Day Trips from Prague

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Český Krumlov ................................................................................................. 2 - 3 Karlovy Vary ..................................................................................................... 4 - 5 Kutná Hora ....................................................................................................... 6 - 7 Karlštejn Castle and the Koněpruské Caves ..................................................... 8 - 9 Konopiště Castle .......................................................................................... 10 - 11 Map of trips ................................................................................................. 12 - 13 Český Šternberk Castle ................................................................................ 14 - 15 Křivoklát Castle ............................................................................................ 16 - 17 Nelahozeves Castle ...................................................................................... 18 - 19 Bohemian Paradise ...................................................................................... 20 - 21 Terezín Fortress and Litoměřice .................................................................... 22 - 23 Svatá Hora near Příbram - A Pilgrimage Site ........................................................24

www.czechtourism.com The Official Tourist Presentation of the Czech Republic

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With the capital behind you The capital of the Czech Republic is, according to many, one of the most beautiful in the world. However, it is not the only place in the country worth visiting.

lic transport and some are also usually offered by specialized in-bound travel agencies. Your hotel will surely be glad to give you more information about them.

To visit all of the local historical monuments would be a lifetime task, as alone the castles, chateaux and castle ruins which are accessible to the public in the Czech Republic number over a hundred and eighty. Numerous historical towns and important aristocratic estates are located within the radius of a two to three hour car ride from Prague, so they may be comfortably visited even on a one-day trip. The aim of this brochure is to introduce you to at least a few of these.

Practical information

The destinations presented here have been selected not only for their importance, but also because of their easy access. All can be visited by pub-

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In the framed box of each destination you will find contacts and information how to reach each place by car and public transportation. Trains usually depart from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) and buses usually leave the from the central bus station at Florenc. All of these stations are located at the Metro station and with a few exceptions the name of the Metro station is usually the same as that of the bus or a railroad station. The train and bus schedules for the whole of the Czech Republic can be found at: www.idos.cz.

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Český Krumlov A town with a famous history and a colourful present complex with its adjoining Baroque park, the Renaissance town hall and the Gothic church of St. Vitus (sv. Vít) are also among the most important historic monuments. The main charm of Český Krumlov, however, comes from the fact that the town as a whole has preserved its old appearance. A person instantly feels as though one has returned a few centuries back in the time. Festivities

The Southern Bohemian town of Český Krumlov is the second most visited tourist destination after Prague. Its popularity derives from the large number of historical monuments and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. The town nestles in the bends and turns of the Vltava River, which flows almost all around the historical centre. Above the town on a cliff on the opposite riverbank towers a majestic castle that once belonged to the most powerful aristocratic family of the Lords of the Rose. The castle has a colourful Renaissance tower from which there is a beautiful view of the surroundings. The oldest records of the town date from the 13th century. Apart from the castle

The castle

The Baroque castle theatre that has been preserved, along with the original costumes and theatre props, is unique in Europe. Although the theatre is accessible to the public, the

The fountain

number of visitors is limited to protect the theatre (there are five tours a day each with a maximum of 20 visitors). Tours of the remaining areas of the castle and chateau are held more often and are open to a greater number people. It is possible to visit the castle tower individually. In the town there are many stylish restaurants, coffee houses and souvenir shops. In addition, numerous cultural events and musical festivals are held here throughout the year. The Egon Schiele Art Centre, named after the

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Český Krumlov

famous artist of Viennese Secession who depicted Český Krumlov (the birthplace of his mother) in many paintings, hosts exhibitions of leading Czech and international artists. The main festival is the costumed Celebrations of the Five-leafed Rose (Slavnosti pětilisté růže), held in June

in which the town commemorates the era of its flowering during the Renaissance. Theatre performances, concerts of music from that period and the popular re-enactment of battles of knights all form part of the three-day programme. The candlelight parade throught the night is also very impressive.

www.ckrumlov.cz INFORMATION: náměstí Svornosti 2, Český Krumlov; tel.: (+420) 380 704 622; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Bus – direct buses leave several times a day from the Florenc and Na Knížecí (the “Anděl” Metro station). Duration of trip: about 3 hours. Car – from Prague take the D1 highway in the direction of Brno. At exit 21 (Mirošovice) turn off on to road E55 and continue south through Benešov and České Budějovice. Duration of trip: about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

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Karlovy Vary Film stars at the spa Colonnade Vasilevich Gogol all underwent treatment here. Karlovy Vary also hosts important international film festival which, like those held in Cannes, Venice and Berlin, are rated in the prestigious A category. Film fans, producers and, of course, movie stars meet in Karlovy Vary every year at the beginning of July. The tradition of this festival began just after the Second World War.

Children by the fountain

Spas have a long tradition in Western Bohemia dating back to the Middle Ages and Karlovy Vary is the most famous of the spa towns. Its fame comes from twelve mineral springs that have medicinal properties. Vřídlo, the largest and also the warmest of the springs, gushes up to 15 meters. The herbal liqueur Becherovka, which is produced in Karlovy Vary, is often considered to be the town’s thirteenth medicinal spring. The thin and crispy spa wafers the size of a dinner plate are also renowned. The town had its greatest prosperity in the 19th century when most of the spa buildings and the elegant covered Colonnade joining the spas were built. At that time the spas were the meeting place of the most famous European political and cultural personalities. For example, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, Francois Chateaubriand and Nikolai

During the year the town hosts many cultural, social and sporting events. Karlovy Vary can compete with much larger towns in terms of the extent and diversity of what it offers, which ranges from theatre performances and classical music concerts, movie theatres, galleries to casinos and horse races. The Karlovy Vary Golf Club, which recently celebrated one hundred years of its existence, boasts the title of the oldest golf course in the Czech Republic.

The Colonnade

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Karlovy Vary

An interesting experience is also a visit to the museum and glass-works of the Moser company, a traditional producer of fine cut crystal. As for the medicinal effects of a visit to Karlovy Vary, not

only do the above-mentioned mineral and thermal springs have a beneficial effect, but so do the town’s natural surroundings.

www.karlovyvary.cz INFORMATION:

Lázeňská 1, Karlovy Vary; tel.: (+420) 353 224 097; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Bus – direct buses leave almost every hour from Florenc station. Duration of trip: about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Car – from Prague take motorway no. 6. Duration of trip: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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Kutná Hora The kingdom’s silver treasure chest The town of Kutná Hora used to be called the treasure chest of the Czech Kingdom in the Middle Ages because of its silver mines. At its height, it was the second largest city in the country. The remnants of its past wealth can be seen at every step: beginning with the imposing late Gothic St. Barbara’s Cathedral (katedrála sv. Barbory), the patron saint of miners, the proud patrician houses and ending with the richly ornamented stone fountain in the town square. A popular tourist attraction is the Czech Silver Museum (České muzeum stříbra) and a tour of the mine shafts under the town. Visitors, equipped with a headlamp, helmet and a traditional miner’s smock and cape, can wander through about 250 metres of underground shafts of the original medieval silver mine. The tour includes information about the whole mining process which the silver ore had to go through before coins could be minted. Prague Groshen, the silver coins of the Czech kings, were minted in Kutná Hora and were widely accepted all over Europe in the past. The town’s citizens commemorate King Wenceslas IV, under whose reign

The Gothic St. Barbara’s Cathedral

Festivals

the town reached its peak, through the Royal Festival of Silver (Královské stříbření), which is held every year always on the last weekend in June. It’s a matter of pride for the local inhabitants to wear a costume dating from that time period and to participate in the festivities either as a magnate or lord from the Middle Ages. Especially popular among the festival goers is the arrival of the King and his entourage on Saturday, the Battle of the Knights held in the evening and the mass on Sunday in the St. Barbara’s Cathedral, which is attended by the King’s court and the townsfolk. One of the most impressive historical monuments which can be visited in Kutná Hora is All Saints Chapel (kaple Všech svatých) in the district of Sedlec not far from the train station. The chapel is decorated entirely with human skulls and bones, including the altar and chandeliers. The aim, however, is not to shock or scare visitors, but rather to remind them of the fragility of human life. It is estimated that the chapel contains the remains of 40 thousand people buried in this cemetery since the end of the 13th century.

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Kutná Hora

www.kutnahora.cz INFORMATION: Palackého náměstí 377, Kutná Hora; tel.: (+420) 327 512 378; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – direct trains leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) only a few times a day, otherwise it is necessary to change at Kolín. Duration of trip: 1 hour. Kutná Hora train station is about 3 kilometres from the town center, which can be reached either by city bus or by local train. Bus – on weekdays there are direct buses that leave almost every hour from Florenc. There is also the regular city bus no. 381 which leaves from the Metro station “Depo Hostivař”. Duration of trip: about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the D11 highway in the direction of Hradec Králové. Take exit 39 (Poděbrady – jih) and then continue along road no. 38 through Kolín. Duration of trip: about an hour.

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Karlštejn Castle and the Koněpruské Caves A jewel in the king’s crown The impregnable Karlštejn Castle that lies south-west of Prague was commissioned by the most famous Czech monarch of the Middle Ages – the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who also founded the university in Prague and built St. Vitus’s Cathedral (katedrála sv. Víta) and the stone bridge crossing the Vltava that today bears his name. The castle, which is a day’s ride by horse from Prague, served as the monarch’s place of meditation and prayer as well as the depository for the Empire’s coronation jewels and holy relics. On the top floor of the castle tower, whose walls are up to 7 metres thick, is housed the unique Holy Cross Chapel (kaple sv. Kříže). The walls and ceilings of the chapel are lined with gold and semi-precious stones and the decor of the chapel includes about 130 panel paintings which depict Catholic saints. Apart from Italy, nowhere else in Europe has such an extensive collection of paintings from the 14th century been preserved. The castle is accessible to the public, but the chapel itself can only be visited with a reservation made in advance with the National Institute of Historical Monuments (Národní památkový ústav).

The golf course

The hilly countryside with the white limestone cliffs that surround Karlštejn is called the Bohemian Karst (Český kras) and it is a well-nown nature reserve. The Koněpruské Caves are located about 10 kilometres south-west from the castle and are the most notable landmark of the region. The tour of the underground chambers decorated with layers of rich stalactite is just over half a kilometre long and takes one hour. It passes through two upper floors of the cave during which visitors must climb over 500 stairs. It is also necessary to note that the average temperature in the cave is only 11 °C even on hot summer days. The Golden Horse Hill (Zlatý kůň) under which the cave lies is a national nature reserve. A nature trail leads from the exit of the cave up to the top of the hill, where there is a magnificent view of the surroundings. The trail can be completed in as little as an hour and a half, but one can also take half a day and learn many interesting facts about geology and the local plants and animals.

The Holy Cross Chapel 8

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Karlštejn

www.hradkarlstejn.cz

Karlštejn Castle INFORMATION: Karlštejn 334; tel.: (+420) 311 681 370; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – direct trains leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) at least once every hour. Duration of trip: 45 minutes. Karlštejn train station is located about 2 kilometres from the castle. Car – from Prague take the D5 highway in the direction of Plzeň. Turn off at exit 10 (Loděnice) and continue along the local road. Duration of trip: 30 minutes.

www.caves.cz

Koněpruské Caves INFORMATION:

Koněpruské jeskyně, P.O. Box 13, Beroun; tel.: (+420) 311 622 405; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train and bus – take the train from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) to Beroun and then change to a bus which goes to the stop Koněpruské jeskyně. Duration of trip: about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the D5 highway in the direction of Plzeň. Turn off at exit 18 (Beroun – centrum) and continue along the local road. Duration of trip: 30 minutes.

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Konopiště Castle La Belle Époque in Central European style The romantic Konopiště Castle close to the city of Benešov, south-east of Prague, used to serve as the summer palace of the heir to the AustrianHungarian throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este, whose assassination in Sarajevo in the summer of 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War. The Archduke was a prolific collector and a passionate hunter. Substantial collections of antiques and extensive collections of hunting trophies from around the whole world can be seen in the castle. For example, the exhibition of historical weapons and armaments is the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic.

The castle stands on the site where a Middle-Age castle once stood and which was many-times rebuilt over the last centuries. Its present architectural form, as well as the interior furnishings, are the result of modifications made at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Altough Franz Ferdinand d’Este furnished his castle in the style of the period, it also contained all the modern conveniences of that period such as water mains, central heating and electric lighting. In 1900 he even had a lift built in the castle. The castle is so large and its collections so extensive that there are three different tours that visitors can choose from. The first tour takes visitors through the large ceremonial dining room, the representative halls and the guest rooms. The second tour focuses mainly on the Archduke’s interests, therefore on hunting and weapons. Finally, the third tour provides a glimpse of the life of the Archduke’s family, not only the private rooms and chambers, but also the dressing rooms and bathrooms. Each tour takes about 50 to 70 minutes. The castle is surrounded by an extensive landscaped park with a lake that is open to the public. The meticulously maintained Rose Garden and a large greenhouse for rare tropical plants are located next to the castle where a Baroque garden used to be. The park layout also includes numerous sculptures. The park is also very valuable from a botanical point of view, given that 158 deciduous and 68 evergreen trees grow there.

The castle’s interior 10

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Konopiště

www.zamek-konopiste.cz INFORMATION: Zámek Konopiště 1, Benešov; tel.: (+420) 317 721 366; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – trains leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) for Benešov at least once every hour. Duration of trip: 1 hour and 15 minutes. The castle is located about a half-hour walk from the train station. It is also possible to take a city bus. Bus – on weekdays direct buses leave from the Metro station “Roztyly” every hour. Duration of trip: 40 minutes. The castle is located about a halfhour walk from the bus station; it is also possible to take a city bus. Car – from Prague take the D1 highway in the direction of Brno. Take exit 21 (Mirošovice) and turn onto road E55. Continue through Benešov until you reach the marked exit to the car park below the castle. Duration of trip: half an hour.

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MAP OF TRIPS

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Český Šternberk Castle My castle, my house The Český Šternberk Castle is the oldest inhabited family estate in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1241 and to this date is in the ownership of the founder’s descendants. The Sternbergs (“the Lords of the Starry Hill”, as their name translates) are among the oldest Czech aristocratic families. Under the communist dictatorship the castle was nationalized.However in the early nineties, it was restored to the Sternbergs who moved back into it. Part of the castle area is generally accessible to the public. The tour passes through fifteen rooms which are richly furnished with stylish furniture, paintings and the family collections. Of particular interest is the collection of copperplate engravings dating from the Thirty Years’ War and a collection of silver miniatures from the 17th century. When looking at the steep narrow rocky headland on which the castle is perched, one would surely not want

to be in the position of the besiegers. Český Šternberk was captured only once in 1467 after a long siege by the king’s army. After its subsequent renewal the castle’s defenses were further improved. The castle’s current architectural form is the result of gradual changes and rebuilding over the centuries. Although from the outside it has preserved many characteristics of a Medieval fortress, its interiors however reflect the lifestyle of Baroque aristocracy. Below the castle, along both sides of the river Sázava lies the municipality which carries the same name. It can be reached by train. The train trip along the Sázava valley, commonly known as the Posázavský Pacifik, is one of the most spectacular in the Czech Republic. On certain weekends in the summer months České dráhy (Czech Railroad Company) operates a special tourist train, pulled by a historic steam locomotive that passes through the valley.

The Castle stairs 14

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Český Šternberk

www.hradceskysternberk.cz INFORMATION: Český Šternberk 1; tel.: (+420) 317 855 101; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – there are few direct trains, most of the time it is necessary to change at Čerčany. Trains to Čerčany leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) at least once an hour. Duration of trip: 2 hours and 15 minutes. Bus – there are direct buses only a few times daily, otherwise it is necessary to change in Benešov or Vlašim. All buses leave from the Metro station “Roztyly”. Duration of trip: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the D1 highway in the direction of Brno. The castle is located only three kilometres from the highway – take exit 41 (Šternov). Duration of trip: half an hour.

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Křivoklát Castle A fortress and a place of rest the castle for this, he gave preference to his new castle Karlštejn.

Courtyard

In the forests west of Prague, in the middle of the protected landscape region of Křivoklátsko, lies one of the most beautiful Czech castles – Křivoklát. Even though its name contains the tricky letter “ř” which you will most likely never be able to pronounce properly, this should not prevent you from visiting the castle. Křivoklát was over the centuries an important king’s castle as it served as a resting place on the journey to Germany. The monarchs, however, liked to use it as a base for hunting trips into the surrounding forests and as a jail for prominent prisoners. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV was interned here in his youth by his father. Although he later did not resent

From a distance Křivoklát may look a bit austere, inside however it will surprise you with its elegant architectural décor. The castle chapel with its lateGothic star dome and beautifully engraved altar, is an excellent example of the highest court art of the 15th century. From the same period is the exquisitely decorated relief with the coat of arms of the Czech kingdom and the King’s initials, over the entrance gate into the castle. One can hardly believe that it is carved in stone. The castle’s dungeon and torture room with its collection of Medieval torture instruments are reminders of its history as a prison. Those who are more interested in cultural history will find a unique exhibition of Gothic paintings and sculptures, a library containing over 52 thousand titles, an extensive museum, and a picture gallery that was established by the modern aristocratic owners of the castle.

Aerial view 16

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Křivoklát

Musical and theater celebrations, as well as a traditional crafts fair are held regularly at the castle during the Easter time. Potters, weapon makers, basket weavers, carvers and herbists offer their products in little stalls in the

castle‘s courtyard. Replicas of Gothic chalices and leather products, as well as swords, shields and halberds, can also be purchased. Demanding customers may even purchase a whole knight’s armour.

www.krivoklat.cz INFORMATION: Křivoklát 47; tel.: (+420) 313 558 440; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – trains leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) almost every hour. There is a direct train that leaves in the morning from the Praha-Smíchov, otherwise it is necessary to change at Beroun. Duration of trip: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the road no. 6 in the direction of Karlovy Vary. After the district Jeneč turn onto road no. 201, which leads all the way to Křivoklát. Duration of trip: 45 minutes.

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Nelahozeves Castle The Castle of art and music The beautiful castle of Nelahozeves is the seat of another important aristocratic family – Lobkowicz. The threewing building is a unique example of Czech Renaissance architecture. The castle has been preserved in its unique form without any major modifications of a later period. Apart from the actual castle, one may also see one of the greatest European private collections of old art. The Lobkowicz picture gallery offers a sample of six centuries of European art, ranging from the Renaissance to the end of the 1930’s. It holds the works from such personalities as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Paolo Veronese, Peter Paul Rubens and Diego Velázquez. The most valuable painting of the collection is probably the painting “Haymaking” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The other paintings that comprise this series of the year’s seasons are held by the Kunsthistorishes Museum in Vienna and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

The town of Nelahozeves is also famous as the birthplace of the composer Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904), the son of a local butcher. The house where Dvořák lived, in which his father also ran a pub, is now a museum. Every year for over ten years the concert cycle of Dvořák’s Musical Nelahozeves has been held from the spring until the autumn. If you arrive by car you can combine a visit to Nelahozeves with the nearby town of Mělník, the historic town and castle located where the rivers Labe and Vltava merge. On the south side of the castle elevation in the centre of town and on the nearby hills a grapevine is grown. A popular component of a tour of the castle is a visit to the castle’s wine cellars which date from the 14th century. It is said that wine has been produced in Mělník for over a thousand years. The founder of the first vineyard is said to have been Princess (St.) Ludmila from the ruling Premyslid family. The wine region of Mělník is also unique as it is one of the most northerly vineyards in Europe.

Mělník 18

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Nelahozeves

www.lobkowiczevents.cz

Nelahozeves Castle INFORMATION: Nelahozeves Castle; tel.: (+420) 315 709 111; e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] – tour reservations TRANSPORT: Train – trains to Nelahozeves leave from the Masaryk Railroad Station (the Metro Station “Náměstí Republiky”) almost every hour and even more often to Kralupy nad Vltavou, which is located 4 kilometres from the castle. Duration of trip: approximately 1 hour. Car – from Prague take the D8 highway in the direction of Teplice. At exit 9 (Úžice) turn on to road no. 608. Duration of trip: 30 minutes.

www.lobkowicz-melnik.cz

Mělník INFORMATION: náměstí Míru 11, Mělník; tel.: (+420) 315 627 503; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Bus – direct buses leave from the Holešovice Station several times an hour. Duration of trip: 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the D8 highway towards Teplice. At exit 18 (Nová Ves) turn onto road no. 16. Duration of trip: 30 minutes.

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Bohemian Paradise A region of flowering meadows and rock towns Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) is a beautiful region located no more than one hundred kilometres north-east from Prague. It is unique in the diversity and number of cultural monuments that it has. Probably the most famous symbol of the whole region are the ruins of the Trosky Castle – the remains of a medieval tower on two cone shaped rocks. From a distance they look like rock giants and according to legend they are called “Panna a Baba” (the Maiden and the Hag). However, for many visitors the Bohemian Paradise is characterized especially by the sandy rock towns which form part of the network of the UNESCO European Geoparks. These are fantastic natural labyrinths of deep canyons and rock towers, which were created by the flow of winds and water over the span of millions of years. They have attracted everyone fond of hiking, ever since such hikes into the countryside became popular. The Czech Hikers Club, founded in 1888 maintains a dense network of nature trails in the area, as well as ladders

Prachov Rocks

mounted onto the rocks for easier acces to the viewpoints. Many places are also easily accessible by bicycle. These can be rented not only in specialist hire shops, but also at the train stations in Turnov and Jičín, where this service is offered by Czech Railroad – the national railway company. Fans of adrenalin sports will also find it of interest. The rocky towers of Bohemian Paradise are of course a very popular destination for climbers and there are also several places that are suitable for paragliding.

Hrubá Skála and Trosky 20

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The Věžický pond

The town of Turnov, which is easily accessible from Prague by train or bus, is a good starting point for trips into the surrounding areas. It is located only 5 kilometres from the nearest rocks, and the ruins of Trosky lie about 15 kilometres south-east from it. In the town it is also possible to visit the castle Hrubý

Rohozec or a museum with a unique collection dedicated to mineralogy and jewelry. Among other things, the Bohemian Paradise is an important source of Czech garnet which are the traditional stones of Czech jewellery. After polishing they have a dark red color.

www.cesky-raj.info INFORMATION: náměstí Českého ráje 26, Turnov; tel.: (+420) 481 366 255; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Train – direct trains to Turnov leave from the Main Railroad Station (Hlavní nádraží) almost every hour. Duration of trip: 2 to 3 hours. Bus – there are direct buses to Turnov quite often. They leave from the Florenc or Černý Most. Duration of trip: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Car – from Prague take the road R10 in the direction of Liberec. Duration of trip: 1 hour.

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Terezín Fortress and Litoměřice In front of the gates of ghetto the different sections. If necessary, the site can be artificially flooded. From a construction as well as tactical perspective, Terezín is among one of the greatest fortified buildings in the world and it marks a peak of fortress construction from the end of the 18th century.

The cemetery

The Baroque fortress of Terezín is sadly known under its German name “Teresienstadt”. The fortified town was transformed by the Nazis in the Second World War into concentration camp - a ghetto through which about 140 thousand Jews from all over Europe passed, before they were transferred to the extermination camps that were located further east. Approximately 35 thousand people died in the town. The Small Fortress (Malá pevnost) neighbouring the ghetto also served as a Gestapo prison. As a result, after the end of the war Terezín was declared as the Monument of Suffering (Památník utrpení). The fortress itself is a remarkable architectural monument. Its construction took more than 10 years and the total fortified area covers around 400 ha. There are about 30 kilometres of underground passages connecting

The period of the Second World War is commemorated by the Ghetto Museum (Muzeum Ghetta) and the exhibition of the Magdebursk Barracks (Magdeburské kasárny) in which a number of councils of elders and the administration of the Jewish self-government were based. The Small Fortress also serves as a museum today. Present day Terezín is trying to be a cultural centre and a meeting place for young people. The old barracks and spaces that were for a longtime used only by the army are gradually becoming alive with exhibitions of contemporary art and various musical and theatre performances.

The entrance gate

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Litoměřice

Just a few kilometres from Terezín on the opposite bank of the Labe River lies the historic town of Litoměřice. Of interest are the extensive town square bordered by the townsfolk’s houses with arcades, numerous castles and the preserved remains of

the old city walls. Also located in the town is the North Bohemia Gallery of Art (Severočeská galerie výtvarného umění), an important regional art museum which holds numerous exhibitions and houses a very fine collection of old Czech art.

www.pamatnik-terezin.cz www.litomerice.cz INFORMATION: The monument Terezín, tel.: (+420) 416 782 225; e-mail: [email protected] Mírové náměstí 15/7, Litoměřice; tel.: (+420) 416 732 440; e-mail: [email protected]

TRANSPORT: Bus – buses to Terezín and Litoměřice (the stops follow each other) leave from Florenc almost every hour. Duration of trip: 1 hour. Car – from Prague take the D8 highway in the direction of Teplice. Take exit 35 (Doksany) and turn onto road no. 608. Duration of trip: 45 minutes. Litoměřice is located only 5 kilometers from Terezín.

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Svatá Hora near Příbram – a Pilgrimage Site Mystery on and below the mountain Svatá Hora (the Holy Mountain) near Příbram is an important European Marian place of pilgrimage. The extensive complex with a pilgrimage cathedral, cloisters and numerous chapels was established in the 17th century in the location of the original Gothic church.

Svatá Hora near Příbram

The most prominent artists of that time worked on decorating the majestic Assumption of the Virgin Mary Basilica (bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie). The pilgrimage place stands on a hill above the town and is connected to

the town centre by a wide Baroque staircase of 365 stairs. Of interest to pilgrims is the miraculous sculpture of the Virgin Mary. The main pilgrimage takes place always on the third Sunday after Pentecost. The complex is open to the public and it is also possible to take a guided tour. Příbram used to be an important mining town. Today none of the mines are any longer in operation, although some have been preserved as technical monuments that are maintained by the Museum of Mining (Hornické muzeum). In the castle of Příbram it is also possible to visit a permanent exhibition of photographs by František Drtikol (1883–1961), who was born in the town, and a museum of the anti-Communist resistance. Not far from the town is the Vojna monument, one of the gulags in which political prisoners were imprisoned in the 1950s, which also forms part of the museum.

www.pribram-city.cz INFORMATION: Tyršova 106, Příbram; tel.: (+420) 318 402 381; e-mail: [email protected] TRANSPORT: Bus – direct buses leave at least once an hour from Na Knížecí (Metro station “Anděl”). Duration of trip: 1 hour. Car – from Prague take the road R4 in the direction of Písek. At the end of the highway turn onto road no. 18. Duration of trip: 1 hour.

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Published by | Tisk Horák a.s. for CzechTourism 2006 I Text: | Jan Skřivánek l Graphic design: l KRM Company Agentura s.r.o., GRAFIXON | Cover design: I Milan Podéšť I Photographs: l Jiří Macht, CzechTourism | Translation: | Aspena s.r.o. | Produced for CzechTourism © Published in 2006

This symbol denotes official certified accommodation facilities. This symbol denotes official tourist information centres.

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www.czechtourism.com

Day Trips from Prague CzechTourism Vinohradská 46 120 41 Praha 2 +420 221 580 611 [email protected]

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