Tourist Attractions & Monuments Czech Republic

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.

This building was an integral part of the fortifications, before being rebuilt in the ^15th century and transformed into a late-Gothic residence. It houses the Museum of Mining in the Middle Ages, and offers a walk through one of the galleries, as well as explanations of silver mining and processing techniques. Lamps, helmets and gowns are provided at the entrance, but the visit is a little disappointing for those expecting a real descent to the bottom of a mine.

Here you'll find the country's tallest sandstone giants. They are concentrated and easily accessible. Maps showing the region's well-marked trails are available. The two circuits on offer take you along the lakes and up close to the rocks. In particular, it's possible to walk through the Wolf Gorge and reach the Teplice rocks. You can also climb to the top of Mount Starozámecký (681 m) and reach the ruins of Ardšpach Castle.

The CHKO Orlické hory nature reserve consists of gentle mountains covered with forests or crops. They offer great skiing opportunities in winter:

Deštné v Orlických Horách offers 6.5 km of downhill ski trails and 40 km of cross-country ski trails (www.skicentrumdestne.cz).

Řícky v Orlických Horách offers 36 km of beautiful cross-country ski trails and 4 km for downhill skiing (www.skiricky.cz).

In Čenkovice there is mostly cross-country skiing, on 45 km of trails (www.skicenkovice.cz).

The Digital Guide is a digital guide combining GPS technology, a map system and a veritable encyclopedia of Prague and Czech culture. Much more than a simple gadget, it offers a new way of discovering the city. Designed by Digital Urban Legends, the system is being used for the first time in Prague, with an interactive map of the city and over 400 pages of comprehensive, detailed information on monuments, a selection of the city's best restaurants and bars, and practical information on everyday life.

This lake is the only alum lake on the planet. It was created when old alum and soufre mines were used between the th and th centuries. It is now a great leisure area.

The city has the largest Bohemian zoological park: Zoopark Chomutov. It covers 120 ha at the foot of the Krušné Mountains. Nearly 600 animals of 120 species are grouped here, local or exotic. Small safaris can be made by car and even by train.

Pernštýnské Náměstí, the second square in the historic centre, is one of the most beautiful in the country. Surrounded by beautiful Renaissance mansions, it is narrow, long and almost enclosed. Dominated by the beautiful neo-Renaissance town hall, it is easily recognizable by its two towers and its walls richly decorated with sgraffiti. Admire the contrast of this enormous building with the small blue-green house on its right. The other remarkable facade is that of Jonas' house: it dates from the 18th century and its whiteness is exceptional.

Náměstí Republiky Square is the largest in the city. It is accessed from Míru Avenue, the main axis of the new town. Beautiful buildings surround it. The Municipal Theatre is immediately noticeable on the south side of the square. It is the most beautiful Art Nouveau building in the city with its frescoes and coloured stained glass windows, which frequently hosts concerts. At the other end of the square, the Saint-Barthélemy church, very elegant with its very thin tower. It dates from the 13th century, but was damaged by the Hussites and rebuilt in 1515.

This shopping street leads from Wenceslas Square to the Powder Tower. Today, it is an alignment of rather mid- to high-end fashion boutiques. All along the way there are many passages, also dedicated to leisure and consumerism (a large cinema and restaurants in the Slovansky Dům). On the way, if you are not captivated by window shopping, you will appreciate to detail the facades of some notable houses. At number 12, start by pushing the door of the Moser crystal works into the sumptuous interior. Take a look outside at the Baroque palace Silva-Taroucca. Signed K.-I. Dientzenhofer, it offers a very elegant facade that opens onto a passage. Further on, two buildings frame the breakthrough of Nekazanka Street and deserve to be stopped. The one on the right, Na Příkopě 18, has beautiful mosaics. They are by Jan Preisler, one of the very first to have integrated Art Nouveau into his painting. The one on the left, Na Příkopě 20, is designed by the same architect, Osvald Polivka, one of the greatest names of this period. Both buildings were built to accommodate the city's brand new banks, born of the wealth brought by the industrial boom. Many artists of the time, including Aleš and Sucharda, worked on the decoration of the facade. At number 20, the stairs will leave you speechless. Max Švabinský's allegorical paintings decorate the hall, the first floor room is topped by a magnificent glass roof.

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.

Inaugurated in 1902, in the heart of the city, this park incorporates both urban (part of the city walls and the Jewish Gate) and natural (rocks and a branch of the Morava River) elements. The paths are lined with chestnut, lime, ash, maple and beech trees, as well as many flowers. The park is divided into several gardens. In the alpine garden, for example, you will find a dwarf Japanese white pine and other rare species.

The museum, in three buildings, traces the history of this ancient royal city and its region from its origins: an exhibition takes you back to the prehistoric age, a room houses a reconstruction of a princely Iron Age tomb and a Celtic residence. These archaeological and ethnographic collections are among the most valuable in the country. The visit is well worth it in view of the number and quality of the pieces presented.

The Christmas crib is a tradition firmly established in the Czech Republic. The village of Karlštejn has 50 so-called "royal" nurseries, including the largest lively puppet nursery in the country. This 80 m² crib, called the King's Crib, is composed of scenes of local and national folklore. The setting is the city's castle and the music is by Smetana. A curiosity, the characters around little Jesus are not the ones we are used to seeing... We let you discover!

Charles IV had planted his vineyard here and, until the last century, still subsistaiient many green spaces. Today there are beautiful parks, especially that of Riegrovy Sady, accessible by Copinova Street, where you will have a splendid view over the roofs of Prague. You will find all the "babičky" (grandmothers) and the children of the neighbourhood who are invading the places from the earliest rays of sunshine. The entire street facing the park is lined with beautiful art nouveau or classic houses, all of which are different, not always in very good condition but perfectly authentic. Nearby streets - Mánesova, Polská, Krkonošskv, Italská - offer the same type of architecture and it's a treat for your eyes.

Don't feel like walking? No problem: a tour of Prague in an old Škoda convertible is a safe (but expensive) way to cross the city without getting tired. There are several models to choose from, depending on your taste. Some time ago, this type of tour was quite original. Nowadays, however, there is a large offer and this means of transportation has become almost commonplace. The classic cars are only in name: they are patched up and customized by their drivers.

Every night, enjoy three hours of drinking with beer, vodka and absinthe in an open bar in three bars to finish at the biggest (and worst?) club in Central Europe, Karlovy Lažně, a stone's throw from the Charles Bridge. The principle is simple, we pay before we leave and consume everything we can afterward. A fairly young and quickly drunk public, but the organisers know how to stay within reasonable limits. It is sometimes a good way to meet other travellers. Special formulas for certain dates (Easter, Christmas...). Meeting at 7:30 pm in Celetná Street.

A French speaking guide living in Brno, Patrik will help you discover the treasures of his region, whether you are alone, in couple or in group. Patrik is very pleasant to be with and has an excellent level of culture. He also has a good knowledge of Moravian wines and will be able to guide you to the best cellars in the region. A very good way to discover the best parts of Brno while enjoying the comments of Patrik, who knows the history of the city and the Czech Republic in general.

Located on Mariánské Square, this early 20th century building is a fine example of Art Nouveau architecture in Prague. A competition was launched to find the perfect architect for the creation of this new city hall: Osvald Polívka was the lucky one. The main rule to follow is the homogeneity with the neighboring buildings, the Clementinum and the Clam-Gallas Palace. The Secession style is very well respected. Construction began in 1909 and was completed two years later.

An absolutely unmissable visit to Brno, although not the easiest to organize. As the villa is a Unesco heritage site, guided tours that take groups of 16 people at a time quickly fill up. It is often best to book well in advance, sometimes several months before the scheduled date of the visit if it falls in the high tourist season. As soon as you know the dates of your stay in Brno, go to the ticket office to reserve your time slot. Please note that there is an extra charge for taking pictures and that heels are not allowed in order to avoid damaging the floors.

Built in 1929-1930 by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the Tugendhat couple, it is a functional work of art, unique in its kind, for its construction, its furniture and the arrangement of the space. An avant-garde architecture in its time and which melts in the decoration of a park which, if it lost of its surface, preserved the plan which emphasized the villa on the heights.

The visit lasts 1 hour or 1h30 depending on the tour you choose and will be more or less extensive. The long visit will allow you to see the boiler room and ventilation systems in the basement, huge engine rooms that seem disproportionate today but which were at the top of technology at the time.

In the common trunk of the two visits, we will penetrate on the floor the entrance and the rooms with the furniture of the time in the same vein as the house. But it is the reception room that is the highlight of the show. A bath of light and warmth is provided by the huge bay windows, which were already moved at the time by electric cylinders that allowed the heat produced by the magnifying glass effect to be evacuated. On the living room side, one dreams of sitting in one of the two rows of Barcelona armchairs, while on the office side, one is amazed by the play of light through the titanic onyx piece that separates the two spaces. The small reading room seems quite dark in comparison, but has some surprises in store for the bar! The kitchen, laundry room and drying room are also surprisingly large and modern for their time. The restoration work was perfectly carried out and, despite the damage caused during the war and then during the Soviet period, the villa has retained all its character and its capacity to seduce. The exit is through the park, from where you can still enjoy beautiful views of this unique building.

This vast expanse of water, north of Mikulov, is a popular recreation area for the locals. It is an artificial construction from the 1960s, an ambitious project of the local Communist Party that wanted to prove the know-how of Moravian engineers. A dam was built, and a village that was in the way of the project had to give in to the will of the party. Thus, the village of Mušov no longer exists today; it was swallowed by the waters when the dam was inaugurated. The only thing that remains is the village church, which is nowadays located on a small island in the center of the lake.

Inaugurated in February 2022, the Kunsthalle is housed in a former electricity transformation plant at the foot of the castle. The personal collections of its founders, Petr and Pavlína Pudil, form the basis of a small permanent exhibition, but it is above all for the exciting temporary exhibitions devoted to contemporary artists that the Kunsthalle is worth a visit. The store and bistro are equally recommendable for enthusiasts who wish to linger and enjoy the superb facilities.

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.

It is not the tourist office, but a tourist information center and travel agent. Very complete site available in French. A good part of the team is indeed French-speaking. The agency offers all types of services to make your stay more pleasant (hotel and show reservations) and some guided tours with a rather basic but well-tried itinerary. Do not hesitate to contact her and take advantage of her fluent French to personalize your requests according to your desires, your budget, your timing..

The city has two springs that have become the goal of walks for both curists and visitors.

The spring of François. In the southern part of the town, one can quickly recognize the round pavilion from 1832 that houses the spring. Nearby is a colonnade from 1914 (Nová kolonáda), guarded by a sphinx.

The Glauber Spring. In the park, just south of Františkův pramen (Františkův pramen), one will reach Glauber spring (Glauberuv pramen) protected by a majestic pavilion.

The Sloup cave system is considered to be the largest in the Moravian Karst: here the visitor can walk over 1,670 m on two levels. The rooms, from the smallest to the most gigantic, are very spectacular: walk through the concretions, giant stalactites and stalagmites - before crossing a deep underground chasm. Don't miss the "fairy room" either, with its ceiling that seems to want to collapse at any moment. Be careful, it is really deep and sometimes narrow, the visit is not recommended for claustrophobic people.

The interest of these caves is the beautiful range of colors of the walls of the domes and their narrow passages forming a real labyrinth appreciated by geologists from all over the world. The visitable part of the cave is easily accessible to all and will delight children. Also to be discovered: the immense "rotunda", formed by a dome of rocks, and many small underground lakes which punctuate the course.

We go down to a depth of more than 700 m, we walk in various caves all as beautiful as the others. Admire these unique rock formations like the Romeo stalactite and the Juliet stalagmite, which are no longer fed by water and are therefore destined never to touch. You can travel the underground river by boat, fun... but freezing! At the end of the route, we reach the bottom of the Macocha chasm (Propast Macocha), 138 m deep.

If you want to be scared, you can access the middle of the swamp by a wooden footbridge of about 300 m long. From the end of the footbridge, you will have a view on a marshy lake whose peat reaches 7 m thickness! This path, practicable from May to September, allows a very original intrusion in the natural park. Another, less impressive, swamp is accessible about 3 km from Kvilda, called the Jezerní stat lake swamp.

This path will take you through the valley of the Vydra River, from Čenkova Pila to Antýgl. It is 7 km long, one of the most beautiful trails in the region, and also one of the easiest. It can be walked both in summer and winter (in winter, only for the very brave), and allows you to admire all the flora and fauna of the region. The rocks falling from the surrounding hills form vertiginous waterfalls. On the left bank of the Vydra river, one should not miss the very surprising rock formations named Baba (old), Panna (virgin) and Mnich (monk).

7 km east of Tábor (take the train to Chýnov and then 3 km on a marked road), the Chýnov cave will delight stalactite and stalagmite lovers. The passage is narrow, but the visit is easy. It is very beautiful! As is often the case when visiting caves in the Czech Republic, the times we indicate are only indicative and can change depending on the weather or the breeding season of the bats. Please check the website for more information.

It was named after the last bear killed in the Šumava on November 14, 1856. A commemorative plaque has been placed at the crime scene. The trail starts near the village of Ovesná. It is 15 km long and passes through two beautiful forests. At the foot of the first one, surprising rock and vegetation formations have been given evocative names. Halfway along, there is a magnificent view of the Šumava Mountains. From here you can admire the Deer Lake and the Schwarzenberg Canal.

It is impossible to miss the beautiful entrance to this building from Marianké Square. It is one of the most beautiful creations of the Viennese architect J. B. Fischer von Erlach (1713-1719). Two pairs of atlatls, sculpted by M.-B. Braun in 1714, support the balcony of the second floor. If by chance the door was open, take the grand staircase, considered one of the jewels of Baroque civil architecture in Prague. It will lead you to the capital's archives.

There are several tourist offices in Prague: at the airport, Prague Castle, Petřín Lookout, Na Můstku and Town Hall Square. The latter has recently been renovated. As well as being a beautiful place, it's a very useful place for visitors passing through Prague: agents welcome you every day of the week to guide you and answer your questions. A fine selection of souvenirs and gifts is also on offer.

This is the official City Card of Prague. With its possession, you'll have access to numerous advantages: free access or discounts on visits to the city's main monuments, unlimited free public transport, as well as many great experiences, such as the famous tourist tramway or a cruise on the Vltava. The card is available for purchase via the app of the same name, but also directly on the website or at one of the information points in town (see website). Highly recommended.

You won't miss this neo-gothic style church, all in brick, which dominates the Place de la Paix with its twin 60 m high bell towers. It was built at the end of the 19th century, between 1888 and 1892 by the architect Josef Mocker, as the number of inhabitants in Vinohrady was increasing. Emperor Franz Joseph visited the building shortly after its inauguration. The interior is well worth a visit, if only to admire the beautiful stained glass windows.

The Lobkowicz Palace houses the National Museum's historical exhibition. It is located in the grounds of Prague Castle, in an alleyway that connects the third courtyard of the castle with Golden Lane. It's a large palace built in Renaissance style in the second half of the ^16th century and remodeled in Baroque style by Carlo Lurago a century later. Today, you can learn about Czech history here, as the palace houses the largest exhibition of its kind.

Prague on Segway offers nine tours to discover Prague, including morning tours. A third tour takes you through the city center's highlights, while the fourth connects Strahov to Letná, offering a bird's eye view of Prague's rooftops along the way. A "Fun and Beer" tour is also available. E-scooter tours are now available, including a 180-minute tour that takes you to the sights of Prague. A more comprehensive 240-minute, 20 km Grand City Tour is also available.

Gallery La Femme exhibits works of contemporary Czech artists, all of them related to women, femininity or the female condition. Paintings, engravings, sculptures: women as an eternal inspiration for artists is its main subject - you can discover women in infinite variations, of different sizes and colors. The gallery owner, with 40 years of experience in the art business, will share his knowledge with you. He emphasizes the quality and diversity of the works exhibited.

The only museum in the country dedicated to the Trabant, the small car produced in Germany between 1957 and 1991 and a true icon of communist Germany. It's a veritable kingdom: the museum houses more than 4,800 exhibits, 386 Trabant models and more than 150 other cars! More generally, the museum offers a glimpse of everyday life in the former GDR, with many objects from the era. Children are also catered for, with a race track, a model train and a working simulator. An informative and highly entertaining visit.

Czech cartoonist and director Karl Zeman is an icon of animation in his country and around the world. He has left behind a monumental body of work, as well as a rich and fantastic universe. This interactive museum in the centre of Mala Strana is dedicated to the protection and presentation of his work. The visit is very playful: through many rooms, you can experiment several of his inventions and techniques, discover the richness of his work and have a lot of fun. It is an excellent visit, especially with children.

The monumental Wallenstein Palace, built between 1623 and 1629, dominates the right part of the square and Valdštejnská Street. You can see his portrait inside, in the knights' room. Italian artists were mainly involved in the construction of the palace. It is a late Renaissance building where the first manifestations of the Baroque period can be felt, particularly in the sala terrena of the garden. The palace houses the Senate and is not open to the public.

The convent (břevnovský klášter), in its present form, dates from 1709-1720, the work of Christophe Dientzenhofer. The adjoining cloister houses a room named Maria Theresa, whose ceiling is decorated with a famous fresco by the Bavarian painter Cosma Damien Asam and represents the Miracle of Blessed Vintir, a Benedictine pilgrim. It is one of the best preserved frescoes of the Prague Baroque. The basement of the Sainte-Marguerite church has preserved the original Romanesque crypt.

In this museum of public transport, you can contemplate old streetcars, all of which once ran in the Czech capital. Over one hundred and thirty years of public transport history are recounted here with the help of photos, objects and numerous vehicles. Interesting photographs also give an idea of the changes that have taken place in Prague's urban planning. A small, unadorned but effective museum for enthusiasts of locomotion.

This church (Kostel Panny Marie pod řetězem) was the oldest in Malá Strana. A Romanesque basilica, of which there are still some elements, already existed in the 12th century. The square towers, so clearly recognizable from above, were completed in the 14th century. The complex was "baroqueized" in the 17th century. On the main altar is one of the best paintings by the Czech painter Karel Škréta, which dates back to the 17th century. A Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 11am.

This beautiful museum is housed in the former baroque church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The site contains more than 200,000 pieces, including 2,800 musical instruments of all periods and types. Viols, violins, Renaissance cellos are really well highlighted. The interest of the exhibition is not only visual. Using headphones, you can hear the sounds emitted by most of the instruments presented, some of which are unique.

Originally (1736), Chrám sv. Cyrila a Metoděje was a Catholic church dedicated to St. Charles. In 1930, it became the cathedral of the Czech Orthodox Church. It was in its crypt that the men of Operation Anthropoid , who had killed Heydrich (Nazi governor of Bohemia and head of the Gestapo) in 1942, were besieged by the SS. The paratroopers defended themselves and repelled several assaults, but the Nazis called in the fire department to flood the crypt. Threatened by the waters, the escapees chose to kill themselves after trying in vain to dig a passage to the city's sewers. Their sacrifice and the severe repression that followed in and around Prague, particularly with the destruction of the village of Lidice, weighed enormously not in the war itself but in the recognition of Czechoslovakia as a state and ally in the battle against fascism, a status it had lost since its dismantling by Hitler in 1938. In the church, you'll be able to see a beautiful exhibition dedicated to the mission of the paratroopers who assassinated the "Butcher of Prague". The scenography has been redesigned for the eightieth anniversary of the mission in 2022. Read French writer Laurent Binet's excellent HHhH , which was subsequently produced as a film, while another feature film, directed by Szan Ellis, was also made in 2016 to detail Operation Anthropoid.

Lose yourself in this world of tiny things nestled on a few small square meters at the foot of Strahov's library. Caravan of camels in a needle cat, portraits of John Lennon or Vaclav Havel on a mammoth bone of one square centimetre and many other strange things visible only with a magnifying glass. The whole thing is the work of a mad genius, Anatolij Konenko, born in Siberia, one of the five people in the world capable of making such wonders.

This Baroque church, thanks to its beautiful white and pink facade, embellishes Husova Street. It was built between 1734 and 1752 by the architect Kaňka, to celebrate the canonization of John Nepomuk. The interior decoration is very rich, and all the elements, wall paintings, sculptures, celebrate the various Czech patron saints. You have to look up to see the most impressive part of the decorations: the fresco on the ceiling represents the legend of St. John Nepomuk.

The construction of this castle began in 1241, decided by Zděslav of Divišov. It is constantly transformed during its history. A beautiful chapel was built in the 13th century, one of the oldest in the country. Enlarged in the 16th century, it was redesigned in the 17th century in Baroque style. What we see today: a privileged location, beautiful towers and defensive walls. It is worth noting the skill of the architects who, over the centuries, had to adapt the castle and the new elements to the narrowness of the site. Inside: fifteen pieces of various styles, numerous family portraits, porcelain, weapons, hunting trophies, beautiful furniture and above all one of the largest collections of prints from the Thirty Years' War in Europe: unmissable! It is worth noting the important renovation of the Italian Baroque from the inside, with the use of many stuccoes and the beautiful Rococo chapel of San Sebastian. But all these additions of the 17th century did not completely remove austere Gothic elements.

The castle does not strictly speaking have any landscaped gardens, but rather a terrace overlooking the river, but do not hesitate to take a walk in the surroundings: the village and the Sázava river at the foot of the castle offer a bucolic setting to relax after the visit.

Restaurant of the castle. Lunch only. Medieval decoration and simple cuisine for about 120 Kč the dish.