In line with the ecological transformation of the Czech Republic whose energy mix includes a large proportion of coal and oil the methanization of organic waste and biowaste has a great potential bringing green energy production and a reduction in fossil fuel consumption Czech national regulations require municipalities to collect biowaste separately and to reduce the volume of biowaste going to landfill ("Waste Act" in force since January 2021) This acquisition opens up new growth prospects for SUEZ in the Czech Republic where the Group has been operating for over 30 years SUEZ is present in the Czech water market through four dedicated companies: Brno Waterworks and Sewerage Company located in and around Brno; Ostrava Waterworks and Sewerage Company located in Ostrava; Karlovy Vary Waterworks and Sewerage Company These four companies supply drinking water and collect and treat wastewater for one million people in the Czech Republic They have nearly 1,700 employees and generated sales of around €200 million in 2022 SUEZ has also participated in consortia for the construction of two of the country's major wastewater treatment plants Panenka in stable condition and wife hopeful of coronavirus recovery Antonin Panenka is in a stable condition as he continues to be treated for COVID-19 in the Czech Republic The penalty hero of the 1976 European Championships tested positive for the virus earlier this week after being rushed to hospital and placed in intensive care Panenka's name became famous worldwide when his dinked penalty past Sepp Maier won the European Championship for Czechoslovakia Vlasta Panenkova, has thanked well-wishers from around the world as she updated Bohemians 1905 on her husband's condition Following two-days of treatment in Benesov Panenka has been transferred to Prague to be cared for by his attending physician "We would like to thank the Benešov hospital very much for the excellent care they provided Tond [Antonin] on a professional level," Mrs "He's not breathing well and has a strong cough but today Tonda himself told me that he would fight and look forward to it all being over "I was also surprised that it got into the whole world but I had no idea that they loved him so much abroad." This form collects your email so that we can send you emails By clicking yes you confirm your accept our privacy policy Developed by Square1 June 28 marks the anniversary of the shot heard around the world — the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose death in Sarajevo in 1914 triggered World War I The archduke’s last residence, the Gothic castle he used as a summer palace and hunting chateau (which also appeared as a location for the 2006 film The Illusionist) is just a short drive or train ride from Prague first built in the 14th-century was transformed into a Baroque residence in the 19th century The Archduke later rebuilt the structure in historicist style and created its landscaped park — today the castle remains largely the same as he left it and his home features the third largest collection of medieval armor and weapons in Europe as well as a number of hunting trophies and antlers Now is the perfect time to visit — or revisit! — Konopiště Castle with tours possible once again as the castle reopens after coronavirus closures with a number of new exhibits From authentic Czech food to visiting Konopiště Castle and beyond take a look at our guide for a day trip from Prague The castle is split into three main parts: the salon’s south wing and the private residence of Franz Ferdinand tours of the castle are limited to the north and south wing and should be booked online in advance Visitors should walk the expansive castle grounds which encompass a lake and forest to the south and the beautiful Rose Garden where peacocks roam freely (there is currently a limit on the number of guests allowed to walk through the garden) Tours take place every 30 minutes with a maximum of 19 people There are several exhibits on permanent display at the castle right: the Archduke’s shooting range George’s Museum featuring the world’s largest collection of historic motifs devoted to the legendary dragon slayer Opening in July: a mini exposition about bears for kids (A 14-year old-bear lives in the fortification moat!) and an exhibit on Baroque mask fashion and social customs from the time of Marie Theresa If you plan to visit on the June 28 anniversary of the archduke’s death, a funeral mass is held annually in Latin in the chapel.  Note that face masks and social distancing are still required in the interior spaces of the castle For the most up-to-date information visit www.zamek-konopiste.cz located under the castle and near the second parking lot may seem like a tourist trap — but it’s not This cozy space offers local Czech food in an authentic hunting-themed setting; it feels like you’re in the middle of a hunting lodge If game intimidates you, don’t worry, there are other restaurants in Benešov that offer delicious, authentic Czech food minus deer meat. Try nearby Restaurace Na Bejkárně or Švejk restaurant Benešov further into town for traditional For directions or to make a reservation visit www.staramyslivna.com Museum of Art and Design – Benešov Drawing courtesy of Benešov Museum of Art and Design tucked away off the main square in Benešov’s Malé náměstí and an open courtyard — and entrance is currently free until mid-summer the museum has four exhibits: one exhibit from a young painter who paints predominantly in lines; one exhibit from Luboš Plný (1961) a Czech painter and conceptual artist; an exhibit from a self-taught artist who plays around with form; and an exhibit featuring Petr Holeček’s sculptures a variety of animals and humans in comical situations touching on serious topics For a full program visit mudbenesov.cz Ferdinand Brewery  Here’s a fun fact: Franz Ferdinand may be one of the only people with a band (Franz Ferdinand) and a beer (Ferdinand) named after him You can’t stop in Benešov without visiting Ferdinand brewery Beer was brewed as early as 1495 in the city Franz Ferdinand brought the castle and all its farms — including the joint-stock brewery and malt house you can take a tour of the facility and try one of their freshly brewed beers On July 4 there is a popular annual punk festival in the brewery’s courtyard To plan your visit see www.pivovarferdinand.cz. Konopiště Castle is located just outside Benešov the city operates a free shuttle to the castle The town is 45 minutes south of Prague and easily accessible by speed train or car The speed train will likely be heading to Tabor or Ceske Budejovice and make a stop in Benešov The train will take between 30 minutes to an hour you’ll head down E55 following signs for Benešov There’s ample parking right by the castle grounds though getting to the castle does require a bit of a hike What are your tips for visiting Benešov and Konopiště Castle Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English. Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Susan Fenton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Canadian supermodel Tasha Tilberg arrived to open; she also starred in the lookbook which was shot inside architect Bjarke Ingels’s Serpentine Pavilion A traveling installation currently set up in Toronto’s downtown its geometric white fiberglass squares and organic wood floors formed a perfect backdrop for Neigum’s latest designs Neigum continued to work with the architecture that lies at the heart of his label but switched it up with lighter fabrics he chose for Spring turned into an easy ankle-length dress with a ruched collar It popped nicely against a standout white cotton jacquard whose stitched pattern resembled a leaf’s vascular lines Neigum showed an asymmetrical one-shouldered version that used just a single seam down the left side; the rest of its puckered shape came through precise pinning and tucking Alongside it were sheer red pleated dresses given sculptural form through the use of wire and translucent silks with lavender blooms pressed on top It was nice to see Neigum stretch himself with the use of new lightweight materials which he is likely to explore more deeply for Fall Lisa Marie Fernandez Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Mother of Pearl Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Marques’Almeida Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Adidas by Stella McCartney Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page was more than just a stronghold—it was the king’s personal vault the castle has withstood the rise and fall of empires and even some peculiar house rules—like women being banned from entering the grounds you’ll find medieval flair at this 13th-century Gothic fortress this mighty stronghold was designed to defend the surrounding village of Benešov from unwanted invaders with each owner putting their own stamp on it that Franz Ferdinand) gave it its final lavish makeover which has been brewing since 1495.Royal route: From Prague’s Main Station catch a 45-minute to one-hour train ride to Benesov u Prahy you can walk approximately 30 minutes to the castle or take a short 2-minute bus ride Draped in as much mystery as it is medieval history perched high above the confluence of the Vltava and Otava rivers this 13th-century stronghold casts a watchful gaze over the land Having withstood sieges and the slow creep of time one can only wonder what tales these ancient walls could tell – some a mighty fortress atop steep granite cliffs along the Sázava River has been standing strong since the 13th century Originally the seat of the noble Šternberk family the castle played a pivotal role in the Hussite Wars and Thirty Years’ War serving both as a military stronghold and noble residence remaining one of Bohemia’s most imposing fortresses This quiet spot is a short 30 minute walk from castle and serves a variety of fish dishes and other (affordable) fancy feasts.The royal route: Take a train from Praha Hlavní Nádraží to Český Šternberk zastávka (about 2 hours) then enjoy a 15-minute scenic stroll to the fortress Prague Castle is one of the most iconic landmarks in Czechia and one of the largest ancient castles in the world this historic complex has been the seat of Czech kings As the political and cultural heart of the Czech Republic and its chambers have seen some of the most pivotal moments in European history including the defenestration of two Catholic governors in 1618 Deep in the forests of the Křivoklát Nature Reserve Křivoklát Castle stands as a symbol of Czech medieval history and royal intrigue Built in the 12th century by the Přemyslid dynasty the castle served as a royal residence and hunting lodge One of the most famous episodes in its history occurred in the 14th century when King Václav IV was imprisoned here by his brother (NOTE: This castle is currently close for filming til April 14 stands as one of Czechia’s grandest Gothic monuments Famous for its role in medieval misfortunes it’s here that the young Wenceslas II (future king of Bohemia) found himself imprisoned in his own fortress Bezděz has remained a silent sentinel overlooking the north you may even glimpse the distant peaks of the Krkonoše Mountains this stone sentinel once hosted Emperor Charles IV who accidentally discovered the hot springs of Karlovy Vary while out for a royal stroll But pay heed (or should we say head) while you walk the grounds: Legend has it that a raging gnome named Strakakal will chase you with a hairbrush if it spots you with messy hair rustic spot where you can sample traditional Czech dishes like svíčková (marinated beef with a creamy sauce) and dumplings Lurking in the forests of Bohemia lies Kost Castle a fortress so unyielding that even the infamous Hussite general Jan Žižka couldn’t crack it Its name (meaning “bone” in Czech) suits it well as legend has it that its stone walls are as tough as a bone Unlike most castles perched on towering hills standing firm on a rocky promontory between two brooks daring any would-be invaders – or brave travelers – to try their luck Built in the 14th century by Beneš of Vartemberk the unique design allowed it to withstand catapult fire and pass through the hands of noble dynasties each leaving their mark while failing to break its spirit where an open grill beckons thee to savor roasted delights with a view a the nearby lake.The royal route: Kost can be reached by train S36 from Prague’s Main Station Frýdlant Castle has seen centuries of conquest Originally a 13th-century medieval fortress it later transformed into a Renaissance palace blending battle-hardened grit with noble grandeur the legendary commander of the Thirty Years’ War turned this stronghold into the heart of his dominion The castle later became one of Europe’s first museum castles its opulent halls and armories preserved like a time capsule of noble life and wartime strategy it stands as a testament to Bohemia’s military and aristocratic past—so step inside then take a short stroll to this borderland beauty Police are investigating the deaths of two members of a cult associated with a self-proclaimed healer from Kutná Hora, located in Central Bohemia. The news server iROZHLAS.cz reported today that the men died last August as a result of a forest ritual near Český Šternberk castle in the Benešov region The ritual reportedly involved psychological strain and physical violence spokeswoman for the Central Bohemian Police confirmed that authorities were looking into the deaths of the two men but did not confirm any link to the case of the self-proclaimed healer the ritual spanned several days and included instances of physical violence prompting female members of the cult to transport him to the Kutná Hora swimming pool and call emergency services "The case of the sudden death of a man in Kutná Hora is being investigated by regional detectives on suspicion of bodily harm resulting in death The second man was scheduled to accompany sect members in a van for the forest ritual but failed to appear at the agreed meeting spot Crime investigators later discovered his body between the villages of Kozojedy and Truba Some members of the sect claimed he had taken his own life possibly due to apprehension about participating in the forest ritual "Kolín detectives are investigating the death of a 56-year-old man they have commissioned a number of expert reports no conclusion has yet been reached in the matter and the investigation is still ongoing," added the police spokeswoman The self-proclaimed healer also died in early October of the previous year a dentist in Kutná Hora and a former gym teacher The prosecutor alleged that the man voluntarily ingested a drug provided by the dentist The dentist proceeded to make incisions on his groin and wrist with a scalpel and injected him with a general anesthetic The man's cause of death was acute poisoning by the substance Prices for flats in the Czech Republic increased in the first three months of 2020 Prague had the highest prices per square meter and the largest number of transactions did not see the largest year-on-year jump in prices In the first quarter of this year, apartment prices in Prague and regional cities rose by an average of 13% year on year to 65,400 CZK per sqm This was the highest growth rate in the last two years according to consulting firm Deloitte based on data from cenovamapa.org The most expensive flats in Q1 2020 were in Prague while the cheapest were in Ústí nad Labem at 21,000 CZK per sqm Prices for flats in Prague varied according to the area. The most expensive apartments were in Prague 1 at 159,800 CZK per sqm and Prague 2 at 121,900 CZK per sqm The cheapest were in Prague 10 at 77,700 CZK per sqm and Prague 9 at 80,600 CZK per sqm up 13.4%; and České Budějovice and the Central Bohemia The lowest increases were in Hradec Králové Mladá Boleslav and the districts of Prague-East and Prague-West In the first quarter, 5,734 flats were sold for 23 billion CZK in development projects, brick houses and paneláks (prefabricated buildings). While the number fell by 5.9% year on year, the value increased by 8.5%. Development projects accounted for 45% of the total volume, apartments in brick houses accounted for a quarter and paneláks accounted for less than a third Prices of flats in paneláks increased the most Prices of flats in development projects rose by 12.6% to 75,200 CZK per sqm they increased by 9% to 65,400 crowns per sqm Prague accounted for about three-fifths of the total sales volume prices in the Czech Republic increased on average by 3.2% They stagnated in Karlovy Vary and the Central Bohemia A separate analysis by Eurostat of prices of both houses and flats found that price increases in the Czech Republic were the sixth-fastest in the European Union Year-on-year growth in house and apartment prices in the Czech Republic accelerated to 9.5% in the first quarter The EU average for Q1 2020 was a 5.5% year-on-year and 1.2% quarter-on-quarter growth Prices of houses and flats rose the most in Luxembourg Prices rose in all countries except Hungary Compared to other EU countries, real estate prices in the Czech Republic grew the fastest continuously from the last quarter of 2016 to the end of the third quarter of 2017. The highest growth was in the second quarter of 2017, when houses and flats in the Czech Republic rose by 13.3% year on year as five cars and one truck transporting palm oil collided on the motorway around 50km from Prague Photos: Fire Department of Central Bohemian Region – HZS Středočeského kraje Oct 14 (BD) – The D1 motorway remained closed to traffic for over 14 hours following Sunday’s tragic accident which happened in the Benešov region on the road towards Brno Five passenger cars collided with a tanker on the 49th kilometre of the highway (coming from Prague) which rolled over both lanes and caught alight The asphalt on the highway is damaged after the fire making it more difficult to restore the flow of traffic along with several other cars,” said a spokeswoman at 7:30am today One lane in the direction of Brno opened at around 10am this morning said Benesov police spokeswoman Eva Stulikova The second lane should be open this afternoon or early evening One police officer was also seriously injured because of the accident while diverting traffic at the 34th kilometer and after the necessary treatment on the spot a helicopter transported him to a hospital in Prague’s Střešovice,” said Petra Effenbergerová spokeswoman for the Central Bohemian Emergency Medical Services The accident occurred at around 7:30pm on Sunday when the tanker overturned across both lines of the motorway and set ablaze The firefighters got the fire under control about an hour later and prevented any further leaking of oil from the tanker Unfortunately the injuries did not stop there; as reported by the police and as seen in the video below one police officer became the 11th injured when a Mercedes crashed into his car while he was diverting traffic from the previous accident “A policeman was struck by a car while enforcing detour routes and diversions He was transported to the hospital with serious injuries,” announced Police CR on their Twitter account yesterday at around 8pm Get the news first! Subscribe to our daily newsletter here Top stories of the day in your mailbox every morning Advertise with us Privacy Policy Brno Daily is a Czech media outlet for expats Our partners Po zimní přestávce se postupně vracejí dělníci a stroje na brněnskou dálnici D1 února začnou přípravné práce u sjezdu na Benešov na 21 března dojde k noční demolici dvou dálničních nadjezdů u Humpolce Práce na dalších úsecích budou zahájeny v průběhu března a dubna celkem se bude najednou pracovat až na 71 kilometrech dálnice mezi Mirošovicemi a Kývalkou Šedesát dělníků spolu se čtyřiceti stroji pracovalo 14 hodin na odstranění dvou nadjezdů na 83 Stavba 8,8 kilometrů dlouhého úseku mezi Koberovicemi a Humpolcem bude pokračovat rozšiřováním vozovky o 1,5 metru dělníci budou pracovat i ve středním dělícím páse Modernizované úseky brněnské D1 jsou opět plně průjezdné kilometrem silničáři odstranili na začátku tohoto týdne S dočasnými svodidly musí řidiči počítat už jen na mostě u Hvězdonic na 27 k jejich demontáži dojde nejpozději v neděli 1 K provozování webu a analýze návštěvnosti používáme soubory cookies. Procházením webových stránek jste srozuměni s tím, jak se soubory cookies nakládáme. Kliknutím na odkaz zjistíte více o souborech cookies jak je používáme a jak je povolit či zakázat Many regions across the Czech Republic are slated to see jumps in public transport fares starting in the new year. According to news outlet iDnes one major reason for the price increase is the rise in value-added tax (VAT) for transport Prague has not yet announced any price jump the cost of a one-time paper ticket will surge by 42 percent anticipates its annual transport ticket to become the nation's costliest the capital’s annual travel ticket is so far set to remain at CZK 3,650 Ostrava also plans to increase prices – but at the same time will increase the duration of a standard ticket’s validity The price of a basic fare in the city will rise from CZK 25 to CZK 30 but will be extended from 45 minutes to 60 Many cities have already adjusted their prices where the price of the basic ticket has gone up by 50 percent – from CZK 12 to CZK 18 where the fare has risen from CZK 22 to CZK 24 Prices for basic-fare tickets when buying onboard; validity times vary Jihlava stands out as the sole city in the Czech Republic planning to decrease public transport fares starting next year Recent reductions in annual passes for children – from CZK 730 to CZK 365 for those in school – aim to enhance schoolchildren's mobility Jihlava councilor David Beke emphasized the need to diminish reliance on "Mama taxis" (getting lifts from parents) at schools and kindergartens highlighting the potential of price adjustments to encourage greater public transport use seniors over 75 will enjoy free fares within the city augmenting accessibility for this demographic Cities such as Benešov and Litoměřice have already adopted a forward-thinking approach opting for free fares to curtail car traffic citing potential economic benefits and the promotion of sustainable urban mobility “Taking fares does not make economic sense if public transport is to become the backbone of sustainable urban mobility and the preferred means of transport around the city," said Tereza Lípová there has been no word on Prague increasing its fares for next year Director of the Prague Public Transport Company Petr Witowski recently described the capital’s prices as “unsustainable.” the share of revenue from fares in the total costs of public transport varies between 30 and 50 percent The fact that we are below 15 percent in Prague is a significant anomaly We will have to act on this,” said Prague councilor for finance Zdeněk Kovářík As municipalities grapple with rising operational costs and the interplay of generating revenue and public convenience different approaches to setting fares have emerged While many regions nationwide have opted to increase public transport prices it remains to be seen whether Prague will follow suit The Czech Defense Ministry has recently announced an auction of unnecessary real estate which includes an unusually large number of border fortification bunkers There are 47 properties for sale including 24 bunkers 17 of which include the surrounding land; two facilities related to water treatment; and 21 parcels of land without buildings The minimum required purchase price in total for all the properties is almost 8 million CZK The most highly sought after buildings are the former border bunkers with land, but the Defense Ministry reminds potential bidders that there are several conditions regarding the acquisition and maintenance of bunkers. And none of the bunkers has utilities classified officially as “permanent light fortification” or stálého lehkého opevnění (SLO) These are just concrete shacks with slots for small guns The bunkers currently available are mainly in South Moravia Four buildings are located in Podhradí nad Dyjí near the Vranov Dam Nine fortifications at what the Defense Ministry calls “a favorable price” are offered in Dyjákovice near the state border with Austria The offer is complemented by two more bunkers near Mikulov Bunkers in Silesia are in the Opava-Jaktař area in Bělá pod Pradědem and near Horní Životice by the border with Poland in the Opava district of Silesia “It is a two-story reinforced concrete partially damaged building with demolished cannon towers … in an unmaintained forest stand The condition corresponds to the age of about 82 years without maintenance,” the Defense Ministry said SLO bunker in Podhradí nad Dyjí / via Army.cz but also mostly run down due to age and lack of maintenance The cheapest SLO bunkers do not include land or in some cases even the right of way to access the bunker as that must be negotiated with the land owner separately The land owners have a pre-emptive right to buy them but little incentive to do so as nobody elsecan use them without access rights The lowest minimum price is 12,500 CZK for a truly shabby little affair known as SLO VEČ 834KA The most expensive is 101,500 CZK for bunker SLO VEČ 710OL with a tree on top and an uncomfortable looking concrete bed plus 140 square meters of land in an agricultural area of Mikulov Waterfront bunker in Dyjákovice / via Army.cz A particularly nice bunker called SLO VEČ 544OL in Dyjákovice is located directly on a pond and just 800 meters from a bus stop It comes with 53 square meters of shoreline land which is about average for the bunkers currently available While these structures are offered from time to time interest has grown recently and only serious bidders should apply They should also follow the proper procedures as the ministry’s resources are stretched thin and they cannot deal with random people making joke inquiries to the wrong departments or phone numbers There are also various land lots without bunkers four small lots are offered in Michle and Žižkov The Defense Ministry is not resorting to hard-sell tactics for these lots which is 405 square meters of overgrown land between buildings they state: “The use of the land is limited by utilities The other lots in Prague are grassy areas near prefabricated housing projects and there is little that can be done with them as well In the Plzeň region in the village Tymákov between Rokycany and Starý Plzenec there is 2,000 square meters of land The offered land in Týnec in the Klatovy region is even slightly larger and is located near the Týnec castle park There are also lots at the former training ground near Benešov u Prahy Another real estate offer will be published on September 1 and then on September 29 this year About 20 new properties are being prepared for sale The army property website  contains the listed properties draft purchase agreements and other relevant information.