Bernard - Czech Breweries 2.

Location: Humpolec, Highlands Region

In 1991 Stanislav Bernard, Josef Vávra and Rudolf Šmejkal won an auction for the small privatization of the bankrupt brewery in Humpolec, established in the 16th century. They have started a long renovation and development process, including the whole modernization of the factory. In 2000, the brewery became a part of a join-stock company. Since July of 2001, Bernard Brewery is in strategic partnership with the Duvel Moortgat from the Kingdom of Belgium. In the past twenty years the Bernard Family brewery continued its growing, and became a well-known premium brand throughout the entire Czech Republic. 

Nowadays the Bernard is well known not only at home, but also in many countries worldwide. In 2009 more than 200.000 hl of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer was produced and exported to 26 countries. The success of their product is based upon the special recipe, the use of the best ingredients (malt from the own malt house, czech hop, own yeast culture, own spring water from the Czech-Moravian highlands), and other special brew making technologies. And the main difference between the Bernard and other czech beers is the use of the microfiltration technology, a special procedure for the final beer treatment that really makes Bernard an exceptional, unpasteurized beer.

The Viewing Tower of the New City Hall – Ostrava – Lookout and TV Towers in the Czech Republic 2.

Location: Ostrava, North Moravia and Silesia

The Viewing Tower of the New City Hall (Vyhlídková věž Nové radnice), on the Prokešovo square is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Ostrava. On a clear day, it is possible to see not only panorama of the entire city, and the Ostrava basin, but the nearby Beskydy Mountains, Jeseníky Mountains and even neighbouring Poland. 

The Viewing Tower has dominated the Ostrava skyline since it was built at the New City Hall (the largest in the Czech Republic) in 1930. The strict functionalist style of the tower creates, in the opinion of its designers, a noble beacon of concrete, metal and glass. The tower reaches 298 metres above sea level, and 85.60 metres above ground level. The tower is equipped with an illuminated clock face, an elevator, and a lookout deck 72 metres above the ground. The Ostrava City Information Centre, located directly beneath the tower, provides all sorts of information about the city, in several languages. Every half hour, guides are available to the visitors providing information on the city. The lookout deck is open daily.

Pernštejn Castle – Castles, fortresses and chateaux in the Czech Republic 3.

Location: Nedvědice, South Moravia

Pernštejn Castle (the marble castle) is one of the best preserved castles in the Czech Republic and a must-see on every tourist’s itinerary. It was founded in the second half of the 13th century. Radical adaptations came in the 15th and 16th century, when the cultivation of the castle came along with the increasing influence of House Pernštejn family. They owned the castle till 1596, when they sold it. During the early 17th century, the Counts of Lichtenstein-Kastelcorn obtained the castle and gave the chapel, originally Renaissance, a Baroque makeover. During the Thirty Years’ War even the Swedish army couldn't conquer Pernštejn, the strong and impregnable fortress. At the start of the 18th century the Stockhammer family took over the castle. They had the Knights’ Hall redone, adding stucco ornamentation to the walls and ceiling vault and had an exquisite fresco painted in the chapel. The last owners before the transfer to the state were the Mitrovský family. 

Pernštejn’s medieval appearance is breathtaking, and the visitor can take part in a remarkable journey through various historical periods. Narrow, spiraling staircases, vaulted ceilings, Renaissance chairs and the Baroque chapel. Pernštejn Castle, a place which is full of 100 percent history.

Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Svatý Kopeček - Churches, chapels, monasteries in the Czech Republic 3.

Location: Svatý Kopeček (Olomouc), Central Moravia

The Minor Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or shortly Basilica of Our Lady is located about 5 km from the city of Olomouc, on the top of the Holy Hill, Svatý Kopeček. 

In the 17th century a local wine dealer, promised that when he got rich he would build a church for the Virgin Mary, who appeared to him in his dreams. One day he found out that this hill was the place from his dream. In 1629 he started to build a small chapel with the approval of the Premonstrates Order, the land owners. The chapel was consecrated four years later. In 1642, the Swedes came to Olomouc and the chapel was destroyed too, but in a very short time, it was rebuilt. The Holy Hill was such a popular place among the local people, that the Church decided to build a larger new church using the plans of Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. The new building was consecrated in 1679 by Olomouc bishop Karel II of Lichtenstein. In 1748 Queen Mary Theresa visited the pilgrimage place, 36 years later Kopeček got the privileges of the "Small basilica". During the rule of King Joseph II. the Order was abolished, but in the 19th century the church was returned to the monks (nuns). After the World War II. the Basilica was confiscated by the state, and the order was abolished again, but in 1990 the premonstrates got back the church and they are the owner of the place now. 

The Baroque pilgrimage church with a two-tower frontage is a distinctive landmark of the landscape around Olomouc. Adjoining the church building, there are side wings with an attic carrying statues of 12 apostles and two saints - Saint Sebastian.and Saint Roch. Behind the church, there are a cloister and the Chapel of the Virgin Mary. The ceiling of the single-naved interior is vaulted over by a massive dome. The nave is flanked by side chapels. Numerous local and foreign painters, sculptors and plasterers (Jan Kryštof Handke, Johann Spillenberg, Joseph Winterhalter) participated in the interior decoration of the church. This monumental church was promoted by Pope John Paul II. to Minor Basilica in May 1995, when he visited the church.

Emauss Monastery – Churches, chapels, monasteries in the Czech Republic 2.

Location: Prague 

The Emauss Monastery (Monastery Na Slovanech) was founded in the mid of the 14th century by King Charles IV for the Slavic Benedictines, who performed religious services in Old Church Slavonic language. In 1371, a church was added to the monastery complex. It became soon the centre of education and art. John Hus, the famous czech priest and Jerome of Prague also belonged to the most famous students of the monastery. In 1611 the building was plundered. Finally it revived in the second half of the 17th century, when it underwent a baroque reconstruction led by Spanish Benedictines. That time the famous astronomist Johaness Kepler also lived among the walls of the monastery. In the second half of the 19th century, the monastery was rebuilt by the Beuron Benedictines (from south Germany), who created a specific artistic style, the Art of Beuron.

At the end of the Word War II, the Emauss Monastery was seriously damaged during the bombing of Prague in 1945, but the complex was finally revived between 1966 and 1969. It later became the seat of the Czechoslovakian Academy of Science. In 1990, it was returned to the Benedictines and both the monastery and the church were reconstructed for the next twenty years. The roof of the curch was rebuilt in a very modern style. The building now is a national cultural monument. 

Bohemian Switzerland National Park – Natural and landscape values of the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Ústi nad Labem Region 

The Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Národní park České Švýcarsko), which was established on 1st January 2000 and covers an area of nearly 80km2, is the youngest one of the four national parks in the Czech Republic. On its northern side borders itis linked to the Saxon Switzerland National Park in Germany.

The National Park is famous of the unique sandstone rock towns with the occurance of rare plant and animal species and islands of well-preserved (pine, herb-rich beech) woods. Natural values of the National Park have also been acknowledged within the European Union by including it in the prestigious list of European conservation areas called Natura 2000. The park also represents beautiful samples from the local folk architecture (half-timbered houses etc.) in the village of Mezná.

The most widely known rock formation of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park is the Pravčická Brána, the largest natural stone bridge on our continent and symbol of the entire area. The span of the arch at the bottom is 26.5 m, the height of the opening is 16 m, width 7-8 m, minimum thickness 3 m, and the surface area of the bridge is 21 m above its base.

Domažlice – Historical main squares in the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Domažlice, West Bohemia

The main square of Domažlice, capital of the so-called Chodsko border region, close to Germany, is renowned for its leaning tower, which is today a part of the dean´s Church of The Virgin Mary. (the originally Gothic church was rebuilt in the Baroque style). Its tower (open to the public) has a deviation of 60 cm from its vertical axis. The other main historical values of this square are the historic houses. These houses with arcades in Domažlice are the only houses of this type to be preserved in the region of West Bohemia and nearby Bavaria.

Beside these monuments the visitor can see other sights in the main square too. The eastern end of the square is closed by the Dolejší brána, this beautiful Gate Tower, which was a part of the former fortification of the city in the 14^th century. It was reconstructed in 1905. Another ecclesiastical building is the Augustinian monastery and church. The town-hall from 1891-1893 is also situated in the square. The fountain in front of the town-hall was constructed in 2005 as an approximate replica of the original.

Museum of Cats - Lnáře – Museums and galleries in the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Lnáře, South Bohemia

In 2005 a very rare, but kind museum was founded in the castle of Lnáře: Museum of cats. It's the only museum of its kind in the Czech Republic, but you may not find another one in Europe too. The founder of this strange museum is Alena Vaníčková, the member of the family who owned the castle.

In the museum visitors find a lot of interesting things about the cats, and the history of their coexistence with humans about for four thousand years. We can see exhibition about the ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt where the cat was worshiped as a goddess. In the museum a lot of statues, cat figures like ceramics, porcelain, wooden cats, a copy of a cat mummy from Thebes, and so many other interesting can be seen. If you do have any question about the history of cats, just visit this Museum! The museum is open from May to September, mainly on weekends and holidays from 10 to 16 o'clock. 

Eggenberg - Czech Breweries 1.

Location: Český Krumlov, South Bohemia

The tradition of brewing beer in Český Krumlov (one of the most beautiful czech town) dates right back to the origins of the town. Under the reign of the last of the Rosenbergs, in 1560, a new brewery was built in the castle grounds and a year later, regent Jakub Krčín established a source of very high quality water, which the brewery still uses today. In 1662 the entire Český Krumlov estate, together with the brewery, was acquired by the Eggenbergs. The rising demand for beer was the reason why the former seat of the mother of Vilém and Petr Vok of Rosenberg), the former armoury building, was converted in 1625–30 into what is now the brewery.

In 1945, the brewery came under state ownership and together with Budějovický Budvar was incorporated into the national concern Jihočeské pivovary (South Bohemian Breweries). After privatisation in 1991, new, modern technology was installed and the brewing capacity increased, and the Eggenberg brand quickly became well known and popular again. Visitors can take a tour iin the brewery (every day from 11.00 a.m) to sample some of the beer produced here.

Tábor hill - Lookout and TV towers in the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Tábor hill, Lomnice nad Popelkou, Bohemian Paradise

Only a few kilometers from Lomnice nad Popelkou, on the forest covered hill of Tábor a beautiful lookout tower is waiting for the tourist.

The original lookout tower was built in 1888. It was a simple wooden structure, it is believed that the designers drew inspiration from the lookout tower near Vienna, dedicated to Empress Elizabeth.

In 1911, a brick tower was completed on the top of Tábor and it was considered one of the most beautiful towers in Bohemia. The tower is 35 meters high and the gallery at the height of 26 m is accessible through the staircase consisting of 145 steps.

Nowadays the Tábor hill with the wonderful panorama from the tower (from where you can see one quarter of Bohemia and count as many as 50 church spires and 12 lookout towers), is a popular destination for the tourists.

Chateau Duchcov - Castles, fortresses and chateaux in the Czech Republic 2.

Location: Duchcov, Ústi nad Labem Region

This chateau was originally built in Renaissance style at the end of the 15^th century. In 1642, the famous Valdštejn (Wallenstein) family acquired it and the building was reconstructed in Baroque style. At the turn of the 18^th and 19^th century classic adaptations were carried out. In 1921 the Valdštejn family sold the chateau to the state and the premises were turned into an office. The building were later reconstructed in 1961.


The famous Italian adventurer, Giacomo Casanova spent his last years in Duchcov (old german name: Dux) and worked in the library of the chateau, and wrote his memoirs. When Casanova died, he was buried at the city cemetery, but the exact place of his grave was forgotten over the years and remains unknown today. If you go to Duchcov, you can visit an exhibition about his life in the chateau, and you can also see a beautiful collection of historical furnitures and Baroque sculptures here.

Saint Barbara Church - Churches, chapels, monasteries in the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Kutná Hora, Central Czech Region

The Saint Barbara Church, often called Cathedral is beautiful and unique work of High and late Gothic architecture. It is located in the medieval czech silver mine town, Kutná Hora, so it is not a miracle that the Church was consecrated to St. Barbara, patron saint of miners.

The three-tent roof and intricate flying buttresses make it one of the most significant monument not only the town, but whole Czech Republic. Its interior, with imageries depicting scenes from Kutná Hora's mining life is stunning and complex.

The construction of the Church was started in 1388 by Peter Parler`s smelt house. Construction work was interrupted several times and the monumental cathedral was finally completed after more than 500 years of building, in 1905 with a Neo-Gothic restoration.

The Church, together with the historical centre of Kutná Hora (including the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec) is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Prague Castle - Castles, fortresses and chateaux in the Czech Republic 1.

Location: Prague

The Prague Castle, an ancient symbol of the Czech lands, is the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic.

The Prague Castle was founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). It is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century. 

The famous Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik was responsible for extensive renovations in the time of the First Republic (1918-1938). Since the Velvet Revolution, the Prague Castle has undergone significant and ongoing repairs and reconstructions.

TOP 3 travel destinations in Czech Republic

1. Prague

2. Karlovy Vary

3. Český Krumlov