition, her family made the heart-wrenching decision to take her off life support on August 21 due to irreversible brain damage....
Founded in 2019 and led by CEO Dominik Gazdoš, Bookbot sells second-hand books, ensuring that unwanted books quickly find new readers and owners. Its offerings include literary classics, bestsellers, rare finds, cult comics, young adult novels, and specialist publications. Bookbot carefully photographs each book in high quality so customers can easily assess their condition. With an organised inventory, they can prepare books for viewing or ship them immediately. After its foundation and a rapidly unfolding success story that made Bookbot the biggest seller of second-hand books in the Czechia, Bookbot expanded to Slovakia in 2022, to Austria in the summer of 2023 and to Germany in the fall of 2023. In total, Bookbot has sold more than 5 million books since it was founded. While many are being sent traditionally via mail, Bookbot offers two additional ways for customers to hand in their used books: in Vienna, Bookbot cooperates with Thalia, Europe’s leading book retailer, whose stores operate as drop-off points for books, while in both Vienna and Berlin, Bookbot offers the “Book-Bote” service that picks up books directly from people’s homes during self-chosen pick-up slots in cooperation with sustainable urban logistics expert DODO. A new €4 million Series A...
A recent comprehensive study of 53 countries has revealed that the Czech Republic is one of the least welcoming places for expats globally. Foreigners cite a lack of tolerance among Czechs as a major issue, compounded by rigid authorities and a difficult language. But is the situation truly as bleak as it seems, or is there more to the story? The Expat Insider 2024 report, conducted by the InterNations community, which connects expats across 420 cities worldwide, evaluated various aspects of life abroad across five indices. These included factors such as Ease of Settlement, Quality of Life, and Essentials for Expats’ Lives. InterNations surveyed over 10,000 expats, ranging from young professionals to retirees, from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The goal was to gather their perspectives on life in their host countries. This year, the Czech Republic was ranked as the 15th worst country for expats. This marks a dramatic drop of 18 places from the previous year. According to InterNations, the Czech Republic is the seventh most difficult country for expats to settle in. The country performed particularly poorly in terms of cultural acceptance and how welcomed expats feel. Out of the 53 countries surveyed, the Czech Republic ranked...
A show in the air and on the ground, full of fighters and training demonstrations by special military units. Examples of the most advanced techniques and equipment of our allied armies, police, paramedics, firefighters, demonstrating their art in attractive dynamic displays, talks, film screenings and workshops – all this awaits you at the Ostrava NATO Days on September 21-22. This biggest show of safety and security in Central Europe includes Czech Republic Air Force Days. An aerial acrobatics group will show off their art, and spectators will be introduced to police tactical units, special units of the Czech and Slovak prison service, the Castle Guards motorcycle squad and other elite units. Last year, 110,000 visitors attended the event with the participation of nineteen partner countries and under the NATO partnership. In total, nearly a hundred aircraft and a thousand different types of other equipment were on display. The event has long been supported by the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Moravian-Silesian Region, the Statutory City of Ostrava, and NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. In addition to these institutions, long-term partners also include companies from the commercial sector. Admission to...
Soviet tanks led the way as more than 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops marched into the Czechoslovak capital during the night of August 20, 1968, ending the Prague Spring at the behest of the rulers in Moscow. The number of occupying troops would total more than 500,000, and the invasion would put an end to the dream of a European socialism based on freedom — above all freedom of expression. When he took office as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia at the beginning of 1968, Alexander Dubcek began allowing journalists to ignore the official censorship orders. He supported free and democratic socialism in the hope that Soviet leaders in Moscow would allow the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) to forge its own way in the Kremlin-dominated Eastern bloc. But, ultimately, there was a greater fear that more freedom in the CSSR could lead to upheaval in neighboring Soviet-aligned countries. “Operation Danube” was the largest military mobilisation in Europe since the end of World War II. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev’s official reason for the 1968 invasion was to protect Czechoslovakia from corrupt Western influences attempting to interfere with socialism by “creating a counterrevolution.” The Soviets claimed that Czechoslovak politicians...
The Czech Health Ministry is drafting an amendment to a decree that could significantly impact the e-cigarette industry. The proposed changes would prohibit all flavours except tobacco, as well as sweeteners and other additives commonly used in e-cigarette liquids. These regulations would apply solely to vaping products, leaving traditional cigarettes and other nicotine alternatives unaffected. Industry representatives have responded with alarm, warning that this move could lead to the collapse of the entire sector. “We are stunned. Without any prior consultation, the ministry is essentially planning to ban e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic,” said Robert Hrdlička, chairman of the Chamber of Electronic Vaping (KEVAP). He argued that without the now-banned ingredients, tobacco-flavoured e-liquids would be unsellable. “The ministry is imposing an amateurish and uninformed view on what tobacco should taste like,” Hrdlička added. In addition, a new excise tax on e-cigarettes is set to take effect in September, with further increases planned in the coming years. “The government’s approach is entirely illogical. First, they encourage e-cigarettes as a tool to reduce smoking, and now they’re essentially banning them,” Hrdlička criticized. Experts in the e-cigarette field warn that such a ban could push users back to conventional cigarettes or encourage smuggling...
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has issued a warning for unusually high mosquito activity this weekend. The alert is valid nationwide and advises residents to be prepared for an increased presence of mosquitoes. “In certain parts of the Czech Republic, current weather conditions favor intense mosquito activity, which could be particularly severe. Mosquitoes thrive in warm, still air with high humidity,” the agency announced on the social platform X. The recent heavy rainfall has also contributed to the surge in mosquito numbers by creating ideal breeding grounds for larvae. The institute explained, “Not only do favorable weather conditions play a role, but population dynamics— which differ among mosquito species— also influence their prevalence.” The peak of mosquito activity is expected on Saturday and Sunday, with signs of increased activity already noticeable by Friday afternoon, particularly in the Hradec Králové and Liberec regions. Maps shared by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute show that few areas across the country will be spared from these persistent pests. However, by Sunday, some relief is anticipated, especially in regions like Vysočina, Plzeň, Karlovy Vary, and Liberec. Mosquito development is largely driven by weather conditions, particularly temperature and humidity. Warmer temperatures shorten the time it takes for...
The village of Soutice sits on the border of the Kutná Hora and Benešov districts. A road leading from the D1 motorway to Zruč nad Sázavou runs through the edge of the village, adding to the appeal of the local castle. This protected cultural monument, with a total land area of 50,133 square meters, is now on the market. Built in the late 17th century on the site of a former fortress, the Soutice chateau has been a cultural monument since the late 1950s. Conservationists describe the well-preserved structure as a valuable example of an aristocratic country residence. During a building history survey, Gothic masonry was found within the walls of the current structure, placing the castle on the list of endangered monuments. The castle suffered significant damage from a major fire in 1895 and underwent its last major restoration in the early 20th century. Like many historical sites, it was negatively impacted by the regime and poorly planned renovations in the years that followed. Before World War II, the castle was a hub of cultural activity. In the post-war years, it served as a school and later as an archive. A Surprising Price The property for sale includes the...
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