Prague’s historic center has long struggled with the impact of sightseeing transport that many residents see as intrusive. Flashing rickshaws, noisy electric trikes, and horse-drawn carriages often clash with the atmosphere of narrow streets and protected monuments. A new student project now suggests a different direction—one that focuses on calm movement, clear design, and respect for the city. Senior students from the Industrial Design Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) were asked to create a contemporary sightseeing vehicle that could serve as a credible alternative to what currently circulates through the city center. The goal was not to produce a novelty, but to explore transport that fits naturally into Prague’s urban and cultural setting. Students also had to consider comfort, functionality, and how such vehicles would operate in a dense historic environment. Each design was required to accommodate at least three passengers and to work as a realistic form of urban transport rather than a spectacle. The resulting concepts vary in form and purpose. One proposal reimagines sightseeing as a slow-moving mobile café, combining city exploration with a curated food experience. Others focus on compact, autonomous vehicles designed for up to five passengers, offering...
Václav Havel was born in Prague on October 5, 1936. He became one of the country’s leading intellectuals and a respected playwright. From an early age, he developed a deep interest in European literature and drama, which he pursued within the so-called “Class of ’36,” a literary circle of young writers opposed to what Havel described as the Soviet regime’s “cemetery peace.” After the Prague Spring of 1968 and its violent suppression by Soviet troops, Havel emerged as a committed political activist and was soon branded an enemy of the state by the authorities in Prague, then a satellite of Moscow. He was banned from working in the theatre and spent several years in prison. Throughout this period, he remained under constant surveillance by the Czechoslovak communist regime. Havel became a central figure of the Velvet Revolution, a sustained, nonviolent uprising that brought down the communist regime through mass demonstrations over five weeks. On December 29, 1989, he was elected president of Czechoslovakia. In June 1990, the country held its first free elections since the fall of communist rule. During his presidency, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, a development Havel never fully accepted. In...
The Czech Republic’s new foreign minister, Petr Macinka, announced his intention to relocate the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The comments were made during a Hanukkah lighting in Prague. “It should have been done a long time ago,” said Macinka, who entered office on Monday. During his speech, Macinka also addressed the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney, which led to the murder of 15 people. Macinka expressed solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community, and noted that one way of acting on that solidarity would be to move the embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel recognizes as its capital. Israel’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Amir Weissbrod, praised Macinka for attending. “In Prague, many people gathered to celebrate the holiday together and express solidarity in the fight against antisemitism,” wrote Weissbrod on X. “My sincere thanks go to all the distinguished guests who attended this evening. This evening there was an exceptional atmosphere.” The Czech Republic’s new government was sworn in on Monday, led by Andrej Babiš. He is expected to follow in the footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine and oppose EU sanctions on Russia....
Anyone hoping for a white Christmas in Czechia may need to temper their expectations. According to the latest outlook from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), snowfall in the days leading up to Christmas is unlikely, not only in lowland areas but also in much of the country’s mountain regions. Meteorologists say the weather pattern dominating Central Europe is expected to remain largely unchanged until just before Christmas. High pressure is keeping fronts away from the region, limiting both cloud formation and precipitation. As a result, the coming days are forecast to be dry, with temperature inversions continuing to shape local conditions. In some areas, this could even mean clearer skies and periods of sunshine, though overall weather trends will closely resemble those of the past week. A potential shift in atmospheric conditions is currently being monitored around the Christmas period itself. Forecast models increasingly suggest the development of a blocking high-pressure system over northwestern Europe. If this scenario materialises, it could redirect airflow over Czechia from the east or northeast, opening the door to colder continental air. Such a change would raise the chance of an Arctic air mass reaching the country after Christmas. However, meteorologists stress that this remains...
Agricultural producer prices in Czechia fell sharply on a month-on-month basis, while several key food items moved in opposite directions. Fresh data released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) show that fruit prices dropped significantly, even as eggs recorded a steep increase. Compared with the previous month, agricultural producer prices declined by 4 percent. At the same time, industrial producer prices rose by 0.3 percent. Construction work became slightly more expensive, increasing by 0.1 percent, while prices of market services for businesses edged down by 0.1 percent. Looking at developments over the past year, trends remain mixed. Industrial producer prices fell year-on-year for the tenth consecutive month, declining by 1.3 percent. Agricultural producer prices rose by 1.2 percent, marking the slowest annual growth since September 2024. Construction work prices were 0.1 percent higher than a year earlier, while prices of market services for businesses increased by 4.3 percent. Within agriculture, price movements varied widely. Fruit prices fell by 9.5 percent month-on-month, potatoes dropped by 8.2 percent, and pig prices declined by 6.1 percent. In contrast, egg prices jumped by 12.4 percent, and poultry prices rose by 2.1 percent. Industrial producer prices recorded their strongest monthly increases in refined petroleum products....
From January 2026, patients in Czechia with severe depression or other serious mental health conditions may be able to receive psilocybin therapy, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, under strict medical supervision. The Ministry of Health has finalized a decree specifying how the treatment can be used, following a Senate-approved amendment to legalize medical psilocybin earlier this year. The therapy is intended for patients whose symptoms have not responded to conventional treatments such as antidepressants. Outgoing Health Minister Vlastimil Válek confirmed it will also be available for cancer-related depression and sudden worsening of other serious neuropsychiatric conditions, provided its use is backed by scientific evidence. The decree limits prescribing and dosing: only psychiatrists can administer psilocybin, treatments must be supervised by specialists, and patients can receive a maximum of three doses per month, with no more than 75 grams in total. A single dose cannot exceed 35 mg or 0.4 mg per kilogram of body weight. Authorities say psilocybin is low in toxicity, non-addictive, and generally safe under medical supervision, though unsupervised use can be dangerous. Dr. Rita Kočárová, a psychologist and researcher in psychedelic care, emphasizes that legal approval alone is not enough. “Treatment with psychedelics requires expertise, a...
Prague police are looking for a man suspected of assaulting a woman inside a rented car in Žižkov after allegedly hiding in the vehicle’s back seat. The incident happened on Sunday, November 30, shortly after 9 p.m. on Kubelíkova Street. The woman had unlocked the car using a mobile app and was following standard rental procedure, which requires photographing the vehicle from all sides before driving off. Investigators believe that during this brief window, an unknown man entered the car without being noticed and concealed himself in the back seat. When the woman later sat down in the driver’s seat, the man suddenly attacked her from behind. According to police spokesman Jan Daněk, the suspect grabbed her head and forced it against the armrest with considerable force. The woman managed to break free, exit the car, and call for help. The attacker then fled the scene. Police describe the suspect as an athletic man, around 40 years old, approximately 180 centimeters tall, with light-colored hair and fair skin. He is believed to speak Czech. Security cameras recorded the man leaving the area after the attack. Footage shows him removing and discarding the jacket he wore during the assault. Earlier recordings...
Czech President Petr Pavel has appointed a new government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The government includes representatives of ANO, SPD, and “Motorists,” who have taken 16 ministerial portfolios. It includes the ANO, SPD, and Motorists movements. Babiš will present the ministers in their departments today. Karel Havlíček, Alena Schillerová from ANO, Petr Macinka (“Motorists”), and Jaromír Zuna from SPD will become deputy heads of government in Andrej Babiš’s third cabinet. In the government, ANO receives eight portfolios in addition to the prime minister, SPD — three ministers, and “Motorists” head four ministries. The head of “Motorists,” Petr Macinka, temporarily heads two departments: in addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also the Ministry of Environment. The “Motorists” candidate, Filip Turek, has not yet met with the president due to health reasons, and the president simultaneously has doubts about his possible participation in the cabinet. The government in the Chamber of Deputies will rely on a majority of 108 seats; a vote of confidence is planned for January 13. After the appointment ceremony, Babiš will move to the Strakova Academy, where the prime minister works and government meetings are held. He will be met there by Petr Fiala (ODS),...
As Prague gears up for Christmas and New Year, the city’s public transport system will run on special holiday schedules to accommodate travelers and residents during one of the busiest times of the year. The adjustments affect the metro, trams, buses, trolleybuses, and suburban trains. Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025 Most PID services will follow Saturday schedules, with the metro running every 20 minutes from around 6:00 p.m. until the end of service. Daytime trams and buses begin operating from 6:00 p.m., while night lines cover key metro terminals such as Letňany, Roztyly, Skalka, and Zličín until about 7:00 a.m. on Christmas morning. Trains will run until 6:00 p.m., with a limited evening schedule extending until 10:00 p.m. Suburban lines operate according to Saturday timetables, with select night services following special schedules. Christmas Day – December 25, 2025 Public transport follows Sunday holiday timetables. Daytime tram, trolleybus, and bus services begin around 7:00 a.m., except line 59, which starts at 4:30 a.m. Night services continue to connect major metro terminals. Suburban lines also follow Sunday schedules with certain restrictions. Boxing Day – December 26, 2025 All PID services continue to operate on Sunday holiday timetables, ensuring smooth travel throughout...
The Czech government is preparing to introduce stricter regulations for taxi drivers from abroad, including a possible requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the Czech language. The proposed rules aim to enhance both safety and service quality for passengers in the country. The announcement follows recent amendments to the Road Transport Act, which tightened rules on foreign driving licenses and expanded the powers of municipal inspections. Since July, the law requires taxi drivers to hold a license issued either in the Czech Republic or elsewhere in the European Union. Taxi licenses are now also granted only for the duration of the driver’s legal stay in the country. Municipal police now have the authority to stop taxis and verify compliance with the law, giving authorities stronger tools to enforce safety standards. Coalition Plans Further Tightening The newly formed coalition government has announced its intentions to go further. The draft program suggests unifying requirements for taxi drivers and transport platforms while introducing the obligation for drivers to demonstrate Czech language proficiency. The goal is to ensure that passengers receive safe, high-quality service across all platforms. Although the government has not detailed all planned requirements, sources suggest that mandatory Czech language exams could be...
Designated Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has said the Czech Republic should not take part in financially guaranteeing assistance to Ukraine. The responsibility for future funding must rest with the European Union rather than individual member states, he added. “Prague does not have the resources to underwrite aid for other countries. The European Commission must find alternative mechanisms to cover Ukraine’s needs, and ending the war should remain the priority.” During the next European Union summit, leaders will debate how to cover Ukraine’s financial needs in 2026 and 2027. The European Commission has presented two options: a joint EU loan backed by the EU budget, which would require unanimous approval, or a reparations-style loan secured by frozen Russian state assets, which could pass with a qualified majority. Members of the outgoing Czech government reacted sharply. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný, who also leads the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), warned that withdrawing from active support for Ukraine would harm Czech security and economic interests. He said continued participation in joint initiatives, including ammunition supplies, directly benefits the country and its industry. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, leader of the STAN movement, criticised what he described as a break from the Czech Republic’s established approach within...
December marks 45 years since trams last crossed Wenceslas Square, ending nearly a century of continuous rail service through the heart of Prague. On December 13, 1980, the final tram passed through the boulevard, closing a chapter that had shaped daily movement in the city center since the late 19th century. For decades, Wenceslas Square was the main hub of Prague’s tram network. Lines running between Můstek and the area beneath today’s National Museum carried thousands of passengers each day and connected directly to other key routes across the city. When the service ended in 1980, Karlovo náměstí became the new focal point of surface transport. The first trams appeared on Wenceslas Square on May 20, 1884. At that time, they were horse-drawn vehicles operated by the General Directorate of the Prague Tramway. From Můstek, the line linked up with routes heading toward Jungmannovo náměstí and Náměstí Republiky, forming one of the earliest transport corridors in Prague. Over the following decades, the line was rebuilt several times as technology and urban needs evolved. A major transformation came in 1927 during the First Republic. Wenceslas Square was redesigned to accommodate rising car traffic, and the tram line was relocated back...
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