13 tips for a trip in the Central Bohemia Region

Ondřejov Observatory

The main observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences - Ondřejov Observatory is located about 35 km from Prague in the village of Ondřejov. The observatory has more than 100 years of history and is one of the most important scientific institutions in Europe. It has been responsible for the discovery of several hundred asteroids and there is a planet department. In the historical part there is an exhibition about the history and development of the observatory. You can also take a guided tour of the observatory.

Practical information: the tour is suitable for children from 5 years of age, the entrance fee is 120 CZK per adult and lasts about 2 hours.

Viewpoint Máj

The most beautiful view of the meanders of the Vltava River is offered by the Máj lookout point near the village of Teletín. You can reach it by following the yellow trail leading from Teletín to Třebsín. The trip is not difficult, you can reach the viewpoint in 20 minutes.

Jawa Museum in Rabakov

In the tiny village of Rabakov, where 56 inhabitants live, there is a museum of historic Jawa motorcycles. The private museum, founded by father and son Myclik, is divided into two expositions. The main exhibition contains a basic comprehensive range of motorcycles from 1929 to 2014, including the first model produced. Also included are period advertisements and various motoring-related items. The second exhibition shows low-end machines such as pioneers, babettes to various types of Jawa 90.

Practical information: the museum is open from March to November, from 9:00 to 17:00, with the possibility of individual tours. Admission is 120 CZK for adults, 70 CZK for children up to 15 years of age, children up to 4 years of age and seniors are free.

Kutná Hora

The city's monument reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a good idea to go to Kutná Hora at least for a weekend. There are plenty of places to go in the town and its surroundings.

Of course, the Gothic jewel is the Church of St. Barbara, which is one of four cathedral-type buildings in Central Bohemia. Beautiful frescoes, altars of various artistic styles and stained glass windows richly decorate the interior of this unique building. Another widely visited monument in Kutná Hora is located about 2 km from the historical centre of the town. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist is the oldest church of the Cistercian Order. The treasury of the cathedral contains the oldest preserved monstrance in the world.

Kutná Hora was one of the main exporters of silver in Bohemia in the Middle Ages. That is why the Czech Silver Museum is located here. You can find it in the historical monument Hrádek and other expositions can be found in other town buildings. You will find more than 170 thousand collection items here. One of the main attractions is the St. George's Adit, where you can learn how silver was mined in the Middle Ages.

Tip: If you are going on a trip with children, visit the LEGO museum in Kutná Hora, where you will find more than 1000 unique models.

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Castle Kačina

Not far from Kutná Hora you will find one of the most important Empire buildings in the Czech Republic. In the castle you will find the National Museum of Agriculture, specifically the Museum of the Czech Countryside, which maintains a rich exhibition including the library of the Chotek family. Kačina offers 3 sightseeing tours. After the tour, you can relax in the castle park.

Skoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav

The Škoda Museum offers an interactive and multimedia walk through the history of the car company. The museum is located in the former production halls where cars were manufactured until 1928. The permanent exhibition is organised around three key themes - Tradition, Evolution and Precision. Highlights include the sporty two-seater Škoda110 Super Sport coupe, the Slavia bicycle from 1899, and the first Voiturette automobile.

Adventure golf in Horní Bezděkov

Near Kladno you will find this fun adventure miniature golf course. Take the whole family on a trip here, and you can bring your four-legged partners with you. After golf, stop for lunch at the local Tyrolean pub, where they cook according to traditional Tyrolean recipes.

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Kokořínsko - Mácha Region

Beautiful sandstone formations, historical monuments and picturesque nature full of hiking trails - this is Kokořínsko. The most visited monument is undoubtedly Kokořín Castle, whose history dates back to the 14th century. The castle offers two sightseeing tours. The first guided tour includes a tour of the old palace, where you will visit the knight's hall, the hunting antechamber and two living rooms. The second tour is unguided, during which you will climb the 37.5 metre high defensive tower and enjoy views of the wooded landscape. Many tourists will also visit Bezděz Castle, built in 1264 by Přemysl Otakar II.

Tip: If you want to explore the Mácha Region on foot, start from Mělník along the so-called Macha Trail (red tourist sign E10), which leads through many monuments and natural phenomena. On the way you will see for example: the rock flat in Lhotka, Mšenské pokličky, the already mentioned Kokořín Castle, Bezděz and Mácha Lake.

In the village of Želízy, not far from Mělník, there are the so-called Devil's Heads, sculptures by Václav Levý. These 9-metre high sandstone reliefs of heads are the second largest in the world, after Mount Rushmore in the USA. You can get here from the municipal office along the blue trail that leads to the Klácelka Cave.

Křivoklát region

One of the most beautiful protected areas in Bohemia and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Křivoklátsko covers 628 km2. It is home to more than 1800 species of plants, 120 species of birds and other animals.

The national cultural monument Křivoklát Castle is definitely worth a trip. There are two possible tours, through the whole castle or just a part of it. Křivoklát also has rich collections of Gothic art and you will find the Fürstenberg Library with 50,000 volumes. You can also visit the prison and the torture chamber.

For nature, go to the Skryje Lakes. These are two small lakes on the Zbirožský brook, surrounded by rocks and beautiful nature. In the village of Skryje, visit the memorial of paleontologist Joachim Barrand, where you will find an extensive collection of trilobites and other fossils.

Hrabal's trail in Kersk

Not far from Nymburk is the picturesque village of Kersko, where the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal lived for a long time. He set his book and subsequently the cult film Slavnosti sněženek in Kersko.

On Hrabal's trail you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the local nature and this legendary writer. Start at the Hájenka restaurant and have a boar with rosehip or cabbage. After lunch, head in the direction of St. Joseph's Spring. The trail leads through avenues, forests and cottage areas. Along the way, you will come across wooden statues, a monument and other points of interest. The trail ends in the quiet village of Třebestovice and is ideal for all ages and fitness levels.

Author Original uploader was Slimejs at cs.wikipedia - Transferred from cs.wikipedia; transfer was stated to be made by User:Jitka., CC BY-SA 3.0, Link (cropped)

Poděbrady

The home of the only elected Czech King George of Poděbrady is a spa town with a rich history and opportunities for excursions. Jiří Square, spa wafers, healing springs and the modern colonnade of Professor Libenský create the character of Poděbrady. Visit the local castle, take a dip in the Poděbrady Lake and take the children to the Children's Clock.

If you want to explore Poděbrady and the Elbe region from the deck of a ship, get on the cruise ship King Jiří. On the ship you will find a restaurant that will make your cruise a little more pleasant.

Velkopopovice brewery

All beer drinkers will enjoy a tour and tasting at the brewery in Velke Popovice. The history of the brewery dates back to the 16th century. Come on a tour and see the brewhouse from 1928, meet the goat Olda and taste Velkopopovice beers directly from the cellars.

Practical information: the basic entrance fee is CZK 220, extended tasting with refreshments costs CZK 300 and the complete "Goat expedition" is CZK 1,130.

Author Czech Wikipedia user Packa - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Bohemian Karst

Between Prague and Beroun you will find another protected landscape, the Bohemian Karst. If you have not been there yet, you must visit Karlštejn. The castle was founded in the 14th century by Charles IV and is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic.

Tip: Have you already been to Karlštejn and are tempted to see the castle from a bird's eye view? A hot air balloon flight is the right choice.

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The quarries of Velká and Malá Amerika are located a short distance from Prague. The Big America, the so-called Czech Grand Canyon, is a huge flooded quarry that is very popular with hikers of all ages. For natural phenomena, go to the Drabské Světničky. This is a sandstone rock castle that is currently closed due to wear and tear. However, the grounds of the Drábské světničky are not closed.

The Bohemian Karst hides the most beautiful village in Central Bohemia, Svatý Jan pod Skalou. The village is dominated by the Svatojánská rock wall, where you can climb up and admire the village from a height.