The Czech Railway Administration (SŽ) is seeking an architect to design the new railway bridge at Výtoň. While an official project report is yet to be released, construction is expected to take place between 2027 and 2029, with an estimated cost of 3.4 billion CZK, according to SŽ spokesperson Nela Eberl Friebová. “The future of the Výton bridge is a priority for the Railway Administration, which is why we’re looking for a skilled architect to lead this project,” stated Friebová. As iDNES reports, the current bridge’s poor condition necessitates single-track operation at a reduced speed of 20 kilometers per hour. To address this, SŽ proposes demolishing the existing bridge and building a new one in its place. However, this plan has faced criticism from experts and residents who have expressed their concerns through petitions. Additionally, discussions with various organizations, including the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Center, are still ongoing. Despite these hurdles, the new three-track bridge will significantly improve train capacity and allow for speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, according to the SŽ administration. The project also promises reduced train noise, a new station at Výton, and pedestrian and bicycle paths alongside the bridge. Preserving the historical significance...
The Máj department store in Prague will officially re-open on June 20, following a two-year renovation. The long-awaited reconstruction has already sparked controversy when it emerged that the façade of the building will be adorned with two giant butterflies made of Spitfire aircraft fuselages. Here are David Černý’s words: “Thousands of Czechoslovakians went abroad immediately after the occupation in March 1939 to fight against Nazism, for democracy and the restoration of an independent state. Among the first to distinguish themselves were fighter pilots, first in the battles over France, and then in the ranks of the RAF alongside their British comrades and other allies in the famous aerial Battle of Britain.” “A number of these brave men were “rewarded” in the form of incarceration and torture in communist prisons after the war. They received full rehabilitation and satisfaction only after the fall of the second totalitarian regime against which they fought. 359 airplane silhouettes in the pavement symbolize Czechoslovak fighter pilots who fought in the ranks of the RAF,” adds the Czech artist. “A small fighter plane with a skillful pilot can ignite the fire of a battle that will eventually sweep away even a large aggressor. The butterfly effect...
Prague Hilton, a symbol of Czech hospitality for over three decades, is up for sale. This major real estate transaction, estimated at CZK 7.5 billion, is set to attract a wave of interest from international investors. With nearly 800 rooms and conference facilities, it is the largest hotel in the Czech Republic. The sale process, originally planned for 2014, has been a long and winding road. Complex legal battles involving former owner Seán Quinn and asset management firm Avid Asset Management repeatedly stalled progress. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the sale, impacting the hospitality industry. However, recent signs indicate a new future for the hotel. The Hilton’s 2022 financial report revealed a turnover exceeding CZK 1 billion, marking a return to pre-pandemic business levels. Built in 1991, it was one of the first major buildings in modern Czech history financed by Western capital. The hotel even faced a dramatic challenge in 2002 when European floods caused significant damage. In 2004, Seán Quinn – an Irish businessman and conglomerateur – acquired the Hilton along with the Ibis hotel for CZK 3.5 billion. However, his fortunes turned sour after heavy investments in the failing Anglo-Irish Bank. Despite ongoing legal battles, IBRC is now...
Wine enthusiasts won’t want to miss a selection of sparkling wines from around the world on the last Saturday of May at the St. Wenceslas Vineyard at Villa Richter in Prague. There will also be gastronomy, accompanied by music and a panoramic view of the heart of Prague. Participants can compare the best sparkling wines from many countries around the world and in various styles of production technology. Bubble Wine Fest will feature Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Crémant, Franciacorta, and Sekt, and more. Following a comprehensive several-year restoration, the Saint Wenceslas Vineyard and the classicist summer house Villa Richter (A.D. 1836) at Prague Castle were ceremonially opened to the public in September 2008. Legend has it that it is the oldest vineyard in Bohemia. Originally, the “divine vineyard” was reputedly cultivated by the patron saint of the Czech nation, Prince Wenceslas. Its landmark is a classicist summerhouse – Villa Richter – with its northern and southern terrace, as well as the adjacent pergola, dividing the Saint Wenceslas Vineyard lengthwise into northern and southern parts. After the Kinsky Summerhouse, Villa Richter is the second-most famous classicist building in Prague. When and Where Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024 Time: 12:00 PM to 8:00...
A recent study has unveiled the top 20 European capital cities for art aficionados – and Italy hasn’t even made the first five. When planning a city break, the modern traveler may consider a number of factors. Are the hotels top-notch? Will there be any sunshine? Are there good places to grab a delicious bite? And importantly, what is there to do around town? Art, style, and architecture massively affect our decisions on where we go; hence why new museums, galleries, and exhibitions are constantly vying for visitors in Europe’s major cities. In fact, cultural tourism constitutes around 40% of all European tourism. But have you ever wondered which city tops the list for art aficionados seeking to satisfy their cultural cravings? What is Europe’s arty capital? Well, wonder no more! Ubuy France, a global e-commerce platform, has conducted a new study to uncover just that. It’s compiled a list of the 20 European capital cities that offer the most for art enthusiasts. The chart is based on the number of art galleries, galleries with free entry, statues and monuments, and works of street art. Some results are obvious, while others may surprise you! Without further ado, here are the findings: In second place,...
W Prague, a part of W Hotels Worldwide in Marriott International Inc., is set to open its doors at Wenceslas Square this September. With its progressive design, innovative spirit, and unique characteristics of the W Brand, this hotel will revive the former and legendary Grand Hotel Evropa. The revitalized hotel will boast 161 rooms and suites, including the presidential Extreme Wow suite. The original hotel, famed in the First Republic era due to renowned restaurateur Karel Šroubek, had only 90 rooms. The hotel’s secessionist appearance, created during renovations between 1903 and 1905, has a rich history. It has housed many notable names, such as Nicholas Winton, the savior of Jewish children before the war. W Prague isn’t just a hotel; it’s a vibrant destination for food and drinks. Guests and visitors can choose from a variety of options, each catering to a distinct mood. There’s the W Lounge, a relaxed spot for daytime networking or evening socializing, transitioning from coffee to cocktails. The Grand Café, in partnership with an international restaurateur, offers a satisfying menu all day. For a memorable end to the night, there’s Minus One, a unique space where expert mixologists craft cocktails. And the rooftop bar provides...
Prague is tightening its grip on shared scooter and bike companies. The City Council is preparing contracts that will require operators to pay for occupying public space and face penalties for non-compliance. These moves follow growing complaints from residents about inconsiderate parking and safety concerns, particularly regarding scooters left on sidewalks. Bolt and Lime will be subject to the new regulations. The plan involves securing permission from city districts for scooter and bike parking in designated areas, including existing bicycle stands, designated traffic zones near crossings, and larger open spaces. These areas will have a standardized appearance. “We’re aiming for practical and enforceable rules,” says TSK (Prague Metropolitan Road Administration.) director Filip Hájek. “We don’t want to restrict responsible users with overly complex regulations. Instead, we want clear guidelines that make a real difference.” Under the new system, operators will pay a monthly fee of 50 CZK per bike and 100 CZK per scooter for parking rights. Non-compliance will come with a price tag. Companies will be fined 100 CZK for each scooter left outside designated zones. Additionally, if a scooter or bike isn’t removed within two hours after being reported, TSK will charge the operator a 1,000 CZK penalty....
Over 200 works, including prints, drawings, paintings, and even jewelry, will be showcased in a new exhibition at the National Gallery Prague (NGP). The collaboration with the Louvre Museum in Paris delves into the fascinating world of Mannerist printmaking. The exhibition will explore the evolution of this artistic style, known for its imaginative flourishes and symbolic content. It will feature works from 16th-century art centers across Europe, including Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic itself, and France. Mannerism emerged in Italy from the visual language of the High Renaissance and quickly gained international prominence. It is characterized by a refined elegance, rich imagination, and affinity for symbols and hidden meanings. Printmaking played a pivotal role in its rapid dissemination, while also establishing itself as an independent artistic discipline during this period, and attaining both technical and artistic excellence. Most of the public knew the key works of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Giulio Romano, and the magnificent decoration of the French royal residence at Fontainebleau only through the medium of prints. This exhibition traces the evolution of Mannerist graphic art, exploring its experiments, originality, and connections with other art forms, while testifying to its role in the artistic exchange between Italy...
Prague Zoo announced the arrival of two new residents: twin polar bears, Gregor and Aleut! The thirteen-year-old brothers traveled from Warsaw Zoo on the recommendation of the European polar bear breeding program. They take the place of Tom, a male bear who relocated to Almaty, Kazakhstan, earlier this year to find a mate. The playful twins have already moved into their new exhibit, formerly occupied by Tom. An official public meet-and-greet is planned for Wednesday, May 22nd, at 11:30 am, according to Miroslav Bobek, director of Prague Zoo. “Gregor and Aleut’s arrival coincides with the development of our new, state-of-the-art polar bear exhibit,” Bobek said. “This is a significant step towards our goal of becoming a successful breeding facility for these magnificent animals.” While acclimating to their new surroundings, Gregor and Aleut can already be glimpsed by visitors. Born on December 2nd, 2010, at Nuremberg Zoo, the brothers have called Warsaw Zoo home since 2013. Gregor, the larger of the two, was nicknamed “Grzes” by his Polish caretakers, while Aleut, known as “Ali,” is taller and slimmer. “Prague residents and zoo visitors now have the exciting opportunity to see polar bears up close,” said Jana Komrsková, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for...
The ARENA festival will take place from May 24th to June 1st, 2024. This year the performances will be held on both banks of the Vltava River: in the Erpet Centrum in Prague 5 Smíchov and on the ship Tajemství in Náplavka near Rašínovo nábřeží. For the first time in the Czech Republic, the French Le P’tit Cirk will present their highly successful production Les Dodos and the company La Frontera will bring their original solo performance Searching for John. The French group My!Laika will have two of their shows, La Soirée and Winter. After last year’s success, the motorcycle wall of death (Le Mur de la Mort) is again in the program. The musical climax of the festival will be a concert Blues Brothers by the soloists of the famous Jeremy Winston Chorale in cooperation with the ČNSO (Czech National Symphonic Orchestra) and The Loop Jazz Orchestra. Entrance to the festival area is free of charge. “This year’s festival program is well mixed and it will be a real circus! For the first time, we managed to bring artists from Le P’tit Cirk to Prague with a poetic show full of acrobatics Les Dodos. The ensemble My!Laika, which some...
The National Theatre in Prague celebrates an important anniversary today. On May 16, 1868, the foundation stone of the building, which became a symbol of the Czech national revival, was laid. Much more than just one foundation stone The National Theatre is one of the most memorable events of Czech history with dozens of thousands of people celebrating the newly born confidence of Czech culture. Every region of the nation donated a foundation stone of its own, and thus contributed to the fundament of the theatre on 16 May 1868. The event lasted for three days and was attended by around 150,000 people. Important figures from the Czech cultural and political sphere tapped the stone with a gilded hammer. One of them was composer Bedřich Smetana, whose opera Dalibor, composed especially for the occasion, was premiered on the day. However, the exact number of the original foundation stones is not known today. The development of its own culture, of the Czech language and a Czech education, resulted in the formation of the independent state 100 years ago. The decoration A number of important contemporary artists participated in the decoration of this historic building. In the foyer on the first balcony,...
Do you ever wonder where the first cup of coffee was in Prague, or how it even got here? The first Europeans to get acquainted with coffee were mostly travelers. The first traveler from the Czech lands to mention coffee was Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice (Czech: Kryštof Harant z Polžic a Bezdružic, 1564 – June 21, 1621). He was a Czech nobleman, traveler, humanist, soldier, writer, and composer. He joined the Protestant Bohemian Revolt in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown against the House of Habsburg that led to Thirty Years’ War. He discovered coffee on his journey to Constantinople in 1598. Following the victory of Catholic forces in the Battle of White Mountain, Harant was executed in the mass Old Town Square execution by the Habsburgs. History of Drinking Coffee in the Czech Republic No one could even imagine that one day, a penniless but resourceful Armenian would make coffee accessible to everyone, also teaching people the right way of coffee drinking. Many Czechs didn’t even realize the real purpose of the coffee beans that were sold at pharmacies for unthinkable prices, instead being assured that the beans were an effective means to fight indigestion. Their unawareness...
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