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Monoxylon is the Greek term for a vessel chiselled out from a single tree trunk. It’s also the name of a Czech-led experimental archaeological expedition, which first set off in such a craft back in 1995. The aim then and now is to validate in practice assumptions and hypotheses about human migration in the Neolithic age, some 8,000 years ago.

The subject of MPs’ travel expenses is in the spotlight after Czech Radio reported that a group of legislators visited an exotic tourist destination while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Peru. The politicians say they themselves purchased tickets to enter Machu Picchu. However, their hotels and flights were covered by the Chamber of Deputies.

The eleventh edition of the Night of Open Churches gets underway across the Czech Republic on Friday. This year, more than 1,600 churches and other religious sites will remain open to the public until the late night hours. Visitors will be also able to attend concerts, exhibitions, workshop and other programmes:

An estimated 50,000 people attended the latest, and biggest, in a series of protests against Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Prague’s Wenceslas Square on Tuesday evening. Demonstrators condemn his appointment of Marie Benešová as justice minister, fearing that move could influence a criminal case of alleged EU subsidy fraud involving Mr. Babiš. But how much impact can these protests actually have? That’s a question I put to political scientist Jiří Pehe.

Diplomats, military officers and experts gathered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday to discuss energy security and future challenges facing the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. While discussing what the alliance may be up against 70 years from now, some argued that the impacts of climate change are likely to be the main threat.

A team of Czech divers and land surveyors are the first in Europe to have succeeded in scanning a flooded cave system. Using film footage from the water-filled Chýnov cave in south Bohemia, they created a detailed and accurate three-dimensional map. The main advantage of the so-called videogrammetry is its simplicity and speed.

Many of Prague’s historic and architectural jewels opened to the public last weekend within the Open House Prague festival. Visitors could admire the interiors of more than 80 of the city’s Gothic, Baroque and Modernist buildings as well as spaces usually inaccessible to the public such as gardens, sports stadiums and railway stations. Among the most visited sites was the Kramář Villa, the official residence of Czech prime ministers, the Invalidovna complex, which featured prominently in Miloš Forman’s Amadeus and Strahov, the biggest sports stadium

Czechs are marking 15 years as EU members this month. With elections to the European Parliament only days away, the nation’s prime minister, foreign minister, and one Commissioner in Brussels are voicing differing views on the benefits and responsibilities of EU membership and the challenges ahead.

The annual nationwide Festival of Museum Nights, during which museums and cultural institutions around the country organize special events and late-night opening hours for visitors, is traditionally preceded by a gala ceremony at which the Czech Association of Museums and Galleries hands out Gloria Musaealis awards in different categories. The award ceremony took place in Prague’s Municipal House on Thursday night and carried a special significance for the winners.

Czech Television, the country’s national public broadcaster, has reason to be proud: it will have a strong representation at the 59th Monte Carlo Television Festival. Its two-part real-life mining drama Dukla 61, directed by David Ondříček picked up two nominations and its popular comedy series Dubbing Street received three nominations for Golden Nymph Awards.