Telč Chateau

The remake of the famous French film series about Angelica from the 1960s is partly being filmed in Telč this year. The chateau and the historic centre of Telč will feature heavily in the new film. The centre of Telč is one of the most valuable protected urban zones in Moravia and, in 1992, it was included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. The Telč chateau and the famous square have featured in more than 50 films including many popular Czech TV fairy tales.

The Renaissance pearl of Bohemia

Telč is located in the south west Moravia about half way between Prague and Vienna. The chateau, which is a conversion of the original castle, is the dominant feature of the town and its most significant architectural sight. Many of the features of the original gothic castle have been tastefully restored and retained while many new elements have been added creating a perfect harmony of gothic and renaissance architecture. You will be blown away by the elaborate decorative style of the stuccos, sgraffito, period furniture and precious collections. When you have seen the chateau you can rest in the beautiful arcade courtyard, in the nearby garden or in the park with its selection of rare bushes and trees.

History at every step

The town square takes the shape of a long triangle. It is surrounded by a row of one-storey terraced town houses featuring beautiful arcades and decorated gables. This gives Telč town centre a unique atmosphere. While you are in the square do not forget to take a look at the two stunning stone water fountains and the plague column. The other interesting sights include St. Jacob´s Church, St. Angels´ Convent, the Jesuit Church and Jesuit College. If you decide to climb up the Svatodusni Tower you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the whole town and its surroundings. You can also take a pleasant stroll around the Old Town Pond (Staromestsky rybnik) or, if you have time, head to the 36m high viewing tower in Oslednice at the edge of the town. To learn more about the history of Telč, its milestones and legends visit the House of the Town of Telč.

About Babi hora (The Old Lady´s Mountain)

To the north of Telč lies the little town of Marakotin and next to it a forest-covered hill called Babi Hora. Once upon a time there stood an old cottage with a small garden at the foot of the hill where an old lady used to live. She kept two big dogs as her only company which gave the people of Mrakotin the impression that they were there to protect some treasure. At one time a greedy farmer´s wife decided to get hold of the treasure and set about her business. First of all she poisoned the dogs and then afterwards she killed the old lady. However, she found no treasure inside so she decided to set the cottage on fire. Since then the hill has been called Babi hora (Old Lady´s Mountain). We are sure that if your travels take you there you will experience a more romantic story than this one.

Don´t forget to try the local gastronomy before leaving Telč

The area around Telč is, and always has been, a potato growing region and potatoes are the main source of food for the locals. That is why many of the local specialities are made of potatoes. Try some potato pancakes with smoked meat, potato dumplings or so called “vopelky” made of potato dough and filled with plum jam. If you visit the Svejk Restaurant in the main square in Telč you will be able to choose from a range of regional and wider Czech specialities. The restaurant is part of the Czech Specials scheme which means that it has been approved by gastronomic and tourism experts. Enjoy your meal!

This year, the Czech Republic celebrates the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of its first monuments on the UNESCO List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Come and discover 12 true “jewels of the world”.

Historic Prague

There is a reason why Prague is often called one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with an unequalled charm. And how could it not be, as it is interwoven with a plethora of myths, legends and stories passed on over centuries. Here you will find exceptional monuments of all architectural styles. The Old New Synagogue, St. Agnes Convent and Prague Castle, including the St. Vitus Cathedral, are all worth seeing. During the summer tourist season, you will surely be charmed by Prague Castle’s freely accessible gardens. Nor should you forget to visit one of the taverns of Old Prague to quench your thirst with a pint of excellent Czech beer.

Functionalist Brno

Following extensive renovations, as from this February the Tugendhat Villa – a gem of international functionalist architecture – is once again one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Brno. In addition to the main living quarters, you also will be able to tour the truly unique technical floor featuring the air conditioning engine room, a moth-free room for fur cloaks, and servants’ apartments. The outlying garden also underwent a complete revitalisation, offering an attractive view of the city and its many other tourist attractions.

Ecclesiastical Olomouc

For church tourism enthusiasts in particular, we recommend a visit to Olomouc, where, among other sites, you can see the Holy Trinity Column. It is an exceptional piece in the context of European baroque architectural and sculptural works – unique for its height, decorations and combination of materials. Some sculptural decorations are from stone, while others from gilded copper. A small chapel is hidden inside the column. When you are standing in front of this monument and admire its majesty with your own eyes, it will surely take your breath away.

Fairy-tale Český Krumlov

In this small town in South Bohemia, you will feel as if you have entered a fairy tale. The extensive chateau complex and unique medieval town houses will invite you to wander through streets filled with romantic nooks where many galleries and taverns can be found. In the chateau park, you will discover a theatrical rarity – a revolving auditorium. Or perhaps you may be tempted by a raft ride along the Vltava River winding below the city walls and offering an entirely different view of the town.

Rural Holašovice

Whosoever has some connection with the countryside must include the village of Holašovice on their visit to the Czech Republic. Located in the picturesque landscape of South Bohemia 18 kilometres from the city of České Budějovice, its spacious rectangular central square features 23 protected heritage medieval farmhouses with a total of 120 buildings connected by enclosing walls with gates and arched entrances. Together they represent the most important monument of the so-called “rustic baroque”. If you come here between 20 and 22 July, you can even attend traditional rural festivities whose atmosphere will take you back several hundreds of years.

Flowering Kroměříž

This town, referred to as the Athens of Haná, offers many interesting sites in a small area. The largest attraction is the Archiepiscopal Chateau with its outlying Flower Garden. The unparalleled beauty created by the combinations of colours will persuade you that gardening is not only a beautiful craft, but can also be an important art form. During 3–6 May, the chateau will hold the traditional Days of the Estates, when tours of the historic halls will be enlivened by firefighters, gamekeepers and soldiers who will tell you share with you information you would not otherwise know about the chateau of Kroměříž!

Silver Kutná Hora

With its history of silver mining and coin minting, this city has since long ago been called the silver treasury of the Kingdom of Bohemia. The city is dominated by a church dedicated to the patron of miners, St. Barbara, constructed over the course of more than 500 years. A visit to the Czech Silver Museum will provide you a wealth of interesting information, and for a time you can even experience life as a mining gnome.

Romantic Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape

This landscape area has been connected with the house of Lichtenstein for centuries, as they invested a fortune into the formation of this cultural landscape. At the Valtice and Lednice chateaus you can tour luxurious interiors and wander through extensive parks. You also will certainly be enticed by a romantic cycling trip to its slightly less grand structures, such as the Temple of the Three Graces, Jan’s Castle and the Obelisk. Valtice to this day hides a treasure in its cellars – the Wine Salon, with some of the best wines from the Czech Republic. Likewise, Lednice holds the international competition of ice and straw wines.

Musical Litomyšl

The city’s dominant feature is the Renaissance chateau with over eight hundred sgraffiti. When you see this jewel, you will surely be tempted to stroll the historic streets ending in the Cloister Gardens. There, you can have a rest and remember the local-born Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, in whose memory a musical festival is held here every year.

Picturesque Telč

You will surely fall in love with this town as soon as you take a tour through the downtown. The burghers’ houses were constructed according to an integrated plan, so their arcades and facades form a resplendent unified whole. Moreover, a tour of the Renaissance chateau with the nearby park offers you an unforgettable experience. Telč is located in the south-western tip of Moravia, halfway between Prague and Vienna, and it should definitely not escape your attention during your visit of the Czech Republic.

Mysterious Třebíč

In Třebíč, a unique former Jewish ghetto has been preserved that is among the important centres of Jewish culture in Moravia. You can best come to know the city’s atmosphere by taking a walk through the crooked alleys with their mysterious passages and nooks. Another precious monument in this city is the three-nave St. Procopius’ Basilica which is a distinctive example of the Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

Santini’s Žďár nad Sázavou

The pilgrimage St. John of Nepomuk’s church on Green Mountain is among the true jewels of the city and entire Czech Republic. It was built by one of the greatest architects of the Czech baroque, Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. This edifice especially stands out when seen from a bird’s eye view. The walls around the church area trace the shape of a ten-pointed star, while the church itself was built in the shape of a five-pointed star. You can admire additional historic buildings as well as modern buildings of contemporary architecture if you follow the Santini bike trail through the beautiful landscape of the Bohemian–Moravian Highlands.

Welcome to the Majestic Prague Castle!

Prague Castle: a majestic complex of buildings surrounding three courtyards, the Old Royal Palace hosting a permanent exhibition called “The Story of the Prague Castle”, St. George's Basilica and St. George's Monastery, with a part of the National Gallery, the romantic Golden Lane, towers called Mihulka and Daliborka, the Riding School, Ball Game Hall and other remarkable places. When visiting Prague Castle you can have a rest in the castle gardens, featuring countless interesting places such as Queen Ann's Summer Residence called Belvedere, the Ball Game Hall or the former Lion Court of King Rudolf II. Gardens situated at the southern part of the complex - “Rajská”, “Na Valech” and “Hartigovská” - offer a wonderful view of the historical centre and Lesser Town palace gardens. Of course we must not forget to mention Prague Castle's dominant feature, with its typical spires welcoming tourists from far away: St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral, treasuring the Czech Crown Jewels.

Treasured Crown Jewels

No ordinary mortal can access the secret hall holding the Czech Crown Jewels. However, there is a place where you can see them and admire all the subtle details. That is Karlštejn, a castle rising above the river Berounka that was founded in the 14^th century by the Czech king and Roman emperor Charles IV precisely for storing the crown jewels and holy relics. Guided tours will take you to the Royal Palace, Treasury and Jewel Hall, the place where you will also find St. Wenceslas’ crown. Be sure to visit the Great Tower with the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Its unique ornamental interior, decorated in gold and precious stones and 129 panel paintings by Master Theodoric, dating back to the 14^th century is unmatched in Europe.

A similar precious jewel such as the Crown Jewels, however a larger one, can be found in a castle and chateau in Bečov nad Teplou. In 1985 a tremendously precious Romanesque relic case was discovered there under the floor of the chapel: St. Maurus Reliquary. The wonderful artistic work is a unique object of world renown probably created in the early 13th century in the Belgian town of Florennes. You can admire the reliquary taking a special guided tour rounded off by the display if the precious original object is in the vault.

Czech Treasure Labelled by UNESCO

However, there are many more jewels to be found in the Czech Republic: its chateaux and castles included in UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. There are several UNESCO sights that you can visit in the Czech Republic. If you come to the South Bohemian town of Český Krumlov and visit its chateau and castle, don't forget to visit the baroque theatre, too. It was ceremoniously opened in 1766 and survived in the original state, including stage equipment, set pieces, costumes and decorations.

Another UNESCO site is the South Moravian town of Telč. Its beautiful main square (Zachariáš z Hradce Square), fringed by burgher houses with arcades and ornamental gables, has a unique fairytale atmosphere. The western part of the square features a remarkable chateau, often referred to as the jewel of Renaissance architecture. A guided tour will take you to its presentable halls with preserved diamond vaults, coffered ceilings and original ornamental decorations.

Lovers of Renaissance will enjoy the chateau of Litomyšl with a beautiful arcade courtyard. Its walls and chimneys are decorated with sgraffiti consisting of eight thousand envelopes and considered one of the most beautiful examples of sgraffiti to be found in Central Europe. And again, there is a rare chateau theatre featuring unique set pieces and decorations. Climbing the chateau tower and descending to its cellars will be worth the effort! The Archbishop's Palace in Kroměříž is also listed by UNESCO and can boast its “Podzámecká” and “Květná” gardens. A baroque chateau in Valtice, the neogothic chateau of Lednice, the artificial castle ruin of Janohrad and a hunting summer residence called Rendez-vous, resembling a Roman triumphal arch: these are the main attractions of the Lednice-Valtice complex. This area is nicknamed “The Garden of Europe” and was listed by UNESCO as one of the largest artificial landscapes in Europe.

Fairytale Chateaux and Castles of the Czech Republic

However, there are destinations other than the crowded UNESCO sights that regularly rank among the top Czech chateaux and castles in many surveys. One of them is Bouzov Castle. Even though its look as we know it today was designed by the Order of Teutonic Knights at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, it is considered an example of a genuine fairytale castle by many visitors. It’s no wonder it is loved by film makers and has featured in a number of fairytale movies.

The chateau of Hradec nad Moravicí also looks like a fairytale manor, with its Empire-style White Chateau, pseudo-gothic Red Chateau with White Tower and a vast park. When taking a guided tour you will hear many famous names such as L. van Beethoven, W. A. Mozart, N. Paganini and F. Liszt who stayed there as guests.

The Buchlov castle dominates the mountain range of Chřiby and is one of the oldest and largest medieval castles in Moravia. It boasts period interior and displays collections of curiosities, vast natural and Egyptology collections. A room displaying a mummy and the view of the castle tower are some of the greatest experiences you can look forward to.

Literature lovers know Lipnice nad Sázavou as the place where author J. Hašek lived the last years of his life and where he wrote his most famous works, The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk. His house with exhibits is located directly beneath a rocky ridge, on which one of the largest Czech castles was constructed at the beginning of the 14th century.

Visitors have the opportunity to tour the Lipnice castle and walk through the monumental medieval architecture, view archaeological exhibits, the armoury an the chapel with an enormous cellar and deep well. Another important part of the tour includes unique views into the surrounding areas. Exploring the castle architecture is an unforgettable experience for young and old visitors alike. In the summer, the atmosphere is livened up with performances by drama groups, fencers and musicians. The castle also includes a permanent archaeological exhibit and a gallery of modern creative art.

In the small town of Lipnice nad Sázavou, you can visit a monument to Jaroslava Hašek at the guesthouse U české koruny, where he lived and wrote his works. Jaroslav Hašek is buried in the old cemetery in Lipnice. The surrounding woods contain immersed quarries with large cliff artwork by sculptor R. Dvořáka – Bretschneider's ear, Mouth of Truth and Golden Eyes.

What you need to see…

Telč – The Telč chateau is one of the most well preserved examples of Renaissance architecture in the Czech Republic and contains valuable interior furnishings and a beautiful garden. One of its wings contains exhibits from the Vysočina Museum with a moving nativity scene. Besides the chateau, the complex of UNESCO heritage sites also includes a square with several civic houses with Renaissance coats of arms and arcade archways, fountains, Baroque statues and other attractions.

Třebíč – This town's UNESCO heritage sites include its unique preserved Jewish quarter with two synagogues and a Jewish cemetery. The interior sections of the rear synagogue include exhibits mapping the history of the Jewish ghetto, and the most interesting exhibit is a model of the Jewish town. The Jewish cemetery is located nearby and contains more than 3,000 graves as well as a wedding hall.

Pilgrimage Church of St. Jan of Nepomuk on the Green Mountain near Žďár nad Sázavou – This marvellous example of Baroque Gothic architecture was build based on a design by architect J. B. Santini. According to a legent, five stars appears above the body of St. Jan after he drowned, and therefore the structure has the shape of a five-pointed star, five exits, five stars on the main altar and five angels. The church in the middle of the cemetery flanked by archways is recorded in the UNESCO list of world cultural and natural heritage sites.

Western town of Šiklův mlýn – This is an original entertainment location in the style of the wild west with saloons, sweet shops, casinos, hotels and restaurants, where you can get to know the lives of Indians, cowboys and gold miners. Besides its large western show featuring examples of cowboy art and horse wranglers, you can also visit the rodeo arena, the mini zoo and the Indian village.

Draxmoor haunted chateau in Dolní Rožínka – This three-foot old granary contains more than twenty sound emitting and animated models of witches, hags, dragons and other scary figures, and there is also a children's playground and gift shops selling scary items and refreshments.

Do you know that...

The mysterious illuminated tunnel below Jihlava hides a special secret

Beneath the historic centre of the city of Jihlava there are about three floors of old halls forming a perfect labyrinth. The total area of the labyrinth is 50,000 square metres, it is 25 km long and is the second most extensive labyrinth of underground pathways in the Czech Republic. Jihlava's underground labyrinth, which in some places is only 80 cm wide, was created by joining medieval cellars together. They lead from the cellars of all of the houses vertically under the square and streets and branch out into a complex system of tunnels, from which it used to be possible to get from one part of the town to another without being seen. Eleven metres below the ground, there is a worldwide unique attraction, a phosphorescent tunnel. No one has yet been able to explain the source of this mysterious light. Could it be caused by phosphorus released from the bones of monks buried above the pathways? Is it an unknown organic substance? Or is it caused by an artificially produced luminescent substance used as paint on the walls mixed with mortar?