Plzen (Czech name) or Pilsen (German equivalent, sometimes used in English) is a city in western Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is the capital of the Plzen Region and the fourth-most-populous city in the Czech Republic. It is located about 90 km west of Prague at the confluence of four rivers (Radbuza, Mze, Uhlava, and Uslava) which form the Berounka River. (more…)
The Bohemian forest is a low mountain range in Central Europe. Geographically, the mountains extend from South Bohemia in the Czech Republic to Austria and Bavaria in Germany. They create a natural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Germany and Austria on the other. For historical reasons, the Bohemian and German sides have different names: in Czech, the Bohemian side is called Sumava and the Bavarian side Zadni Bavorsky les, while in German, the Bohemian side is called Böhmerwald (literally, ‘Bohemian forest’), and the Bavarian side Bayerischer Wald (literally, ‘Bavarian Forest’). In Czech, Sumava is also used as a name for the entire adjacent region in Bohemia. (more…)
Rozmberk is a castle situated in South Bohemia near Rozmberk nad Vltavou in the Czech Republic. It is the oldest seat of the House of Rozmberk, a historical Czech aristocratic family. It was mentioned for the first time in 1253 in a document signed by Vok “von Rosenberg”. (more…)
Zvikov Castle is a castle located some 15 km north of Pisek, in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is one of the most important early-Gothic castles in Czech lands. Zvikov is placed on hard to access steep promontory above confluence of rivers Vltava and Otava. The area was inhabited during prehistoric times. Celts had built a fort here at times around beginning the common era. The current castle was founded during reign of Ottokar I of Bohemia (d. 1230) but the exact date is not known. The first written mention comes from year 1234. The castle was owned by Kings of Bohemia. (more…)
The Moravian Karst is a nature reserve with an area of approximately 100 km², 5km wide and 24km long. It is explored since centuries and it was known and described early in the 19th century.
Four of the caves in this area are accessible to the public. Other sights include the numerous dolines, loosing streams, karst springs and some wild caves. (more…)
The Macocha Gorge, also known as the Macocha Abyss, is a gorge, in the Moravian Karst cave system of the Czech Republic located north of the city of Brno, near the town of Blansko. The Punkva River flows through it. It is a popular tourist attraction for casual visitors to the region, in addition to cavers. The gorge is about 135 meters deep and also the deepest of its kind (light hole type) in Central Europe. (more…)
Konopiste is a castle located in the Czech Republic, about 50 km southeast of Prague, outside the city of Benesov. It has become famous as the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered World War I. (more…)
Karlstejn is a large Gothic castle founded in the 14th century by Charles IV. The castle served as a place for safekeeping the Empire coronation jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures. Located about 20 km southwest of Prague in the Karlstejn village, it is one of the most famous and heavily visited castles in the Czech Republic. (more…)
Hluboka nad Vltavou is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, near Ceske Budejovice. This town was a favourite of Charles IV, who often visited when residing in Ceske Budejovice. It is best known for its famous Windsor style chateau. (more…)
The “Dancing Building” also known as “Fred and Ginger”, is one of most controversial building in Prague. Designed by the architects Frank O. Gehry and Vlado Milunic. It seems out of place at first. Prague is one of the few cities in Eastern Europe to have escaped World War II with minimal damage. (more…)