The Czech Republic is situated approximately in the geographical centre of Europe and has an area of almost 80,000sq.km. It is a landlocked country with borders with Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. The weather tends to vary in different regions, but you can expect comfortable summer temperatures and cold winters with snow.
Prague
The Czech Republic is divided into two parts, Bohemia and Moravia. Both areas are rich in history and offer a wide range of places well worth seeing. The western part of the Czech Republic known as Bohemia includes Prague, the Czech capital.
Prague has been known as Hundred-towered, Golden, and Magical. Situated on the longest Czech river Vltava, Prague offers the largest number of tourist attractions, ranging from medieval buildings to annual social and cultural events. If sightseeing is what you want to do, let me recommend a few places of interest:
Prague Castle
The Prague Castle was founded in the 9th century as the seat of the Czech princes and kings. It is now the seat of the President of the Czech Republic. The Charles Bridge was built in the gothic style and was the only bridge in Prague until the 19th century.
Every day local artists build their stands there so tourists can shop for precious souvenirs. Be sure not to miss seeing the Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock located in the heart of Prague, on Old Town Square. A 10-minute walk from the center will take you to the Jewish Town. Keep on walking to see one of the most beautiful buildings of Bohemia Baroque, the St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Strahov Monastery
Now rest your feet and stop for lunch in one of Pragueís many local pubs and restaurants. You are sure to love local food as well as the famous Czech beer. Rested enough? Itís time to see the Strahov Monastery, one of the oldest working monasteries in Europe. The complex includes a library, the Basilica of our Lady, and a Picture Gallery.
Located on a rock above river Vltava the mysterious site bound with legends is called Vysehrad. It used to be Premyslid Princesí main residence in the 11th/12th century. Vysehrad offers visitors an interesting architectural complex with a church, rotunda, and cemetery, where over 600 leading Czech personalities are buried (including Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana) and quiet parks for relaxation.
Old Gardens
One of your stops for the day could be the Old Gardens located about 30 minutes from the center of Prague. Gardens are open only seasonally. If you are interested in Czech history, may I suggest a few museums? Bertramka is a memorial to Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart, close to being found are also the Bedrich Smetana and Antonin Dvorak Museums. Donít forget to stop by the Franz Kafka Permanent Exhibition or the Museum of Communism. The National and National Technical Museums are both open to the public year-round.
Puppet Museum
On a lighter note, you can take your children to see traditional Czech puppets at the Puppet Museum or the whole family can enjoy a visit to a Wax Museum. Prague has many galleries for the art lover in you but I would love to recommend the National Gallery which has four branches throughout Prague. When the night falls you have a wide variety of things to do.
Whether it is theater, music, or cinema you are interested in, Prague has it. The Prague State Opera, Rudolfinum, and the Municipal House are all one of the best choices for music lovers. The National Theater offers a repertoire that consists of drama, opera, and ballet performances; Laterna Magika Theater offers multimedia performances. If you would like to see the latest movie flick, you can choose from many cinemas throughout the city, such as Ponrepo, Blahnik, Jalta, or Lucerna, to name a few.
Cesky Krumlov
Feel the need to get away from the big city for a while? Travel to Bohemia and see some of its most beautiful towns and mountains. Make sure to stop by Cesky Krumlov, a unique historical town with a castle complex, baroque theater, and a beautiful historical center from Middle Ages. Make your next stop in Ceske Budejovice, a town well-known for its largest square in Middle Europe as well as a place with excellent Budvar Beer.
Located about 15 km from Ceske Budejovice is Hluboka Chateau, one of the most beautiful chateaus in the Czech Republic. The monumental Romantic Church includes a glassed-in winter garden, a riding hall, and an English Park and Chapel. Karlovy Vary is the largest spa in the Czech Republic, originated around 1350 by Charles IV. The spa offers hot mineral springs and the city host an annual International Film Festival.
Krkonose and Krusne Hory mountains
If you visit Bohemia in the winter time you might be looking for mountains offering skiing conditions. Krkonose and Krusne Hory mountains both offer a wide range of winter entertainment and beautiful countryside.
You can find the highest point of the Czech Republic in Krkonose (otherwise known as the ìGiant Mountainsî), the 1602 meters high Snezka mountain. Going down south, Sumava is the border between the Czech Republic and Germany. You won’t find skiing conditions here, but the largest national park countryside sure makes up for it.
Brno
The Eastern part of the Czech Republic is known as Moravia. Moravia certainly doesn’t stand behind Bohemia and has a lot to offer to its citizens and visitors. One of the major cities located here is Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. Brno was the historic seat of the Premyslid dynasty and has a lot of historical sights to show for it.
Spilberk Castle was originally a royal castle built in the 13th century. There was a prison and barracks there until 1945. The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul is one of the landmarks of Brno. Located on top of the hill called Petrov, the cathedral has been the seat of the Brno bishoprics since 1777.
Capuchin Monastery with Crypt
The Capuchin Monastery with Crypt is located only 10 minutes from the centre and is the most known part of the monastery. The crypt is situated in the basement. Amongst other historic buildings belongs the Old Town Hall, the oldest secular building in Brno, St. James Church, and many more.
Moving out of the city a little more is Villa Tugendhat, the very first monument of modern architecture in the Czech Republic and the fourth worldwide monument to receive the prestige UNESCO designation. Whether you visit the Moravian Gallery, see a movie or go to a local theater, you can never be bored here.
Mikulov
Now that you have seen most of Bohemia and the Moravian capital, it is time to travel some more. Southern Moravia is the best-known region of wine. Visit Mikulov, the little town with many vineyards and wine cellars.
After a good night’s sleep, come visit Telc, a small town with a chateau and a historic center which has been included on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. Telc has one of the most beautiful Squares, a magnificent renaissance chateau, worth seeing is also the Church of Holy Spirit and the Church of St. James.
Olomouc
In terms of historical significance, Olomouc ranks second to Prague. The Holy Trinity Column is included on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list. Come see the place where W.A. Mozart composed his 6th symphony, the Premyslid Palace. Don’t miss out on seeing the Town Hall with Astronomical Clock, many churches, Hradisko Monastery, and fortifications, amongst others.
Come wintertime, and you can travel north to the gorgeous mountains of Jeseniky. A well-known tourist place both in winter and summertime has lots to offer. Come ski, sled, or hike and swim in local rivers. Your last stop in Moravia could be Beskydy, the largest protected landscape area in the Czech Republic.
Final Thoughts
I am sure you will enjoy visiting this gorgeous country no matter which way you decide to travel. Make sure you have enough time on your hands since walking is mainly what you will do. Every city and town offers a great range of public transportation, including buses, trams, and cabs.
And one last piece of advice – watch your cash, as there are a lot of very handy pickpockets all over the country!
Image Credit: Depositphotos
