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Private excursions outside Prague
The castle represents gothic fortification architecture inspired from German and French medieval castles. Divided in three parts it forms a fortress almost impregnable. We will visit the interiors of the castle commemorating the period of Charles IV. Duration: 4 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
Ferdinad was an appasionate hunter, he killed during his life more than 300 000 animals. Just small portion of them are displayed as hunting trophies. Duration: 4 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
Almost fairy tale region Southern Bohemia is situated about two hours driving from Prague. Going trough countryside we can admire small villages and towns, fishponds and deep forests. Our first stop in Southern Bohemia will be Hluboká Castle. It was once built like a gothic fortress on a high rock to guard the valley of the Moldau river, later on rebuilt several times. Noble family Schwarzenberg rebuilt it in last decades of 19th century in neogothic – Tudor style, being inspired by Windsor castle. The interiors of Hluboká will offer us rich woodcarvings, designed by local craftsmen, collections of Flemish tapestries of great value, fine collections of porcelain, ceramics, glass, historical furniture and paintings. Than we will make a short stop in Leské Budějovice, home of original Budweisser Beer. We will admire on of the nicest squares in the Czech Republic adorned by baroque Town Hall, renaissance houses and Black Tower. Finally we will continue to Leský Krumlov. A unique town almost entirely preserved from renaissance period of time. Upon arrival the tour starts with visit of narrow historical streets adorned by many renaissance houses, the Old Town Hall situated on Market Square, a magnificence gothic church of St.Vitus, where we can see tombs of the last members of Lord of Roses family, other baroque churches and picturesque squares. The final stop will be at the castle of Leský Krumlov situated on a cliff guarding the Moldau river. It was used for centuries like a residence of Lord of Roses, Egenbergs and Schwarzenbergs. Duration: 8 – 10 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
Both castles we are going to visit evoke this period as well. Our first stop will be at Nelahozeves castle - one of the nicest castles in the central Bohemia, just about hour driving from Prague. After forty years of communism it was given back to the previous owners Lobkowicz family. Now again restore with rich historical collections of great value. Furniture, antiquities, musical instruments, porcelain etc. Than we continue to Melnik. A historical town founded in the 10th century, it is famous for its wine production. We can visit historical castle and especially its wine cellars. Where we can do some wine - tasting. Duration: 5 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
During our tour we will visit two parts Terezín, so called “Big fortress” where "the Jewish Ghetto" used to be and a “Small fortress” a former Gestapo prison and a place where "Jewish prisoners" from "the Ghetto" were taken for punishment. We will go trough several objects and museum exhibitions describing suffering of Jewish people during the Nazi occupation. The most interesting part of the exhibition is dedicated to artists imprisoned in Teresienstadt. Despite horrible condition they were able to preserve their souls and resist with their artwork. We will admire examples of their struggle. Pictures, drawings, paintings were created and even music was composed on the way to death... Duration: 5 hours, entrance fees included Gallery
Over the course of centuries Karlovy Vary was rebuilt many times. What we can admire now was designed in 19th and early 20th century. Fellner and Hellmer two Viennese architects designed the finest architecture pieces. Karlovy Vary has played host to an endless list of celebrities including Goethe, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, List, Tchaikovsky etc. Everybody who was somebody had to visit Karlovy Vary in German Karlsbad. After period of decline during communist era the town recuperated its beauty again. Duration: 8 – 10 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
Karlovy Vary. A beautiful spa town, hidden in a romantic valley of the Tepla river just few kilometers from Czech German border. Every year visited by thousands of tourist looking for quiet ambience, splendid architecture and hot mineral streams. Strolling down the streets of Karlovy Vary you can forget the every day stress. It is famous worldwide for its spa facilities and 12 hot mineral springs. According to the legend mineral streams were discovered by accident, during hunting by Charles IV. One of Charles` staghounds felt into hot water with stag and died. It is a nice and very romantic legend. Nevertheless Charles IV really supported the town and its inhabitants. That is also the reason why it bears his name Karlovy Vary /Charles boiling waters/. Over the course of centuries Karlovy Vary was rebuilt many times. What we can still admire was designed in 19th and early 20th century. Fellner and Hellmer two Viennese architects designed the finest architecture pieces. Karlovy Vary has played host to an endless list of celebrities including Goethe, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, List, and Tchaikovsky etc. Everybody who was “somebody” had to visit Karlovy Vary in German „Karlsbad”. After period of decline during communist era the town recuperated its beauty again and it is again welcoming the visitors from all over the world. From Karlovy Vary we continue in it smaller sister town Mariánské Lázně. Situated only about one hour driving from Karlovy Vary in a wooden valley the town is literally bubbling with rich mineral waters. There are forty springs within the relatively small area of the town. The town’ s origins are connected with the Premostrate monastery in nearby Teplá. The healing qualities of mineral springs gained some attention thanks to the monastery ‘s chief physician Josef Jan Nehr and Teplá’s abbot K.K.Reitenberger in the second half of 18th century. Originally swampy area was transformed into a beautiful spa resort. Among the first admirers was of course the German poet and writer J.W.Goethe, whose last love affair took place in here. Among the famous visitors were M.Twain, R.Kippling, M.S. Dostojevskij, T.A. Edison, F.Chopin, S. Freud, R.Wagner..etc. During the period of glory in the times of Austrian -Hungarian Monarchy were built Art Noveau spa towns and hotels, colonnades and promenades with parks. Second world war brought the period of decline, terror and suffering. When Europe was divided by iron curtain Mariánské Lázně disappeared from the list of must see places. Nevertheless today it has regained its old beauty and thousands of visitors come to see it every year. Duration: 8 – 10 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
On the way to Karlovy Vary we first visit Bečov nad Teplou. The castle was built in the 14th century to guard an important crossing of the commercial roads. Situated on the cliff, surrounded from two sides by the Tepla river and from the third side by the Dolsky creek, served as an ideal fortress. The original owners Pluhove of Rabstejn lost the castle in the protestant rebellion against Ferdinand I. The castle kept changing owners and was several times rebuilt. Today it is known not only for its architectural beauty, but also for an exhibition of the St. Maurus reliquary. The most precious artifact after Czech Coronation Jewels. How it got to Bečov nad Teplou and how it was rediscovered, is a detective story. The reliquary looks little bit as a tiny model of a long “house”. In fact it is an arch 138 cm long, 42 cm wide and 65,5 cm high made out of wood in first half of 13th for “holy relicts” of St. Maurus, St. Timotei and St John the Baptist. It is richly decorated by gold, golden statutes / representing Jesus, St. Maurus and twelve apostles/, precious, semiprecious stones, natural crystal and antique gems. The upper part of the reliquary is adorned with round shaped beautifully designed scenes from the lives of saints. Than we continue to Karlovy Vary. A beautiful spa town, hidden in a romantic valley of the Tepla river just few kilometers from Czech German border. Every year visited by thousands of tourist looking for quiet ambience, splendid architecture and hot mineral streams. Strolling down the streets of Karlovy Vary you can forget the every day stress. It is famous worldwide for its spa facilities and 12 hot mineral springs. According to the legend mineral streams were discovered by accident, during hunting by Charles IV. One of Charles` staghounds felt into hot water with stag and died. It is a nice and very romantic legend. Nevertheless Charles IV really supported the town and its inhabitants. That is also the reason why it bears his name Karlovy Vary /Charles boiling waters/. Over the course of centuries Karlovy Vary was rebuilt many times. What we can still admire was designed in 19th and early 20th century. Fellner and Hellmer two Viennese architects designed the finest architecture pieces. Karlovy Vary has played host to an endless list of celebrities including Goethe, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, List, and Tchaikovsky etc. Everybody who was “somebody” had to visit Karlovy Vary in German „Karlsbad”. After period of decline during communist era the town recuperated its beauty again and it is again welcoming the visitors from all over the world Duration: 8 – 10 hours, entrance fee to Bečov included Gallery
In outskirts of Kutná Hora in a district called Sedlec we can find another cathedral built by Cistercian order. Next to the cathedral we can visit the Chapel of All Saints, with more than 40000 human bones assembled in huge bells, macabre chandeliers, ostensories, and coat of arms. Duration: 8 – 10 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
Cesky Sternberk - Our tour starts with one of the most beautiful Czech medieval castles Cesky Sternberk. Situated on the cliff above the Sazava river overlooks a small town Cesky Sternberk. Founded in the first half or 13th century still can boast with rich collections of weapons, furniture and pictures. After 1989, it was given back to the Sternberk noble family Than we continue to an old silver mining town Kutná Hora. It originated as a small mining community in the second half of 13th century. When rich deposits of silver were discovered, the king Vaclav II took over and Kutná Hora became the second most important town after Prague in the Czech kingdom. The name Kutna Hora comes from a German expression “khutten bergh” which means something like “mining mountain”. For centuries the power and wealth of Czech kings was based on Kutná Hora and its silver. Florentine bank experts, invited by Vaclav II, carried out a coin reform. Silver coins under the name “Prague Groschen “ began to be minted there. They were so successful, that they circulated all over Europe. The wealth generated by silver ore produced also construction activities. Which can be admired till today. Miners were rich enough to build their own cathedral dedicated to St. Barbara, their patron of saint. In the late 14th century a superb palace, Italian Court, was constructed with reception halls, private residential rooms of the king, mint workshops and the Chapel of St.Wenceslas. Sedlec - In outskirts of Kutná Hora, in a district called Sedlec, we can find another cathedral built by Cistercian order. Next to the cathedral we can visit the Chapel of All Saints, with more than 40000 human bones assembled in huge bells, macabre chandeliers, ostensories, and the coat of arm of the Schwarzenberg family. Duration: 6 – 8 hours, no entrance fees included Gallery
All that you can see on your own eyes. It still surprising how much you can make from sand and different chemicals. At the end there is a possibility to buy some samples from the factory gift shop. Duration: 4 hours, entrance fees included Gallery
Duration: 8 – 10 hours, entrance fees included Gallery |
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