Meanwhile in Czechia... 13/26
02.04.2026
Edmundsklamm gorge: perhaps as early as May
Since Wednesday, the boats with tourists have been shuttling through the Wild Gorge again. One of the biggest attractions in Bohemian Switzerland has reopened just in time for Easter. The village of Hřensko (Herrnskretschen) is expecting a real rush over the holidays, which will also be due to the large Easter market with almost 40 stalls in the center of the village around the church.
The operating time in the Wild Gorge has also been extended. The last boat now departs at 5.30 pm. In the Wilde Klamm, the boats travel upstream from the lower landing stage and return to the starting point. You can now also pay by card at the landing stage.
However, the Edmundsklamm remains closed for the time being. New geological investigations have identified five dangerous objects that now need to be secured before tourists can be allowed back into the gorge. A company has already been found to secure the gorge and intensive talks are underway with the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The mayor hopes that the gorge will be open by the end of May at the latest.
Visitors will be rewarded for their patience, however, as the municipality is planning to allow twice as many visitors per day into the gorge this season as last year. Back then, it was a kind of test phase. Most recently, the municipality sold 150 tickets per day. This year there should be at least 300. Two new boats will be launched for this purpose. If all goes well, the reservation system will then also run via the Internet. After Easter, the municipal council will decide to make the money available for the introduction of the system. The same company that has been successfully operating such a system for some time in the Adršpach crags and more recently in the Tyssa walls will be commissioned to do so.
Lowest birth rate since 1785
The Czech Statistical Office published the latest figures on population development this week. The number of inhabitants in the country is expected to increase by around 6,300 to 10,915,839 people in 2025. However, this would only be due to immigration, while the natural population trend shows a death surplus of around 35,700 people.
Last year, the number of births would have reached a historic low of 77,600 children since 1785, when the statistical recording of the population in the Czech lands began. 47% of children were born out of wedlock, most children were born to women between the ages of 30 and 32.
The Czech Republic goes to the World Cup
While the Italians are being left out for the third time, the Czech men's national soccer team is taking part in the World Cup for the first time in 20 years. The Czechs beat Denmark on penalties in the play-off final the day before yesterday. A penalty shoot-out also decided their progress in the semi-final against Ireland a week ago, when the score was 2-2 after extra time. However, both commentators and players (self-)criticized that the matches were not of a high quality. The team will now face South Korea, South Africa and Mexico in Group A at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 12. At 74, coach Miroslav Koubek will be the oldest coach at the World Cup.
How do the stores open over Easter?
Good Friday has long been a public holiday in the Czech Republic too. But if you still want to go shopping in the neighboring country, you don't have to worry. All stores are open on Good Friday. You can also shop on Holy Saturday as you would on any Saturday. Stores are also open on Easter Sunday. However, some stores may shorten their opening hours. Only Easter Monday is closed. Unlike in Germany, Easter Monday is the main public holiday in the Czech Republic. Many popular customs are celebrated there. The tradition of Easter markets is also becoming increasingly popular, e.g. in Úštěk on Saturday or in the Teplice Colonnades until Monday.
A good overview of Czech Easter customs has been published by the Landesecho. These range from the amusing delivery of eggs from Velvary to Prague, which is associated with an embarrassing history, to the highly controversial custom of beating young women with willow rods. Today, for example, you shouldn't be surprised if you are served green beer. In the regional museum in Ústí nad Labem, you can visit an Easter egg exhibition, while the gallery of the Association of Easter Egg Painters in Libotenice is apparently only open by appointment this year.
Museums network across borders
45 participants from almost 20 institutions, mainly from museums and archives in Saxony and the Czech Republic, met for a workshop at Weesenstein Castle on Monday. The participants spoke in Czech and German as well as English and the workshop was primarily a networking event. Around a third of the participants came from the Czech Republic, including Velké Březno Castle, the Zubrnice Open-Air Museum and the Regional Museum in Děčín. The theme of the workshop was "Growing, shopping, eating - communicating historical supply systems", which plays an important role in various museums in the border region. The workshop was part of the Interreg project "Childhood in the Nobility and Bourgeoisie in Historical Perspective" organized by Weesenstein Castle and the Regional Museum in Děčín.