By The Czech Republic is not just Golden Prague. Medieval towns, sky-high hiking trails in the treetops, fabulous rock formations and spa gems from the UNESCO list – get inspired by places to visit in Czech Republic.
Prague – the golden heart of the Czechia
Prague is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the Old Continent. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe and it is not difficult to guess why. Narrow mysterious streets, majestic monuments and buildings, charming gardens and atmospheric pubs where you can taste the best beer in the world.
Where should you start discovering Prague? On Charles Bridge. This is one of the most famous attractions. This is evidenced by the fact that you can find a photo of this building on most of Prague’s postcards. The bridge connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town. It is best to come here at dawn, when there are not so many people here, or in the late evening, when the views have an electrifying impression, then quickly catch an extraordinary performance in the Old Town, which the astronomical clock gives every hour. Do not miss Prague Castle, Vyšehrad Castle, walk along the banks of the Vltava River.
Cesky Krumlov – a pearl among UNESCO monuments
Český Krumlov is the second most visited city in the Czech Republic after Prague. And no wonder! The medieval architecture of the city, picturesquely situated at the foot of a monumental castle from the 13th century, looks almost the same as it did several centuries ago. The visual qualities of the city’s intact architectural heritage on the banks of the Vltava River were appreciated by the creators of the film “Illusionist”. Along the cobbled streets of the Old Town – between the town hall from the 16th century and the Gothic church of St. Vitus and the house of Jakub Krčín with murals on the facade – Edward Norton walked in the role of the illusionist Eisenheim fighting for the favor of the fiancée of the Austro-Hungarian prince.
When visiting the atmospheric South Bohemian town, you can’t miss the castle, which towers proudly on a steep rock above the Vltava River. It is the second largest castle in the Czech Republic, the oldest part of which, the so-called Hrádek, dates … from the middle of the 13th century. The complex consists of 46 buildings and 5 courtyards. A visit to the chateau will end with a walk through the chateau gardens. If you go to the castle through the Red Gate and you are lucky, you will see Krumlov’s bears in the ditch under the castle. This attraction will delight not only kids.
Booking.comMikulov – in the footsteps of winemaking
In the south, near the border with Austria, is the picturesque town of Mikulov. Although it is a village with only 7500 inhabitants, you will find a lot of activities and beautiful scenery. Mikulov was founded during the 12th century and during its existence, a large number of historical monuments have accumulated in it. Probably the most iconic is the Holy Hill, which combines natural beauty with beautiful architecture. On the way to the hill, you will not only stretch your legs properly, but the whole panorama of the city will also open up to you.
Mikulov also boasts a Baroque castle, a very magical center or even the Na Turoldu cave or the ruins known as Kozí hrádek. But even more amazing possibilities than Mikulov itself offer the surroundings of this city. To the north of it is the famous protected landscape area Pálava, which is a paradise for cyclists and excursionists and, of course, wine lovers. The dominant feature is the Děvín hill, the northern foot of which slopes down to the Nové Mlýny dam, where you can bathe or take a boat ride.
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West Bohemian spa triangle
The Czech Republic is known for its excellent spas. The most famous are Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, which form the West Bohemian spa triangle. These cities are trying to be inscribed on the UNESCO list. No wonder, there are dozens of hot springs (there are only 79 in Karlovy Vary), which support the treatment of diseases of the heart, blood vessels and musculoskeletal system, the air can be safely called crystalline and the types of treatment offered are difficult to count. Patients can also look forward to numerous sports attractions, beautiful architecture, cultural events and regional specialties – led by herbal liqueur and spa wafers.
The spa trio was and is eagerly visited by celebrities. Ludwig van Beethoven sought inspiration here, Chopin admired the Art Nouveau charm of the building, Karl Marx bathed in mud and Mia Farrow, Gérard Depardieu, Daniel Craig and Whoopi Goldberg walked through the historic alleys. It is worth seeing with your own eyes, which enchants Czech spas and attracts tourists from all over the world. Autumn is an ideal time to visit Western Bohemia.
Bohemian Switzerland
Although it lies on the Czech-German border, it was named after the Swiss themselves. Bohemian Switzerland is a beautifully situated national park in the Děčín Uplands in northern Bohemia.
The symbol of this romantic area on the Elbe is the largest natural rock gate in Europe (Pravčická gate). A forest trail along the sandstone rocks leads to the 26-meter-high attraction. Not far from here are other picturesque places in the park, including the Edmund Gorge, which combines elements of a romantic walk through a narrow canyon with exciting crossings over the Kamenica River on raft boats. When discovering – among the gorges, rock formations and cities hidden in the valleys – the treasures of Bohemian Switzerland you can not miss the dwarf rocks with depictions of dwarves and Snow White or the hundred years ago Carved Panská skála – a magnificent basalt organ with a height of up to 12 m.
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Rock town Adrspach
Lovers of rock labyrinths and fantasy rock formations will delight in the Czech Republic. The most popular European rock towns in northeastern Bohemia are two huge rock groups – Adršpašské skály and Teplické skály, located a few kilometers apart. Both are located in one of the most famous sandstone climbing areas in the world, in one nature reserve Adršpašskoteplické skály National Nature Reserve.
In the more popular and much more accessible part of the rock complex – Adršpach – in addition to 100-meter rock walls, mountain lakes filled with emerald water, two waterfalls and an extremely diverse fauna and flora attract attention. The rock town of Teplice is the wilder part of the rock complex and a real Eldorado for lovers of climbing and fairytale names. The Butcher’s Ax, the Cheese Warehouse or the Tsunami Wave are just some of the more interesting (and imaginative) terms for the monumental formations in the Rock City.
Booking.comCastle Karlštejn
Karlštejn Castle, a Gothic gem southwest of Prague, was built by Charles IV in 1348 to preserve rare coronation jewels. At Karlštejn Castle you can not only explore the Czech coronation jewels and the collection of holy relics, but also spend your Day at Karlštejn.
Karlštejn Castle, founded in 1348, occupies a very special position among Czech castles. It was built by the Czech king and Roman emperor Charles IV. as a place to store royal treasures, especially collections of holy relics and imperial coronation jewels. In 1355, Charles IV. he stayed at the castle, supervising its completion and the decoration of the interiors, especially the castle chapels. The first tour includes the premises of the Imperial Palace and you will also see the Treasury and the Jewelery in the Marian Tower. The second circuit will then take you to the Great Tower with the famous Chapel of St. Crosses with panel paintings from the workshop of Master Theodoric.
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Lednice-Valtice area
The inscription of this place on the UNESCO list proves its uniqueness on a global scale. Lednice-Valtice area of the castle and park, located on the border of Moravia and Austria. The beautiful buildings surrounded by a park complex full of lakes, trees and rare flowers, also known as the Garden of Europe, are now used mainly for walks, tours and wine tastings.
The Liechtenstein family – because (not only) the Czechs owe it to the existence and appearance of the European Garden – has cultivated this large area for 600 years. The result is a magnificent French garden and an equally impressive English park, which integrates the romantic buildings of the Lednice and Valtice palaces. The first of the palaces was once used to meet the European nobility, today, in addition to the ceremonial halls, you can see the rooms of the little princes and princesses and the doll museum. In the second palace, the former seat of the Austrian and Moravian Liechtenstein magnates, you can now enjoy local quality wine. It is worth seeing the whole magnificent place from the 60 meter high minaret, which is part of the complex.
Moravian Karst
The Moravian Karst is one of the most important karst areas in Central Europe. More than 1,100 caves are known throughout the area, five of which are open to the public. Punkva Cave with the possibility of sailing on the underground river Punkva connected with a tour of the bottom of the Macocha Abyss, Kateřinská Cave, which is known for unique stalagmites, Balcarka Cave with rich and colorful stalactite decoration, Sloupsko-šošůvské Cave, formed by massive corridors and underground abysses and Výpustek Cave rich military history.
Wildlife also deserves protection. In the Moravian Karst we can find, for example, endemic species. More than a hundred species of invertebrates have been described for science in the area. The diversity of the Moravian Karst documents the occurrence of more than 2,000 species of butterflies. Twenty-one species represent the group of bats and horseshoe bats.
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Krkonoše mountains
The highest mountains of the Czech Republic are popular among active recreation enthusiasts throughout the year. All this thanks to hundreds of kilometers of well-marked hiking trails, numerous ski lifts and slopes and tourist attractions.
The Giant Mountains are a treasure trove of beautiful nature and interesting monuments. There is one of the most visited national parks in Europe with rich flora of deciduous and spruce forests, mountain meadows, thickets of mountain pines and a unique Nordic tundra. As on the Polish side, you will find breathtaking waterfalls (Mumlavý, Pancavský), lookout towers (including the popular treetop trail), the ruins of medieval castles, the historic Novosad glassworks and world-famous mountain shelters and breweries. Regardless of your preferences – you can’t complain about the lack of attractions.
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