The Czech Republic has rebranded itself as Czechia to make it easier for English speakers. After shaking off the cobwebs from its time behind the Iron Curtain, it overflows with off the beaten track experiences. At the heart of Central Europe, it’s a Bohemian rhapsody of picturesque castles and charming medieval towns. Visit Prague and Český Krumlov for their history, culture, and well-preserved architecture.

MUST SEES: PRAGUE

Charles Bridge

Peter Parler designed the Gothic stone bridge linking Prague Castle to Old Town for Charles IV. Thirty saints line the sides, including St. John Nepomuk, who they threw off the bridge. It’s good luck to rub the plaque, ensuring a return to Prague.

Astronomical Clock

At Old Town Square, watch the Astronomical Clock’s faces. One displays time and the other a calendar. During the hourly performance, the bells chime as Death tugs on a chain. Above the clock face, the Apostles march past two open windows.

St. Vitus Cathedral

The cathedral dominates the skyline and emerges from Prague Castle. Peter Parler’s design innovations added diagonal rib vault ceilings to Gothic spires, a Rose window, and flying buttresses. The Renaissance Bell Tower has a green Baroque spire.

St. George’s Basilica

The Romanesque basilica is the oldest church within Prague Castle from 920. It has a red Baroque façade. Duke Vratislav I was a fan of St. George. There are many sculptures of St. George slaying dragons.

Golden Lane

At the northern wall of Prague Castle, narrow Golden Lane contains colorful homes. Originally for castle guards, the tiny cottages housed goldsmiths in the 17th century. Franz Kafka wrote for a year at cottage 22, now a souvenir shop.

Týn Church

The Church of our Lady before Týn is a Gothic church in Old Town. Gaze up at twin towers and their eccentric black spires. Each spire has eight spires across two platforms with a turret at each of the four corners.

Josefov

In the Jewish Quarter, the Jewish cemetery has densely packed graves. The Jewish Town Hall has a Rococo façade with two clocks. The top clock has Roman numbers, while the lower has Hebrew numbers with hands that go counter-clockwise.

Old-New Synagogue

The Gothic Old-New Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in Europe, built in 1270. Rabbi Loew created a Golem out of clay to protect the community. After the creature completed its task, he hid it in the attic.

Jan Hus Memorial

Jan Hus was a Catholic church reformer and vocal critic of Catholic practices. The church excommunicated him and burned him at the stake in 1415. His work was vital to the development of the Czech language.

Strahov Monastery

Behind Strahov Monastery, admire the grand view of the city’s skyline just beyond an orchard. Pick out monuments from a sea of green copper domes and dark Gothic jagged spires.

Konopiště Castle

The Gothic fortress was the residence of Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination started WWI. The Archduke loved hunting and there are stag’s heads, foxes, and a bear. The rooms have elegant furniture, Meissen porcelain, and paintings.

MUST SEES: PLZEŇ

Plzeň City Hall

Plzeň City Hall is one of the oldest Renaissance city halls in the nation. In 1914, they added sgraffito to the exterior. Sgraffito is a technique that applies plaster and creates a design by scratching the plaster to reveal the base layer.

House of the Jousting Knights

Next to the colorful homes in Republic Square, there is a building with jousting knights on a golden background.

Great Synagogue

This synagogue is the 3rd largest in the world and 2nd largest in Europe. It’s a mashup of Romanesque Revival, Moorish ceilings, onion domes, and a giant Star of David. Emmanuel Klotz designed the towers to be lower than Cathedral of St. Bartholomew.

FOOD

Vepřo Knedlo Zelo

This national dish consists of three items: roast pork (pečené vepřové), bread dumplings (knedlíky), and stewed cabbage (zelím). Wash this hearty dish down with a golden pilsner.

Bramboráky

Bramboráky are pancakes of grated potatoes, egg, flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and marjoram. The potato cakes contain pork chops and come with red cabbage and sauerkraut.

Becherovka

Becherovka is an herbal digestif with cloves for bitterness, anise for licorice, and cinnamon.

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