Since then, this organization, in accordance with the adopted convention, has been protecting, restoring and trying by any means to preserve selected monuments created by both man and nature. The organization is trying to preserve these attractions for future generations.
Czech Republic to UNESCO (or rather, at that time - Czechoslovakia) joined in 1990. After the collapse of Czechoslovakia, the newly created Czech Republic also supported an already existing project to protect its own monuments.
12 objects from the Czech Republic were included in the lists of UNESCO monuments. Such a number of objects under the care of UNESCO is almost a record in relation to the area of the state itself. Monuments of the Czech Republic are equated with their cultural value to the pyramid complex in Egypt, as well as the Athenian Acropolis.
Actually, UNESCO sites in the Czech Republic(next is the year when the object was included in the list):
- Historical center of Prague - 1992
- Historical Center of Cesky Krumlov – 1992
- Historic center of Telč – 1992
- Ždiar nad Sazavou - Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Mountain - 1994
- Historical center of Kutna Hora – 1995
- Lednice – Lednice-Valtice Complex – 1996
- Rural reservation Holasovice 1998
- Kroměříž – complex of castle and gardens -1998
- Litomysl castle and its area -1999
- Pillar of the Holy Trinity in Olomouc – 2000
- Villa Tugendhat Brno – 2001
- Trebic - Basilica of St. Prokop and the Jewish Quarter - 2003
- Reserve Czech Paradise - 2005
I would like to tell you more about the Czech Paradise. This is a very old reserve, which this year celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation. Reserve Czech paradise covers almost the entire territory of the region of the same name. In 2005, it was included in the list of protected European geoparks by UNESCO. To date, this park, among the parks of other newcomer states in the EU, is the only one that is equated with such reserves as the petrified forest on the island of Lesvos, in Greece.
Biosphere reserves of the Czech Republic
UNESCO also has a program called Man and the Biosphere. It includes a number of biosphere reserves. This program contains all the existing varieties of ecosystems in the world.
In the Czech Republic, the status of such reserves has been assigned to the White Carpathians, Palava, Sumava, Trebonsko, Krkonoše, and Křivoklátsko regions.
So far not on the lists of UNESCO sites, but the following attractions claim to be such:
- Mount Landek;
- city of Pardubice;
- Eronim mine (Sokolovsky region), built in the Middle Ages;
- Renaissance houses in Slavonice;
- area of military fortification in Gluchin-Darkovichki-u-Opava;
- paper factory in Velkie Losiny;
- rock towns in Bohemian Paradise;
- fishing places in Třeboňsko - lakes Zlata stok, Svet, Rožmberk with "Rožmberska Bashta", Old and New rivers (monument - "Rožmberska fishery complex"); the city of Třeboň itself, as an urban object reservation;
- Cheb city;
- a hotel in the mountains with the Jested TV tower;
- rock sculptures “Bethlehem (near Kuks);
- Müller's Villa, Břevnov Monastery, Zvezda summer residence with a nature reserve (as an extension of the boundaries of the UNESCO Historical Core of Prague);
- Lazne Luhacovice,
- city of Karlstejn,
- Mikulčice – Velkomaros hillfort,
- Ostrava industrial complex - Anselm mine in Petrškovice - Mining Museum, Mikhail mine in Michalkovice, Vrbice wind shaft, Vitkovice metallurgical plant with the Glubina mine;
- a horse breeding farm in the town of Kladruby nad Laboi;
UNESCO World Heritage in the Czech Republic
12 Czech Treasures
2012 - a symbolic combination of numbers for the Czech Republic and its historical, cultural, architectural wealth. 20 years ago the first Czech treasures were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1992, the historical centers of Prague, Cesky Krumlov and Telc became the first. For two decades, 9 more monuments have been added to the list, today in the Czech Republic 12 objects under protection UNESCO.
In the anniversary year, events dedicated to valuable historical objects were timed to coincide with the memorable combination of numbers. But regardless of the round dates and the official list small country from year to year opens both the inhabitants of the Czech Republic and tourists the endless secrets of history, the beauty natural places, the romance of travel through eras and an invaluable cultural heritage.
UNESCO monuments in the Czech Republic
Prague - labyrinths of the "genius of the place"
The historical center of the capital is among the first sites in the UNESCO list of Czech treasures. The stunning city, whose age is more than a thousand years, "attracts" more and more more tourists from all corners of the planet. Prague legends and medieval rulers promised the city centuries-old glory, and this city still attracts travelers like a magnet.
Prague Old city, ancient Josefov, royal Gradchany and the "river" Mala Strana - epochs froze in their ancient streets, architectural styles mixed, reflections of the windows of medieval houses and colored glare of temple stained-glass windows, chains of bridges connected parts of the city in logical tiers, like garlands thrown across the Vltava and islets …
Even ancient Roman mythology attributed the "genius of the place", the keeper, to every corner of the earth. Apparently, the Prague “genius of the place” is so strong and good-natured that you don’t even want to leave the serious labyrinth of streets of this city and it’s extremely pleasant to get lost in it. come to Prague , open your entrances and exits to the mystical labyrinth, study architectural monuments and get acquainted with culinary traditions - the "genius of the place" will be with you along the way!
Brno. Villa Tugendhat - a classic of our time
In the second largest city of the Czech Republic after Prague, both the historical center and the variety of architectural finds deserve attention. The functionalist building is recognized as a UNESCO monument. Villa Tugendhat , which today is a city historical and architectural reserve. The work of the famous German architect Mies van der Rohe is still one of the four most famous villas in the world; built over 70 years ago, it still looks modern today.
Cesky Krumlov - frozen in the Renaissance
In the South Bohemian city on the banks of the Vltava, time truly stood still. Even the first minutes of a walk along the picturesque streets filled with history and medieval atmosphere, allow you to understand: this is really an extraordinary place, valuable historically and energetically. A UNESCO monument in this Bohemian town is a historic center with a Gothic-Renaissance castle. The architectural complex, the oldest part of which dates back to the 13th century, is one of the largest in Europe. Of all the Czech cities Krumlov retained its Renaissance appearance in its most natural form.
Holasovice – old village, fabulous baroque
A unique architectural reserve, as if descended from the pages of a fairy tale book: the village has preserved examples of the traditional folk architecture of South Bohemia. The complex of authentic village houses was built in the same style, which received the noble and domestic name "rural baroque". Simple village carpenters were inspired by baroque forms, folk builders tried to embody their own in and baroque style in village houses, in aristocratic pediments rural estates. the village itself Holasovice , included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, has been mentioned in chronicles since the middle of the 13th century, so in addition to the “rural baroque”, a special spirit of historicity, the Middle Ages, lives here, and all this is surrounded by fabulously harmonious landscapes southern Czech Republic.
Kroměříž – park mosaic of Hanack Athens
In the midst of fertile fields in the valley of the Hana River, in Moravia, there is a city whose name is inscribed on the Czech list of world heritage sites. Under the protection of UNESCO in Kroměříž - the Baroque Archbishop's Palace and the Palace and Flower Parks surrounding it with multi-colored labyrinths, one of the most beautiful in Europe. In summer, the former residence of the Olomouc bishops blooms like a fairy garden, revealing the unity of the beauty of plants, architecture and art (the halls of the palace house a valuable library and an art gallery with works by Titian, Brueghel, Veronese). Every year there are music festivals, exhibitions, scientific meetings. Small Kroměříž is a worthy object of cultural and educational tourism, and therefore received the proud title of Ganack Athens.
Kutna Hora - the secrets of the silver city
Cathedrals, monasteries; quiet streets with gothic and baroque monuments; "silver" capital of the kingdom and treasury historical facts- in the town Kutna Hora both the places and the epochs “attached” to them are impressive. Under the protection of UNESCO in Kutna Hora - the historical center of the city with the Church of St. Barbara, the second largest and status of the Gothic church in the Czech Republic. In addition to the splendor of cathedrals and stone architecture, Kutná Hora is famous for the ossuary of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec. The unique chapel of the monastery makes even the most persistent and courageous visitors hold their breath - the interiors and decorative elements are made of 40,000 human skeletons: these were the consequences of the horrific epidemics of the Middle Ages.
Lednice and Valtice – aristocratic palaces in the land of winemakers
The Lednice-Valtice landscape complex is listed by UNESCO for its amazing combination of architectural finds, elegant park setting and an indescribably successful combination of natural, landscape beauty and creations of human thought. Lednice , a neo-gothic front residence, and Valtice , a baroque palace - the possession of the princely family of Liechtenstein. For centuries, a unique glacier park, called the Garden of Europe, has been cared for here, and the traditions of Moravian winemaking have been preserved in the cellars of the Valtice region. Getting to know these castles gives a wonderful opportunity to see the beauties of Moravia and arrange a tasting trip in the heart of the wine region.
Litomysl - Renaissance Ensemble and Music of the Czech Soul
In the east of Bohemia, under the sun among the hills, there is a town Litomysl with a castle included in the list of UNESCO monuments. The castle can rightly compete for the title of the most beautiful in Eastern Bohemia. Rebuilt in the 16th century from a border fortress into a Renaissance palace, supplemented in the 18th century with details of classicism, it still delights today with its elegance and how successfully it complements its city - the white-walled palace is surrounded by an ensemble of old houses like a semi-precious frame. In 1824, the outstanding Czech composer Bedřich Smetana was born in Litomyšl – an opera festival has been held here for more than 60 years in his honor. Smetanova Litomysl.
Olomouc - Capital of the Moravian Baroque
Since the Middle Ages, Olomouc has been the cultural and administrative center of Moravia. The city, filled with spiritual power, has seen a lot - this is also evidenced by the fact that the ancient Olomouc- the second most famous and large-scale city-museum of architectural monuments in the Czech Republic. The baroque era had a special influence on the appearance of streets and buildings: an ensemble of delightful fountains, the Gradisko Monastery, nicknamed the “Moravian Escoriat”, the Archbishop's Palace. In the list of UNESCO monuments - the column of the Holy Trinity: the largest (height 35 m) baroque sculptural composition in Central Europe.
Telč – Italian filigree in a Czech town
The street-square seems unusual, which has become one of the symbols of the city - like elements of a filigree pattern, one by one, arch by arch, old houses are “tied” into a line - there is something very Italian in these arched spaces. Telc , like no other Czech city, conveys the embodied influence of the Italian architectural "fashion" of the Renaissance on the organization of space in Central Europe. A romantic Renaissance castle reflected in the surface of the lake, a complex of houses with aerial arches unique in their facades, the austere beauty of the square - this city is rightfully included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Trebic - a city of kind-hearted neighbors
Moravian city Trebic on the Iihlava River is an example of a peaceful neighborhood of people of different faiths: Christians and Jews. In the UNESCO list, the city is represented by the Romanesque-Gothic basilica of St. Prokop and the old Jewish quarter, one of the best preserved in Europe. Of the 121 houses, only 5 have not survived to this day, and you can still see the town hall, the school, the “Rear Synagogue” with unique murals, the rabbinate and the large-scale old cemetery in Trebic today.
Ždar nad Sazavou - the star leading the pilgrims
Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelena Gora near the town of Zdar nad Sazavou - one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country. A priest was born in these places, who was destined to become a martyr and the most revered Czech saint. It was here, in the homeland of John of Nepomuk, that a church appeared at the beginning of the 18th century, surprisingly combining details of baroque and gothic elements in its appearance. The shape of a 5-pointed star, a symbol associated with the cult of John of Nepomuk, gives a special lightness to the temple and monastery buildings. It was the "Baroque Gothic" that brought fame to the architect of the church, Jan Santini, and his unique creation is inscribed in the history of architecture and taken under the patronage of UNESCO.
Currently 15 more properties Czech Republic are candidates for inclusion in the list world heritage.
In addition to amazing architecture and monuments, the Czech Republic has UNESCO biosphere reserves: Třeboňsko and Křivoklátsko regions, Pálava, Šumava, Krkonoše, White Carpathians (Bílé Karpaty).
In the past first the May holidays we didn't sit in boring Prague, but the four of us decided to give up for 4 days on a tour of the Czech UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We started from Prague, then drove around Telc, Trebic, Valtice, Lednice, Kromnerzhizh, Olomouc, Litomysl, Zdar nad Sazavou, as well as all Podebrad students along Kutn Hora.
Due to the limitation of 4 days, we did not have time only to Cesky Krumlov and Holašovice in the South Bohemian region, as well as Villa Tugendhat in Brno, they are marked on the map with blue marks. Moreover, we have already been to the first one, we did not expect anything interesting from the second one, and it is always easy to get to Brno.
Below is our four-day itinerary of 800 km. The letters indicate the places of overnight stays, the red marks indicate the objects we visited:
In addition to UNESCO sites, we only visited Mikulov: it was very on the way for us and we have long been curious about what it is like, because we once climbed all the surroundings, but we never got to Mikulov.
Just like during a summer trip to Italy by the sea, instead of the expected Skoda Fabia, we got another car. This time we were given a tiny Opel, in the trunk of which only exactly 2 suitcases fit:
In terms of finances, everything turned out fabulously well, we kept within 1,500 kroons per day per person. And accommodation, and meals, and entrance tickets, and a car. A detailed financial report will be at the end of the note.
Day 1: Telc, Trebic
The weather on Friday turned out to be disgusting, rain interspersed with fog. I just had to put up with it and move on, the hotels were booked, the car was already paid for in advance. In Vysocina outside the window snow appeared sadly:
However, it is worth noting that after the brewery in Jihlava I established my special attitude towards Vysočina. I used to love the beautiful hills here, the real snow in winter, the many beautiful towns, but when such good beer is brewed in the region, I finally give up. No kidding, I consider the nature of Vysocina to be the most beautiful in at least the Czech Republic.
I could not resist taking a picture outside the window of a multi-meter evil sausage eater from Kostelecké uzeniny:
An excellent manufacturer, part of the concern of the Minister of Finance, from the initiatives of which, to my joy, all crooks burn furiously. I chew their sausages and sob with happiness.
Finally, we are in Telci, where already in the parking lot near the castle you can start dancing a jig. Feel like an oligarch: parking for the whole day costs 60 CZK! We are blown away, we do not count the hours, but take a tariff for the whole day. By Prague standards, this is simply nothing, next to our house in Prague there is now a parking lot of 40 crowns per hour.
Immediately after graduating from Podebrad, I already went to Telc, but due to being late for a direct bus, I got with a change in Jihlava, in the city I only managed to walk along central square. Yes, and I would not have ended up in the castle then, there were shootings.
The main thing for which Telč was included in the World Heritage Site is the complex of buildings in the central square:
The city was founded in the 11th century, it was rebuilt more than once, but the square acquired its current appearance in the 16th century, when the city passed into the hands of Zahariasz from Hradec, and he rebuilt the center of the city as if turning on the then fashionable Renaissance and Baroque. The subsequent decline in the development of the city made it possible to conserve the medieval spirit.
The buildings on the central square are united by a single system of arches, allowing you to walk comfortably even in rainy weather. Such arches were an integral part of Czech architecture, but recent decades were lost in Podebrady, are practically absent in Prague and most other Czech cities:
Actually, it should be understood that the status of World Heritage sites is not given for the scale or high cost: UNESCO protects authentic objects. Those that have been preserved as a single ensemble.
Separately, it is worth noting a number of buildings with valuable facades in the Czech technique called sgraffito. It involves the imposition of several layers of plaster of different colors, which are then cut through to obtain the desired pattern:
It cannot be said that the central square of Telci became the star of our trip. It is definitely worth visiting for every lover of the Czech Republic, but you will experience admiration only if you have the proper taste for historical architecture.
Telč looks really fantastic from a bird's eye view, the central square and the castle adjacent to it are sandwiched between picturesque ponds:
Photo: Unknown author
Unfortunately, at the moment most of the ponds are being cleaned, so the most best view the lock looks like this:
We ran to the castle for tickets, and decided to pass half an hour of waiting in a cafe nearby, pecking at the “mnyamki”:
We are oligarchs again: good tea for 20 crowns, wonderful desserts for 35 crowns:
In Prague, such a dessert would cost at least 50 crowns, in the city center it’s twice as much: fragile meringue on the outside, delicate cream on the inside, fresh berries. I am not a fan of meringue at all, a few years ago I considered it a dried marshmallow, but I really liked this dessert. We almost shed a tear that such a cafe does not exist in Prague 6, even if prices were twice as high there. Actually, the guys took custard tubes there for 13 crowns, exactly the same I saw yesterday in a good Prague cafe for 28.
Another cafe on the central square ironically reminds us of the Poděbrady namesake:
We hurry on an excursion to the castle, it turns out to be very entertaining. Not very rich, not very big, but it perfectly preserved the spirit of the 16th century, the restructuring here was minimal:
All rooms of the castle, decoration create a single harmonious ensemble. After many dozens of visited castles, you really appreciate it.
Perhaps all the interiors turned out to be very interesting. This is a completely different level than the popular tourist castles around Prague:
From under the already centuries-old plaster peeps, as I understand it, the original wall painting with floral motifs. The guide did not mention her, there are already enough interesting things in the castle.
The painted Gothic ceiling creates a feeling of cobwebs, the photo will not convey even a tenth:
There are many theories about why the original blue and gold decoration of the chapel was painted over with black paint, but one of them says that this was done because of the death of his wife.
The African room contains trophies from the black continent:
The hall with armor looks extremely impressive, the floor is made of artificial marble:
In the hall there is a collection of armor:
Balls were held in the main hall, sections of the ceiling describe various Greek myths:
Found in one of the pictures of the astronaut:
Yes, I have never been a source, nor an art critic. I visit castles for the sake of general development, interesting facts and beautiful views.
After lunch, we moved towards Trebic, from Telci it is only 35 km. The city greeted us with pouring rain, so we ran to the old Jewish quarter, the main local attraction. It is considered one of the best preserved in all of Europe, and the Jewish settlement here takes its origins in the 12th century.
Either because of the weather, or because of the really mediocre condition, the quarter left a somewhat depressing impression:
An old Jewish cemetery and a synagogue adjoin the quarter. This cemetery is the second largest Jewish cemetery in the Czech Republic, only the New Jewish Cemetery in Prague is bigger than it. People began to be buried here in the 15th century, so you can easily find here a lot of plates with inscriptions erased from time to time. Wiped out entirely.
Some plates have Hebrew text and German, on other inscriptions only in Hebrew. Both new and old graves, everything was mixed up.
It hasn't been renovated in a long time.
We left our things and went to look for a place for dinner. According to Foursquare, the best restaurant in the city is the restaurant at Pension Florián, the site is completely modern. The reality is more prosaic, it’s a simple place: mortar is crumbling from the ceiling of the wine cellar, a colorful lady of about 55 is in charge of the establishment. At first, we almost left, but a liter of draft wine brought by the hostess “for starters” defused the situation. It’s as if you are visiting someone: “girls”, “good-natured people” and other South Moravian flavor of gatherings in wine cellars:
Here, in every house there is a wine cellar, and even next to it, another detached one is hidden. Wine prices are ridiculous, food prices are moderate for a tourist area:
After completing the first liter of wine and goulash, we decided to change the scene. And since we were told upon check-in that the restaurant under our boarding house is open until midnight, we moved there. The place turned out to be very decent, with good wines, snacks. For the sake of experiment, we tried the local semi-sweet Palava:
Everything is decent, noble and quite inexpensive. Soon retired to sleep, get up early in the morning. But it was not there.
At about 2 o'clock in the morning, people began to walk in the dim corridor of the boarding house, as a result, they persistently tried to open the handle of our door from the outside. I thought that someone mixed up the door, quickly realizes their mistake and leaves. Alas, the stranger did not let up, my patience ran out and I went out. As soon as I opened the door and asked, “What's the matter?”, I saw a man of about 40 in the corridor. He was standing in shorts with his mouth open in surprise. He didn't say a word to me in response, just barely swayed all the time with his mouth open.
I retired into the arms of Morpheus, but not for long: again someone pulled our handle, then the handles of neighboring doors. This time I got up almost immediately, saw the same man in the corridor. And again, not a word in response. Fools are not offended, but in the morning I realized that I didn’t get much sleep.
Day 2: Mikulov, Valtice
Leaving the room, I realized why the man was rushing towards us: there was a toilet next to us. Our room has its own toilet, but in some rooms it is in the corridor, while the light switch did not work. I can imagine how the poor fellow tried to satisfy his natural needs at night, bursting into different doors, and everywhere is closed! I saw him at breakfast in a T-shirt with a symbolic inscription Tour de Chlast, which can be translated into Russian as “Alcotur”, but not only was I not already angry, I even felt sorry for him.
Actually, all that brethren, who were wandering around the city in the evening, at the wave of a wand, turned into cyclists. Apparently, people come to this region to ride bicycles and drink wine. The town turned out to be very pretty too.
In the evening this was not visible, but vineyards are everywhere in these places:
And in front of Pavlov there is a huge reservoir, creating the illusion of a seascape:
We move to Mikulov, which is only 14 minutes by car from Pavlov. Mikulov is the center of a famous wine-growing region. Yesterday on Vysochyna outside the window there were fir trees in the snow, and today nature around us is immersed in greenery:
I imagined Mikulov as a kind of Znojmo, a rather average city, but it turned out to be a rich city with a huge castle:
Adjacent to the castle beautiful garden city view:
On the main square there were performances of children in traditional Moravian costumes, this is not Bohemia for you:
This is a winegrowing region, but I firmly believe that hops are here:
Access to the castle tower, as I understand it, is completely free, we climbed freely:
Found Poděbrady on a medieval map in the castle library:
As in many other parts of the republic, the communist regime left scars on the body of the library: its historical significance was lost, even popular science publications for mass consumption were placed in the medieval library:
The castle was founded by Otakar II (like Podebrady), in 1249 it was transferred to the Liechtensteins, then at the end of the 16th century it passed into the hands of the Dietrichsteins.
We stayed in Mikulov until lunch, and for a bite to eat we went to a trendy bistro on the central square. Only 7,386 people live in Mikulov, but there are a huge number of establishments, incl. Sojka & Spol. Highly recommend, the first floor sells high quality products, cosmetics, teas and more, while the second floor serves excellent food. A little expensive by local standards, but there are a lot of people, there is a whole line of people waiting for a table. It's such a hipster place that it even has lavender lemonade:
At the same time, Saturday national dances continue on the square:
Any establishment in wine regions- about wine. Here are wine pubs, wine cafes:
Valtice from Mikulov is within easy reach, again only 15 minutes by car along green alleys, flanked by endless vineyards:
We spend the night right there, in Valtice, so we check into Železný Hrozen apartments. There are 2 rooms and a living room, so we occupied the whole house.
Rooms and bathrooms. the node is on the second floor, try not to kill yourself on the sloping ceiling:
The bathroom pleases at first, and then you realize with bitterness that the economical owners twisted all the taps in it:
After a night in a boarding house with wandering alcohol tourists, these are simply royal conditions.
On the ground floor there is a huge living room and adjacent kitchen:
The kitchen is old, but it even has a dishwasher from the 90s.
A TV, a backup sofa, and in the very right corner of the frame you can see a refrigerator, filled to overflowing with wine:
In wine-growing regions, it is the norm to keep a strategic supply of wine in the boarding house. Guests can take bottles, and leave the money for them on the table during check-out:
Accordingly, in the kitchen a whole drawer is allocated for a variety of glass for wine. Decanters, goblets, glasses and more:
Even tea china was found, it came in handy for us in the evening:
We got to the castle only by 16 o'clock, at this time there were no places left for the excursion. We didn't get upset, we went for a walk in the giant park laid out behind this majestic winter residence of the Liechnensteins. It is customary to unite Lednice and Valtice into one zone, because. both castles belonged to the powerful Liechtenstein dynasty. Actually, you probably know without me about the existence of the still independent Principality of Liechtenstein.
The cave in the castle park now houses a museum of torture; all thrill-seekers should definitely visit it. I was not in the mood, I preferred a walk in the air, but the guys returned from the cave under a huge impression.
The sky began to tighten, so we decided to sit in some restaurant. Already at check-in, we asked the owner what institution he would recommend for tasting local wine, he strongly recommended wine dungeons to us (Czech. Valticke underground). Valtice wines are massively sold throughout the country, so we decided not to miss this opportunity.
Entrance to the dungeons is paid: either 50 kroons for a simple entrance, or 100 kroons for an entrance with a tasting of 5 wines. We are chic, they took it for 100 kroons, they glued a bracelet to us and told us in which of the cellars we can sit down. And this is not an easy task, there is a whole network of labyrinths with a length of almost a kilometer. They were founded in the XIII century, since then they have gradually expanded, connected by tunnels:
At the bar, we took glasses for a deposit of 50 crowns, then tried different wines, chose a couple of bottles of interest to us, a pate with bread, and retired to the Diana cellar assigned to us. The bar has all the wines of the Valtice factory, the prices are even lower than the prices in the supermarket. There are also cheese, meat plates, otherwise food is not cooked here.
Theme evenings are regularly held in the dungeons; on the day of our visit, incendiary cymbals were played in 2 main cellars.
Wine cellars have not lost their function, regular buyers of Valtice wine receive a key to one of the chambers where the wine they bought is stored:
Extremely interesting place definitely worth a visit for everyone. Families with children, tourists, and young couples also come.
Another thing is that it is cool here, it is worth dressing warmly. We sat near the fireplace, but essentially left because we were cold.
From the dungeons we moved home for tea and a sound sleep.
Day 3: Lednice, Kromneriz, Olomouc
We have already been to the castles in Valtice, so in the morning I preferred to sort through the mountain of letters from students. The bonus 2-gigabyte Internet package from on the occasion of their 5th anniversary turned out to be very useful mobile application. The guys told about the bonus just at the beginning of the trip, otherwise I would have missed it.
The castle is quite curious, but it cannot be compared with Lednice. Therefore, after an 8-kilometer drive, we all moved to Lednice:
Lednice in the Czech Republic is almost like Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, the white light is not visible from the number of tourists. But it is definitely worth it, you can only compare Lednice and its park with Viennese palaces. No joke, Lednice was the representative castle of the Liechtensteins, from here to Vienna only 90 km.
A magnificent huge park, chic halls, authentic furniture. Of course, much was looted in May 1945 by the advancing Soviet troops, but year after year the Czech authorities invest astronomical sums in the purchase of previously lost paintings and furniture at world auctions.
The communist regime also laid its hand on the destruction of Lednice, during which it was located here, do not fall off your chair, an agricultural museum! Or, for example, in the park of the castle there is the highest minaret in Europe, but during the years of socialism, marble floors were taken out of it, the priceless painting in the Arabic style was painted over as a bourgeois excess.
Do not be alarmed, this minaret has never carried a religious meaning, it has always been used as an observation tower. The guide strongly recommended that we visit the minaret, it is about to open after a long and very expensive reconstruction.
I had already been here on the main tour of the representative halls, so we went to inspect the living rooms. They can give odds to many Austrian palaces, the Liechtensteins really lived here until 1944, even historical parquets were preserved, the furniture forms a harmonious ensemble:
Perhaps I will not be mistaken if I say that it is better to go to Lednice than to go to Prague Castle.
For lunch in Lednice, I highly recommend the U Korunky restaurant, which is 5 steps from the castle. The restaurant shares a facade with other businesses, so it looks terrible from the outside. But inside there is excellent cuisine, dishes are served on porcelain! Think about the last time you ate in a china restaurant. We assumed that the porcelain store next door belongs to the same owner, so he does not hesitate to use such dishes.
We leave to the north, to Kromnerzhizh, where the castle of the archbishop and the garden and park ensemble are located under the protection of UNESCO.
There were no more excursions, but it does not matter, I have already been on excursions in Kromnerzhizh. Outside, you will not see something impressive and truly interesting. The most valuable is inside: interiors, collections of paintings. As in Lednice, some of the exhibits are missing here due to the looting of the castle in 1945 by Soviet soldiers, and the collections are being gradually restored.
After walking through the park, we went for a cup of tea, coffee and chocolate in a cafe nearby, but this time the city didn’t sunk into my soul either.
In the past, I liked the restaurant Černý orel (Russian. Black Eagle), but this time we left even before ordering. But the park behind the castle is curious, there is a small menagerie.
The park is a favorite vacation spot for citizens. By the way, only 28 thousand people live here!
With one throw we overcome 46 km to Olomouc, where on the main square there is a column of the Holy Trinity from the World Heritage lists. This is a one-of-a-kind column with a chapel inside:
Bypassed in Once again, got acquainted with the help from Wikipedia, at the same time went to the cathedral nearby:
Incredibly, it also included free access to the tower with a great view of the sunset over the city:
Olomouc is much better known to the townsfolk not by the column, but by the terribly odorous Olomouc curds (Czech. Olomoucke tvarůžky). Smelly in the bad sense of the word. I am a big fan of Czech cuisine, I love dumplings, “tatarak” and I don’t even mind tasting a well-prepared soup from chopped ruminant stomachs (Czech. Dršková polevka), but Olomouc curds are definitely beyond my strength. And these maniacs also held a curd festival the other day!
However, by a fatal coincidence, the restaurant Šnyt Mikulda, already chosen for dinner, had a special menu of dishes with the ill-fated Olomouc cheese:
Our companion managed to awkwardly ask the waitress if these dishes are edible, because. with the miracle of Olomouc gastronomy, she had previously had a purely negative experience. There was a frightening pause in the air, and the stony-faced waitress said that it was still edible. Indeed, the chicken steak with curds did not have any unpleasant taste or smell:
The restaurant as a whole was not impressed. I am not a fan of Olomouc, Brno and other large Moravian cities at all: the prices are in fact at the level of Prague, but the quality is not up to par. Actually, you can pay attention to the prices on the menu yourself, compare them with those in Prague.
Olomouc was the easternmost point of our journey, while there was no suitable place for spending the night in Olomouc or the surrounding area in terms of money and quality. I had to drive 50 km west to a wonderful town called Evichko. We did not expect anything at all from it, because we had never heard of it, and less than 3 thousand people live in it. We expected to see the strength of one-story houses, a couple of pubs. Imagine our surprise when large houses appeared in the city!
We parked next to the boarding house, the owner came up and settled us. While waiting, we had fun looking at the menu in the restaurant on the ground floor of the guesthouse: the most expensive dish for 120 kroons, lunch from the first and second - 65 kroons!
I assumed that there were some buildings around the church, but in fact they are only arches. Perhaps on the tour they tell about the details. We will definitely come here more than once, because unexpectedly there were a lot of interesting things in Zdiar.
The church is small, but very harmoniously fits into the surrounding ensemble:
For the sake of a decent shot, he was not too lazy to run around the entire pond in front of the hill, it was conceived by Santini so that the image of the complex was reflected in its waters.
So, from the little things, here in front of the hill there is a Baroque bridge from the first half of the 18th century:
Phew, we're close to the finish line! Reporting photo of St. Barbara's Cathedral in Kutna Hora. Here we, as Podebrads, have been an uncountable number of times, so we don’t need to go on an excursion:
Our trip ended with dinner at the medieval Kutnohorsk restaurant Dačický:
This is my favorite place in Kutna Hora. It's always delicious and big portions. After the gluttony of the previous days, I went so far as to order a turkey fillet with cabbage and croquettes with plum marmalade:
You can write a separate huge article about Kutna Hora, in general terms you can read about it in. After Kutná Hora, we only had to rush to the sweet beds in Prague.
Total
We were exactly 4 days on the trip, from Friday morning to Monday evening, the total expenses for transport, accommodation, food, and entrance tickets amounted to a little less than 6 thousand crowns per person. 5,889 crowns to be exact.
As you can see with the naked eye, we just overeat, did not deny ourselves anything, and when we returned the car, there was even more gasoline than required. Regrettably, but for such trips with a visit a large number places the car is irreplaceable, public transport some of these places are inaccessible.
My brains are completely switched off, maybe I'll add something else in the morning. In the meantime, feel free to write in the comments about comments, suggestions and questions about the trip, I will be extremely grateful.
As you know, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization protects the so-called World Cultural Heritage around the world. The list of legacies of great importance includes 12 Czech monuments culture. Below we would like to talk about them briefly.
City of Prague - historical center
to the list of world cultural heritage introduced in 1992. The historical center of Prague is the most famous and most visited architectural complex in the Czech Republic. The historical core of the city, located on an area of 866 hectares, includes the entire Prague Castle and the Hradcany district, Mala Strana together with the Charles Bridge, Stary Mest, Josefov (the preserved part of the Jewish District), Novy Mest and Vysehrad. Together, these areas create a unique complex of various architectural styles. not for nothing central Prague considered one of the most significant European cultural monuments.Holasovice village
It was included in the World Cultural Heritage List in 1998. The village of Holasovice is a model traditional village in central Europe. It is located 16 kilometers west of Czech Budejovice. The main cultural wealth this place are rural buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries in the style known as South Bohemian Folk Baroque. They have been preserved in their original form to this day. In total, there are 23 settlements with 120 buildings on the World Heritage List. There are not only estates with backyards, sheds and stables, but also a smithy, a tavern and a chapel.
City of Cesky Krumlov - historical center
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1992. Cesky Krumlov is the second most visited city in the Czech Republic after Prague. And not for nothing, because it historical part is an outstanding architectural complex. Above the bends of the Vltava River, a unique ensemble of urban development took place, primarily in the 16th century. At the same time, a large castle complex began to appear here, which became the second largest after the Prague Castle. The pearls of the World Cultural Heritage include a number of castle buildings, the famous masquerade hall, a baroque theater, a park with a fountain and summer palace Bellary with a rotating auditorium. Of particular note is the Church of St. Vitus, built in the style of South Bohemian Gothic.
City of Kutná Hora – historical center
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1995. In the Middle Ages, Kutna Hora was the center of the silver mining industry, thanks to which the city was very rich, a lively social life was conducted here, many monuments were built. The World Heritage List includes central part city, with a beautiful church of St. Barbora and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, as well as a number of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Other beautiful architectural monuments include St. Vorshila Monastery, Stone House, St. Jacob's Church and the Jesuit College. In recent years, a number of reconstructions and projects have been carried out here to bring the monuments back to their original form.
Telč city - historical center
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1992. The historical center of Telč is included in the World Heritage List. Initially, the city was a royal water fortress that arose here in the 13th century. The city center received its modern look thanks to the reconstruction that took place here in the 16th century. The UNESCO list includes a Renaissance castle complex, a park and a central town square with a unique ensemble of Renaissance buildings.
Town of Zdar nad Sazavou - Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelena Gora
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1994. The first settlement on this site arose in the 13th century with the construction of a monastery. Some trade routes passed through it, so Zdar nad Sazavou was considered a trading settlement. The Church of St. John of Nepomuk, which arose here in the 18th century, belongs to the World Heritage List. It is distinguished by the most original architecture in the style of the so-called Baroque Gothic.
Třebíč - Jewish District and Basilica of St. Prokop
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 2003. Special attractions of the city of Trebic, included in the World Heritage List, are the Basilica of St. Prokop and the Jewish Quarter. Among the most valuable parts of the Basilica of St. Prokop is the 700-year-old crypt with its original wooden ceiling. The Jewish quarter includes a well-preserved old synagogue and one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. In total, 120 buildings are well preserved on its territory - residential buildings, a school, an almshouse, and a town hall.
City of Litomysl - castle complex
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1998. The palace-castle was built in the 16th century in the style of the Italian Renaissance. Of particular value is the decoration of the walls in the traditional Czech technique of sgraffito. The great Czech composer Bedrich Smetana was born and spent his childhood in this castle. Despite small restorations and reconstructions, the castle has survived almost in its original form to this day. It is thanks to the most valuable and purest architectural style that the castle was included in the UNESCO list.
City of Brno – Villa Tugendhat
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 2001. Villa Tugendhat is the most famous work of the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, built in Brno at the beginning of the 20th century. Its architecture and interiors are considered an important breakthrough in the development of modernist style. The villa is a great example of functionalism. Currently, after the restoration carried out here, it is open to the public.
Gord Olomouc - Holy Trinity Column
It was included in the World Cultural Heritage List in 2000. The Holy Trinity Column is a plague column erected here at the beginning of the 17th century, after the successful completion of the plague. This monument is an outstanding piece of Central European Baroque. Inside the Column is a chapel with bas-reliefs depicting Cain and Abel, the flood, Isaac and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Cultural landscape of Lednice-Valtice
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1996. The Lednice-Valtice complex refers to two castles located in the South Moravian region, not far from each other. Lednice Castle was the summer residence of the Liechtenstein family, built in the 17th century in the Baroque style. At the end of the 19th century, reconstruction was carried out here, and the castle was rebuilt into a neo-Gothic one. Also, an amazing English garden was laid out here, in which artificial ruins are located. medieval castle, a minaret and several significant buildings. The first mention of the Valtice Castle dates back to the 13th century. Then, at the beginning of the 18th century, the project was developed in the High Baroque style and became another residence of the Liechtenstein family. The entire castle is richly decorated with wall paintings, ceiling frescoes and Baroque decorations. Lednice Castle and Valtice are connected by a 7-kilometer linden alley.
City of Kromneriz - Archbishop's castle and gardens
Inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1998. The emergence and development of the castle is closely connected with the history of the Olomouc bishopric and archbishopric. The castle is distinguished by an incredibly rich interior, the Throne, Chamber and Mansky halls, the Hunting Hall, the Royal Salon, and the old library are especially impressive. V art gallery canvases of famous European artists of the 15th - 18th centuries have been preserved: Titian, Veronese, Jan Brueghel and many others.
If you have been to the Czech Republic "a million" times and we are sure that you are perfectly familiar with all the beauties of the "Bohemian pearl", we still We will try to convince you otherwise!
And not just to convince, but to offer you a unique, exclusive, author's tour in a mini group(up to 7 people) and in the most touching and romantic period - when the whole Czech Republic is in "bloom"- May holidays 01 May - 08 May.
All 12 UNESCO sites Czech Republic in one round: Prague - Brno - Cesky Krumlov - Holasovice - Kutna Hora - Litomysl - Telc - Trebic - Zelena Gora - Olomouc - Kromnerzhizh - Lednice-Valtice!
01 May. Upon arrival in Prague, transfer to the railway station (luggage will be deposited). Tour of Prague Castle.
First part walking tour around Prague Prague Castle
“: Strahov Monastery - Loretta - Hradchany - St. Vitus Cathedral - Golden Lane - Small Side - Charles Bridge.
At 16:49, the high-speed train Prague - Brno leaves. Arrival in Brno at 19:22. Transfer to the hotel, hotel accommodation 4*
02 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion around Brno.Excursion to Litomysl and Zelena Gora.
Pedestrian tour of Brno- a city of great history and culture, located at the confluence of the Svratka and Svitava rivers, and representing the center of all South Moravia! A noteworthy fact is the constant settlement of the Brnov depression from prehistoric times to the present day. Rapid economic development at the end of the 19th century turned it into an elite "suburb" of Vienna, since that time many buildings unique in their architecture have been built in Brno, among them the Villa Tugendhat (UNESCO monument) - the famous modernist work of the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
In the afternoon - bus excursion to the cities of Litomysl and Zielona Gora.
In 1999, UNESCO recognized the architectural ensemble of the castle-palace in the city of Litomysl, built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walls of the castle are richly decorated in the traditional Czech sgraffito technique. The castle in Litomysl is recognized as one of the purest examples of Renaissance architecture in Eastern Europe!
Church of St. John of Nepomuk (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Zelena Hora is one of the most original buildings in Europe! It was built by the ingenious architect Jan Blazeja Santini Aichel in the form of a five-pointed star.
03 May. Breakfast in the hotel. bus tour v Kromneriz castle and the city of Olomouc.
Lock Kromnerzhizh, recreated in the 17th century on the foundations of an even older building, is an exceptional example of baroque architecture in the form of a well-preserved residence of the highest nobility, typical of central Europe. The castle is adjoined by a garden and park ensemble, consisting of a landscape English park and a magnificent flower garden in the early Baroque style.
Olomouc located in the heart of the Ghana region, this city with a population of 100,000 belongs to the most important Moravian metropolises. The commemorative column (plague column), built in the early years of the 18th century, is an exceptional example of this type of monument, as it was created in a separate style known as the Olomouc Baroque with an extremely rich sculptural decoration, the author of which is the outstanding Moravian sculptor Ondřej Zahner. The consecration of this 35 (!) meter monument took place in 1754, Empress Maria Theresa and her husband Franz Joseph I of Lorraine personally took part in the celebration. The Holy Trinity Column was included in the UNESCO list of monuments in 2000.
04 May. Breakfast in the hotel. bus excursion to the cities of Telc and Trebic.
Since the historical core of the city Telc, limited by ponds and gates, has retained its unique appearance for many centuries, in 1992 it was included in the list of UNESCO monuments. Thanks to its uniqueness, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every year.
In the past the city Trebic was the center of Jewish culture in Moravia, the uniquely preserved Jewish part of the city remains a mute witness to the local neighborhood of Jews and Christians. Acquaintance with the sights of the city will definitely lead you to the Jewish quarter and the Basilica of St. Procopius, which in 2003 were included in the list of UNESCO monuments.
05 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Lednice-Valtice. Prague, Old Town.
Morning visit Valtice-Lednice area. This is not only an amazing romantic palace, but above all it is a masterpiece of park design of an unprecedented size! Today's complex with an area of almost 300 sq. km. is the result of work characteristic of English landscape parks. Thanks to this, baroque and neo-gothic architectures meet here. The Lednice-Valtice complex is one of the masterpieces of world cultural and natural heritage UNESCO, was listed in 1996.
In the afternoon - transfer by high-speed train to Prague. Transfer and accommodation in hotel Abri 3*+(5 minutes walk to the historic center).
In the afternoon - the second part of the pedestrian excursions in Prague« Old city«: Wenceslas Square - Powder Tower - People's House - Royal Route - Old Town Square - Astronomical Clock - Tyn Church.
06 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Kutna Hora.
For my unusual beauty this most picturesque city was nicknamed “treasury, precious box of the Czech land”! The entire center of Kutná Hora is an architectural treasure of European importance, inscribed in 1995 on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The most visited objects of the "cultural" capital of the Czech Republic are: the Cathedral of St. Barbara (1388), the Church of All Saints with the Ossuary, decorated with human skulls and bones ,
Mint and Royal Chapel.
07 May. Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Cesky Krumlov and Holasovice.
Czech krumlov- one of the most beautiful cities Czech Republic, on the territory of which there are more than 300 unique architectural monuments of various historical eras! The dominant feature of the city is the second largest castle in the Czech Republic with a luxurious garden and baroque theater. In 1992, the entire historical center of the city was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.
On the way to Cesky Krumlov we will stop in a small landscaped village Holasovice, which features many colorful rural buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries in a style known as South Bohemian Folk Baroque. In 1998, the village was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
