czech Archives – Prague Morning

National park Bohemian Switzerland is a great hiking destination. You might have already heard about Pravčická Gate or iconic viewpoints around Jetřichovice.

If you decide to explore more about this hiking paradise, you need quality accommodation. I tried several pensions in this area, but I can recommend only one – Krásná samota. It means “beautiful solitude,” and once you visit this place, you understand why.

Bohemian Switzerland is my favorite place where I like to take my foreign friends for hiking. Our main destination is usually a hiking trek to Pravčická gate, unique stone formation in Europe.

However, I always had an issue finding appropriate accommodation that would allow us to stay for several days and explore the area more. Don’t take me wrong, there are some hotels in Hřensko or pensions in typical Czech cottages, but there was always something that I would not completely recommend it. Until I found Krásná Samota, thanks to Amazing Places recommendation.

Two hundred years of history

Despite the fact, that pension is really a solitude outside of the civilization, we found it through villages and forests thanks to well-prepared signs. Once we arrived, we were welcomed by friendly dog Lajla and by Marcela with her little daughter Magdalenka. Michal just had a yoga lesson in the attic. Marcela showed us our double room, breakfast area with a fireplace, and a huge garden. It was about sunset time, and I could not help myself and start photographing, it was just magical.

Pension used to be a farmhouse founded in 1818. However, it deteriorated over time, especially during the communist period when private farming was prohibited. In 2013, Michal found this place and started with reconstruction. The whole building is made of natural materials such as wood, sandstone, and clay plasters.

During five years of reconstruction, Michal combined it with his regular job as a hairdresser. Today, he is not pursuing a professional career anymore, and rather enjoys life in the countryside. However, you can still take advantage of his professionalism and have a new haircut.

Krásná samota was finally open in 2018 when Michal and Marcela had a one-year-old girl Magdalenka. If you are wondering how they come up with this suitable name, the responsible one is the little one. Although she was not speaking at this time, she brought a book with this name at the moment when her parents were discussing the name. And here it is, the beautiful solitude.

Today, you can find accommodation in one double room or three apartments, each one with a private kitchen and bathroom. You can prepare food by yourself or have a vegetarian breakfast by the fireplace downstairs. The pension can accommodate up to 17 people.

What you can do and see at Krásná samota

The pension itself is a great place for relaxation. You can explore the garden with growing flowers and vegetables, range with sheep and goats, fireplace under the stars, grill place under the shelter or hammock under the trees. In the middle of the garden is a pond with various fishes. Close by; you can even find a beehive thanks to which Michal can provide you, with homemade honey.

During the winter, the garden is still charming, but you can take advantage of the fireplace and choice of local wines, have a yoga lesson with Michal, enjoy the sauna with wellness and massages or relax with your book, anywhere you like.

Therefore, Krásná samota is a great place to relax and active holiday for the whole year. I would highly recommend hiking to Pravčická brána (about 30-minute drive to Hřensko) and hiking to viewpoints around Jetřichovice (about 20 min drive). Pension is a great starting point for bikers and cross-country skiers. If you prefer just a relaxing walk, the nearby village Chřibská is full of charming timbered houses.

How to get to Krásná Samota

You can drive to Chřibská by highway direction to Dresden and then turn North to Česká Kamenice and village Chřibská. It is about 2 hours drive. In Chřibská, you can find several signs on the way that will take you through the forest to Beautiful Solitude…

Address: Horní Chřibská 84, Chřibská, 407 44

Map

Website

Facebook

January 16 marks exactly 55 years since Czech student Jan Palach’s self-immolation at the top of Wenceslas Square that would lead to his death in hospital three days later.

Memorial events were held in Prague on Tuesday marking the self-immolation of Jan Palach 55 years ago, on January 16, 1969. Senate speaker Miloš Vystrčil and other senators laid a wreath at a memorial at the top of Wenceslas Square, where Palach, who was 20, set himself on fire in protest at apathy in the face of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

About half-past one, Jan Palach doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire near the fountain at the National Museum in Wenceslas Square in Prague. After several minutes, those passing managed to extinguish the living torch.

The seriously burnt student was taken to the Faculty Hospital in Vinohrady, but the injuries were so serious that he had no hope of surviving.

He left a letter at the site explaining the motives of his terrible act: “As our nation is living in a desperate situation, and its reconciliation with fate has reached its utmost stage, we have decided that in this way we will express our protest and shake the conscience of the nation …ˮ He died three days later, on 19 January 1969.

jan palach immolation

Palach called himself “Torch no. 1” in his letter, giving the impression that he was a part of a larger group which in fact did not exist. But several others followed his example in Czechoslovakia and other eastern bloc countries.

“People must fight against the evil they feel equal to measure up to at that moment,” Palach said before he died in hospital on Jan. 19.

Palach’s death did not change the gradual, almost total resignation in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. For almost twenty years, the name Jan Palach could only be whispered in public.

His life story immediately got into “forbidden” songs or strongroom literary works. Only after a change in relations in the autumn of 1989 could historians, documentarists or artists officially and freely present it.

Palach was not the only person to protest via self-immolation. Student Jan Zajíc followed on Feb. 25, 1969, also on Wenceslas Square. In April in the town of Jihlava, Evžen Plocek set himself on fire, though this was less publicized.

jan palach immolation

A memorial bronze cross on a small rise in the sidewalk is in front of the National Museum on Wenceslas Square.

There is a square in Prague named after Palach, náměstí Jana Palacha, where the Rudolfinum concert hall; Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (VŠUP); Museum of Decorative Arts In Prague (UPM); and Philosophical Faculty of Charles University are located.

There are also streets and places named after him in other Czech towns, as well as in Luxembourg, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Bulgaria.

Embers of change

Jan Palach did not die in vain. Two decades later, a group called the Movement of the Children of Bohemia — a self-described “monarchist-anarchist” initiative — took inspiration from his activism and called for new protests.

These activists, like the thousands of others who would prove crucial to putting an end to Soviet rule in Czechslovakia, had been children when Palach set fire to himself in 1969. But on January 15, 1989, they took to Prague’s Wenceslas Square to commemorate his incredible protest and the sacrifice he had made.

They flocked to the square every day for a week, in what later became known as “Palach Week

The Czech Republic is imposing a new series of restrictive measures in response to a record surge in coronavirus infections.

From midnight on October 14, all restaurants, bars, and clubs will be closed until the end of the emergency. Takeaway orders will still be available until 8 p.m.

Furthermore, all schools will be closed until November 1, with the exception of schools for the children of doctors, nurses, and rescue workers. Kindergartens will remain open.

Citizens need to wear face masks at public transport stops. A maximum of six people can gather in public and a ban on drinking alcohol in public spaces has also been put in place.

“If the average reproduction number per week will be reduced to 0.8, the measures taken today will be relaxed,” added Babiš.

“We see that the growing trend has the same parameters as other countries such as Israel or the United Kingdom, where there has been the introduction of comprehensive measures. We have to do it, we have no other chance,” said Prymula, adding that “we must change the trend, otherwise the capacity of hospitals will be filled”.

A 30-day state of emergency has been implemented on October 5.

There was a new record high of 8,618 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, marking the fourth straight day last week of a new record for single-day coronavirus infections.

Government data shows the Czech Republic has had 119,007 confirmed cases with 1,045 deaths, on Monday. Of them, 256 people died last week.

Po jednání vlády jsou přijata tato opatření. pic.twitter.com/PNp2Rr9eIL

— Roman Prymula (@profesorPrymula) October 12, 2020

On World Cleanup Day, 19 September 2020, millions of people in over 150 countries will stand up against global waste pollution by cleaning up communities, parks, forests, and beaches.

Thousands of communities will act together as one, creating a powerful ‘green wave’ of cleanups spanning from New Zealand to Hawaii and lasting for 36 hours.

“During World Cleanup Day last year, nearly 18 million volunteers from 157 countries around the world managed to collect 82,000 tons of waste,” said Miroslav Kubásek, National Coordinator of World Cleanup Day for the Czech Republic.

The aim of World Cleanup Day is not only to pick up waste, but to also raise awareness of the severity of the global climate crisis, drive behaviour change towards less consumption and induce companies, organizations, and governments to adopt more sustainable environmental policies.

World Cleanup Day is organized by Let’s Do It World – a global movement that supports and connects a new generation of community leaders, who are ready to act together to find lasting solutions for the waste problem in their countries.

Taking place on the third Saturday every September, National CleanUp Day was founded to rally volunteers to better our environment by collaborating with one another to improve their local communities.

Any individual, group or organization can start their own cleanup by simply going to the event’s site and signing up.

You can check out the cleanup map and join an event near you. If there is no event organized near you, in your city or neighborhood, take your own initiative and organize a public cleanup yourself.

Ukliďme Česko is a voluntary cleaning event that takes place all over the Czech Republic (and even in a few places outside of it). Its purpose is to clean up illegal black dumps and mess. The event is organized by NGO Ukliďme Česko z. s. in cooperation with other organizations.

If you are looking for a job in Prague, check our new job section here
Time to move to a new flat? Rents with no commission here!
Want to advertise your business on Prague Morning? Contact us at [email protected]

The Czech authorities recorded 506 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the highest number of new infections in one day since the outbreak began.

Czechia has so far reported 21,551 confirmed cases of the virus, with 411 deaths, including 19 over the past week.

The Czech government was among the first in Europe to introduce curbs on movement and business as the outbreak took hold. It began to lift restrictions since May but has reintroduced some measures as cases rose in recent weeks.

Face masks will once more be compulsory on public transport, at health and social care facilities, and in state office buildings from Sept 1, but the government rowed back on a requirement to wear masks in shops, restaurants, and common areas of schools.

Outdoor public events including soccer, which start new league season this week, may be attended by up to 5,000 people, if separated into sections of 1,000, and indoor events can host up to 5,000 in separate sections of 500.

The government plans to further relax restrictions on public events from September.

If you are looking for a job in Prague, check our new job section here
Time to move to a new flat? Rents with no commission here!
Want to advertise your business on Prague Morning? Contact us at [email protected]

For the first time in history, lovers of castles and historic buildings can visit the Renaissance chateau in Račice (Vyškov region).

In 2017, the South Moravian Region sold the building to the company e-Finance, which rebuilt the chateau into a wellness hotel within five years for about CZK 150 million.

The complex, which dates to the 13th century, is a great starting point for cycling and hiking in Drahanská Highlands close to the Moravian Karst.

You can take a cycling path through the heart of South Moravia, visit the unique natural area of Velká dohoda or a nature park with the educational trail through Rakovec valley.

The first written mention about the Račice castle is from 1312 when Jan Lucemburský had it besieged. In the 14th century, it was renewed and belonged to the lords of Lipá.

In 1376 it became a part of the Šternberk property and later was given to the lords of Kravaře. In the end, it became the property of Hanuš Haugvic of Biskupice, who changed it into a renaissance chateau.

The town of Račice is located north-east of the town of Roudnice nad Labem on the left shore of Labe River. It is located 158 m above sea level. Until the end of 80’, Račice was the part of the town of Štětí.

Račice was established in 1295 by King Vaclav II.

If you are looking for a job in Prague, check our new job section here
Time to move to a new flat? Rents with no commission here!
Want to advertise your business on Prague Morning? Contact us at [email protected]

While Poland has the highest levels of air pollution in Europe, according to the newly released Air Quality Life Index – an international ranking that charts air quality around the world – it also had the most to gain if pollution levels were reduced.

According to the study, the most polluted countries on the continent are generally in Eastern and Central Europe, with Belarus, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Latvia also high up the index.

When it comes to individual regions, the report finds that the most polluted are Moravskoslezský in the Czech Republic, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén in Hungary, Košický in Slovakia, and Warsaw in Poland.

The index shows it is not only Eastern Europe that has had life expectancy affected by air pollution.

“Though the threat of coronavirus is grave and deserves every bit of the attention it is receiving—perhaps more in some places—embracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigor would allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives,” says Michael Greenstone, a professor in economics at the University of Chicago and the director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

Areas of northern Italy, particularly the Po Valley, which includes Milan, scored particularly badly – in 2018, Italy’s industrial capital was behind only Warsaw for concentrated levels of PM2.5, the particles that scientists look at to measure air quality.

And despite most countries meeting the EU’s air pollution standard of 25 μg/m³, the Air Quality Life Index shows that nearly three-quarters of Europe’s population reportedly live in areas that fall short of the WHO’s guideline.

In spite of the warning, the study reports Europe’s response to air pollution over the past two decades has in general been a success story: on average, Europeans are exposed to 41 percent less particulate pollution today than they were 20 years ago, increasing life expectancy by nine months across the board.

An especially poignant example comes from China, where the country began a “war against pollution” in 2013. Since then, three-quarters of the world’s reductions in pollution have come from China. The country has reduced particulate pollution by nearly 40%.

“The legacy of environmental improvement in much of Europe over the last two decades is evidence that people living in today’s pollution hot spots can see brighter skies,” says Greenstone.

“A demand for change from citizens and subsequent strong policies have helped to clear the air in parts of Europe before and can continue to do so to ensure that high pollution today does not need to be tomorrow’s fate.”

If you are looking for a job in Prague, check our new job section here
Time to move to a new flat? Rents with no commission here!
Want to advertise your business on Prague Morning? Contact us at [email protected]

Two thousand people have been gathering from Friday night at a techno party at Hlaváček Lhota (Benešov region).

“The open-air event is being held on private property with the owner’s consent”, said police spokeswoman Lucie Nováková, “so it cannot be considered illegal.”

Techno lovers are being closely monitored by the police.

According to Nováková, the party started on Friday evening. “Since Friday evening, Central Bohemian police officers have been monitoring the place, directing traffic on the driveways,” added Nováková.

More than half of the participants left today afternoon. According to the police, about 800 people are still raving, a quarter of them are foreigners.

“The place is also monitored by a helicopter of the Czech Police Aviation. Until now, police officers have not had to deal with any serious disturbances of public order,” said the police spokeswoman.

According to Lenka Sladkovská, mayor of Ješetice, the situation is very unpleasant. “I’m dealing with the situation here, but I’m not going to give any interviews at the moment.”

Events may still be organized with up to five sectors with 500 capacity each, technically raising the limit to 2,500. The sectors must be completely separated from each other, including a separate entrance. Outdoor events will be limited to 1,000 people.

The Czech Republic reported 281 cases of the new coronavirus on Friday, the largest one-day increase since the end of June, bringing the country’s total to 15,081.

From Monday, July 27, the public will be required also to wear a face mask in pharmacies and medical facilities, “where it is not always possible to maintain a two-meter distance from other people”, the Czech government said in an update on its website. Masks will not be compulsory on trams, trains, or in shopping centers.

Stř. Čechy: Policisté monitorují od pátečního večera průběh technopárty na Benešovsku s využitím Letecké služby PČR. Zatím klidný průběh bez narušení veřejného pořádku. Podrobné informace zde: https://t.co/w7k093bLm3 #policiestc pic.twitter.com/3LG7mUVnPv

— Policie ČR (@PolicieCZ) July 25, 2020

Photo: Policie CR

Photo: Policie CR

Photo: Policie CR

If you are looking for a job in Prague, check our new job section here
Time to move to a new flat? Rents with no commission here!
Want to advertise your business on Prague Morning? Contact us at [email protected]

Every Thursday evening and until the end of September, you can enjoy a unique view of Prague on the roof of the National Agricultural Museum in Letná.

The National Agriculture Museum has been recently reconstructed and restored to its 1930s look, a process that also made the roof terrace accessible.

The terrace offers unique and attractive views at Prague, including the Prague Castle, Petřín or Old Town. The garden with soft grass, a herb garden, a picnic area is great for relaxation. What is also interesting is that there are also beehives.

Aside from the smell of the herb garden, you can also rent some picnic equipment, buy some quality Czech food in the museum shop, and enjoy the amazing scenery.

Visiting the museum is an excursion into the field of agriculture, with which the people living the center of Prague really do not come across. The whole exhibition is conceived as a story that leads the visitor through the history of the hard work of farmers.

The National Museum of Agriculture was founded in 1918 but its oldest part, the museum at the Ohrada hunting lodge, started its activities in 1842. It is apparently not only the oldest specialized forestry-hunting museum in the Czech Republic but also in Europe.

The terrace is open every Thursday from 17:30 until 21:30. Adults pay CZK 50, people under 18 and seniors over 70 have free admission.

Looking for a job in Prague? Visit our new job section!

From July 1st, the Czech Republic will lift its trailblazing rule requiring face masks to be worn in public transport, a symbolic landmark in the country’s relatively successful battle against Covid-19.

Covering the nose and mouth will continue to be mandatory only in places with a higher incidence of the disease, said Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (ANO) today.

From 1 July, restaurants and pubs can be open from 23:00 to 06:00.

Vojtěch added that the regulation would still apply in areas of localized COVID-19 outbreaks (Prague and the coal mine region of Karviná). However, the situation could change in the next two weeks.

As of June 22, 5,000 people can take part in public events if people are divided into sectors, Vojtěch added. From Monday, trade fairs with maximum participation of up to 5,000 people at the same time will also be allowed.

“If the situation develops well, half of the football stadiums could open from 1 September,” said epidemiologist Rastislav Maďar.

The Czech Republic was among the first countries in Europe to close its borders against the spread of coronavirus, on 12 March, ordering the closure of most business days later.

But the mask edict – in common with Slovakia – quickly became the symbol of the Czech fight against the pandemic, prompting debate in other countries over whether they should follow suit.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic reached 10,162 on Thursday morning. 7,399 people have fully recovered from COVID-19.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have taken a variety of restrictive measures.

First 2020 numbers already show their significant impact on air transport for all 13 EU Member States according to an analysis conducted by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat): Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Italy (see country note), Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Finland.

Prague Airport is one of the most negatively affected airports in Europe: the number of passengers fell by more than 800,000, amounting to a drop of 65 percent year-on-year.

Prague Airport, together with Berlin’s Tegel and Schönefeld airports and Munich Airport, showed the largest percentage decrease when it comes to passengers handled. All four hubs had about 65 percent fewer travelers in March.

However, when considering absolute numbers, the number of passengers fell the most in Frankfurt by a total of 3.5 million.

“None of the dozen EU airports shows a deeper percentage drop in the numbers of checked-in passengers than Prague’s airport,” said economist Lukáš Kovanda from the Czech Fund.

He also added that in January and February of this year, the number of passengers handled at Prague Airport was higher year-on-year, exceeding the value of one million in both months.

Whilst the number of air passengers in some of these EU Member States started to decrease already in February 2020, the number of passengers at least halved in all of them in March 2020.

Compared with March 2019, the largest decreases in numbers of passengers were observed in Italy (-85%, -11.9 million (see country note)), Germany (- 10.7 million passengers carried, -62%), Denmark (-1.7 million, -63%), Finland (-1.1 million, -57%), Czechia (-0.8 million, -65%) and Hungary (-0.7 million,

Poland is to open its borders with EU countries as of June 13, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced in Łochów, north of Warsaw, on Wednesday.

The PM added that as of June 16, Poland will relaunch international flights, but noted that carriers “will probably need a week, or two or three, to prepare a flight-connection network.”

“In some countries…this pandemic is still behaving in a very disturbing way, so for now we limit this decision (opening borders) to European Union countries,” Morawiecki said.

Morawiecki, visiting one of Poland’s largest styrofoam factories, said Poland needs to restore normal trade relations with the European Union countries as quickly as possible.

Poland closed its borders to foreigners in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, it has been progressively loosening restictions on public life, with shopping centres, hotels and restaurants all reopening in May.

Poland has seen a recent rise in infections, mostly centred around coal mines in the south. On Monday 599 new cases were reported, a record.

As of Wednesday morning Poland, a country of around 38 million people, had reported 27,668 cases of the coronavirus and 1,191 deaths.

Tell more about your business

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Tell us about your.

Thank You, It`s All Good

Tell us about your.