Archive: Travel | Towns and municipalities Towns and municipalities
The royal town of Písek
A well-known 19th century student song sings about Putimská brána - one of
the three historic gates in the town walls around Písek. Only a remnant of
the gate is preserved to this day and the town has long expanded beyond its
medieval defensive walls.
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Tábor - a labyrinth of antiquity
An hour and a half's journey south of Prague lies the medieval Hussite town
of Tábor. On first arrival, as you step out onto a busy square from the
packed train station, the place looks nothing out of the ordinary. But
once you pass the bustling high street in the newer area of town, the
cobbled and winding paths of the Old Town lined with their quaint houses
make this a location where you can feel history at every turn. And indeed
history is something of which there is no lack in Tábor. More
Znojmo Castle
One of the most beautiful towns in Moravia and historically an important
location in the Czech Republic is Znojmo - a town whose foundations date
back to the 11th century. For centuries Znojmo guarded the regions of
southern Moravia, part of an elaborate chain of defending castles along
the Dyje River and the border with Austrian lands, developing from a
promontory fort to medieval stronghold and local seat of administration
for the Přemyslids - the first line of Czech kings. By the mid 1200s
Znojmo was dominant, complementing neighbouring castles at Bítov and
Vranov. More
Bechyně: an idyllic town in southern Bohemia
Southern Bohemia is home to some of the most beautiful and idyllic
destinations in the Czech Republic - from the historic town of Tábor to
the jewel that is Český Krumlov. One destination in the area, somewhat
lesser-known but also attractive that you might consider visiting, is
Bechyně, located around forty kilometres from Tábor. Found on a dramatic
promontory, the town of just 6,000 features an historic monastery, a
fantastic fifty-metre high bridge that spans the nearby Lužnice River, and
the oldest ceramics school in the country. It may not be the most obvious
choice, but Bechyně is a most satisfying visit in the summer or spring. More
The Jewish Quarter in Třebíč
The historic Moravian town of Třebíč, some 140 km south east of Prague,
is known for having perhaps the best preserved Jewish quarter in the
country. In 2003, the town’s Jewish heritage sites, together with the
Catholic basilica of St Procopius, were added to the UNESCO List of World
Heritage. More
Polička – high times and hard times in the heart of the Czech Republic
It is often noted that the Czech Republic lies in the heart of Europe; what
then lies at the heart of the Czech Republic? Well, there are pastures,
woods and hills, a history of war and conquest, a strong musical heritage,
excellent lager and a small town called Polička, where all of the above
can be experienced. More
The Giant Mountains - a world of legend
For this week's Spotlight we're in one of the most beautiful regions of the Czech Republic, the Krkonoše or Giant Mountains, straddling the Czech-Polish border, a hundred kilometres north-east of Prague. These are the Czech Republic's highest mountains, rising well over a thousand metres, and at this time of year, they are decked with a thick blanket of snow. The Giant Mountains is a wonderfully poetic and evocative name... and indeed Krkonoše does have its very own legendary giant, known as "Krakonoš" in Czech and "Ruebezahl" in German. More
Beroun pronounced Historic Town of the Year 2009
The Central Bohemian town of Beroun has just earned the title of Historic
Town of the Year 2009. The prize, which comes with a million crown award
for the city, honors towns and cities in the Czech Republic that have
excelled in preserving and renewing their monuments and historic buildings.
Sarah Borufka reports.
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Český Krumlov and its pact with the tourist devil
I have recently come back from a few days in the town of Český Krumlov
– and it was an eye opener. I should explain that my last visit to this
small south Bohemian jewel was around 15 years ago.
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Žatec – the home of hops
For centuries, the northern Bohemian town of Žatec has been the centre of
hops growing in the country. Known as the home of hops and beer, the town
is now trying to cope with a decline in its traditional industry. It
recently launched a multi-million euro tourism project called Temple of
Hops and Beer – but it is also slowly coming to terms with recent history
that saw the town’s original German population replaced by Czechs in the
aftermath of WWII.
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