On March 20, 1393, considered the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional, St. John of Nepomuk was tortured and thrown into the river Vltava from Charles Bridge, by order of King Wenceslaus IV. The travesty unfolded during the reign of King Wenceslas IV and the Great Schism of 1378 – a split within the Catholic Church which saw two rival Popes, one in Rome and the other in Avignon, France. Wenceslas backed the Avignon-based Pontiff and John remained loyal to Rome. There was simmering tension and the two men clashed when it was time to appoint a new abbot to the abbey of Kladruby, in 1393. The king demanded that the appointment not go ahead and the abbey be transformed into a cathedral. But John had already confirmed the appointment. A brass cross, worn smooth and shiny by the innumerable hands of wish-makers, is positioned around the middle of Charles Bridge. Whether the reasons for the martyrdom were power struggles or accusations of revealing confessional secrets, John of Nepomuk is regarded as a symbol of honesty, reliability, and integrity. He is the patron saint of confessors, pilgrims, happy returns and boatmen and protector against floods. Today, hundreds of...
Every holiday in Czechia brings a question with it: Will stores be open or closed? For Easter, the answer is split. You can shop in large stores on Good Friday but not Easter Monday. Both are national holidays. This year Good Friday falls on March 29, Easter Sunday on March 31, and Easter Monday on April 1. Banks and government offices will be closed all four days. Many museums and galleries that are normally closed on Mondays will stay closed, but a handful will open with special hours. Most stores over 200 square meters close on some holidays, including Easter Monday. This closure is due to a law introduced in October 2016, prohibiting stores larger than 200 square meters from operating on certain national holidays, including Easter Monday. The law was implemented to allow supermarket employees to spend holidays with their families, like everyone else. The restriction does not apply to shops located in transportation hubs (train stations, bus stations, airports), healthcare facilities, including pharmacies, smaller shops under 200 square meters, wholesalers and gas stations. However, it’s best to double-check with individual businesses for their operating hours during the holiday. In conclusion, it’s crucial to plan ahead for any necessary...
A new activity bar opened in the centre of Prague in December of 2023. CrewBar is the first venue to bring shuffleboard to Prague. The venue is located by the river, near the Dancing House. Discover shuffleboard with a drink in hand, and don’t forget to reserve a spot! An activity bar is a new concept for the Czech Republic where you can have a beer and play a game or two. The marker of a true activity bar is that games come first. They’re not there to entertain patrons in between rounds; quite the opposite! CrewBar, located by the Dancing House in the centre of Prague, can show you how it’s done. A sister bar to Prague Golf & Games that popularized glow-in-the-dark golf in Prague, CrewBar has a similar concept. In fact, the success of the former was the inspiration behind the latter. Glow-in-the-dark ping pong did especially well in Prague Golf & Games, so the owner decided to open a new place with ping pong and more. Chris and his wife, the couple behind the project, met working on a cruise ship, in The Crew Bar, which lends its name to their latest business venture. In their...
58 years ago, Věra Chytilová released her movie ‘Daisies’, which displeased the communist dictatorship with its criticism of the materialistic and male-dominated society and was banned by the regime. Although Czech society has made considerable progress since then, calls for equality from Czech women are often silenced, as evidenced by the recent incident involving director Daria Kascheeva at the Czech Lions Film Award ceremony. Where does the Czech Republic stand in terms of promoting gender equality? Join us for a discussion on this burning topic while watching this Czechoslovak New Wave masterpiece with English subtitles at kino Aero on the 20th of March. Purchase your tickets here. In ‘Daisies’ (1966, watch the trailer), Chytilová, who had made her living as a model in commercials before becoming one of the leading figures of the Czechoslovak New Wave, brings a nihilist story about two Maries who decided to be spoiled as the world they live in. They play pranks on men, catwalk down the overflowing buffet table and swing from the chandelier. The bold aesthetic she created with the artist Ester Krumbachová and the metaphorical language was too much for the communist regime and they tried to silence her by locking this...
Lukáš Kovanda, Chief Economist at Trinity Bank, has recently highlighted the affordability of public transportation in Prague. A recent study commissioned by the Prague City Council revealed that an annual public transport pass, adjusted for inflation and distance traveled since 2000, should cost approximately 11,250 CZK. However, the current price has been 3,650 CZK since 2015. This translates to a significant decrease in real terms, with residents essentially paying half the price for public transport compared to just a decade ago. “Prague residents are now traveling for roughly twice as cheaply as they did in 2014,” commented Mr. Kovanda. “This forward-thinking approach by the city administration deserves recognition. In a world facing inflation, Prague has ensured affordable and efficient travel for its residents.” The coalition parties that form the city government have not yet agreed on how much fares should be raised, but several possibilities are being discussed. One of the proposals on the table is doubling the price of the annual public transport pass, which currently costs CZK 3,650, working out at CZK 10 per day, one of the cheapest in the world. Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib from the Pirate Party told Deník N he did not agree with...
Roxy Club, known for its focus on cutting-edge electronic music, will feature Scottish DJ and producer Ewan McVicar on March 16th. Originally from Ayr, the Scottish producer and DJ is particularly known for his unique fusion of house and techno. His breakthrough came in 2020 with the release of the “Street Rave” EP on Trick, a label run by one of his idols. The EP’s energetic sound resonated with audiences across the UK. McVicar’s talent gained recognition from established labels like Nervous Records and Shall Not Fade, solidifying his position in the dance music scene. A defining moment in McVicar’s career was the release of “Tell Me Something Good” in 2021. The track garnered him the title of “Best Single of the Year” by DJ Mag and achieved platinum sales status. McVicar is not just a studio artist; he’s a sought-after DJ known for his energetic sets that showcase his diverse influences and love for music. He’s starting to get a lot of bookings around the world, and recordings of his live sets on YouTube attracting a lot of a positive reactions from fans around the world. You’ll find a lot of excellent live performance footage on YouTube (we recommend his Boiler...
The traditional the 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia (1000 mil československých) race will be held in the heart of Prague on June 12. A summer staple for collectors in the Czech Republic, the long-distance road rally revives the spirit of the endurance race of the same name which took place in former Czechoslovakia from 1933 to 1935 and took competitors twice from Prague to Bratislava and back. Residents and visitors to the Czech capital will be able to view the rarities on Opletalova Street (in front of the Czech Automobile Club, Opletalova 29) on June 12 from 13:00 to 20:00. The event is organised by the Czech Automobile Club, the Czech Automobile Club Veterans Association, and the city of Prague 1. Around 150 automobiles of various brands (Škoda, Aero, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz, etc.) will be on display, including iconic Praga cars and motorcycles. The nostalgic vibe will be enhanced with themed music and dance ensembles. The next morning (13 June), rally participants will set off on a symbolic race through the Czech Republic to Bratislava. The 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia took place under the patronage of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomás Garrigue Masaryk, and has since become an annual event...
St. Patrick’s Day falls on Sunday, March 17th, a public holiday in Ireland and Northern Ireland in honor of Patrick of Ireland, Ireland’s first Christian missionary. The originally ecclesiastical festival has now turned into a colorful folk festival, also celebrated by non-Irish people worldwide. In Prague, St. Patrick’s Day is also marked extensively by numerous expats and locals alike. The St. Patrick’s Festival Prague runs until Sunday the 17th of March at Rocky O’Reilly’s, Durty Nelly’s, McCarthy’s, and Caffrey’s. The James Joyce Irish Pub, a popular Irish pub with locals and expats alike in Prague’s Old Town, hosts the festivities starting on Friday from 11:00 am. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy delicious Guinness, lots of fun and entertainment, and live music later in the day. On the other side of the Vltava, Prague’s Lesser Town, J.J. Murphy’s Irish Pub is the go-to spot to enjoy the Irish barley juice of Arthur Guinness, who founded the world-famous brewery in 1759. The Czech-Irish Business and Cultural Association (CIBCA) hosts its ever-popular Saint Patrick’s Day Ball on Saturday, March 16th, at the Grand Hotel Bohemia. This year, they have chosen Člověk v tísni as the selected charity – all proceeds from the...
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to an unforgettable open-air concert on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 8:15 PM, at the Prague Castle. Under the baton of conductor Petr Altrichter, the orchestra will feature works by Czech composers like Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Zdeněk Fibich, and Vítězslav Novák. The concert, lasting approximately 70 minutes, will start at 8:15 PM on Hradčanské náměstí. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, founded 128 years ago in Prague, stands as the nation’s most revered symphony orchestra. In 2008, it was ranked among the top 20 orchestras in the world by Gramophone magazine. Here’s the full program: Antonín Dvořák: Slavnostní pochod, op. 54a (6′) Slovanský tanec č. 7 c moll, op. 46 (3′) Rondo pro violoncello a orchestr g moll, op. 94 (8′) Pekelný tanec z 2. dějství opera Čert a Káča (4′) “Od dětství ku oltáři”, árie Svaté Ludmily z oratoria Svatá Ludmila (4′) “Když mne stará matka”, píseň z cyklu Cigánské melodie, op. 55 (2′) Zdeněk Fibich: Poem ze selanky V podvečer, op. 39 (5′) Bedřich Smetana: “A ty mé robě”, ukolébavka z 1. dějství opery Hubička (4′) “Já ale zůstanu”, árie Přemysla z 2. dějství opery Libuše (3′) Furiant z 2. dějství opera Prodaná...
Dive in the world of female pleasure. Another unique evening with “On The Edge“, the immersive theatre of provocative fantasies that has been stirring hearts and minds in Prague and beyond since last year. On the 21st of March, 2024, prepare to be part of an extraordinary experience at a secret venue. Only a selected group of 120 masked guests will explore exquisite spaces nestled in the heart of Prague, each corner a promise of spectacle for men and women, couples or individuals. Female Pleasure The art of touch. The intensity, the softness. From a gentle caress to a firm squeeze, from nurturing warmth to thrilling dominance. Become the ultimate consort in her realm of fantasy. Come and be inspired, learn about the fantasies, techniques, and ways that can truly make a woman pleased. Both women and men, couples and singles will find a dose of inspiration here and leave with a new perspective on female pleasure. No touch – just watch On The Edge events flirt with the thin line between seduction and the explicit, inviting you into a world where masked observers wander through shadowy corridors, uncovering secret chambers alive with diverse fantasies. Imagine a world bathed in...
Internationally renowned soprano Angela Gheorghiu is set to perform in Prague on March 23, promising a memorable evening for opera enthusiasts in the Czech capital. Known for her magnetic stage presence and exceptional vocal range, Gheorghiu’s appearance is one of the most anticipated events in Prague’s cultural calendar this season. Gheorghiu’s career has taken her to the world’s most prestigious stages, including Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, where she has portrayed iconic roles such as Violetta in La traviata, Mimì in La bohème, and Tosca. Hailed as one of the world’s premier sopranos, her performances are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical brilliance. Born in the small Romanian town of Adjud, Gheorghiu discovered her love of music at an early age and went on to study at the National University of Music in Bucharest under the esteemed teacher Mia Barbu. She made her international debut in 1992 at Covent Garden, where her performance as Mimì captured the world’s attention. Since then, her career has included acclaimed recordings, awards, and performances at key global events, including the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee and the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. Info: When: 23rd March at 7:30 pm,...
The Buffalo Sabers and New Jersey Devils will play two matches at the O2 Arena on Oct. 4 and 5, marking the start of the 2024/2025 regular season. The last NHL games in Prague took place in October 2022, featuring the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators. Previously, the O2 Arena has hosted legendary teams like the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes (now Arizona Coyotes), Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. Tickets start at CZK 1,990 and go on sale March 21. This upcoming series promises an exciting showcase of talent, potentially including several Czech players. Forward Ondrej Palat, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, will be a crowd favorite on the New Jersey Devils. Joining him on the Devils is fellow Czech, Tomas Nosek, although his contract ends after the season. The Buffalo Sabres roster boasts young Czech forwards Lukas Rousek and Jiri Kulich. Palat expressed his enthusiasm: “Seeing how much playing in Stockholm meant to my friend Victor Hedman made me imagine how special it would be to play in the NHL here in the Czech Republic, surrounded by family and friends. This dream is finally coming true, and I...
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