Best of the Czech Republic Loket People say the Czech Prague Republic is not a country, but a garden. In the centre of a chain of mountains on the border, with deep and meditative forests covering the slopes, Prague, the Mother of Cities we find the land of Bohemia, strewn with the silver coins The undisputed crown and of lakes and criss-crossed the mother of Czech cities with the threads of rivers, is Prague, the beauty of or rippling with undulating a hundred spires and one of highlands. In the east lie the the most charming human historical lands of Moravia settlements on the planet. and Silesia, brightened with But if you limit yourself only the endless plains of golden to Prague, you will miss a lot. fields. History, recent as well There are so many interesting as ancient, has left its mark and unique treasures to be on this blissful landscape, found across the country The Czech Republic with many valuable and that it would be difficult to astonishing treasures in the see them all in one’s lifetime. form of historical towns, There are many keys to the castles and chateaux, gates of the Czech Republic. churches and cathedrals – The brochure you are holding true architectural and urban in your hands unlocks these masterpieces of all the eras gates with the key of UNESCO that came before us. world cultural heritage. The key rattles in the lock, the gate swings open and you can The Picturesque enter the land of wonders and Heart of Europe beauty. Kuks Karlovy Vary Vranov nad Dyjí 1 Charles Bridge Prague Castle Discover the Story of No other Czech town has had Prague Castle as it is told so much written and spoken by a permanent exhibition on the Gothic floor of the about it as the capital city, Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle. The story reveals Prague. the mystery of a place where the greatest Czech sovereigns and saints are entombed, a place Genius loci of authentic artefacts, where all historical styles Standing on one of the most Walking through this city converge in one unique beautiful stone bridges in the now means being a part of all complex, a place which world, the Charles Bridge, and the magic and mystery of its protects the Czech Crown looking past the silhouettes past. Prague’s atmosphere Jewels, the St. Vitus of silent statues and the Old is unmatched by that of any Treasury and collections Town full of winding alleys other city in the world. The preserved from past times, Astronomical Clock and picturesque squares up list of all its monuments, and a place which is also toward the hill where Prague museums, galleries, amazing the dignified seat of the Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral spots and buildings, even in president of the Czech glisten in the sunlight is an its briefest form, far exceeds Republic. experience that even those the size of this small book. who have spent their whole Prague is a city you have to lives here never tire of. blend with, let it grow on you, become a part of it at least for The city of a hundred spires is a while – and then the city Do you like classical a mysterious labyrinth where may be persuaded to reveal music? Then visit the the past is interwoven with some of its secrets to you. Prague Spring International the present, a magical place www.praguewelcome.cz Music Festival, which where the most powerful men showcases the world’s of Europe, rulers, generals, top soloists, symphony alchemists and Jewish orchestras and chamber scholars met… It was here ensembles. It traditionally that Rabbi Loew breathed life begins on May 12, the into the Golem made of clay; anniversary of the death of where Arcimboldo painted his Czech composer Bedřich opulent portraits composed Smetana. Enjoy the of fruits and vegetables; and ultimate music experience! here that the alchemists at www.festival.cz the court of Emperor Rudolf Prague II struggled to find the Philosopher’s Stone in their crucibles and Franz Kafka wrote his dark and oppressive The Centre of a Magical works. It was here that Smetana and Dvořák, as well as Mozart and Liszt, enjoyed Labyrinth standing ovations from their enthusiastic audiences; that church reformer Jan Hus preached, and Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Giordano Bruno, and Tycho de Brahe spent their time bent over their telescopes… Prague bridges 2 Best of the Czech Republic 3 Karlštejn St. Barbara‘s Church Church interior Three Jewels in the Very Centre of Bohemia Konopiště of Fairy Tales In three cardinal directions Listen to the story of the from Prague, there lie three In the south, in the middle of church’s construction, a beautiful park with forests a story which was written of the country’s historical and lakes, we find a fairy tale over five centuries and chateau. But the spirit of this was interrupted several treasures. All are less than place is that of court etiquette times by historic events. of the early 20th century, the St. Barbara’s Church was an hour’s drive away. Three dress uniforms of the imperial originally intended as court, hunting jackets, and a representative building witnesses of the ancient and the first automobiles. The and was erected under the last person to transform the patronage of the wealthy recent past, protected by chateau to suit his liking was burghers of Kutná Hora. Its Archduke Franz Ferdinand, origins reflect the tensions UNESCO. heir to the Austro-Hungarian at that time between Kutná throne. His marvellous Hora and Prague and also Proud Karlštejn hunting trophies, armoury, between Kutná Hora and pompous drawing rooms and the powerful monastery West of Prague lies one of bedrooms, studies, as well in nearby Sedlec. This the symbols and landmarks as his private dining room, magnificent structure is Mysterious Kutná Hora of the Czech Republic, the all retain the spirit of the simply breathtaking, both majestic Karlštejn Castle, man whose death in faraway for its exterior architecture In the east lies the medieval built of stone, which is Sarajevo sparked the First and also for the rich murals town of Kutná Hora, the pride of Czech Gothic World War. inside the church. charming and mysterious. Its craftsmanship. It is as if Time www.zamek-konopiste.cz www.guide.kh.cz secrets include cathedrals, itself was sitting in the corner, cloisters, houses of the not daring to disturb the air aristocracy, mysterious full of history. Palaces and Sedlec Ossuary passageways, vaulted cellars chambers, long and spacious and masterpieces of Gothic corridors, impenetrable castle and Baroque architecture, walls and austere towers, and urban planning, and most importantly, the jewel sculpture. In the Middle of jewels, the Chapel of the Ages, silver was mined here Holy Cross with a unique and coins minted; trade collection of one hundred and flourished, and the Czech king twenty-nine Gothic paintings even had his seat here. by Master Theodoricus. You can stand in silent www.hradkarlstejn.cz admiration under the arched ceiling of one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe, dedicated to Saint Barbara, walk through the Konopiště courtyards and chambers of the Italian Court, the former palace of Wenceslas IV, or hold your breath as you Kutná Hora descend into the Ossuary of the Cistercian Monastery and with awe and unease Karlštejn see the altars, coats of arms, chandeliers, pyramids and obelisks made of the bones of Konopiště plague victims. Then enter the unique Gothic Stone House and, for a while, become a medieval craftsman or even a cook… www.kutnahora.cz 4 Best of the Czech Republic 5 Holašovice Hluboká nad Vltavou Český Krumlov A Medieval Pearl on the Banks One of the most beautiful historic European towns, of the River inscribed on the UNESCO list of world cultural and natural heritage sites, is located in South Bohemia. From the walls of its castle, Český Krumlov offers a lovely view of the forest-covered Šumava Castle Museum mountains. the best preserved groups Do not miss a tour of the of buildings constructed in Castle Museum with its walk through one of the city’s the Rural Baroque style and imaginative exposition. many galleries and museums, protected by UNESCO – You will see a model of the or board a boat and enjoy the houses that have for centuries castle as it looked in the views of the town from the kept their original, medieval, 16th century, a lapidarium, Český Krumlov river. and Baroque character. presentations on life in past www.ckrumlov.cz www.unesco-czech.cz eras, and even a cinema. The labyrinth of narrow The museum is open year and mysterious medieval The Land of Castles and round. alleyways has grown within Chateaux www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.eu the grip of uncompromising rocky slopes, on a plain as And if you are not ready to large as the hand of a friendly Holašovice – a Fairy Tale leave the fairy tale world just giant. The Gothic town of Village yet, nearby is the beautiful alchemists and stonemasons, Hluboká Chateau built in court jesters and proud Southern Bohemia, a the Tudor Gothic style, a aristocrats, crowned with hospitable landscape of lakes, white mirage floating above a beautiful Renaissance rivers, forests and meadows, the woods of Southern chateau – the largest in the water castles, splendid Bohemia, or the naiad of rock, Czech Republic after Prague chateaux, historical towns the scarlet Červená Lhota – is full of mysterious magic and picturesque villages, a chateau on a rocky island in and secrets. The winding paradise for water-lovers and the middle of a lake.