Ahoj, Monday! 5 things you need to know this week in Czechia

Prague’s Máj Národní building and department store will officially reopen on June 24 following two years of renovations. The building will be an 11-floor multi-purpose center with 17,000 square meters of retail, dining, and entertainment space. The venue has already made a splash with two Spitfire butterflies created by famed artist David Černý adorning its front facade.

Starting from June 24, Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines will resume flights between Prague and Beijing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. These will be the first direct flights between the Czech Republic and China since 2020, when connections were halted due to the pandemic.

June 28 is the last day of the current Czech school year, when students receive their end-of-the-year report cards and school officially finishes. June 29 to Sept. 1 is the summer holiday, during which school is not in session. The 2024-25 school year will officially begin from Sept. 2.

The 58th annual Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will kick of from Friday, June 28, running through July 6. One of the most prestigious film festivals in Central Europe, this year's fest will be attended by actors Viggo Mortensen, Clive Owen, Daniel Brühl, director Steven Soderbergh, and many others. Despite the star power, the festival is accessible for all audiences, and makes a great day trip from Prague.

Construction of a new tram line on the upper half of Prague's Wenceslas Square will begin on June 29, and last a total of three years. The initial phase of construction will temporarily halt tram services across the square between Vodičková and Jindřišská stops for three months, through September 30. The project will begin with track repairs and metro station ceiling maintenance, followed by network infrastructure construction and tram line extensions towards the National Museum.