Olomouc is commemorating 20 years since the Czech Republic joined the EU. Concerts, films, workshops and other varied program are planned

The Czech Republic joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. It will be exactly twenty years today, and Olomouc has decided to celebrate this round jubilee with music, films, workshops and discussions, as well as the very first issue of a collector’s euro banknote. This year, the theme of Europe will also be reflected in the student Majáles.

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 be illuminated in the European blue color together with other important buildings across the Czech Republic from Tuesday, April 30 to Thursday, May 9.

The program of the celebration will begin on Wednesday, 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 Slavonic Dance, Béla Bartók’s Romanian Dances, the Polonaise from the film Pan Tadeusz by Wojciech Kilar or the prelude to Gioacchino Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. Tickets costing 50 crowns are still available for purchase here →

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 genuine banknotes – for example a hologram, microprint or UV protection elements. The back side of these collector’s banknotes is uniform and resembles the most important European monuments,” said the spokeswoman Olomouc Town Hall Jana Doleželová.

Interesting films and the student Majáles

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 cinema’s website, where interested parties can also purchase tickets for individual screenings.

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 at náměstí Republiky will be from 2 to 7 p.m., until late in the evening, after which the entertainment will continue on Biskupské náměstí and in the Armory within the student Majáles. He will present dozens of student organizations in Mariánské street, a relaxation zone with lots of workshops on Biskupské náměstí, and the main program in the form of concerts and the coronation of Queen Majáles in Zbrojnica.

You can find a detailed program for the “20 years in the EU” celebrations on a special website, the Majáles program at www.olomouckymajales.cz.