Check up on Czech Republic

Enjoying a central location in Europe, Czech Republic turns many heads with its red tiled roofs, hidden valleys and impressive historical and cultural draw cards. This beautiful country starts spelling its magic right from the moment travellers arrive in Prague. Cobbled streets, baroque churches, scrumptious dining options and several resorts give enough reasons to travellers for flying to Czech Republic. Off Prague, the country has several interesting destinations to visit. Here we give a lowdown on top destinations to visit in Czech Republic.

Prague

The capital and largest city in Czech Republic also commands the glory of being the capital of the historic region of Bohemia for centuries. The city looks impressive with bridges, cathedrals and gold tipped towers that have become the inseparable part of city’s identity. Its historic centre looks elegant with cobbled streets, courtyards and countless churches. The modern part of the city brims with raw energy, music, art, great dining spaces and numerous cultural offerings. The city of Prague is home to numerous tourist attractions but Prague Castle which is the biggest ancient castles in the world is one of the most impressive landmarks. The castle complex is replete with several other attractions that include St. Vitus Cathedral, the Castle Picture Gallery and several palaces and museums. Charles Bridge that connects Old Town with lesser town is also a major attraction. During their visit to Old Town, the guests would sample several historic buildings and monuments that include Astronomical Clock (Orloj), the pure GothicTýn Church, Storch Building, the Jan Hus monument, the Estate Theatre, St. James Church, Church of Our Lady and several other attractions. Josefov which is a well preserved Jewish ghetto is widely acclaimed for its synagogues. The synagogue is referred as the resting place of the famed Prague Golem. New Town which was established as a part Old town is also home to several tourist attractions that include Wenceslas Square, National Museum and the Disney-colored Jubilee Synagogue. Lesser town which is situated across the Vittawa River is also decked with cobbled streets and churches. Loreta which is an impressive Baroque convent in the Lesser Town is also a major draw card. Strahov Monastery which is situated atop mountains should also be visited for its picture gallery and Renaissance library. In addition to these, Prague Dancing House, Vyšehrad(castle), Petrínská rozhledna, Prague Giant Metronome and Memorial to the 1989 Velvet Revolution are major attractions. The animal lovers can go to Prague Zoo which is home to several indigenous and exotic species.

These attractions in Prague are important in their own right but no tour of Prague is said to be complete unless you visit its museums and art galleries, the city is widely acclaimed for. And the travellers should start their trip with a visit to Czech National Gallery which houses an impressive collection of artworks. The gallery displays its artefacts in the Sternberg Palace, St George Convent and Veletržní Palace. The Castle Picture Gallery Situated near to it, but a separate institution, should also be visited. Czech National Museum which is an association of several museums should also be part of your itinerary. The main buildings of the museum are situated at the Wenceslas Square. Museums of the Czech composers Dvorák and Smetana, Prince Lobkovicz' Collection at the Prague Castle, Historical Pharmacy Museum, Czech Music Museum, Czech Ethnographical Museum and Naprstek Anthropological Museum are branches of it. Those who want to sample modern Czech art should go to visit Prague City Gallery which is housed in the House of the Golden Ring at the Old Town Square. Art buffs should also visit Czech Museum of Fine Arts, where they can sample changing exhibitions. Museum of Decorative Arts housed in a medieval palazzo-style building, has a vast collection of historical and contemporary crafts on display. If you are a keen lover of technology, then visiting National Technical Museum could be a great experience where you can see the technology used in motorcycles, cars, aircraft and commercial vehicles during previous centuries. Mozart and Dušek Museum should also be visited to know about the works of these great composers. Mucha Museum and Kafka Museum are devoted to the works of Czech artist Alfons Mucha and Kafka respectively. The Mueller Villa which is devoted to the works of the well known Viennese architect Adolf Loos further widens the choices for travellers.

Ostrava

One of the major cities in Czech Republic, Ostrava doesn’t commands as much historical importance as Prague but still it charms travellers with its small but impressive allures. Ostrava’s small international airport is connected to rest parts of the Europe though airlines. On arrival the guests would have opportunity to sample some interesting attractions. Landek Park which is situated in Anselm Mine is the largest mining museum in Czech. The Vítkovice Area which was an industrial area during the early 19th century has now been declared a National Cultural Heritage. The area is being renovated to fit as a cultural destination with plans to modify a blast furnace into a concert hall. Silesian Ostrava Castle which is a major historical attraction is also visited by a large number of travellers. This 13th century structure is located near the confluence of the Lucina and Ostravice rivers. The Miniuni is highly popular among family vacationers as the area houses several important buildings of European cities. Big Ben, Old Town Hall, Brandenburg Gate and the 12 metre-high Eiffel tower some of the most important draw cards. The animal lovers should go to the Ostrava Zoo that houses an impressive collection of local wildlife.

Brno

The second largest city in Czech has a more than thousand year’s history. Situated in hilly and lush green Moravia province, the city is a cultural hub with a large number of museums and other attractions related to regions history and culture. The city is also an administrative hub of south Moravian Region. It is a mixture of different architectural styles. During their visit to Brno the travellers will come across various points of attractions. Freedom Square which forms heart of the city host several cultural events. From here most of the city attractions are within walking distance. Špilberk Castle which is the major castle in the region and seat of the Moravia rulers is highly frequented by the people. Moravian square which is the biggest square in the city should also be visited. Situated near the square is the Church of Saint Thomas which also commands great significance. The city throws a wide array of options for museum lovers. The Moravian Museum, The Moravian Gallery, The Mendel Museum of Genetics and Museum of Romani Culture are major places for museum hoppers. The travellers can also visit its market where they can buy souvenirs to keep alive their memories.