České Budějovice

České Budějovice is an excellent place to view how life outside of Prague is: quiet, simple, yet full of culture and history. It is worth a visit to see the brewery of the world wide famous beer Budvar or Budweiser, which is brewed here. In addition, České Budějovice has a stunning main square which is reportedly one of the largest squares in Czech Republic, surrounded on all sides by Baroque and Renaissance styled buildings. And just north of the city is the Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle, a beautiful masterpiece of architecture and landscaping art. 

Traditional life-Friendly Faces

While České Budějovice receives its fair share of tourists, the city has not be altered in any way to reflect it. It is full of young families, working professionals and older folks who prefer the quieter city life than compared to say Prague or Brno. The people are friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand by showing off their city proudly.

You’ll often see them enjoying a coffee on the main square on the weekends. They will point you in the direction of the Budweiser brewery or one of the other breweries in town for a drink or bite to eat. They also might suggest a stroll along the riverfront where families with small children love to go and take advantage of the green spaces and playgrounds on either side.

Architectural Haven

České Budějovice is especially exceptional for those who truly love and admire architectural feats. If you often find yourself gazing at centuries-old buildings for longer than most, there is a good chance you’ll fall in love with this city. There are wonderful examples of 3 different historic periods in the existing buildings: Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic, not to mention the more modern 19th century period. The Black Tower on the main square, the Iron Maiden Tower, Dominican convent and Rabenštejn Tower all represent different time periods through history.

The murals, facades, sculptures, statues, and gargoyles all add additional touches which will delight art connoisseurs and historians alike.

How to get to České Budějovice

The city of České Budějovice is located less than a 2 hour drive south of Prague into southern Bohemia. It is quite easy to get to if you are in a car or on a tour. There is also bus and train service on a regular basis. While there is an airport just outside the city, it is not for commercial use, so all visitors must enter by car or by rail.

Due to its close proximity to Prague, it is an ideal day trip, along with another city such as Pisek or Telc. There are regularly operating tours which include these cities and some that continue down to Český Krumlov as well. Or vice versa, if you are coming into the Czech Republic from southern Germany or Austria, it is a perfect stop before heading up to Prague.

Terezín

Terezín, also know as Theresienstadt in German, is a fortress or walled city located in near the city of Litoměřice just north of Prague, Czech Republic. The fortress and surrounding areas have had several significant and crucial roles in the history of Czech Republic since it’s creation and construction in the 1780s.

It was originally a fortress built by the Habsburg Emperor Joseph II and served as such for over 100 years until it was commissioned as a prison and later in World War I, a prisoner of war camp. In fact, the prison once held, Gavrilo Princip, the assassin of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife, which ignited the start of WWI.

It’s most notorious and sad role came during World War II when it was converted into a concentration camp, receiving tens of thousands of Czechs, Czech Jews, as well as several other nationalities, ethnicities and resistors of the Nazi regime.

Since then it has served other purposes and today it is a memorial to all of those who lost their lives and suffered within these walls. While it is mostly definitely a somber visit, it is one of critical importance in order to remember the past with the hope that it will never be repeated.

“Work makes one free”

This is the now world-famous and infamous slogan that was originally painted above the entrance to the Small Fortress within Terezín when it was first commissioned as a concentration camp by the Nazis during World War II. The camp was originally meant to a combination of a concentration camp and ghetto and not strictly as a death camp as some of the more notable ones in Germany. It was to serve as a waystation as people were arrested and detained by the Nazis within the Czech Republic and later sent on to the extermination camps. The propaganda campaigns even promoted it to the general public as a retirement home for prominent Czech Jews as a way to hide the truth of the Nazi’s intention to eliminate all Jewish people.

However, from 1940-1945, over 100,000 people passed through the walls of Theresienstadt. Over 33,000 of those people never left the walls alive. Some 88,000 were sent on to other concentration and extermination camps. Of all those who spent some time in Terezín, only about 23,000 survived the war.

Terezín Today

While it cannot be disputed that the past of Terezín has hardly been a happy or pleasant one, today Czech historical and cultural societies and Jewish communities, along with the Czech government are working to maintain the fortress and its memories in order to better educate and inform the public, both foreign visitors and local citizens alike, about the horrors that occurred within the walls. Visits to Terezín are quite popular today as it offers a clear and honest presentation of the activity surrounding this somber site.

Today tours visit the Terezín Memorial to learn about the lives of the prisoners, before they were prisoners and also while they were prisoners. It is a sobering experience, but one which leaves all guests with a better understanding of the events that occurred there.

The fortress itself and the walls and moats immediately surrounding it create a beautiful scene, and from above one can make out the 12-pointed star etched into the earth.

How to get to Terezín

Terezín is one of the more easier to reach locations near Prague as there are several options to arrive there. In addition, for those looking to take a day trip from Prague, this is one of the closest options. The fortress can be found about 60 kilometers (36 miles) north of Prague in northern Bohemia.

It is an easy drive which can be done in about 45 minutes if traveling by private or rented car. This is done following Highway D8 due-north from Prague.

There are also tours which take visitors and history and WWII buffs there on a daily basis.

And there are buses and trains leaving at least once an hour from Prague’s Nádraží Holešovice (Holešovice Train Station) which is not far from the downtown of Prague which offer direct buses to Terezín. In addition, there are indirect and transfers offered by bus or train to Litoměřice, a quiet beautiful town just across the river from Terezín. From there you can easily take a quick bus from the bus or train station to Terezín.  Or you can take a train to Bohušovice nad Ohří and make the transfer.

Karlštejn Castle, Most Visited Castle Outside Prague

Karlštejn Castle was built by King Charles IV in the middle of the 14th century in order to store and protect the previous crown jewels and royal relics of the Holy Roman Empire. It was also meant to serve as a vacation home or retreat for the king and his family. The castle served carried out its purpose for nearly 100 years till the jewels were taken away for safe keeping in another fortress. However, later the Bohemian crown jewels came to rest in Karlštejn for an additional 200 years.

The castle itself is a big of an unusual structure, although picturesque and stunning in nature, with its vast number of turrets and towers, making it the most visiting castle (besides Prague’s). The largest of the towers “Big Tower” stands above the rest. It contains a chapel which once held the jewels and important documentation of the royal court. In order to access the treasures, one would need to pass through 4 doors and 19 separate locks with 19 different keys, each one being held by independent guards.

But there is a weakness

Despite their best efforts, the designers and builders of the Karlštejn Castle encountered one very important feature of any building and most especially a fortress – water. After drilling below ground 70 meters and not finding water, they had to devise a different and more complex system of drawing water into the castle walls.

They managed to do so by bringing water from a nearby stream through what would later be called the Well Tower. From there they could draw water up from the cistern, although it needed to be refilled manually throughout the year with the help of a floodgate.

This weakness lead to one of the first folklores or legends that surrounded Karlštejn in which they said that all those who worked to build the fortress and the well were later killed in order to prevent them from spreading the news of this failing in the safety and security of the castle.

And so the stories began….

Since the massacre of the workmen, more stories of murder and ghosts have found themselves into local legend. Two of them include the stories of two different women, both named Catherine.

The first would later become St. Catherine, patroness of knowledge. She was so brilliant and beautiful that she was so bold as to refuse to marry the Emperor Maximilian. Due to this rejection and humiliation, the emperor proceeded to have Catherine tortured to death.

The second Katerina was the wife of the governor at that time. It is said that she herself tortured and killed 14 individuals in the courtyard of the castle. Later she too was sentenced to death. Some say that her spirit still haunts the castle.

Another story yet tells of one of the wives of King Charles IV. They say that her ghost haunts the local area, going door to door telling people who each will die. Believers often keep their window shades closed so that they don’t see her and allow her to enter.

How to get to Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn Castle can be found only about 30 kilometers or 20 miles south of Prague, through small villages and farmers’ fields. The trip is quite easy to manage any way you choose to arrive.

Of course a private car with a driver is one of the easiest ways to get there so that you get picked up directly at your hotel and don’t have to navigate the trains. This trip by car will take only about 45 minutes as many of the roads are not highway, which allows for a beautiful scenic viewing out the car window.

Another option is to take a train from Prague’s Main Station (or from Smichov Station as well). Trains leave several times per hour and last about 45 minutes. Once you arrive at the station, it is another additional 10-15 minute walk to arrive to the small town of Karlštejn, just below the castle walls.

Kutná Hora, former silver capital of the world

Kutná Hora is currently a relatively small, slow-paced town, hardly a city, located to the east of Prague in eastern Bohemia. It’s close proximity to the capital of the Czech Republic has made it one of the most popular day trip destinations for those looking to get out of Prague for a day.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at it today, but it once provided the known world with the majority of the silver. During this time period, the city was bustling, lively and rich beyond belief, and it was also more powerful and important that Prague itself. The power and population size rose and fell during the various wars and diseases that plagued central Europe over the centuries and when silver was discovered in the New World, Kutná Hora lost some of its strength.

Despite that, it still offers visitors some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights in the Czech Republic. The Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church, Italian Court, and Saint Barbara’s Cathedral just to name a few. And to top it off, it is unspoiled with all of the tourism and still maintains its small town charm and demeanor.

500 years in the making

The Saint Barbara Cathedral, which is the most prominent building in all of Kutná Hora, stands upon a hill at the far side of the city. It is a massive structure, yet the original drawings called for it to be nearly twice the size it is today. In addition, due to the lack of funding over several centuries, it took 500 years for the church to be completed, starting in 1388 and continuing till 1905. During that time, not only did the size nearly get cut in half, but due to changes in styles and architectural preferences over those 5 centuries, the original Gothic design was later modified slightly to take on a more Baroque style. The construction is a beautiful marriage of the two time periods.

St. Barbara is the patron saint of miners (as well as military men and anyone who works with explosives) and so the faithful silver miners of the 14th century wanted to pay homage to their patron saint and raised the funds to do so. The artwork inside the church still depicts the devotion for the saint as well as the saint’s love of her patrons, through the murals seen within.

Ghastly or Genius? 

Just to the north of Kutná Hora on the outskirts of town, there stands a not so small chapel which has been made world famous due to the interior decoration of the chapel. Instead of crystals, paintings, murals, statues and tapestries, you will find the bones of over 50,000 lost souls. The story behind how they all arrived to this location is indeed quite sad and tragic.

However, the story behind how they came to be as they are now is not! Without giving away too many details, one could say that what was once a mournful memory is now an amazing presentation and incredible structural achievement. The Sedlec Ossuary or Bone Church as it is commonly referred to, is one of the most visited spots in the Czech Republic. You will have to judge for yourself whether or not entering a church full of the bones of 50,000 skeletons is creepy and scary or amazingly beautiful.

How to get to Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora is located just to the east of Prague, less than an hour’s drive, making it one of the most visited, most popular and most convenient to get to for those interested in a day trip from Prague.

The most common and popular way to reach is by a private car transfer as the trip door to door from the center of Prague to Kutná Hora is only about an hour’s drive.

For those who do not wish to drive, they can take a train from Prague’s Main Train Station, (or several of the other smaller train stations). The trains leave every hour or two depending on the time of day and take about 1 hour.

If you are interested in visiting the Sedlec Ossuary Bone Church, you can exit the train at the Kutná Hora Main Station and walk several minutes to arrive at the chapel.

If you wish to go directly to the center of Kutná Hora, then you must switch trains at the Kutná Hora Main Station and take another train to Kutná Hora Mesto (town) which is much closer to all of the other attractions. This would add another 20 or 30 minutes onto the commute time.

Prague, the capital of Czech Republic

Prague is with a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This capital is often referred to as “The mother of cities” or “a must-see-city”. Not only that, it is one of the few capitals where history takes you back centuries, since Prague was fortunate enough to not be destroyed by the Second World War. In addition it is also a very green city with parks surrounding all sides of the historical Old Town and a very safe city, consistently ranked among the most safe in the world. Walking along the cobblestone streets and enjoying the view of the impressive Prague Castle (the biggest castle complex in Europe) transports you to a fairy tale. Prague is also a comparably cheap city, so you have nothing to worry about, just come and enjoy. Welcome to our capital city. Welcome to Prague!

Fairy Tale City

Prague can best be described as a living, breathing fairy tale. Upon arriving to the capital city of the Czech Republic, you immediately feel transported to a land of wonder and awe. Most people immediately glimpse the Prague Castle, sitting atop a high hill to the west of the city with its tall peaks and large fortress walls.

Once you enter the large gates of the castle, every little boy and girl feels like a real prince or princess. The Golden Lane, a small street towards one end of the castle was once where the local artisans and craftsman would work their magic, mostly creating things from gold from the 16th century onward.

Also, in true fairy tale spirit, there is another castle which sits a bit down river from the Prague Castle. It is black in color and more dark and dangerous looking, creating the arch nemesis to the Prague Castle. This castle, Vyšehrad, is cloaked in mystery as well, adding to its aura and sinister charm. While appearing to play the arch rival to the Prague Castle, it definitely deserves a visit and a look at as well.

Cultural City

Prague is full of culture, both old and new. There has been a long standing tradition of the upmost appreciation and respect for the arts here. Many classical pieces, both symphony and theater acts, have been performed here or written here by some of the world’s greatest composers and writers: Antonín Dvořák, Mozart and Don Giovanni just to name a few. Theater still plays a large part in the daily life here as visitors and locals alike enjoy treating themselves to a night at the theater.

There has also been a love of art and artists throughout the centuries. Alphonse Mucha is a world acclaimed painter whose art work you will see throughout the city. Franz Kafka, one of the Czech Republic’s most celebrated writers is forever memorialized by another famous Czech artist, David Černý, with an 11 meter rotating bust of the writer. He was also the inspiration for another statue in Prague in which one man (presumable Kafka) sitting atop the shoulders of another man who does not have a face or hands.

And it should go without saying that the culture is most evident in the architecture which surrounds you as you walk down the immense Václavské Náměstí (Wenceslas Square) to Staroměstské Náměstí (Old Town Square), over the Charles Bridge to Malostranské Náměstí (Lesser Town Square). Your eyes will jump from one Gothic construction, to one from the Renaissance era before landing on a building built during the Baroque period. Each one is a little piece of history, frozen in time.

How to get to Prague

Prague is situated in central Europe and is a short hop, skip and jump from anywhere on the continent. If you are flying in then you’ll have no trouble finding your way here. There are short flights from neighboring countries like Germany, Austria and Poland and only slightly longer ones from Spain, France, England and Italy.

If you are coming from a bit further away, like from the United States for example, you can get direct flights from most east coast cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Miami and from Chicago as well, a new addition by American Airlines as of 2019.

For our visitors from eastern Asia, there are direct flights from Seoul, which has allowed the Korean tourism to boom in recent years. And Istanbul is often a chosen stop over from other Asian cities, as is Dubai.

If you are on a European tour and will be coming by road, there are many nearby cities which make for a great connection with Prague. Families and friends traveling from one country to another in Europe, often move from Berlin or Munich over to Prague, or perhaps from Vienna or Budapest north to Prague. All of these cities are less than a day’s drive (whether by car, bus or even train), allowing for an easy transfer from one city to the next.