What do the historical monuments and street names tell us about our society?Monuments to the Soviet Red Army, which were part of the townscape for many years, now find themselves at the centre of a fierce, protracted debate which appears to be

Ballroom Dancing Still Part of Czech Life

Feb 17th, 2020 12m 9s

Czechoslovakia gained independence in 1918. But even now, after nearly a century you can find customs and traditions that are very similar to most countries that formed the old Austrian-Hungarian Empire. What Czechia shares with Austria and esp

Kroměříž: a Palace of Bishops and Filmmakers

Feb 17th, 2020 12m 25s

There is a palace in Moravia like none other. You will find it in Kroměříž, not far from the banks of the Morava River. What used to be a summer representative residence of the bishops and archbishops of nearby Olomouc, later became a popular f

Villa Tugendhadt: A Masterpiece of Modernism in Brno

Feb 17th, 2020 13m 12s

"Less is more" is an aphorism often associated with the German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He might be better known as the last director of the Bauhaus, the famous school of modern architecture in Germany in the interwar period

Czech Puppetry

Feb 17th, 2020 13m 11s

Puppet theater in Czechia and Slovakia is a way of conveying a vision of the world. That is one of the main reasons why UNESCO inscribed the art on its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity three years ago. In the Christmas seaso

Brno: Czech „Second City", Cool Again

Feb 3rd, 2020 15m 44s

Brno is cool again. The second city of the Czech Republic is finally shedding its somewhat shabby image and finding healthy self-confidence. Its streets are filling with smart shops and there is a lot to do and see.

Jihlava: Birthplace of Gustav Maher

Feb 3rd, 2020 12m 27s

The city of Jihlava hides a well-kept secret. Not many people know that one of the best known and admired composers of late 19th century spent the forming years of his life right here. Gustav Mahler was born in this Czech city. Today you can v

Constantin Kinsky: We Are Romantic Idiots!

Feb 3rd, 2020 12m 44s

Constantin Kinsky was born 1961 in Paris, France, to one of the oldest aristocratic families in Bohemia then in French exile. Educated in France, he became a successful investment banker and strategic consultant and advised the Czech government

Gem on the Hill: The Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Žďár

Feb 3rd, 2020 13m 30s

Built on a small hill called Zelená hora near Žďár nad Sázavou, it is one of the most spectacular and yet unassuming sights in the Czech Republic. The architectural significance of the church on the border of the historic lands of Bohemia and M

The Smelly Delicacy of Unique Moravian Cheese

Jan 25th, 2020 14m 29s

Czechia is not all that famous for making world-class cheese. There is, however, at least one exception. A very peculiar local type of cheese made in Moravia called „Olomoucké tvarůžky" or, more colloquially „tvargle" It has been produced in th

Czech Radioactive Dilemma: To Mine Or Not To mine?

Jan 24th, 2020 15m 54s

Czechia has substantial deposits of uranium. Radioactive ore was mined here in the second half of the 20th century. Most of it was sent to the former Soviet Union within a dubious deal from which Czechs had little profit. Since the mining opera

Rate