The most beautiful natural sites to discover Central Bohemia

Built in the last century, where in 1262 Přemysl Otakar II was crowned, this park offers opportunities for walks and incomparable views of the city. The place used to host crowds during the traditional May^Day parades. However, on November 25, 1989, Pragians witnessed the Victory handshake between Václav Havel and Alexander Dubček. From the top of the hill, a giant statue of Stalin (30 m high) dominated the city for a while. Its construction in 1953 took 500 days and saw the suicide of its author Otakar Švec, just before the completion of his work. Embarrassed by this excessive and omnipresent personality cult, the government proceeded to destroy it in 1962. The stone colossus was blown up with dynamite and its remains used as fill in the construction sites of the time. Today it is replaced by an unexpected giant (mobile) metronome, which symbolizes the passing of time. Skaters are particularly fond of this area, as are the partygoers who gather here in the summer. Those who prefer to watch sports also know the place well, as the Sparta stadium is located nearby. But of course, you can also just walk along the paths to the Royal Gardens and Prague Castle, or take a break at the Hanavský Pavilion, a reminder of the 1891 exhibition. The neo-baroque style of the pavilion heralds the nearby Art Nouveau. The view from its terrace is exceptional.

He was born in the east of Stromovka Park in 1891 during the Jubilee exhibition. This immense exhibition for the time included 150 pavilions. This great complex was rehabilitated in 1991. Today, it is an exhibition park, a renowned carnival party that deserves a detour, an exceptional lapidarium, a magic fountain and an aquarium.

This former royal hunting reserve has become a huge park organized around a few watering holes and very popular with Pragians on sunny days. Coming from the exhibition park, you quickly come across the Planetarium. It was built after the Second World War and has become one of the largest in the world with its 23 m diameter dome. Very popular with families, it allows you to immerse yourself in the cosmos during breathtaking panoramic projections.

The major attractions of the region lies in the park of Průhonice, attached to the village of the same name. The small village is now joined by the urban tentacles of Prague, but still has a little its village character. It is in any case a great idea of excursion from the capital. The castle was rebuilt many times in the most eclectic styles. It does not visit himself unfortunately. But the adorning one park in very good way. Its towers and turrets of various shapes are reflected in the ponds. These varied colours, its frescoes and sgraffito are remarkable. The park, with English, is beautiful. It houses the Institute of botany of Prague is delivered on these places to research on the plants, but also the birds, insects and other birds that inhabit the park!

Among the most remarkable achievements of this natural reserve, on the UNESCO World Heritage since 2010, we can mention rockery, created artificially and covering 3 hectares where the typical flora in the mountains and forests grows, the rose garden, which has more than 900 varieties of roses, as well as the collection of water lilies, worthy of the most beautiful paintings by Monet. It is therefore an afternoon of relaxation that is offered if you leave the capital to come here. The park is huge and its rhododendrons, azaleas its along all roads allow irresistible especially in early summer. There are various kinds of them so that bloom extends more possible for a long time and that all colours are there. Thus, the greenery of the trees is complemented by the pink, red, purple, white or yellow throughout the shades and all tones. The park was badly damaged by the floods of 2002, but it is again superb today. In summer, the botanical garden of Chotobuzi (Botanická zahrada) is open to the public until 17:00. The castle is only open for events and exhibitions.

The road continues on Dobřejovice, then crosses the highway to Říčany. From there, you go down to the south by the village of Mnichovice, from which the no. 335 road leads to the banks of Sázava.

Vlašim was born from the union of two villages located on two banks of the Blanice river. The city has a small castle (Zámek) and a romantic garden. It won fame in 1935, when an important company of production of starters (one of the oldest in the world) settled there. To the South of the city the natural reserve of Blaník, perfect for pleasant walks (information at the entrance of the park stretches in the courtyard of the castle. Open weekdays from 8:30 to noon and 12:30 to 16:30, weekend (only in July and August) from 9:00 pm to 16:00 pm.

Park (Vlašimský park) dates back to 1755 and is surprising with its romantic ornaments: Chinese pavilion, ornate and colourful doors…

Museum of the castle (Muzeum Podblanická Vlašim). The castle is built starting from 1303; it changed well and unfortunately does not visit itself. It shelters a regional tiny museum with some historic, archaeological collections...

The gallery of the park (Podblanická gallery presents the work of local artists.

You are immersed in a romantic nature with deep forests, valleys and sandstone cliffs. You can choose between easy or difficult marked trails for the more athletic or natural pools. From the heights you can see vineyards, steep cliffs, reed covered marshes and this dark forest in the distance... amazing contrast! You can also visit Kokořín Castle, which stands majestically on top of a hill.