Day Trips from Prague

Day Trips from Prague

Vylety 2006_Eng_9.indd Odd4:1y 2006_Eng_9.indd Odd4:1 18.7.2006 10:51:4818.7.2006 10:51:48

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.comThe Official Tourist Presentation of the Czech Republic


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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.

To visit all of the local historical monu-ments 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 histor-ical 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.

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

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

Practical information

In the framed box of each destination you will find contacts and informa-tion how to reach each place by car and public transportation. Trains usu-ally depart from the Main Railroad Sta-tion (Hlavní nádraží) and buses usually leave the from the central bus station at Florenc. All of these stations are lo-cated 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.

With the capital behind you


The Southern Bohemian town of Český Krumlov is the second most vis-ited tourist destination after Prague. Its popularity derives from the large number of historical monuments and the beauty of the surrounding coun-tryside. 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 ma-jestic 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

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.

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

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 of-ten and are open to a greater number people. It is possible to visit the castle tower individually.

In the town there are many stylish res-taurants, 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

Český Krumlov

A town with a famous history and a colourful present

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Festivities

The fountain

The castle


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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www.ckrumlov.cz

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 Renais-sance. Theatre performances, con-certs 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 impres-sive.

Český Krumlov


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 prosper-ity 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 per-sonalities. For example, Johann Wolf-gang Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, Francois Chateaubriand and Nikolai

Vasilevich Gogol all underwent treat-ment here.

Karlovy Vary also hosts important in-ternational 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 be-gan just after the Second World War.

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.

Karlovy Vary

Film stars at the spa Colonnade

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Children by the fountain

The Colonnade


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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www.karlovyvary.cz

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.

Karlovy Vary


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 pa-trician 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 tra-ditional 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 town reached its peak, through the Royal Festival of Silver (Královské stříbření), which is held every year al-ways on the last weekend in June. It’s a matter of pride for the local inhabit-ants 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 entou-rage 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 (ka-ple 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 visi-tors, 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.

Kutná Hora

The kingdom’s silver treasure chest

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Festivals

The Gothic St. Barbara’s Cathedral


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. Dura-tion 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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www.kutnahora.cz

Kutná Hora


The impregnable Karlštejn Castle that lies south-west of Prague was com-missioned 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 (ka-tedrála 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 Chap-el (kaple sv. Kříže). The walls and ceil-ings of the chapel are lined with gold and semi-precious stones and the de-cor of the chapel includes about 130 panel paintings which depict Catholic saints. Apart from Italy, nowhere else in Europe has such an extensive collec-tion of paintings from the 14th century been preserved. The castle is accessi-ble 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 hilly countryside with the white limestone cliffs that surround Karlštejn is called the Bohemian Karst (Český kras) and it is a well-nown nature re-serve. The Koněpruské Caves are lo-cated about 10 kilometres south-west from the castle and are the most nota-ble landmark of the region. The tour of the underground cham-bers decorated with layers of rich sta-lactite 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) un-der 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 mag-nificent 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 interest-ing facts about geology and the local plants and animals.

Karlštejn Castleand the Koněpruské Caves

A jewel in the king’s crown

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The golf course

The Holy Cross Chapel


Karlštejn CastleINFORMATION: 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 sta-tion 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.

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www.hradkarlstejn.cz

Karlštejn

Koněpruské CavesINFORMATION: 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 nádra-ží) 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.

www.caves.cz


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 Austrian-Hungarian 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 exhibi-tion of historical weapons and arma-ments 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 architec-tural form, as well as the interior fur-nishings, are the result of modifica-tions 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 collec-tions 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 weap-ons. 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 exten-sive 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 sculp-tures. The park is also very valuable from a botanical point of view, given that 158 deciduous and 68 evergreen trees grow there.

Konopiště Castle

La Belle Époque in Central European style

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The castle’s interior


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 half-hour 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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www.zamek-konopiste.cz

Konopiště


MAP OF TRIPS

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The Český Šternberk Castle is the old-est 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 old-est Czech aristocratic families. Under the communist dictatorship the castle was nationalized.However in the early nineties, it was restored to the Stern-bergs who moved back into it.

Part of the castle area is generally ac-cessible to the public. The tour passes through fifteen rooms which are richly furnished with stylish furniture, paint-ings and the family collections. Of particular interest is the collection of copperplate engravings dating from the Thirty Years’ War and a collec-tion 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 cur-rent architectural form is the result of gradual changes and rebuilding over the centuries. Although from the outside it has preserved many charac-teristics of a Medieval fortress, its in-teriors 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.

Český Šternberk Castle

My castle, my house

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The Castle stairs


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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www.hradceskysternberk.cz

Český Šternberk


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 fa-ther. Although he later did not resent

the castle for this, he gave preference to his new castle Karlštejn. From a distance Křivoklát may look a bit austere, inside however it will sur-prise you with its elegant architectural décor. The castle chapel with its late-Gothic star dome and beautifully en-graved altar, is an excellent example of the highest court art of the 15th cen-tury. From the same period is the ex-quisitely 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 his-tory 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 aristo-cratic owners of the castle.

Křivoklát Castle

A fortress and a place of rest

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Courtyard

Aerial view


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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www.krivoklat.cz

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 cus-tomers may even purchase a whole knight’s armour.

Křivoklát


The beautiful castle of Nelahozeves is the seat of another important aristo-cratic family – Lobkowicz. The three-wing 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 ac-tual castle, one may also see one of the greatest European private collec-tions 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, Pe-ter Paul Rubens and Diego Velázquez. The most valuable painting of the col-lection is probably the painting “Hay-making” 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 fa-mous as the birthplace of the com-poser 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 mu-seum. 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 grape-vine 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.

Nelahozeves Castle

The Castle of art and music

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Mělník


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Nelahozeves

Nelahozeves Castle INFORMATION: Nelahozeves Castle; tel.: (+420) 315 709 111; e-mail: [email protected]@lobkowicz.cz – tour reservations

TRANSPORT:Train – trains to Nelahozeves leave from the Masaryk Railroad Station (the Metro Station “Náměstí Republiky”) almost every hour and even more of-ten 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.lobkowiczevents.cz

MělníkINFORMATION: 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.

www.lobkowicz-melnik.cz


Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) is a beautiful region located no more than one hundred kilometres north-east from Prague. It is unique in the di-versity and number of cultural monu-ments 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 accord-ing to legend they are called “Panna a Baba” (the Maiden and the Hag).

However, for many visitors the Bo-hemian 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 wa-ter 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

mounted onto the rocks for easier ac-ces 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 tow-ers of Bohemian Paradise are of course a very popular destination for climbers and there are also several places that are suitable for paragliding.

Bohemian Paradise

A region of flowering meadows and rock towns

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Prachov Rocks

Hrubá Skála and Trosky


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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www.cesky-raj.info

The town of Turnov, which is easily ac-cessible 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 kilome-tres 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.

The Věžický pond


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 Eu-rope passed, before they were trans-ferred to the extermination camps that were located further east. Ap-proximately 35 thousand people died in the town. The Small Fortress (Malá pevnost) neighbouring the ghetto also served as a Gestapo prison. As a re-sult, after the end of the war Terezín was declared as the Monument of Suffering (Památník utrpení).

The fortress itself is a remarkable ar-chitectural monument. Its construc-tion took more than 10 years and the total fortified area covers around 400 ha. There are about 30 kilometres of underground passages connecting

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 period of the Second World War is commemorated by the Ghetto Mu-seum (Muzeum Ghetta) and the ex-hibition of the Magdebursk Barracks (Magdeburské kasárny) in which a number of councils of elders and the administration of the Jewish self-gov-ernment were based. The Small For-tress 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 gradu-ally becoming alive with exhibitions of contemporary art and various musical and theatre performances.

Terezín Fortressand Litoměřice

In front of the gates of ghetto

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The cemetery

The entrance gate


INFORMATION: The monument Terezín, tel.: (+420) 416 782 225; e-mail: [email protected]írové 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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www.pamatnik-terezin.czwww.litomerice.cz

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 cas-tles 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 mu-seum which holds numerous exhibi-tions and houses a very fine collection of old Czech art.

Litoměřice


Svatá Hora (the Holy Mountain) near Příbram is an important European Mar-ian 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.

The most prominent artists of that time worked on decorating the majestic As-sumption 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 opera-tion, although some have been preserved as technical monuments that are main-tained 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 re-sistance. Not far from the town is the Vojna monument, one of the gulags in which political prisoners were impris-oned in the 1950s, which also forms part of the museum.

Svatá Hora near Příbram – a Pilgrimage Site

Mystery on and below the mountain

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Svatá Hora near Příbram

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.

www.pribram-city.cz


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

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Day Trips from Prague

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