Wings, coffee, communication, culture, beauty, crown.

Six words beginning with K. Coincidence? Not at all.

For all of them are also connected by Hradec Králové – a city where not only an autumn school of Czech awaits you, but also plenty of experiences, fun and new friendships.

Let's start with the wings.

Perhaps you know the famous wings by the artist Míla Fürstová from the iconic Coldplay album cover. Not only will we look at that painting in the local gallery*, but we will also put them on. Well, not in reality. Just make-believe. We will look at the Czech language, the Czech Republic and ourselves with greater detachment. And we will set off on a journey that can take you further than you can currently imagine.

For that we will need plenty of energy. That is why coffee enters the scene. In the cosy cafes of Hradec we can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the city. Sometimes a person simply learns the most during an ordinary conversation over a cup of good coffee. And if the coffee does not boost our energy enough, we will pop over for a tour of the Hučák hydroelectric power station, where we can see a tsunami and a tornado. At the same time.

Our course starts on Friday 25th September 2026, and on that very day, Researchers' Night is taking place at Czech universities. This year's theme is communication. What a coincidence! Because our programme cannot do without everyday communication either. Czech is not just found in the pages of textbooks. It is mainly in people's mouths. That is why we will be using it in shops, in cafes, at the municipal office, in the city streets, and we will even pop over to that university. We will try out real-life situations, we will speak, ask questions, and react when meeting neighbours, passers-by or a mother-in-law after Saturday lunch.

We also get to know the local culture – by listening, looking and perhaps even tasting. How can you taste culture? Surely the verb to taste is used for food and drink. Exactly. As part of the St Wenceslas celebrations, we’ll toast to our health with a glass of wine. During the break between lessons, we’ll have a traditional Czech kolache. But don't worry, real culture with a stage, an auditorium and an open-faced ham sandwich awaits us too.

And all this to the sound of Augustine, the third largest bell in the Czech Republic, or the new carillon. And that is already connected with discovering the beauty of the city. The Art Nouveau museum building, Gočár's schools, First Republic villas, two working paternoster lifts, parks and nearby forests, the rivers Elbe and Orlice - these are just some of the places that the people of Hradec love and that make Hradec what it is.

But we won't skip the old town either, with the majestic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and the White Tower. By the way, that's the first thing one sees from afar when arriving in Hradec Králové.

And finally, the crown. A symbol of the royal city and of Czech queens. A reminder that Hradec Králové is an exceptional place. And also a symbol of what you might take home with you – the feeling that you have mastered something new, made new friends and gained greater confidence in speaking Czech. You too can join the ranks of the kings and queens of Hradec. Feel at home in Czechia. Perhaps thanks precisely to your experience in Hradec.

* Note: Unfortunately we won't get to see it. It won't be on display during the course anymore. But we had a great text, now we're in the process of coming up with a different, better Q.