Tips for trips in CR

Are you a foreigner living in the Czech Republic? Discover Czechia and attractive places, interesting people and Czech characters. It´s summer – a great time for trips. I offer you a couple of tips on where to travel through Czechia.

How to discover Czechia through trips

South

Lipno

Lipno is the biggest Czech dam and the largest water area in CR (nearly 50 m² – „Czech sea“). You find it in the Šumava mountains. It was built in the ’50s in the last century. It is a great place for relaxation. In the summer you can swim and sunbathe, surf, ride a bike, sail, do sports or hiking. In the winter you can skate or ski here, the slopes are nearby.

And all the time you can visit a lot of interesting places around Lipno – castles (Hluboká nad Vltavou, Rožmberk…), towns (Frymburk, Český Krumlov…), countryside (pathway Korunami stromů, Plešné lake, Schwarzenberk canal, Šumava national park …). There are many hotels, guest houses, vacation apartments, and camps, just book your accommodation. I am sure you spend a marvellous time in Lipno.

All about Lipno. (Czech)

Dron eye (video).

The West

Bečov nad Teplou Castle and Loket Castle

Bečov nad Teplou is a baroque castle from the 18th century. It is a beautiful building rounded with a park and gardens. But the most valuable thing is hidden inside: Romanesque St Maurus Reliquary – a golden shrine with remains of St Maurus from the 13th century, decorated with statues and jewels. It is called „the finding of the century“ because of its value (probably the same as the crown jewels in Prague Castle). Nobody knew about this reliquary till 1985. You must see it. We don´t have free pictures, unfortunately, but you can see the reliquary at the end of this video.

All about the castle. And read more about the reliquary (Czech, English, German).

Close to Bečov, there is a small town Loket with an old Gothic castle. They started to build it in the 13th century. You can learn how people lived in the Middle Ages and more about Czech history there. It is possible to visit the castle by yourselves or with a guide. And: you will also see the biggest meteorite fall to the Czech area in 1422.

All about Loket Castle (Czech, English, German) 

The North

Adršpach

Adršpach, a small town, is surrounded by a beautiful natural sight: Adršpach rocks (Adršpašské skály). You buy a ticket and start your journey through a rock town. You will be amazed by places made by nature: rocks called Lovers, Elephant´s Square, Gothic Gate, Devil´s Bridge, Small Waterfall, Little Rock Lake… You hike up and down, there are a lot of stairs but the sensational view is worth seeing! I recommend you set out the trip from Monday to Thursday because of the weekend tourist amount.

So let´s go up (Czech, English, German). In the meantime you can travel virtually (video): 

The East

Ostrava

Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic. And a very interesting city: historical (13th century, castle), industrial (ironworks and coal mines), cultural (theatres, galleries, museums, the Colours of Ostrava festival), educated (university) and green (forests, parks, natural sights, Beskydy and Jeseníky mountains around the town). You need to spend a weekend in Ostrava at least, a day is not enough.

You must visit Vyhlídková tower (73 metres and you can see Poland from there), Silesian Ostrava Castle, industrial area Nové Vítkovice (in 1998 coal was mined and iron was made here but today it is a cultural, social and educational centre with the Bolt Tower), Technical museum, ZOO, nature reserve area Poodří, ex-mines, cathedral and many more sights and interesting places. In the evening when you are tired you can have dinner and a drink in the famous Stodolní street full of restaurants and bars.

All about Ostrava (Czech, English, German, Polish). Watch also this video.

You will meet a lot of the Czechs on your way. The Czechs like their country. They will be interested in talking about Czechia, its heritage and traditions with you (in Czech). Read how to get easily into the conversation.

How to prepare for a trip? Have a look at a handout Turistika (Hiking), A1. Czechs love hiking! And they also love riding a bike – have a look at a handout Kolo (Bike), A2. You will practise new words, reading, listening, writing, grammar and information about Czechia.

Read also:

the first, second and fourth parts of the article.

And what places are the most attractive for you? Which ones do you like?  

This article in the Czech version 

Photo: Pixabay.com + Dmytrok, Flickr.com 

30th July 2019