Accommodation in Prague. Apartments in New Town, near Wenceslas square and Old Town. Penzion, hostel, apartments, parking
Bohemia sightseeing
The ancient lands of Bohemia and Moravia which make up the present-day Czech Republic are rich in picturesque and historical towns. Imposing castles, elegant chateaux, peaceful monasteries and quiet country churches all attract the visitor's attention as he passes through the beautiful Czech countryside, with its expanses of unspoilt forest and freshwater lakes teeming with carp and trout. This country is also the home of some of the world´s most famous spa towns, where natural springs bring healing and relief to thousands of visitors every year. Karlovy Vary ( Carlsbad ) - Western BohemiaMarianske Lazne ( Marienbad ) - Western Bohemia
Karlstejn Castle - Central Bohemia (half-day excursion)
Kutna Hora - Central Bohemia (half-day excursion)
Cesky Krumlov - Southern Bohemia
Karlovy Vary
Western Bohemia Driving time from Prague: 1 hour 45 minutesKarlovy Vary (better known as Carlsbad) is Central Europe's most famous spa town, picturesquely situated in the valley of the River Tepla.Legend tells how the hot mineral springs which rise to the surface here were first discovered by Charles IV's hunters whilst chasing a stag in the forests which still surround the town. Karlovy Vary was founded soon afterwards, in 1358, and named after the hunting emperor. The medical properties of the town's hot springs soon developed a reputation which spread far beyond the bounds of the Bohemian kingdom, and the stream of guests who visit Karlovy Vary in search of healing has continued uninterrupted to this day.
Amongst the many famous guests to visit the spa were Czar Peter the Great, Goethe, Schiller, Brahms, Liszt, Dvorak, Casanova and Karl Marx.
Today, Karlovy Vary is still a place where people come to seek relaxation and rest: stylish pavement cafes, grand colonnades, luxurious hotels, good restaurants and peaceful parks and gardens invite the visitor to linger. For the more energetic, 100 km of marked forest trails around the town offer picturesque views on to Karlovy Vary and its surroundings.
Marianske Lazne
Western Bohemia Driving time from Prague: 2 hoursMarianske Lazne (formerly known as Marienbad) is another spa town beautifully set in valley surrounded by wooded hills. It has a total of 40 healing springs, the greatest number in any Czech spa. A more modern foundation than Karlovy Vary, the town came into existence in the 19th Century on the initiative of the Abbot of nearby Tepla Monastery, who owned the land (at that time dense forest) where the spa was constructed. It soon became a popular resort for the aristocracy and royalty of Europe, and this is reflected in the opulence and grandeur of its buildings.
As you take the waters, you can listen to regular concerts in the elegant wrought-iron Colonnade or watch and hear the famous
Singing Fountain
.
It is possible to make a combined day-trip to Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, which lie 40 km apart along picturesque roads.
Karlstejn Castle
Central Bohemia (Half-day excursion) Driving time from Prague: 40 minutesThe Castle of Karlstejn was built in the fourteenth century by the Emperor Charles IV to guard the Crown Jewels. It still looms imposingly from its crag in the heart of the forest, drawing thousands of visitors a year. In the little village of Karlstejn itself there is a wide choice of restaurants serving Czech specialities and a range of shops offering traditional Czech crafts.
Kutna Hora (UNESCO)
Central Bohemia (Half-day excursion) Driving time from Prague: 1 hourOnce one of the most important towns in Bohemia, the silver mines of Kutna Hora ensured its wealth and pre-eminence throughout the Middle Ages. The seams of silver ran out, and the town became a provincial backwater, but the magnificent buildings remain. The Gothic Basilica of St. Barbara is one of the finest churches in Europe, and adjoins the palatial Jesuit College. You can still go down the old mineshafts, clad in protective clothing, or visit the bizarre ossuary in nearby Sedlec, a crypt in which hundreds of thousands of human bones have been shaped into macabre decorations: bells, coats of arms and giant chandeliers.
It is possible to combine a trip to Kutna Hora with a visit to the charming spa town of Podebrady.
Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO)
Southern Bohemia Driving time from Prague: 2½ hoursCesky Krumlov is the jewel of Southern Bohemia. In size its castle is second only to Prague, and the Hall of Mirrors and Ballroom, garishly decorated with Commedia dell'Arte figures, are a legacy of the opulent life that was lived here by the Rozmberk and Schwarzenberk noble families. A narrow bridge spans the ravine below and leads to the castle's Baroque Theatre, one of the few in the world to have kept its original decor. The winding streets of the town below, often leading to dead ends or mysterious courtyards, have remained virtually unchanged since medieval times.