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Jan Masaryk's Remains Exhumed

Nearly 80 years after his death, the remains of former Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk were exhumed. To do so, the family grave at the cemetery in Lány near Kladno was opened. The town is home to the summer residence of Czech presidents.

The son of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, died on the night of March 10, 1948, after falling from his official residence at the Foreign Ministry in Prague. His body was found beneath the open bathroom window. Officially, it was ruled a suicide. A few weeks earlier, the Communist Party had seized power by force in Czechoslovakia. Jan Masaryk was one of the few remaining independent ministers in the predominantly Communist government and, thanks in part to his reputation and popularity among the people, wielded influence that should not be underestimated. In this respect, Masaryk’s death could only have suited the Communist rulers.

The exhumation is to be followed by an investigation using the latest police methods to clarify the circumstances of Masaryk’s death. The investigation is also prompted by new findings and documents, including translations of documents from diplomatic archives in France, the U.S., and the U.K.

Private Consumption Drives Czech Economic Growth

The Czech economy grew by 1.9 percent year-over-year in the second quarter. Compared to the first quarter, economic output rose by 0.4 percent. Growth was driven primarily by private consumption, which increased by 2.7 percent year-over-year. The 7.1 percent increase in gross fixed capital formation also contributed to the Czech economy’s strong performance. Government consumption rose by 1 percent. Gross value added increased by 1.8 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This increase was driven primarily by industry, trade, transportation, tourism, and the information and communications sector. Employment rose by 1.5 percent, and the number of hours worked increased by 2.8 percent.

Analysts expect growth of just under 2 percent for the full year as well. Given the difficult global environment, this is considered a major success. Risk factors include not only the war in the Middle East but also the weak German economy, to which the Czech economy is closely linked.
The fact that the Czech economy is nevertheless faring so much better than the German economy is due to continued robust private consumption. Real wages have been rising for some time now, and inflation has been kept under control despite higher oil prices. In this situation, households have been catching up on many purchases that were put on hold during periods of galloping, double-digit inflation.

However, consumption is likely to slow in the foreseeable future, as private households increasingly seek to shift toward saving.

Dittrich Mausoleum Gets Its Stained-Glass Windows Back

The mausoleum of the Dittrich industrialist family in Krásná Lípa (Schönlinde) on the outskirts of Bohemian Switzerland is getting its leaded-glass windows back. This has become possible because an original sketch from 1888 was found in the Rumburk (Rumburg) Museum. According to a report by Czech Radio (Český rozhlas), the sketch reveals that the windows featured an unusually rich array of imagery.

The restoration of the stained-glass windows will be another step in the restoration of the burial site, a project that has been underway for years and will still cost a great deal of money. This year, repairs to the roof were finally completed, meaning that for the first time in years, rainwater can no longer seep in. The metal door and the entire front facade have already been renovated.

The mausoleum is owned by the town of Krásná Lípa, which plans to completely renovate the mausoleum in the coming years. In addition to the leaded-glass windows, this includes the entire interior, including fascinating gold mosaics in the basement. The multitude of gold hues is particularly fascinating. The adjacent boiler house with its chimney is also set to be restored. The mausoleum had been heated by a sophisticated system designed to maintain a stable temperature inside. The mausoleum’s architect was Julius Carl Raschendorff, who is best known for Berlin Cathedral.

Production of_Low-CO2 Cement Begins Near Lovosice

The Swiss building materials group Holcim has commissioned a modern production facility for low-emission cement at its plant in Čížkovice, near Lovosice in northern Bohemia. In the future, cement will be produced using calcined clay, which replaces cement clinker. The new technology is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30 percent, thereby preventing 45,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. According to Holcim, planting 2 million new trees would be required to achieve such a reduction. Producing calcined clay requires only 800 degrees Celsius, whereas cement clinker requires a temperature of 1,450 degrees Celsius. According to Holcim, the plant is the first of its kind in Central Europe. The technology had previously been tested in France. The cost of the new plant amounts to the equivalent of approximately 41 million euros. Holcim received one-third of this amount from the modernization fund of the Czech Ministry of the Environment.

Holcim is the third-largest cement producer in the Czech Republic, behind Heidelberg Cement and Cemex.

Crop Failures in Northern Bohemia

The harvest in Northern Bohemia is nearing its end, and the initial results are devastating. Farmers in the Ústí district, which borders Saxony, harvested 15 to 20 percent less. At the same time, the harvest in Northern Bohemia was poorer than in the rest of the country. On average, 4.77 metric tons of grain were harvested per hectare. That is 0.6 metric tons below the national average.

Farmers attributed the poor results primarily to the lack of rainfall. In some areas, less than one-third of the long-term average fell. Losses were reported for virtually all crops. Forage corn has not yet been harvested, but a sharp decline is also expected there. The decline in the sugar beet harvest was particularly pronounced. Farmers now also anticipate problems with animal feed, as less hay could be produced.

Děčín’s Bus Fleet Is Becoming Almost Entirely Electric

Děčín is acquiring new electric buses for its public transit system by the end of 2029. After that, with a few exceptions, only electric buses will be in service in the city, which has just under 50,000 residents. In a recent call for bids, the city announced the purchase of a total of 21 electric buses, including 18-meter-long articulated buses and nine shorter buses (10–11 meters), but primarily the 12-meter-long buses commonly used in the city. Due to its location on the edge of the Bohemian Central Mountains and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the route network includes roads with steep inclines, which require correspondingly shorter buses. The first new buses are scheduled to be delivered by the end of October 2027. The city expects the purchase price to be nearly 250 million crowns (nearly 10.5 million euros). To finance the purchase, Děčín plans to apply for funds from the modernization fund.

To date, Děčín already has 21 electric buses in city service. The buses, manufactured by MAN, have been in trial operation since August.

 

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)

Czech Republic to Build Three New Dams

The prolonged drought has also shaken up the political scene in the Czech Republic. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has reactivated the National Coalition Against Drought, which will operate under his leadership going forward and has set itself the goal, among other things, of accelerating the construction of new dams and reservoirs. However, most of the steps toward the first new dam construction since the Velvet Revolution had already been taken before the drought coalition was reactivated, so the dam in Nové Heřminovy is now on the verge of breaking ground. The dam is scheduled to be completed by 2033 and will have a water surface area of 130 hectares.

This will be followed by the dams in Vlachovice near Zlín (156 hectares) and in Kryry near Louny (73 hectares), with construction scheduled for completion in 2031 and 2035, respectively. Plans for additional dams in Senomaty and Šanov, on the border between the Central Bohemia and Ústí regions, are less concrete. These are also located in the Kryry area, which is one of the driest regions in the Czech Republic in the long term.

To accelerate the expansion, the government will introduce a new law for additional dams by October. In its long-term master plan, the Czech government anticipates 86 sites.

The Děčín District Is Losing Its Largest Lake

In these dry times, when every water reservoir is needed, the largest lake in the Děčín district has disappeared. Where 36 hectares were still covered with water just two years ago, there is now, at best, a wetland—nearly 400,000 cubic meters of water have simply vanished.

This is the Velký rybník, literally “Big Fish Pond,” known in German as Bernsdorfer See. It is located on the outskirts of the village of Rybniště (Pond Village), at the northeastern end of the municipality. As the name suggests, it is an artificially created body of water that was first mentioned as early as the 16th century, at that time still under the name Pelmensdorffer Teich. This name was a reference to the former village of Pelmennsdorff, which is now called Horní Podluží (Obergrund) and bordered the pond to the east.

The main reason for the concerns surrounding this vast body of water—which is even designated as a nature reserve and serves as a vital habitat for migratory birds, as well as white-tailed eagles and gray herons—is the dam, which is no longer stable. When the dam was in danger of breaking two years ago, the municipal administration of Varnsdorf (Warnsdorf) ordered the water to be drained. A dam breach would have had catastrophic consequences for the neighboring communities of Horní Podluží and Dolní Podluží, as well as for Varnsdorf and the adjacent communities in Saxony. The floodwaters would naturally have followed the course of the Lausur River, which in the Czech Republic is known as the Lužnička—one of two rivers dammed into Velký rybník—and flows into the Mandau River at Großschönau.

However, the owner has so far failed to repair the dam. In the meantime, the severe drought did the rest, and almost nothing remained of the vast body of water. This situation will change again with increased rainfall during the colder months. To make matters worse, the discharge control system is also broken, meaning the water cannot be retained even at a lower level. For the reservoir to refill, the renovation of the dam is crucial. The owner—who is the proprietor of the Varnsdorf-based company Velveta—assures, however, that he is working to have the dam renovated soon, according to the daily newspaper Děčínský deník.

Cable Thieves Halt Train from Zittau to Liberec

The train from Liberec to Zittau should actually be traveling at high speed right now. The Czech Republic had spent millions upgrading the route from Liberec to the Czech-Polish border. A lot has happened on the German side as well. And in the end, the Polish side was finally persuaded to upgrade the short section of track running through their country without any stops. On the former slow-speed line, where the speed limit was 30 km/h, speeds of up to 100 km/h are now possible.

But now the train is once again being slowed down on that short stretch through Poland. That’s because cable thieves are running rampant there. Fiber-optic cables are repeatedly being stolen, causing service outages. Since the schedule is now based on the higher speed, the delays are quickly piling up.

District Administrator Martin Půta has now made the problem a top priority. Půta is originally from Hrádek nad Nisou and also has good contacts in Poland. After all, this is the line in the Liberec district with the second-highest ridership. An average of 2,500 passengers ride the train daily.

The district wants the track manager to repair damage more quickly and is calling for cross-border police cooperation. The goal is to stabilize the line by the start of the new school year (Tuesday, September 1).

Šluknov Wants to Buy Back Prefab Buildings

The planned repurchase of 400 apartments in the prefabricated housing complex in Šluknov (Schluckenau) is taking shape. Since the city does not have the necessary funds on its own, it has asked the state and the Ústí district for support. Since the state was unable to provide the 200 million crowns (8.3 million euros) it had originally pledged, it was decided to expand the EU’s “Just Transition” fund to include a “Housing” component. A decision on the allocation of these funds is imminent. The fund is actually intended for areas where coal was mined in the past or is still being mined today. That was never the case in Šluknov. The traditional coal-mining regions are located near Ústí and further west. However, Northern Bohemia is generally considered a problematic region, which is why there are also a large number of so-called socially marginalized communities here.

It is not only in Šluknov that there is great hope that the funding will be approved. For its part, the Ústí Regional Council has already approved a sum of 60 million crowns. The final decision rests with the Regional Parliament. The city itself is contributing up to 30 million crowns. The total purchase price amounts to 285 million crowns. The purchase is scheduled to take place before the end of this year.

The prefab housing complex is not only in need of renovation; it also suffers from an unfavorable demographic makeup. In addition to seniors, the residents here are primarily people who rely on welfare. A total of 1,500 people live in the complex—more than a quarter of the city’s entire population. The current owner, meanwhile, charges relatively high rent for the basic apartments, some of which are in dire need of renovation. Since housing subsidies cover the rent up to a certain amount, the landlord is guaranteed his income—a business model that is very common in the Czech Republic.

As soon as the apartments are back in city ownership, the city plans to begin renovations. Some of the buildings are also scheduled for demolition. Temporary housing solutions must be found for the tenants. Above all, the city wants to give these people a sense of hope for the future again. In collaboration with the Ústí district, the residents’ problems will be addressed. To this end, the district is currently seeking social workers to work with the residents in the housing complex starting October 1. A total of 7.5 positions are being advertised.

Beneš Bridge Will Cost More and Be Completed Later

Renovation of the Beneš Bridge in Ústí nad Labem (Aussig) has been underway since spring 2025. This has resulted in significant traffic restrictions, as it is one of only two road bridges spanning the Elbe River in the district capital. It has now been announced that the reopening, originally planned for the end of this year, will no longer be possible.

This was due to unforeseen events. The most significant of these involved the pipes of the Střibrnický potok stream, through which the stream flows into the city. These pipes are located at the bridgehead on the side facing the city center. During the work, it was discovered that the pipes were dilapidated. Since they belong to the city, the renovation had to be coordinated with city officials. All in all, this took 100 days. But that’s not all. With the 100-day delay, the project is now fully entering the cold season, during which many types of work are not possible, such as laying the asphalt layer. Depending on how long the frost period lasts, the time until the opening will be extended by another two months, meaning the bridge won’t open until the end of May 2027.

Until then, drivers will have to continue using the Mariánský Bridge as a detour. Pedestrians and cyclists can use a temporary bridge next to the historic Beneš Bridge.

Not only is the reopening being delayed, but costs are also rising. According to the Ústí district, costs have skyrocketed by about 14 percent to 720 million crowns (30 million euros).

The start of construction on the bridge had already been delayed for so long that it ultimately had to be closed even to heavy vehicles. Buses were only allowed to cross the bridge one at a time. The renovation was long overdue.

The Dr. Edvard Beneš Bridge was built between 1934 and 1936 and was one of the most modern steel structures of its time. With a span of 123.6 meters between the piers, it held the record in Czechoslovakia at the time.

School is starting!

While students in Saxony have already been back in school for two weeks, children in the Czech Republic are still enjoying their summer break. For them, school doesn’t start again until next Tuesday—traditionally on September 1. This will sound familiar to older East Germans, as that used to be the date for the start of the new school year here as well. No annoying back-and-forth with school dates. No school in the sweltering heat of August—or in July, which is at least as hot. OK, so that means school sometimes even when Saxon kids are already stretching their legs in the beach sand in June, during the early summer season.

Still, given the high temperatures, the long summer break seems perfectly reasonable—especially since politicians have already proposed it. People regularly warn that during this long break, children will forget everything they’ve been taught. An argument as yawn-inducingly shallow as the summer news slump. What are children from southern countries supposed to say then?

But beware: Even in the Czech Republic, the debate over long summer vacations flares up again and again. Every year, parents face the same dilemma: What do I do with my kids, who have nine weeks off, while my annual vacation covers just a little more than half that time? So people sometimes move their work-from-home setup to their vacation spot, vacations are often spent at Grandma and Grandpa’s, and summer camps sell out as fast as tickets to an Oasis concert.

It’s no surprise, then, that the Minister of Education recently asked on his social media account whether it might be time to make some changes to the 101-year-old vacation system—such as spreading the long summer break more evenly throughout the year. Given the complaints from no few parents about vacation scheduling, the reactions were surprisingly negative: some suspected the minister of wanting to shorten the vacations, others accused him of wanting to extend them, and everyone declared him crazy. That’s why the minister has now clarified in an interview that absolutely nothing will change and everything will stay exactly as it always has been. The long summer break in the Czech Republic will remain long and will continue to run from July 1 through August 31.

 

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)

The Czech Republic commemorates the suppression of the Prague Spring

On Friday, the violent suppression of the Prague Spring was commemorated in many places across the Czech Republic. On the night of August 21, 58 years ago, troops from the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria began invading Czechoslovakia to put an end to the attempt there to reform socialism. Fifty-eight people died as a result. By the end of 1968, another 50 people had lost their lives.

The invasion brought an end to the so-called Prague Spring under Communist Party Secretary Alexandr Dubček, who—especially in the first half of 1968—had brought the country unprecedented freedoms such as freedom of the press and freedom of travel, as well as a wealth of films and books that remain significant to this day. The occupation, which was actually intended to be only temporary, did not end until after 1989, when what was then Czechoslovakia negotiated an accelerated withdrawal of Soviet troops.

High-ranking politicians, as well as tens of thousands of people, took part in the commemoration. In his speech in front of the Czech Radio building, President Petr Pavel highlighted the outstanding role of radio journalists in keeping citizens informed about the course of the invasion. “Czech Radio and Czech Television continue to play a significant role in the Czech media landscape today, not only in news reporting but also in investigative journalism, education, culture, and sports,” Pavel emphasized. According to Pavel, public media today face political pressure to curtail their freedom and independence. He was referring to the Czech government’s decision to abolish broadcasting fees and to fund radio and television directly from the state budget. “They are with us—be with them!” the president exclaimed, alluding to the slogan of the broadcast journalists from 1968 (“We are with you, be with us!”). Senate President Miloš Vystrčil of the opposition ODS party also linked the commemoration of the 1968 invasion to criticism of the new broadcasting law. “Independent media and courage are the first targets of a power that seeks to normalize,” he said.

Government politicians also appeared at the commemoration and were met with boos. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš sent his apologies; he had planned a trip to South Bohemia for one of the most important days of remembrance in the Czech Republic.

State museums and galleries are free once a month

Starting in September, state-run galleries and museums in the Czech Republic will be free to visit on the first Sunday of every month. This was announced by Culture Minister Oto Klempíř. The first day with free admission will therefore be September 6. The new policy will initially remain in effect until the end of the year. However, the minister is aiming for a permanent solution. The Ministry of Culture published the list of institutions covered by this initiative on its Facebook page. These include, among others, five locations of the National Gallery in Prague, four locations of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, and two locations of the Olomouc Museum of Art. Free admission on the first Sunday of the month is also available at the State Museum of Glass and Jewelry in Jablonec nad Nisou (Gablonz). “The goal is to make culture accessible to as wide a range of people as possible,” said the minister.

This new initiative builds on a pilot program conducted in the spring, during which state-run galleries were open free of charge on the first Sunday of each month, the largest state-run museums on the second Sunday, and regional museums on the third. As a result, visitor numbers rose significantly compared to other Sundays. On August 30 and September 27, state-owned palaces and castles will also be open to the public free of charge. In return, these institutions are to receive compensation payments from the state.

Northern Prague Ring Road to Be Built Starting in 2028

Construction of the remaining northern section of the Prague ring road is scheduled to begin in two years. According to the state Road and Highway Directorate (ŘSD), up to 90 percent of the necessary land is expected to be acquired by the end of 2027. The Directorate then plans to apply for a building permit. The northern section is one of the last major segments of the ring road where construction has not yet begun. In contrast, the western and southern sections have been completed for some time, and in the southeast, the section between the D1 highway to Brno and the town of Běchovice is currently under construction.

The northern section is particularly important for connecting the D8 from Prague to Dresden. In particular, the journey to Prague Airport would then be significantly faster. However, the Ministry of Transport anticipates resistance, primarily from the local population. It is therefore not yet possible to say exactly when the northern section will be completed.

How often do people go mushroom hunting in the Czech Republic?

According to statistics alone, Czechs go mushroom hunting 33 times each year. This is based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, which was analyzed by the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Processing at the Czech University of Life Sciences. Since there are also less enthusiastic mushroom hunters among the Czech population and the statistics include children, the actual number of annual mushroom-hunting trips is likely to be significantly higher. Czech mushroom hunters could therefore easily go mushroom hunting twice a week. Last year alone, 20 metric tons of mushrooms were collected.

However, the number of mushroom-hunting trips is on the decline. The 33 mushroom-hunting days refer to the year 2025. In 2024, statistically, each resident still went mushroom hunting 44 times; a year earlier, it was even 47 times. However, even 33 mushroom-hunting trips are well above the long-term average of 24.

The data shows that 65 percent of people go mushroom hunting at least once a month. Another 21 percent of respondents said they do so at least once a week, and 14 percent even several times a week. In contrast, 25 percent of respondents went mushroom hunting only once or twice a year, and nearly 10 percent ignore this almost national leisure activity.

According to the statistics, mushroom hunters were most active in the Liberec, South Bohemia, and Plzeň regions.
Conditions in the Czech Republic are truly ideal for mushroom hunting. There is no limit on how much you can harvest for personal use. Exceptions include protected plants and fenced-in properties. However, due to the drought, many may have lost interest this year.

Record Turnout for the Gaston Swim

This year’s “Gaston Memorial” swim across the Elbe River drew a record number of participants. 120 swimmers covered the entire route from Ústí nad Labem to Děčín—or at least swam part of it.

Originating as an idea born over a few beers one evening at a pub, the event—which starts not far from the Schreckenstein weir—has gained a certain popularity. In 2008, the water polo team met up at the “U Gastona” restaurant “for a beer” after practice. That’s when the topic came up: how long would it take to swim from Ústí to Děčín? “One of our water polo players then decided to test it out, and that’s how it all began,” said Tomáš Česnek, the organizer of the Elbe Swim, to the daily newspaper Děčínský deník.

The name of the Elbe Swim commemorates Gaston, the South African sea lion who lived at the Prague Zoo from 1991 to 2002. He became famous when, during the floods of August 2002, the Prague Zoo near the Vltava River was inundated and Gaston swam to safety in the Vltava. After attempts to recapture him failed, he continued on his way to Wittenberg, where zookeepers were able to rescue him from the raging Elbe River, but he died from stress and exhaustion. The sea lion, who was popular among visitors to the Prague Zoo, had traveled a good 300 kilometers through the floodwaters of the Elbe River, pursued by zookeepers and zoologists.

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(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)

The "Hunger Stones" can be seen near Děčín

Traditionally, during dry summers, the so-called “Hunger Stones” can be seen along the Elbe near Děčín. These are large stone blocks with engraved inscriptions. Most of these inscriptions record the years when the Elbe’s water level was at its lowest, thereby threatening the local economy. In the past, the Elbe was one of the most important transportation routes, and the people of Děčín were economically dependent on it—hence the name “Hunger Stones.” This phenomenon occurs only on unregulated sections of the river. The last Elbe barrage is located in Ústí nad Labem; although there are modifications downstream (riverbanks, navigation channels), the river flows unregulated beyond that point.

The Elbe Water Authority (Povodí Labe) has now had the stones re-identified and cleaned. In the process, an employee even found a “new” Hunger Stone in Děčín. The stone has actually always been there, but the inscriptions were no longer legible, and the stone had apparently fallen into oblivion. Two dates (1934 and 1947) are engraved on it—two classic drought years that also appear on other stones. In addition, the name of the person who engraved the number 1934 is clearly visible: F. Schade. The year 1947 shows that, despite the expulsion of a large part of the original population after World War II, the “Hungerstein” was still well known. It apparently only fell into oblivion afterward. Such stones can also be found near Hřensko. Employees of Povodí Labe counted a total of 15 stones there.

Today, the economic situation is no longer threatened due to alternative transportation routes. However, the drought is also taking its toll on the Czech Republic. This affects not so much the already decimated cargo shipping traffic as it does agriculture and the flora and fauna. In addition, the first hydroelectric power plants have been shut down to conserve water. The fact that the water level in Děčín does not fall below 115 centimeters is due to the Vltava Cascades. This system of dams is responsible for ensuring a minimum flow rate of 40 cubic meters per second in the Vltava River, primarily to guarantee an adequate water supply for the capital, Prague. As a side benefit, this also supplies water to the Elbe River, allowing steamboats in Dresden to continue operating to a limited extent.

After all, a historic moment is now approaching at the Vltava Cascades, as the Orlík Dam will soon no longer be allowed to be tapped to prevent the water level from falling below the minimum threshold. The next major reservoir, Slapy, will soon take over. According to historians, this happens only once every 50 years. Nevertheless, there is still enough water in reserve at Slapy.

Saxony Informed About Planned Elbe Barrage

As reported in the last newsletter, the Czech Republic is moving forward with preparations for the construction of a barrage on the Elbe River in Děčín. The required environmental impact assessment is expected to be completed shortly and submitted to the relevant authorities and the public for review.

At the end of July, Czech Environment Minister Igor Červený informed Saxony’s Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch, as well as two state secretaries from the Ministries of Transportation and Infrastructure, of this development. According to the Czech daily newspaper Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD), Breitenbuch expressed surprise that the Czech Republic intends to build the barrage after all. Apparently, the Saxon government had not been adequately informed. Saxon media are also reporting significantly less on the Saxon-Czech border region than they did two years ago.

However, according to MfD, both Breitenbuch and Sören Trillenberg, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, were impressed by the Czech plans and announced their support. According to the MfD, no details were provided on what form this support might take. This, however, represents a shift in Saxony’s previous policy, which had always viewed the construction of the barrage critically—primarily due to concerns about deteriorating water quality, but also because of its impact on the flora and fauna in the Saxon Elbe region.

The Czech Republic sees the 250-million-euro project as an opportunity to transport more goods by water. The Ministry of Transport cited a figure of up to 4 million metric tons per year. However, this maximum was previously reached only in the 1980s, when there were far more cargo ships than there are today. In the first quarter, a mere 116,000 metric tons were transported on the Elbe. Germany cannot guarantee the water levels demanded by the Czech Republic almost year-round, and the construction of barrages on the German side has been ruled out.

There is also hope that the water table will rise in the area where the water is impounded. The barrage is insignificant for water retention—which is crucial during this drought—because its storage capacity is far too small for that purpose.

The Czech National Audit Office, which oversees the use of taxpayer funds, has also criticized the wisdom of the new construction in the past. Critics view the investment sum of 250 million euros as too low, since the Czech Republic has used this figure in the past, while prices have since risen sharply in almost all sectors.

Majority in Favor of Cell Phone Ban in Schools

Eight out of ten Czechs support a ban on cell phones in schools. This was the finding of an opinion poll conducted by the firm Median for Czech Radio in early August. Of more than 1,000 respondents, 78 percent supported the ban, primarily parents and the older generation. Among young people, the proportion of supporters was just under 50 percent. However, three-quarters of all respondents also agreed with the statement that schools should teach children how to use digital technology.

The Czech Republic plans to implement a cell phone ban starting with the 2027–28 school year. A few weeks ago, the government approved a complete ban on cell phones in kindergartens, elementary schools, and the lower grades of multi-year high schools and conservatories. The ban applies not only during class but also during breaks, after-school care, and in the cafeteria. However, schools may permit the use of digital tools for instructional purposes. The law must now be passed by Parliament and signed by the President.

However, such a ban is already in effect at 90 percent of schools, which is why the opposition has described the law as pure activism. “A blanket ban solves nothing. What matters are individualized, enforceable solutions from schools and cooperation among schools in this area.”

Setback for the Ziegenbahn

The Central Planning Commission of the Ministry of Transportation has spoken out against the renovation and reopening of the final section of the railway line from Děčín to Oldřichov u Duchcova. The costs, estimated at around 300 million crowns (12.5 million euros), would be too high. Due to limited funds, more important lines would have to be renovated first. In contrast, only seasonal tourist service is planned for the line, which is popularly known as the “Goat Railway.”

The section in question is the 8.5-kilometer stretch from Krupka město (Graupen Stadt) to Oldřichov, which is currently not operational. Since 2022, the Ústí District has been operating a tourist service from Děčín initially to Telnice, which was extended to Krupka in 2024. The service is well-utilized, which is why the district expects the opening of the final section to also boost tourism. It also offers a stop in Teplice (Lesní brána Station – Forest Gate) and, with smart connections to other transportation options, would increase the appeal of the Teplice region. Even today, passengers can transfer in Krupka to the chairlift up to the Mückentürmchen.

The Ústí District is therefore not giving up yet. The district government is continuing the policy of the previous administration. And even the Ministry of Transportation has not yet closed the door. Officials noted that renovation is not possible “at this time” but expressed openness to a renovation if the Ústí District were to contribute funding.

Schluckenau Residents Worried About Children’s Hospital

About 55,000 people live in the so-called Šluknov Corner, the land promontory jutting into Saxony that includes towns such as Rumburk, Varnsdorf, Mikulášovice, and Šluknov—the small town that gave the region its name. In recent days, unease has been growing in the region, which is repeatedly threatened with being left behind by the rest of the country. Currently, these fears center on medical care for children, as the pediatric clinic at the hospital in Rumburk is set to close. The daily newspaper *Děčínský deník* reports on this. There has not yet been any official confirmation from the operator, *Krajská zdravotní*, a hospital network under the jurisdiction of the Ústí District. However, staffing shortages are cited as the reasons for a possible closure. The clinic’s long-time director is retiring. Parents would then have to take their children to hospitals in Česká Lípa, Děčín, or Liberec for inpatient treatment.

Mayors are organizing protests against a possible closure. The association responsible for the further development of the Schluckenau region is set to address the issue shortly. Above all, everyone is demanding an explanation from the district.

This is not the first time a clinic at Rumburk Hospital has closed. Years ago, the maternity clinic here ceased operations. At one point, the hospital’s very future was in jeopardy when the then-municipal hospital was forced to file for bankruptcy. It was saved by its integration into the Ústí District Hospital Network, which includes, among others, the hospitals in Teplice, Ústí, and Děčín. Other solutions, such as cross-border healthcare at the nearest Saxon hospital in Sebnitz, have so far failed.

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)