Excursions in the Czech Republic

At about 60 km away from Prague is located one of the most interesting towns in the Czech Republic, known for its silver mining and its mint, but even more so for its remarkable St. Barbara's Church, the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist, in which Giovanni Battista Santini combined Gothic and Baroque in an extraordinary way, and most notably for its famous ossuary, a chapel adorned with human bones, that astonishes visitors with its diabolical deathly beauty.

Have you ever yearned to experience the atmosphere of centuries that have long since past? We recommend that you visit Český Krumlov (180 km away from Prague). The city, which is in UNESCO’s list since 1992, will enchant you with its beautiful nature and the unspoiled architectural complex, whose appearance is unmatched by any modern building. Almost every place of the town tells its own tale, and so the atmosphere of Český Krumlov is saturated with exciting historical stories and legends.

If visitors so choose, on the way back to Prague we can visit the Neo-Gothic Hluboká Castle, which will impress you not only with its beauty, but with the life stories of its owners too.

One of the most famous spa resorts is located only 2 hours away from Prague. Throughout the centuries the city captured the hearts of many famous people, both among the representatives of the aristocracy, as well as among scholars, philosophers and artists from all over the world. We will discuss some of them on the way to Karlovy Vary. We will tell you about the founding of the city by King Charles IV, we will touch upon the most important moments of its history, as well as the world famous Karlovy Vary Film Festival. We will introduce you to the healing properties of its mineral waters. We walk along the colonnades under whose roofs the springs are located. We will feel the pleasant atmosphere of the city, which significantly changed its appearance for the last time in the 19th century. At our guests' request, we can also include a visit to the Pilsen Brewery.

Na přání hostů lze výlet prodloužit o návštěvu Plzeňského pivovaru.

The tour of Karlovy Vary can be prolonged with a short trip to the no less beautiful resorts Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně and talk about the celebrities that have stayed there, the springs and the famous wafers. There are even some more sights in the surroundings. We can recommend you the prmonstratensian monastery in Tepla and the reminiscent of a prehistoric landscape SOOS natural reserve with its lakes with mineral water and dioxide springs.

Are you interested in the life of the last prominent representatives of the Habsburg family? In that case don’t miss the trip to Konopiště castle. The former medieval fortress was a favorite hotspot of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian imperial throne, Franz Ferdinand d´Este. As you recall from history, his murder in Sarajevo lead to the declaration of war on Serbia, which resulted in the outbreak of World War I. In relation to Konopiště we will recall not only the end of the Habsburg Empire, but also the personal life and times of Franz Ferdinand. You will hear about his great love for the Czech Countess Sophie Chotek, his passion for hunting wild animals, and of the fate of his cousin Rudolph (son of Franz Joseph and the beautiful Empress Sissi). There are countless trophies in the castle, as well as a remarkable collection of weapons and armor. Last but not least, the modernized castle from the late 19th century reminds us not only of the modern history, but of a number of other significant events from the Medieval and Renaissance history of the Czech Republic.

If you are looking for a short trip out of Prague, we recommend that you head towards Karlštejn Castle. You can reach it in around 45 min. For small groups, the best way to travel is by train. The castle was founded by King Charles IV and it was during his reign that the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the holy relics of saints were preserved there. Above all, it’s a great and extremely interesting Gothic compound from an architectural point of view, which incites storytelling about the ruler and his reign that give us an idea of what life was like during the middle of the 14th century. It is the popular legend about the ruler withdrawing here for spiritual reflection that inspired the Czech poet and playwright Jaroslav Vrchlický to write his famous play A Night at Karlštejn.

This restituted castle is one of the few that can be visited all year round. Only the private premises used by representatives of the Sternberg family are not accessible to the public. The castle dates back to the 13th century, but its interiors represent its appearance as it was before its nationalization after the Communist coup in 1948. Much like Konopiště castle, Český Šternberk is electrified and is equipped with central heating and running water. The visit of Czech Sternberg gives an opportunity to highlight important moments in Czech history framed in a specific context.

The Czech architect of Italian origin, Giovanni Battista Santini (Jan Blažej Santini Aichel in Czech) is known in world history for the creation of his own exclusive style, the so-called Baroque Gothic. His architectural solutions bring about admiration with their original forms, distortion of light and their acoustic. We can also offer a one-day excursion to the UNESCO listed town of Žďár nad Sázavou and its surroundings where we will explore the Church of Saint John of Nepomuk at Zelená hora, the Lower Cemetery, created for the victims of the plague epidemic, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Nicholas and, the temple in the village of Obytčov, which from a bird’s eye view resembles the shape of a turtle.

If visitors are interested, we can spend a whole day visiting Kutná Hora, where the former Gothic Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist is located, which Santini in an extraordinary way partly transformed into the Baroque style.