Located in the very centre of the continent, some say that the Czech Republic is the heart of Europe. This historic country is full of wonderful castles and chateaux, world famous spas, unspoilt countryside, historical cities, and legendary cuisine. In a land where anyone can find their own story, what will be your choice?
story and photos by:
www.visitczechrepublic.com
STAY
- Klokočov Chateau
Situated in a quiet part of the Vysočina (highlands) near the Seč Dam, this aristocratic country residence provides a distinct level of privacy as it can accommodate no more than 20 guests – so an intimate atmosphere is more than guaranteed. The 18th century Baroque building is surrounded by an English landscape garden with a pond, while on the outskirts of the village of Klokočov, not far from the Manor, stands an Art Nouveau pub built in the late 19th century. It is truly a great place for those who are looking for a little seclusion on their holiday and the welcoming open arms of pure nature.
- Glamping in the Zoo
If chateaux stays are a bit too much for you and you’re looking for unusual experiences and adventures without sacrificing too much on the comfort side, then glamping might be just what you are looking for. The Dvůr Králové Zoo and Safari Park Resort offers seven luxury tents situated in the treetops directly above a large African animal enclosure. Each tent is furnished with 4 beds, its own sanitary facilities, a fridge, and an outdoor grill. Not only accommodation, the price also includes unrestricted access to the zoo, even outside of opening hours.
- Savic Hotel
Housed in a Gothic and Renaissance building still showing parts of its origin back in 1319, the Savic Hotel can be found right at the heart of the Golden City, close to the National Library and the Old Town Square. Surrounded by picturesque narrow cobbled alleys, the hotel is only 300 metres away from the famous Charles Bridge and is also ideally located for the sights of Prague’s Old Town, like the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock.
- River Liveaboard at Green Yacht Hotel
The four-star Green Yacht Hotel & Restaurant offers four decks with 33 cabin-style rooms and several common areas, a restaurant, private lounge, conference rooms and a golf simulator, as well as a partially covered upper deck with a large terrace that is ideal for open air parties and BBQs. The wellness centre and spa offer a wide range of massages, a Finnish sauna, and bio sauna.
Shop
- Precious Glasswork
What to bring back home as a memory? One of the most typical Czech products is its crystal glass. The Czech Republic has a centuries-old tradition of making crystal glass. You can choose from jewellery to some nice glasses or vases, up to the big chandeliers. These can be found in many shops and, if you have time, you can visit many of the glassmakers and see them at work. We recommend you take a day or two and head toward the region of Liberec, the birthplace of Czech crystal glass, where they have a great project called Crystal Valley.
–
- Quest for Jewels
As we are talking about jewellery, it is worth mentioning two of the area’s precious stones – the Czech garnet and moldavite. Be sure to look for originals, where the Czech producers create beautiful art pieces such as bracelets, earrings, and much more. Jablonec nad Nisou, a town in North Bohemia, is a place where jewellers and stonemasons came to learn their craft as early as the 17th century. Not far from Jablonec, you will find Jiřetín pod Bukovou, where Daniel Swarovski was born in 1862. He was the man who built a brand that has become an icon in the fashion world.
- Sophisticated Czech Toys
Designers from the Czech Republic think not only of artistic processes, but also of children learning something new. For centuries, Czech toys have been inspired by fairy tale characters or depicting popular animal heroes. New motifs were added at the beginning of the 20th century emphasising not only the aesthetic value, but also technological innovations. Handmade miniatures of cars or tractors, toys that refer to the Artěl tradition, as well as original toys have been a part of the lives of children, teens and collector adults alike.
- Prague Christmas Markets
Christmas and Christmas markets are the best things about the winter. Those held in Prague pride themselves on having been voted the most beautiful of these events by USA Today readers in an extensive opinion poll. The Prague Christmas markets are also enchanting thanks to their decorations, attractive surroundings, and backdrops. The most popular and largest markets are traditionally held in the Old Town Square, which becomes the main centre of pre-Christmas celebrations and visited by thousands of people every winter.
Dine
- Europe’s Soup Capital
We love various kinds of soups. Probably the most typical local offerings are beef soup with liver dumplings, potato soup with mushrooms, or Kulajda, a white soup containing mushrooms, dill, and potatoes, softened with cream giving it a typical sweet and sour taste. During the winter is the time for wild game with zabijačka specialties and thick soups – thick enough to cut with a knife!
- Tantalising Bites
In the Czech Republic, the locals love the open-faced sandwich almost as passionately as they do beer. Small slices of Veka (long narrow white bread) topped with a combination of ham, cheese, pickled vegetables, mayonnaise, and eggs are affectionately prepared by Czechs for birthday parties, wedding receptions or just for guests to nibble on. Simply, Chlebíček is a Czech delicacy that a New Year’s Eve celebration cannot go without.
- Beef and Dumplings
Another typical Czech dish is Svíčková, a sirloin of beef with dumplings and a sauce made from root vegetables and heavy cream. The dumplings are a Czech specialty which locals treat as a side dish, main dish, salty option filled with meat, or even sweet option filled with various kinds of fruits, accompanied by the grinded gingerbread and quark (cheese curd).
- Grin Inducing Desserts
Talking about cuisine, you must not forget to try the wonderful Czech desserts. In many places in Prague and other cities, you will see a lot of Trdelník (chimney cake),which although tasty is not actually a Czech dessert at all. Typical desserts sometimes have funny names, like Rakvička (little coffin) or Věneček (little wreath). There is no need to be afraid of the names, just be sure to give them a try. Czech people love sweets, so there are many kinds of desserts to choose from.
Do
- Fun in the Capital
The first stop for most tourists is Prague. The city offers many beautiful historical places where the first place you are likely to visit is the Old Town Square with its famous clock. If you’re here, take your time and visit the town hall where you have the opportunity to see the figures of the Astronomical Clock from the other side. Climb the stairs (or take a lift) up to the tower from where you will get a picturesque view of the whole city centre and its historical sights. If you want to find a nice place for a sunset, climb the Vyšehrad hill and watch the sun going down while the ships on the Vltava river below pass by.
- Indulging Spas
Czech spas are world renowned and attract many visitors for their treatments. Even if you are only here for a short time, spend some time on the spa procedures, or just stroll around while tasting the mineral water. The spas offer a whole range of wellness, relaxation, detoxification, and weight reduction programmes, blessed with water that come from the natural underground springs.
- Sport in Nature
The Czech Republic is famous for its hiking trails and has more than 40 thousand kilometres of hiking and over 30 thousand kilometres of marked bicycle trails. But that’s not all for the sports, in summer you can also go boating on one of the Czech rivers, try some via ferrata, golfing and much more. In winter you can also enjoy the winter sports of the Czech mountains.
- Precious UNESCO Heritage Sites
There are around a thousand UNESCO sights around the world, but 16 of them are in the Czech Republic. Apart from the historical centre of Prague, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora and Telč, there is the Functionalist Villa Tugendhat in Brno, or the historical gardens and chateau in Kroměříž. Furthermore, there are several traditions and folk customs listed in cultural heritage such as the Ride of the Kings, or the National Stud farm in Kladruby nad Labem famous for its horses.
- Prague Zoo
Prague Zoo is located in the beautiful and rugged terrain of the Trojan basin and is visited by more than one million people annually. Located in a hilly and wooded part of Troja, the zoo is situated on 60 hectares, 50 of which make up the animal exhibits. Prague Zoo is also famous among experts for its long-term breeding of Przewalski horses, which have been successfully returned to their original habitat – the sprawling Mongolian plains. The latest pavilions include The Indonesian Jungle where you’ll find the endangered Komodo dragons, the Bird Wetlands and Valley of the Elephants.
- The Krušné Mountains in Winter
At the border of the Czech Republic and Germany lies a mountain range which has become synonymous with relaxing winter holidays. The Krušné Mountains offer not only excellent conditions for downhill and cross-country skiing but also a romantic history in a region inseparably connected with the mining of silver. When you add to that a bounteous annual snowfall and a world-famous spa town, it’s an irresistible combination.
- Prague and Golfing
Everyone knows that Prague is a place to which people come to admire architecture but people are sometimes pleasantly surprised to find that you can improve your handicap at some luxury golf resorts in the city. The first 18-hole resort in Prague can be found in the tranquil surroundings of Zbraslav. The Prague City Golf Club is located 2km from Zbraslav Chateau, home to the National Gallery’s collection of Asian art.
- Fun Science in Brno
VIDA! is a science theme park at the Brno Fairgrounds in Moravia, designed for children and parents alike focusing on technology, science, and the human body. The area covers over 6,200 m² and offers more than 180 interactive exhibits, thanks to which you can explore how the world around us works. The permanent exposition is divided into six thematic sections: Planet, Civilisation, People, Micro-world, Children’s Science Centre for ages 2 to 6, and Outdoor Exposition.
