Vivapraga

The Czech lands boast an extraordinaly high number of cultural monuments.

Nowadays, most Czech castles and chateaux are owned by the state even though many were returned to their original owners, whether aristocratic families or church institutions. Those old-new owners have kept their property open to the public. Nearly 60 castles, chateaux and castle ruins are currently listed in the Register of National Cultural Monuments, several are included in the UNESCO list of world Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites. Many of castles and chateaux attract visitors through number of programs in addition to guided tours, these might include nighttime tours, medieval style tournaments and feasts, international music festivals and competitions.

in the most remarkable Czech castle, just 30km out of Prague. Charles IV founded the castle in 1348 on three floor levels. The castle should have been orriginally the place of relaxation, finally it became a representative seat in the period of Charles reign. The crown jewels and relics of the crucifixion were housed here.

just 40km from Prague. Originally gothic castle was rebuilt into a Baroque chateaux. At the end of 19th century was refurbished in Romantic style for Ferdinand d´Este, sucessor to the Habsburg throne. A rose garden, English park, Staterooms, chateaux collections, a shooting gallery, St. George museum are worth a visit.

a gothic castle from the middle of 13th century with Baroque modifications owned by the Šternberk dynasty. The historical interiors modified in the Baroque style feature rich stucco and pointed decorations, valuable furnishing and family collections.

a monumental romantic chateaux originally a gothic castle was remodeled in the 19th century to the English windsor - style Gothic as the official seat of the Schwarzenberg dynasty. The complex includes a glass winter garden, a riding hall, an English park ( area of 190 hectars ) and a chapel.

a royal chateaux founded in the 13th century, reconstructed in the renaissance style, since the 17th century used as utility building. The castle complex - the Royal Palace, the cylindor tower Hlaska, the Red tower, the bulb tower and Iron Gate. A splendid view of the confluence of the rivers Vltava and Otava.

the picturesque town lies in a deep valley of the Vltava river in the very South of Bohemia. During the rule of the Lords of Rozmberg the town became a point of contact between the Czech interior, the Austrian / German Danube region and Northern Italy. The Italian Renaissance greatly influenced the appearance of the town and its castle. The Baroque period left its work on the chateaux collections and especially its most attractive architectonic summer pallace, Bellavie and its theatre.

originally a royal water keep founded in the 13th century on the crossroads of several busy trade routes. In the 16th century the chateaux and the town centre were rebuilt. This development was in part the work of Jesuit order. The most important monument is the square - a uniqe complex of Renaissance and Baroque houses. The houses arcades were built according to a integrated plan.

is situated 60km East of Prague. During the Middle Ages the town became the richest town in the Czech lands due to profits from Kutna Hora silver mines. The Gothic St. James Church ( 1330 ), St. Barbaras Cathedral ( 1388 ) are among the most important architectural monuments. The tour includes a visit to museum of mining with former medieval mine. Other worthwhile monument is the cloister church Sedlec with its interior composed exclusively of human bones, dating mostly from the Thirty Year´s War.

The town was founded by emperor Josef II. At the end of 18th century, originally as an ingenious systém of the military fortresses to protect the Kingdom. During the World War II. It was completely changed and converted into a Jewish ghetto and the concentration camp by Nacists. More than 35 000 Jews lost their lives in the camp´s ghetto.