September 4, 2025, Nove Mesto Nad Metuji, Czech Republic: Hot air balloons take off on a sunny morning from the airport in Nove Mesto nad Metuji (near Hradec Kralove city). Hradec Kralove hosted a spectacular launch of eighty-one hot-air balloons during this year’s largest European gathering of its kind. The simultaneous lift-off from one location established a Czech record for the highest number of balloons taking off at the same time. The festival continues until Sunday, 7 September 2025, with participants from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany and Hungary. (Credit Image: © Slavek Ruta/ZUMA Press Wire) . #zumapress #photojournalism #hotairballoons #czech slavekruta