While many first time visitors to the Czech Republic may tend towards visiting Prague, the capital city, it is a shame not to venture outside the center and see what else in on offer in the great country also known as Bohemia. Just an hour’s drive in any direction will lead to you to quaint towns, stunning countryside views, Gothic architecture, and even to chapels and cathedrals decorated with human bones! Leaving the main city in the Czech Republic also gives you the chance to slow down as many of the sights in smaller areas are within walking distance, often down historic cobbled streets, and there are also traditional food and drink options that are cheaper and, some would say, more authentic than in the bigger cities. So don’t be afraid to head out and about to see all that this diverse country has in store for visitors!
Explore a Capuchin Monetary in the city of Brno:
Brno, a three hour train ride away from Prague, is known as the second largest city in the Czech Republic in terms of population and area. Many visitors flock to the city to explore the Špilberk castle and famous fortress, as well as the other symbol of medieval architecture often said to define the city, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. There is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Villa Tugendhat, an icon of modernist architecture made of reinforced concrete. From the modern to the traditional, visitors can choose to visit the Capuchin crypt, a slightly eerie attraction that features a funeral room that contains the mummified remains of Capuchin friars and other wealthy nobles of Brno. The mummification is said to have happened accidentally due to the air conditions in the crypt, and the bodies are so well preserved that even their robes and rosaries are said to be intact.
Visit Kutná Hora Bone Church:
Often known by its rather alarming nickname, ‘The Bone Church’, Kutná Hora’s real name is actually the Chapel of All Saints. How the church came to be decorated with human bones is the stuff of legend on which no one can seem to agree, but it appears that the bones were first taken from the graveyard in front of the chapel when it became too full. The bones were then stored in the chapel crypt, which is where the story becomes unclear. One legend maintains that the monks in the chapel went mad and started to create bone artwork and sculptures for no apparent reason, but it seems more probable that the work is that of a woodcarver who was tasked with redecorating the chapel in 1870. Whatever the truth, the chapel is one of only a few bone churches in Central Europe and features sculptures and decorations showcasing every single bone in the human body, including chandeliers and a coat of arms. Kutná Hora is a little over an hour outside of Prague which means that visitors can easily visit for a day trip.
Spend the day in the City of Liberec:
Liberec is the largest city in the region known as North Bohemia and is a typical Czech mix of old and new styles that blend together to form a historic yet unconventional city. The city is located about two and a half hours outside of Prague by train and features traditional architecture such as the City Hall and the Old Town Square, as well as an array of modern structures dotted around the city made from glass and steel, including modern 20th Century villas. Another highlight of a trip to Liberec is the Ješted Tower, which many Czechs would say is the most impressive structure built in the country in the 20th Century. The tower sits on a hill and its design is meant to blend in with the natural surroundings, extending the curve of the hill and ending in an impressive needle point at the summit. You can reach the tower either by tram or ski lift and the premises feature a restaurant and cafe that offer stunning views over the city, as well a hotel with a range of options to suit different travelers wishing to stay overnight.
Experience the Terezin Concentration Camp Memorial:
About an hour outside of Prague in the north-west region of the Czech Republic lies the fortress of Terezin. The fortress was built in the 18th Century by the Austrian emperor Josef II and is named after his mother, Maria Theresa of Austria. During the Second World War however, the Gestapo seized the long obsolete fort and used it to house Jewish inmates. Terezin was turned into a concentration camp in 1940 and tens of thousands of men, women, and children are said to have perished in the fortress. Nowadays the site is home to the Terezin Memorial, the only one that exists in the Czech Republic, and serves to honor and commemorate the victims of the Holocaust during the occupation of Czech territory during the Second World War. The Terezin Memorial now functions as a museum, research center, and educational facility in memory of the victims of the Nazi persecution on Czech soil.
Roam around Karlštejn Castle:
Located some 30km and just over an hour outside of Prague is a vast Gothic Castle named Karlštejn Castle that was founded in the 14th Century. The castle was erected by the Czech King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor-elect, Charles IV, and was originally used to store royal treasures such as jewels, holy relics, and other regalia belonging to the royal family. These even included the coronation jewels which were kept in the castle for over 200 years for safekeeping. The castle is now one of the most visited castles in all of the Czech Republic and sits overlooking the village of the same name, and was originally built in a very classic style much different to the way it looks today. Over the years, and in keeping with the changing times and fashions, the castle has gone through several architectural facelifts, and visitors can learn how the castle transformed from classic, to Gothic, to Renaissance, and finally to its present form. The castle is actually located in a complex that tourists can roam around at their leisure, with lots of interesting spots on the way such as the Well Tower, the Imperial Palace, the Marian Tower, and the Great Tower.
Witness a traditional village at Prerov nad Labem Open Air Museum:
Prerov nad Labem, a market town located in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic is famous for being the home of the oldest museum in Central and Eastern Europe. The museum is an open air depiction of a working village on site and features 32 individual structures which include examples of traditional Bohemian wooden houses, bee hives, and a bell tower. The museum also includes a range of classic buildings such as a schoolhouse and a hunting lodge, as well as several different examples of living quarters that depict different levels of affluence and allows visitors a sneak peek behind the scenes to areas such as kitchens and store cupboards to see how local servants would have prepared dishes for noble men and women. The village is located under Prerovská hura hill in the micro region of Polabi and has a small population of 1,200 inhabitants, making it a unique and interesting glimpse into old world Bohemian lifestyle. Prerov nad Labem is accessible from Prague by train, which takes around two and a half hours.
Further reading on Prague and the Czech Republic:
- Official Tourist Website of Prague
- Prague’s Top 25 Things To Do
- Czech Tourism
- Czech Republic on Wikipedia
