BOHEMIA CITIES



The Czech Republic is a country of great historical and cultural importance. The Czech lands take pride in an extraordinarily high number of monuments. Over 2000 well-preserved castles and chateaux represent an important part of the national cultural heritage. Many of these sights are registered onto the List of World Heritage UNESCO, for example Kutná Hora with an Ossuary and the Cathedral of Saint Barbara, the historical core and castle with a Baroque theatre in Český Krumlov or Telč with a beautiful castle. Prague, the Capital of the Czech Republic, is generally considered to be one of the most splendid cities in the world.

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UNESCO LISTED CITIES :


PRAGUE - THE CAPITAL OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC



CESKY KRUMLOV

   
This district capital in the South of Bohemia lying in the Vltava valley is known as the pearl of South Bohemia. As one of the most famous monument reservations it has been part of UNESCO world heritage since 1992. Its two magnificent monuments of the stately home and gothic Kostel Sv. Vita (Church of St. Vitus) dominate the town. The estate of the stately home, one of the largest in Europe, contains over 40 historical buildings. The old town will undoubtedly captivate you with its meandering alleys and ancient buildings of Gothic and Renaissance origin with galleries, stalls and taverns. The summerhouse, riding-school, summer theatre with revolving auditorium, Budejovicka Brana (Budejovice Gate) and Renaissance brewery are also interesting.

Official Web Site of Cesky Krumlov   |   Cesky Krumlov on Unesco Web



HOLASOVICE

   
This South-Bohemian village from the 13th century is regarded as a pearl of rustic baroque. Individual farmsteads, altogether 22 buildings with painted baroque gables and gardens behind them, are arranged around the pond in the middle of the village green. The pond was used for fish farming; indeed the whole of this region is famous for its fish industry. The village is a living reminder of the rustic tradition, known for example from the most famous Czech opera Prodana Nevesta (The Bartered Bride). In fact, the village was used as the setting in the film version of the opera. Holasovice lies 14.5 km West of Ceske Budejovice.

Official Web Site of Holasovice   |   Holasovice on Unesco Web



KUTNA HORA

   
A district capital in mid-Bohemia. The town has a wealth of industry, for example cigarette production. The Royal high town originated at the end of the 13th century by the rich silver ore deposits. The Kutna Hora decrees were published here, and the Prazske Grose (Prague groschen) was minted here. The dominating features of the town are late-Gothic Chram Sv. Barbory (Cathedral of St. Barbara), Kostel Sv. Jakuba (Church of St. Jacob), Hradek Gothic palace, and Kostel Panny Marie (Church of the Virgin Mary) Gothic cathedral. The town also has many theatres and museums.

Official Web Site of Kutna Hora   |   Kutna Hora on Unesco Web



KROMERIZ

   
This district capital lies in Northern Moravia on the River Morava. This sublimely beautiful fairytale town is filled with historical monuments to remind you of tradition, culture, music and school. It is rightly known as the "Hanacky Athens." The historical core of the town is a town monument reservation. The Archbishop's stately home is a real gem, with its magnificently decorated halls and valuable art collections. Its picture gallery is world famous. In the home's library we can find collections of historical books, coins and original scores of music compositions. The flower garden is a work of Italian architecture, and ornaments, fountains, arcade galleries and a garden maze are all to be found here. Wine lovers will enjoy the Archbishop's wine cellars, which have a centuries-old tradition of producing sacramental wine.

Castle and Gardens of Kromeriz   |   Kromeriz on Unesco Web



LEDNICE

   
A town in the South of Moravia in the Breclav district, and a centre of the wine and fruit industries. A number of prehistoric finds have been discovered in the area. At the end of the 17th century a baroque stately home was built in place of the Gothic fortress. Together with Valtice, Lednice is at the centre of a natural complex of landscapes.

Lednice-Valtice (Wine Capital) Web   |   Lednice on Unesco Web



LITOMYSL

   
A town in East Bohemia. Fishing and tourism are important here. The town prides itself on its Renaissance stately home, the stately home theatre, Gothic and baroque churches, museum, galleries and many other places. The Smetanova Litomysl festival is held here.

Litomysl City Web   |   Litomysl on Unesco Web



OLOMOUC

   
The baroque pillar, which arose between 1716 and 1754, documents the manifest religiosity of the Episcopal town at the time. Motifs of church triumphalism and beliefs in architectural-artistic formation are combined within it. The listing of the baroque pillar amongst the monuments of UNESCO world cultural heritage gained a general recognition of Olomouc. This historic town used to be the capital city of Moravia and has been a bishopric since 1063. Today it is the second largest monument reservation after Prague, and definitely deserves the attention of visitors. The most significant church building is Chram Sv. Vaclava (the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas) from the year 1109, rebuilt in the years 1883 - 1890 in a Gothic nouveau form. The last Premyslide king Vaclav III (Wenceslas III) was murdered inside in 1306. Other important buildings include Premyslovsky Palac (Premyslide Palace), Hradisko (the largest Premonstratensian monastery in Europe) and the fortified Kostel Sv. Morice (Church of St. Morris) from the 15-16th centuries with its famous organs. In the small chapel on Namesti Sv. Vaclava (Square of St. Wenceslas) you can find a Madonna from 1483, one of the most valuable Gothic statues in the Czech Republic

Olomouc Tourism   |   Olomouc on Unesco Web



TELC

   
This town in the South of Ceskomoravske Vrchoviny (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands) has a quintessential triangular plaza surrounded by residential houses with Renaissance gables and arcades. Visitors can inspect the valuable furnishings and important collections of the halls of the stately home under the building's preserved wooden coffered ceilings. Farni Kostel Sv. Jakuba (the Parish Church of St. Jacob) and Kostel Sv. Ducha (Church of the Holy Spirit) with its Romanesque tower are also beautiful. The town also boasts Muzeum Vysociny (Highland Museum) and Galerie Jana Zrzaveho (Gallery of Jan Zrzavy).

Official Web Site of Telc   |   Telc on Unesco Web



TREBIC

   
The town lies on the River Jihlava, and was founded in the 13th century. The town's economic development is connected to the nearby Dukovana electric power station. The former monastery was rebuilt into a Renaissance stately home with a structurally significant Roman-Gothic basilicco. There is an important complex here with a Jewish ghetto with old and new synagogues, Jewish cemetery and the wonderful parish Kostel Sv. Martina (Church of St. Martin). You can also visit the Zapadoevropske Muzeum (West-European Museum).

Official Web Site of Trebic   |   Trebic on Unesco Web

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OTHER CITIES

BRNO

   
Brno represents the centre of the province of Moravia, one of the historic lands of the Czech Crown. The city itself lies in the basin of the Svratka and Svitava rivers. Thanks to its location between the Bohemian-Moravian Hills and the Southern Moravian lowlands, Brno enjoys a very pleasant, moderate climate, ideal for recreation and everyday living. Man has lived in the Brno basin since prehistoric times, and there was a settlement on the site of today's city at the time of the Great Moravian Empire. In around 1000 a settlement was established on a ford across the River Svratka, now known as Staré Brno (Old Brno), and it was this that gave the city its name.

Official Web Site of Brno   |   Tugendhat Villa in Brno



CESKE BUDEJOVICE

   
Ceske Budejovice, the former royal town founded already in the 13th century where the famous beer Budweiser has been brewed over centuries. Ceske Budejovice is the metropolis of South Bohemia. All the houses on the large square and many in adjacent streets have arcades. A Black tower, 72 meters high, finished in 1577 dominates the town. The town hall (see picture) received its present shape in 1730. An important work of South Bohemian Baroque is the Samson fountain on Budějovice square.

Official Web Site of Ceske Budejovice   |   Budweiser beer



PLZEN

   
Pilsen is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic. It is located in western Bohemia.
Beer has been brewed in Pilsen since the very foundation of the town. The first written record of the fact dates from the year 1307. It can be read in the last will of a Pilsen burgher Wolfram Zwinilinger. Later, beer was brewed in houses to which the Czech king Wenceslas II had granted the beer-brewing right in the 13th century. The historic turning point in the development of Pilsen beer brewing was the year 1838: thirty-six hectoliters of beer had to be emptied in front of the town hall because of its bad quality. The event had a great influence over the burghers with brewing rights. They agreed to build a modern brewery, which would guarantee the production of a quality Pilsen beer.

Official Web Site of Plzen   |   Pilsner Beer   |   Beer World

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SPAS
Unique mineral springs rise in the country's regions, and have been used for healing purposes since the start of the 15th century. Spa towns are found in picturesque areas, and are also interesting for their architecture. Several spa houses boast the original fittings. There are a great many spas in the CR. The Czech spa tradition is an inseparable part of European cultural heritage and due to the high quality of natural medicinal springs they have acquired a singular prestige and esteem in the European consciousness. The West-Bohemian spas in particular were already a real concept in the last century.

The best known Czech spas are Bechyne, Belohrad, Beloves, Bilina, Bludov, Bohdanec, Darkov-Karvina, Dubi, Frantiskovy Lazne, Hodonin, Jachymov, Konstantinovy Lazne, Janske Lazne, Jesenik, Karlova Studanka, Karlovy Vary, Kostelec u Zlina, Kundratice-Osecna, Kynzvart, Libverda, Lipova, Luhacovice, Marianske Lazne (Marianbaad), Msene, Ostrozska Nova Ves, Podebrady, Slatinice, Teplice nad Becvou, Teplice v Cechach, Tousen, Trebon, Velichovky, Vraz, Zeleznice and Velke Losiny.

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