For Ondřej Buddeus, the mode of transportation itself has become part of his creative project and builds on his long-standing interest in the bicycle as a cultural and social phenomenon. In 2021, he edited the book "Je to jízda", and in 2024, his children’s book "Fahr Rad!", which was nominated for the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis and received awards at home, such as the Golden Ribbon and a place in the Most Beautiful Czech Book competition. This marks Buddeus’s second nomination for the prestigious children’s literature award; in 2017, he was nominated alongside David Böhm for the German translation of the book "Hlava v hlavě".
“I took the ‘journey of Czech literature to Frankfurt’ literally—the point is a slower, interpretive movement, a journey without shortcuts. Given the book that’s taking me there, it would be strange to approach it any other way,” says Ondřej Buddeus.
From October 4 to 8, he will be posting written notes, photographs, and short videos. This digital travelogue will blend a personal diary, reportage, and lyrical reflections on the places and situations along the route.
“For me, literary writing isn’t documentation. Traveling on foot or by bike has a lot in common with writing and focused perception of the world around us. I want to write right in the midst of the journey and observe what fatigue, the weather, the landscape, chance, unexpected encounters, and even current politics do to the text—any journey unfolds across contexts,” adds Buddeus.
The route will lead from Prague through Plzeň, Tirschenreuth, Bayreuth, Bamberg, and Würzburg to Frankfurt am Main. You can follow the author’s current location and his emerging notes on his website. You can join Buddeus at any time for part of the journey.
Ondřej Buddeus (*1984) is a poet, writer, translator, editor, and educator. He teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and is a member of the Iniciativa 0 community.
Practical Information
Departure from Prague: October 4, 2026
Estimated arrival in Frankfurt: October 8, 2026
Distance: approximately 575 km
Route: Prague – Plzeň – Tirschenreuth – Bayreuth – Bamberg – Würzburg – Frankfurt am Main
Online travelogue and route tracking: www.ondrejbuddeus.cz/frankfurt2026
Option to join for part of the journey: yes, at any point along the route