20 years in the EU – Olomouc issues its first euro banknote. It will also be celebrated with a concert and a cinema show

BLUE TOWN HALL

The blue-lit town hall will be the first to draw attention to the celebrations of the anniversary of the Czech Republic’s entry into the EU. It will light up in the European blue color together with other important buildings across the Czech Republic from April 30 to May 9.

MORAVIAN PHILHARMONIC CONCERT

The program of the celebration will begin on May 1 with a festive concert by the Moravian Philharmonic in Reduta, where from 7 p.m. well-known dance rhythms by composers from member states of the European Union will be heard. The program includes, for example, the prelude to Bedřich Smetana’s Bartered Bride, Antonín Dvořák’s Slavic Dance, Béla Bartók’s Romanian Dances, the Polonaise from the film Mr. Tadeusz by Wojciech Kilar or the prelude to Gioacchino Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. Tickets costing 50 crowns can still be purchased at https://bit.ly/koncertfilharmonie.

ISSUE OF THE FIRST OLOMOUC EURO BANKNOTE

The first of May this time will also be an important date for collectors. It is precisely on May 1, the anniversary of the Czech Republic’s entry into the EU, that the first ever euro banknote with the Olomouc motif will go on sale. The collector’s euro banknote has a zero value and shows a view of Upper Square with the Holy Trinity Column and the Town Hall building. You can buy it for 100 crowns from Wednesday, May 1 at the Olomouc Information Center in the arch of the town hall. The information center opens at 9 a.m. The city reserves the right to keep certain numbers that will not go on sale for its own needs.

Within the terms set by the manufacturer, euro banknotes with the Olomouc motif will be sold in the following way:

• No. 1-100 maximum 1 piece per person without the possibility of choosing a number
• No. 101–1000 maximum 10 pieces per person without the option of choosing a number
• No. 1001 and above, an unlimited number of pieces and without the possibility of choosing a number
• Annual numbers, i.e. from 1920 to 2024 and above, one piece per person and this is the only one with the option of choosing a number.

The concept of euro banknotes has existed in Europe since 2015. Since 2018, some cities and important tourist destinations in the Czech Republic have also actively joined it.

The aim of euro banknotes is primarily to support tourism in European countries and to raise awareness of interesting places across Europe. At the same time, however, these original souvenirs quickly became sought-after collector’s items, as each piece is unique thanks to the numbering.

The euro banknote is produced in France from 100% cotton paper used in the production of real banknotes and also contains some protective elements like real banknotes – for example hologram, microprinting or UV protection elements. The reverse side of these collector’s banknotes is uniform and resembles the most important European monuments.

CINEMA METROPOL

From May 3 to 9, the theme of Europe will also be in the Metropol cinema. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the entry of the Czech Republic into the EU, it is preparing a showcase of European cinematography, in which it will offer a number of new European films. The program of the show can be found on the website of the cinema https://bit.ly/kinometropol, where interested parties can also purchase tickets for individual screenings.

EUROPE DAY

On Tuesday, May 7, Republic Square will come to life with celebrations, where visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy busker concerts, the Opráski českí historje exhibition and gain a deeper insight into the functioning of the European Union thanks to the presentation of almost twenty organizations cooperating with Eurocentre EUROPE DIRECT Olomouc. Workshops, debates, quizzes and fun competitions will introduce people to current programs, initiatives of organizations and the specific form of cooperation they offer. The program on náměstí Republiky will be from 2 to 7 p.m., until late in the evening, then the fun will continue on Biskupské náměstí and in the Armory within the student Majáles. The one in Mariánské street will present dozens of student organizations, in Biskupské náměstí a relaxation zone with lots of workshops, and in Zbrojnica the main program in the form of concerts and the coronation of Queen Majáles.

You can find the detailed program for the “20 years in the EU” celebrations at https://20letveu.olomouc.eu, the Majáles program at www.olomouckymajales.cz.