EDEN Destinations of Excellence in the Czech Republic Dear travellers, visitors and lovers of the Czech Republic, In your hands you hold the catalogue EDEN – Guide to Destinations in the Czech Republic, listing destinations that have enjoyed success in the European Commission competition of the same name. The EDEN – European Destinations of Excellence – project endeavours to draw attention to interesting and high-quality destinations, with a view to supporting sustainable tourism in European Union states. Every year the competition focuses on a different theme. The destinations presented in this catalogue have competed for the opportunity to use the European Destination of Excellence mark in the following categories: • Tourism and Protected Areas – won by Bohemian Switzerland • Aquatic Tourism – won by Bystřicko • Tourism and Regeneration of Physical Sites – won by Moravian Slovakia • Accessible Tourism – won by Lipno I am glad that CzechTourism has been able to play a role in the organisation of the EDEN competition in the Czech Republic. On the pages of this brochure you can become acquainted with four winning destinations and nine that were finalists in the 2009–2013 period. Each presents interesting aspects of its region, providing travel agencies with inspiration in the preparation of individual and group packages, while offering leisure time tips to others. As these are genuinely unique and in many cases undiscovered spots, I am sure that this catalogue will whet your interest in visiting them. Rostislav Vondruška Director General of CzechTourism 1 Kralicko Content Bohemian Switzerland 6–9 Žatec 10–11 Křivoklátsko 12–13 Polabí 14–15 Posázaví 16–17 Lipno 18–21 Krkonoše 22–23 The Orlické Mountains and Podorlicko 24–25 Králický Sněžník 26–27 Bystřicko 28–31 Kahan Microregion 32–33 Těšín Silesia 34–35 Moravian Slovakia 36–39 3 Map of the Czech Republic Germany České Švýcarsko 6–9 Liberec Ústí nad Labem Ústí nad Labem Chomutov Ohře Karlovy Vary Žatecko 10–11 Labe Kladno Polabí 14–15 Křivoklátsko 12–13 Beroun PRAHA Kolín Posázaví 16–17 Plzeň Berounka Sázava Sázava Bystřice nad Pernštejnem Bečva Germany Vltava Jihlava České Budějovice Nové Mlýny Morava Český Krumlov Dyje Lipno Lipno nad Vltavou 18–21 4 EDEN – Destinations of Excellence in the Czech Republic Poland Liberec Krkonoše 22–23 Trutnov Ohře Hradec Králové Labe Polabí 14–15 Pardubice Orlické hory, Podorlicko a Králický Sněžník 24–27 Šumperk Posázaví 16–17 Berounka Sázava Ostrava Těšínské Slezsko 34–35 Sázava Bystřice nad Pernštejnem Bystřicko 28–31 Olomouc Bečva Jihlava Vltava Jihlava BRNO Zlín Mikroregion Kahan 32–33 Slovácko 36–39 Uherské Hradiště Znojmo Nové Mlýny Morava Dyje Lipno Slovakia Austria 0 10 20 30 40 50 km 5 Bohemian Switzerland Pravčice Gate a title that places it among the Forests as far as the eye 20 most important regions in European tourism. Please can see, deep ravines and accept our invitation and get to know a landscape rich in passes, clear streams and rocky gorges, lookout points and traditional log and stone the monumental towers of houses. sandstone towns. This is the Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland – A rediscovered wilderness, wonderful world that awaits or this is a must-see. The UK publishing house you in a landscape filled Bounty Books has included Bohemian Switzerland among with mystery – Bohemian 500 wilderness spots that are worth visiting. In the Wild Switzerland. Places edition of its popular “Must-Visit 501” guidebook Bohemian Switzerland, along experienced. Alongside the series, it has ranked it along- with the neighbouring Saxon traditional hiking, the region side Yosemite National Park Switzerland, is the perfect also offers cycle tourism, in the USA, the Galapagos place to rest and recharge horse-riding, golf and boat Islands in South America and one’s batteries. The natural trips on the Elbe. Since 2009, Slovakia’s Pieniny and Malá beauty of a landscape blessed Bohemian Switzerland has Fatra national parks. with romantic nooks, folk been a European Destination architecture and glorious of Excellence for the Czech lookout spots is crying Republic in the Tourism and out to be discovered and Protected Areas category, Dolský Mill View from Mary’s Lookout to Suchý vrch 7 Accommodation tips Aparthotel Lípa: Krásná Lípa www.lipa-resort.cz Capacity 90 beds Hotel Praha: Hřensko www.hotel-hrensko.cz Capacity 78 beds Hotel Zámeček: Rynartice – Jetřichovice www.hotel-zamecek.cz Capacity 45 beds Itinerary Two-day TOP circuit Two-day programme Sail through Bohemian Krásná Lípa – The Gateway Switzerland to Bohemian Switzerland Děčín–Hřensko–Kamenice Krásná Lípa–House of Bohe- Gorges–Pravčická brána mian Switzerland–Kögler Nature Trail Day 1: Arrival in Děčín, tour of Děčín’s chateau and Day 1: Arrival in Krásná quays, departure by car or Lípa, accommodation at the boat to Hřensko, accom- modern Aparthotel Lípa- modation at Hotel Praha. -resort complex, tour of the Day 2: Kamenice Gorges – interactive exhibition on the drive to springs in Edmund national park at the House of Fairy Cave Gorge, then travel on foot to Bohemian Switzerland, visit Mezní Louka and later along to the local brewery Křinický Gabriela’s Path through the pivovar. rocks to Europe’s largest Day 2: Kögler Nature Trail sandstone arch: Pravčická – circuit of the Bohemian brána. Return to Hřensko. Switzerland National Park Price: 1600 CZK / 58 EUR including Kyjov Valley and (Price includes accom- the lookout tower at Vlčí hora. modation, boat trips and Circuit options: 5–20 km. admission to Pravčická Begins and ends on the brána, steamboat ride and square in Krásná Lípa. admission to chateau) Price: 1200 CZK / 45 EUR (Price includes accommoda- tion, exhibition admission) Gabriela’s Path 8 EDEN – Destinations of Excellence in the Czech Republic Kyjov Valley Upper Lusatian house in Kamenická stráň Special tip Two-day programme Pravčice Gate Tisá Walls and Sněžník One of the best known mor- phological formations among Ostrov–Tisá–Sněžník–Děčín Bohemian rock towns, this national nature landmark Day 1: Arrival in Ostrov, lies 3 km from Hřensko. Its accommodation at Hotel dimensions (height of vault Ostrov. Tour of the Tisá Walls 16m, span almost 27 m, rock town, 4 km circuit from breadth of arch 7–8 m) make the village of Tisá, evening of it the largest stone arch in relaxation at hotel with the Europe. option of making use of well- www.pbrana.cz ness services. Sunshine on the Pravčice Gate Day 2: Departure for village of Sněžník, climb via red and green hiking trails to Děčínský Sněžník (Dresden lookout point and observation tower) – the highest mesa in Bohemian Switzerland, lunch at Zlatá lípa restaurant in Děčín’s Jalůvčí district and visit to the Pastýřská Wall with a view of the Elbe canyon and the town; visit to Děčín Zoo also possible. Boat trip at Hřensko Price: 1500 CZK / 55 EUR (Price includes accommoda- Dining tips tion, including option of using Hotel Ostrov: Tisá wellness services, admission www.hotelostrov.com to observation tower, lunch, Restaurant Na Stodolci: zoo admission) Chřibská www.nastodolci.cz Restaurant Starý klub: Useful website Česká Kamenice www.ceskesvycarsko.cz www.staryklub.cz House of Bohemian Switzerland Information Centre Křinické nám. 1161/10 Krásná Lípa [email protected] +420 412 383 413 www.ceskesvycarsko.cz 9 Žatec The recorded history of Žatec Itinerary dates back a millennium Weekend stay and is dominated by the first To the Mecca of class hops that are cultivated all beer lovers locally. It is also a candidate Arrival on Friday evening or Saturday morning. for inclusion on a UNESCO Hotel accommodation. Day 1: Morning: Tour of list of historical landmarks. the centre of the royal town of Žatec, including a visit to the Town Hall tower. Guided The Temple of Hops and Beer, The complex boasts: tours of the town are avai- which is located in the Žatec ▪ A lookout tower called lable in several languages. hop-growing region technical the Hop Lighthouse Lunch at one of a number of historical landmark zone, is ▪ A labyrinth of hop sacks town-centre restaurants. a fun, educational complex ▪ A fully-functioning Hop After Lunch: Tour of the that introduces visitors to Astronomical Clock Temple of Hops and Beer local hop-growing and beer ▪ The world’s largest complex, stop to watch traditions. Žatec is rightly Hops Museum unique Hop Astronomical dubbed the “Mecca of all hop- ▪ The U Orloje microbrewery Clock striking, visit to the -pickers and beer-makers” and non-smoking restaurant nearby Monastery Gardens. and everybody who respects ▪ The Monastery Gardens Afternoon: Visit to the well- the taste of good beer ought to situated 200 metres away ness centre at Hotel Zlatý Lev, visit it at least once. Only then ▪ The Renaissance buil- followed by a ceremonial eve- will they genuinely understand ding Galerie Sladovna, ning at the U Orloje restau- what beer is all about. As the which houses an infor- rant, including tasting of beer Czechs say, if you haven’t been, mation centre from the local microbrewery. it’s as if you haven’t lived… Day 2: Morning: Tour of The Temple of Hops and Beer Important notice! the Hops Museum, the biggest complex, which occupies a sig- THE TEMPLE OF HOPS of its kind in the world. nificant part of the royal town AND BEER is not your Lunch at U Orloje restaurant. of Žatec, is intended for visitors average tourist destination. Afternoon: Chance to of all ages and nationalities. Perceptive visitors can visit the nearby Galerie genuinely achieve an under- Sladovna. In the past malt Hop Lighthouse standing of the essence of the was produced here; today phenomenon of Czech beer the Renaissance building is – that is, the reason the beer home to a small gallery. Accommodation tips continues to taste so great. After experiencing the iti- Hotel Zlatý Lev: nerary outlined, visitors will www.zlaty-lev.cz understand why some beers Capacity 60 beds really do taste as good as they Hotel U Hada: do.