Radio Prague International - latest broadcast in English

Eighty years ago, World War II ended in Czechoslovakia with both celebration and uncertainty. In this weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes, historian Vít Smetana reflects on how the U.S. Army and Soviet forces divided the country—not just geographically, but politically. What did liberation mean in 1945, and how should we remember it today?

Landovský: “The agreement will help Kyiv. If the US is mining somewhere, security forces will be present”, Freedom Celebrations in Plzeň bigger than ever on 80th anniversary of liberation, Maya Kvetny’s casting journey from L.A. to Prague

For today's Czechia in 30 minutes show, we bring you an exlusive interview with anti-fascist Sudeten German Alois Ullmann and his two grandchildren who sat down with us in our studio. Alois Ullmann was a key figure in the Sudeten German social democratic movement. He fled to Great Britain during the Nazi regime but later returned to Prague. After being imprisoned in concentration camps, he worked to rebuild his party, Seliger Gemeinde, but was thwarted by the expulsion of Sudeten Germans. He later organized the resettlement of Sudeten German anti-fascists, known as "Aktion Ullmann." As the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War approaches, his grandchildren, Sally Bywater and Chris Ullmann, reflect on his legacy, with the help of historian Thomas Oellermann who sets the stage for this painful period of history. We will be back with our typical show tomorrow. Enjoy!

News, exhibition showing never-before-seen images of Antonín Dvořák, reconstruction of Prague square, the return of beavers to the Czech lands

On this show: news; a UNESCO mission recommends the reconstruction of Prague’s iconic Vyšehrad Railway Bridge; eighty years after WWII, Czech volunteers are defending Europe in Ukraine; Antonín Kokeš's career, from Albi to 'Antonín’s bakeries'.

On today's show: News; plans unveiled for Prague’s Philosopher Quarter; treasure worth unearthed in north-eastern Bohemia; and for our feature, we bring you another edition of our series, “Prague Off the Beaten Track” with Vit Pohanka.

Weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes reveals just how much—and how little—was known about the Celts who once lived in Czech lands. In the hills in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, a reconstructed Celtic oppidum stands as a reminder of the ancient Boii tribe who once lived in what is now Czechia. The site reflects a broader fascination in Czech culture with Celtic heritage—an interest that has persisted since the 1990s and continues today.

How is Czechia complying with EU's AI Act, bombing of Plzen in April 1945, an interview with Former Slovak ambassador to NATO, Peter Bátor who recently visited Prague.

Excessive alcohol consumption in Czechia, new network monitoring health of trees around Czechia, what will Prague look like in 2050?

Prague Astronomical clock stops to commemorate road traffic victims, Life story of murdered Czech female novelist subject of new series, Czechs' quiet secularism

Czechia mourns and remembers Pope Francis, Adolf Loos villa reconstruction, interview with daughter of photographer Jan Lukas

Broadcast in English - 04/21/2025

When Tereza Porybná talks about culture, she doesn’t mean a museum or a gallery — at least not in the traditional sense. For her, culture is a space. A space for dialogue, for connection, and yes, sometimes for surprise.

For today's show: News; an installation of a new pipe organ at St. Vitus Cathedral begins; Arnošt of Pardubice cruise ship is launched once more; and, for our feature, we bring you to Brno, where students from 22 countries attended Czechia’s largest Model UN, held at Masaryk University.

Prague hopes to attract more tourists from Japan, national parks concerned about proposed changes, visit to Telč

In the show today: news; Prague moves to ban shared e-scooters, resilience and strength coach Dominik Luks, Miloš Hroch on the Czech 'shoegaze' music genre in the 1990s.

News, designer Jan Černý and his EXPO 2025 outfits, Czech team wins third place at the world’s first racing competition for autonomous drones and the disinformation scene in Czechia

Ostrava, once the industrial heart of Czechoslovakia, is redefining itself for the 21st century. In this weekend’s edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, geographer Jan Hradecký of Ostrava University explains how the city is balancing its heavy industry heritage with efforts to restore nature and protect against climate change.

In the show: news; Prague Beer Fest returns to Holešovice; liberation of first Czech town 80 years ago; photography pioneer Jeffrey Martin on mapping Prague's streets.

Pablo Picasso artworks on show in Český Krumlov, a Prague primary school is transforming teaching of Czech to foreigners with innovative textbooks and a look at Prague's never-ending car problem.