Meanwhile in Czechia... 15/25
17.04.2025
Warning about counterfeit highway vignettes
Vignettes for using the freeways in the Czech Republic are now only available electronically and can be purchased either via the edalnice.cz portal or from some vending machines. A warning is now being issued in the Czech Republic about a fraudulent website modeled on edalnice.cz. If you shop there, you pay an inflated price but do not buy a vignette, which is unfortunately not so easy to notice as you cannot see whether the vehicle has been registered in the toll system. At edalnice.cz you can also check whether a valid vignette exists for a particular license plate.
At the same time, the Ministry of Transport warns against other websites where you can actually purchase vignettes, but which charge high surcharges. Specifically, these are currently czdalnice.cz, digitale-vignette-online.cz, e-vignettes.com and e-vignette.cz. You should avoid them at all costs.
Futuristic cable car to the Jeschken
The city administration of Liberec has now officially announced which gondola design it has chosen for the reconstruction of the cable car to Jeschken (Ještěd). It is a futuristic design by designer Anna Marešová. It is characterized by complete glass walls and also offers views through the roof and floor. It can accommodate up to 100 people.
The cable car was shut down in 2021 after a serious accident. It is now hoped to be able to resume operations in five years' time. The cable car will be extended by almost 800 meters to enable a direct transfer from the streetcar.
Only CZK 20,000 fine for illegal veranda burnt down
In January, the wooden veranda of a restaurant in Most was the scene of a serious fire in which seven people died and others suffered serious burns. The enclosed veranda had been built illegally and had never received a building permit. This should have resulted in a fine of millions of euros. However, it was built 16 years ago and the matter is therefore time-barred. For this reason, the city of Most has now only imposed a fine of CZK 20,000 (approx. EUR 800) on the operators for violating the building regulations over the last five years.
Czech pavilion opened at Expo in Osaka
Last Saturday, the EXPO 2025 world exhibition opened in Osaka. The Czech Republic is represented there with its own pavilion in a prominent location directly on the waterfront (far away from the German pavilion). The pavilion was essentially built from wood and glass, almost entirely manufactured in the Czech Republic and then transported to Japan in containers to be assembled there. Inside, a spiral ramp leads to the auditorium, where Czech artists will perform, e.g. the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cirk La Putyka circus and the Alfa Pilsen Theater. The building also houses a restaurant, which can serve up to 2000 meals and 5000 beers (Pilsner Urquell) per day. It is expected to attract 12,000 to 15,000 visitors a day. On the first day, around 10,000 visitors came and drank 1000 beers.
According to research by Czech Radio, the building cost around CZK 286 million (approx. EUR 11.4 million), almost 50% more than planned. This is justified by higher fire protection requirements from the Japanese authorities and additional measures to protect against earthquakes. The costs correspond almost exactly to the sum that the government had originally estimated for the total costs of the six-month presentation of the Czech Republic at the EXPO. Income of around CZK 192 million (approx. EUR 7.7 million) is expected from renting out the building and selling it after the EXPO.
The Czech Republic's most important goal with its EXPO presence is to strengthen relations with Japan, both in terms of tourism and business. According to Foreign Minister Lipavský, Japan is the second largest investor in the Czech Republic and Japanese companies account for 5% of the Czech Republic's gross domestic product.
Czech Republic completely independent of Russian oil
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced today that the Czech Republic is completely independent of Russian oil for the first time in its history. The expansion of the western TAL pipeline is now complete and oil from the port of Trieste will flow to Litvínov in northern Bohemia.
The expansion of the pipeline was decided in 2022 and started a year ago. Its current capacity is sufficient to cover the entire Czech demand. The TAL pipeline runs from Trieste across the Alps to Germany and is 750 kilometers long. The Czech Republic is connected to it via the 350-kilometer-long IKL pipeline between Bavaria and Nelahozeves.
Crude oil has not flowed through the Druzhba pipeline from Russia to the Czech Republic since March. Its future is currently being discussed, but shutting it down would be the wrong approach, said Ivan Indráček from the Association of Independent Oil Producers.
Czech Republic currently very dry
Precipitation in the Czech Republic has been particularly low this year, continuing the deficit that has prevailed since October, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ).
By mid-April, only around 46% of the usual precipitation (77 mm) had fallen in the period from 1991 to 2020. The most precipitation still fell in the Krkonoše and Jizera Mountains, but even there it was only around 60% of the usual amount. April is particularly dry throughout the country, with only 10% of the long-term average. As a result, the soil has dried out considerably, which is a major problem for agriculture as well as for nature. Unfortunately, meteorologists are also unable to announce a positive outlook for the coming weeks.
Slight improvement in the environmental situation in the Czech Republic
In an EU comparison, the state of the environment in the Czech Republic has improved slightly. This is shown by the corresponding analysis of the bank Česká spořitelna and the data portal "Europe in Data", which was published on Wednesday. Following 22nd place in the two previous years, the Czech Republic came in 19th place this time, just behind Germany.
The Czech Republic ranks poorly in terms of emissions, share of renewable energy and waste, while it ranks well in terms of water consumption and transport emissions in particular. The ranking does not show a clear regional pattern (see map). The more northerly countries perform quite well, as do Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and south-western Europe.
Easter riding in Mikulášovice
The revived tradition of Easter riding in Mikulášovice in the Šluknov region will take place for the 15th time on Sunday. From 10.30 a.m., Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Nicholas with musical accompaniment from the region. After the mass, the Easter procession will make its way through the village until around 2 pm.
Easter egg exhibition in Libotenice
Once again this year, the traditional Easter egg exhibition will take place in Libotenice on the Elbe, not far from Litoměřice. The works of art are not only present there at Easter, as they can be admired all year round in the gallery run by the Czech Association of Easter Egg Painters. Normally you have to book a visit, but the gallery is open all year round at Easter, this year from April 18 to 21 from 10 am to 4 pm. You can not only admire the beautiful pieces, but also buy them.
More about the Libotenice Easter Egg Gallery
Egg procession on Charles Bridge
Last Sunday, the annual egg procession took place on Prague's Charles Bridge. However, this is not directly related to Easter, but to a curious incident: the whole of Bohemia was supposed to support the construction of Charles Bridge in 1363 by supplying eggs, which were used in the mortar at the time (again, this is not a legend, but scientifically proven). However, as these are known to be very sensitive, legend has it that the inhabitants of the village of Velvary hard-boiled them before transporting them, making a fool of themselves throughout Bohemia.
In a fine example of self-irony, a procession from Velvary to Charles Bridge has been held every year on Palm Sunday since 2015 to commemorate the embarrassment, led by the mayor and with many people dressed in medieval costumes. Of course, a wagon with hard-boiled eggs laid softly on straw is a must, and many other eggs are carried in baskets. These are then handed over to official representatives in Prague amid applause and laughter.
Egg prices rise particularly sharply in the Czech Republic
The Velvary residents' egg delivery may have been somewhat smaller this year, as eggs are currently particularly expensive in the Czech Republic. In an EU comparison, prices here rose the most in March in relation to both the previous month (+20.4%) and the previous year (+44.4%). Belgium, Spain and Bulgaria recorded similar developments, while eggs became cheaper in Croatia and Ireland. However, even the Czech price increases are small compared to the USA, where eggs cost almost twice as much as a year ago.
New record in the snail race
A new course record was set at the snail race during the large Zahrady Čech garden fair in Litoměřice (we reported last week): The proud winner covered the 33 cm in just 1:58 minutes, beating off more than 30 competitors.
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