A region you just can’t miss! can’t just you A region On the rails, in the air, on the water, on horseback On the rails, in the air, on the water, on horseback Table of contents 1. On the rails 2 2. In the air 5 3. On the water 9 4. On horseback 13 5. In the countryside 15 Europe Czech Republic Central Bohemia Region www.middleczech.cz Prague On the rails, in the air, on the water, on horseback You can explore the picturesque landscape of Central Bohemia historic train, in a balloon, on a boat or on horseback, you will in various ways. You can ride a bike or go on foot. But how have time to think about what you see around you. And about trying some less traditional ways of travelling? On a without a doubt the Central Bohemia Region has a lot to offer. 1 1. ON THE RAILS In a railway carriage, you will realise how much the times have changed. Board the Sázava Pacific trains When the railway began a hundred and The legendary Central Bohemia railway track leads east from Prague along fifty years ago, people were afraid of it. the river, via Čerčany, to Světlá nad Sázavou. Its name, which is one hun- They thought that it would frighten cattle dred years old, was conceived by the so-called trampers. The railway track and that the speed, until then unheard is characterised by numerous bridges, tunnels and viaducts, of which the of, would suck the air out of the carriages most interesting one is probably the Žampach Viaduct near Jílové u Prahy. and suffocate the passengers. In The valley is conquered by this arch, which is 110 metres long and 41.4 comparison with cars, trains are nowa­ metres high. The Sázava Pacific Railway also offers a nostalgic excursion days considered too slow. However, that train, assembled from historic carriages pulled by a steam locomotive. The is often their advantage, and you will train serves as a reminder of the past, when people did not yet hurry to the discover that the slowness and con­ countryside in their cars along busy roads. The train ride can be combined centration of the railway tracks are with hiking along the equally famous Sázava Trail, which leads through the unjustly neglected life values. Moreover, canyon of the River Sázava from Kamenný Přívoz to Pikovice. the train brings with it nostalgia, What you will experience: the atmosphere of the Central Bohemia “Wild especially if it is a historic one. Where West” and trampers’ settlements, including technical monuments along should you go on the rails in Cen tral the route. Bohemia? More: www.pacifikem.cz, www.posazavsky-pacifik.cz, www.cd.cz/ zazitky, http://parnijizdy.ic.cz 2 1. ON THE RAILS Follow in the footsteps of sugar in the Elbe Region In 1894, the oldest Czech sugar beet railway was built for the collection of sugar beet. It led from the Kolín sugar factory to Jestřabí Lhota and was nearly eleven kilometres long. It was closed in the 1960s and re-established by enthusiasts after 2007. Today, the Kolín Sugar Beet Railway offers a pleasant excursion by train, pulled by a steam or diesel locomotive on a narrow-gauge track. Depend- ing on the weather, you can ride in an open or closed heated carriage, or a carri- age for wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles. The train ride can be completed with a walk in the Elbe landscape, mushroom-picking or cycling. There is also an educational trail named “Following the History of the Sugar Beet Railroad and Its Surroundings”. What you will experience: the children’s enjoyment of the locomotives. The same applies to adults! More: http://zeleznicka.bloudil.cz Board the Wobluda locomotive Come to the nineteenth century Near the Monastery of St. John under the Cliff in the Beroun area, there is the Sol- In the Příbram Mining Museum, there is a mining train ride in the area of the Ševčin vay Quarries open-air museum. There are several former mine buildings in the Mine in Březové Hory. Today, a section (approx. 230 metres long) of the track is abandoned Paraple limestone quarry, where there is a permanent exhibition on operational, leading from the mine yard over the rebuilt bridge and along Pod the history of mining and the transport of limestone in the Bohemian Karst. In addi- Struhami Street to the Ševčin Gallery portal. This operational section should be tion to lamps, jackhammers and other exhibits, visitors are also attracted by the followed by another section in the future, leading directly through the Ševčin restored narrow-gauge track that offers train rides. An extensive collection of Gallery under Husova Street to the Vojtěch Mine. The train was operational from mining vehicles is complemented with a number of historic locomotives, with 1884 to 1900 and served for the transport of silver and lead ores. It was re-opened names such as Máňa, Elektrula, Účko and Wobluda. in 2006. What you will experience: the romance of a century-old form of industrial trans- What you will experience: a unique technical attraction for children and adults port that has become a part of history. alike. More: www.solvayovylomy.cz More: www.muzeum-pribram.cz 3 2. IN THE AIR Visit four railway museums Ride a historic train to the The Czech Railways Museum in Lužná u Rakovníka has been engaged in the maintenance and operation of region of hops historic railway vehicles for the past fifteen years. The museum can be found at the Lužná railway station, The steam train on the railway which was used not only to in the beautiful landscape on the edge of the Křivoklát forests. The local collections include steam loco- transport people but also sugar products, wood, hops and motives of different categories and from different periods, as well as historic diesel locomotives, railcars beer leaves from Lužná u Rakovníka during the season (for and examples of railway technical equipment. There are regular events, such as a steam train ride through the timetable see the website below). Come to the station the hop fields. Twice a year, it is the terminal station of the steam-powered Křivoklát Express that goes some time before the scheduled departure so that you can from Prague via Karlštejn and Křivoklát. visit the local railway museum (see “Visit four railway In the Zlonice Railway Museum, located in a renovated farmhouse near Slaný, railway enthusiasts collect museums”). The twelve-kilometre-long Krupá-Kolešovice and restore historic locomotives and carriages. Since 1997, they have collected several dozen, including railway track, known as the “Kolešovka”, was put into ope- unique vehicles, such as a goods wagon that dates back to 1880. You can also see an entire train from the ration on 15 September 1883; it will first take you to Krupá, period between the two world wars. with its Church of St. Gotthard, associated with several The Výtopna Zdice Museum presents an exhibition of historic railway and road technologies. It is located legends (for example, according to one of them, the church in the former depot of the Czech Railways at an important railway junction of the Prague-Pilsen and Zdice- bells start to ring by themselves when the village is in dan- -Protivín routes. The collection contains truly unique exhibits, such as the legendary Škoda RTO bus and ger). The train then stops in Olešná near Rakovník and after the Rosnička T 334.062 locomotive. another five minutes in Chrášťany – named after “chrást”, At the Sudoměř near Mladá Boleslav railway stop, there is a period transport office and a collection of which means loppings. In Kněževes, you can visit an exhibi- authentic tools used for the construction and maintenance of the railway superstructure. At the small tion of historic railway vehicles; after that, you will go railway museum, you can see several engine-powered and self-powered trolleys and trucks. through Přílepy and arrive in Kolešovice after a total of fifty What you will experience: what our forefathers experienced. minutes. More: www.cdmuzeum.cz, http://zmzlonice.draha.net/, www.saxi.cz, www.zinopa.estranky.cz More: www.kolesovka.eu 9 7 3 6 5 8 2 1 4 Map legend: 5. Solvay Quarries 1. Sázava Pacific Railway 6. Lužná u Rakovníka 2. Kolín Sugar Beet Railway 7. Zlonice 3. Krupá-Kolešovice Railway 8. Zdice 4 4. Mining Museum Příbram 9. Sudoměř near Mladá Boleslav 2. IN THE AIR The view from above offers a unique and original perspective. First and foremost, Fly along the River Jizera however, it is very refreshing – your problems ... or over Mělník Castle, Kokořín, the Bohemian family. The staff of the public international airport at stay somewhere below you and you will Paradise, Ralsko, Mladá Boleslav, Brandýs nad Mnichovo Hradiště provides passengers and flight perceive everything in a different way. Another Labem... It is up to you what you want to see of Cen- crews with comprehensive services related to inter- dimension involves pleasant chills and exciting tral Bohemia. All you have to do is arrange the flight national air transport – customs and passport dizziness. And finally, it is a feeling of lightness, in advance with the operator of the public interna- checks, pre-flight service for pilots, refuelling, otherwise reserved only for birds. In the Central tional airport at Mnichovo Hradiště . You will choose accommodation etc. Bohemia Region, there are several places the route and duration of the sightseeing flight What you will experience: intoxicating dizziness where you can experience flying in various according to your wishes.