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Castles

A touch of magic

Issued by the PRESCO GROUP for the Czech Tourist Authority, issued in 2003, written by PRESCO GROUP, translation by PRESCO GROUP, Ludmila Pu‰ová, graphic design by Oleg Slepcoff,

photographs by ©: Miroslav Frank, Jan Halady, Martin Hurin, Vladimír Kubík, Pavel Rys, Lubo‰ Stiburek, Eduard Studniãka, Zdenûk Thoma

Europe:

Tschechische Zentrale für TourismusFriedrichstr. 206, 10969 Berlin - KreuzbergDEUTSCHLANDtel./fax: +49 30 204 47 70e-mail: [email protected]

Tschechische Zentrale für TourismusKarlsplatz 3, 80335 MünchenDEUTSCHLANDtel.: +49 89 54 88 59 14fax: +49 89 54 88 59 15e-mail: [email protected]

Tschechische Zentrale für TourismusHerrengasse 17, 1010 Wien, ÖSTERREICHtel.: +43 1 533 21933fax: +43 1 533 21934e-mail: [email protected]

Czech Tourist AuthorityUK & Ireland, Morley House 320,Regent Street, London W1B 3BGUKtel.: +44 20 7631 04 27 fax: +44 20 7631 04 19e-mail: [email protected]

Tsjechisch Bureau voor ToerismeStrawinskylaan 517, 1077 XX Amsterdam NEDERLANDtel.: +31 20 575 30 14fax: +31 20 575 30 15e-mail: [email protected]

Office National Tchèque du TourismeTsjechisch Bureau voor ToerismeBTTBBoulevard Léopold II laan, 2621081 Bruxelles, BELGIQUEtél.: +32 2 414 20 40fax: +32 2 414 17 37e-mail: [email protected]

Office National Tchèque du Tourisme18, rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, FRANCEtél.: +33 1 537 30 032, 34fax: +33 1 537 300 33e-mail: [email protected]

Oficina Nacional Checa de TurismoC/ Madre de Dios, 45; 28016 MadridESPA≈Atel.: +34 91 345 7112, 13fax: +34 91 359 2527e-mail: [email protected]

Ente Nazionale Ceco per il TurismoCentro del Turismo CecoVia Cadamosto 8, 20 129 Milano, ITALIAtel.: +39 02 20 47 680fax: +39 02 29 40 6396e-mail: [email protected]

�� , 125047, �. �� . 3-� ��-�� 36/40�.: +7 095 978 52 05�/�.: +7 095 234 40 65e-mail: [email protected]

T‰ekin matkailutoimistoOK-Matkat OySörnäisten rantatie 27 A, 00500 HelsinkiSUOMI – FINLANDtel.: +358 9 615 555 fax: +358 9 615 55600 e-mail: [email protected]

Tschechische Zentrale für Tourismusâedok ZurichAm Schanzengraben 11, 8002 ZürichSCHWEIZtel.: +41 1 2873344fax: +41 1 2873345e-mail: [email protected]

Cseh Idegenforgalmi HitavalCK Fischer Hungária Kft.Teréz krt. 25, 1067 Budapest, HUNGARIAtel.: +36 1 374 1070fax: +36 1 312 7861e-mail: [email protected]

âeská centrála cestovného ruchuCK EuroAgenturZáhradnícka 72, 821 08 BratislavaSLOVENSKOtel.: +421 2 55 645 335fax: +421 2 55 645 336e-mail: [email protected]

Oficina Nacional do Turismo ChecoSFC – Consultores de Turismo e ComunicaçãoCalcada de Palma de Baixo 151600-175 Lisbon, PORTUGALtel.: +351 21 7237799fax: +351 21 7237798e-mail: [email protected]

Czeska Centrala Ruchu Turystycznegoul. Koszykowa 18, 00-555 WarszawaPOLSKA

America :

Czech Tourist Authority1109 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10028USAtel.: +1 212 288 08 30fax: +1 212 288 09 71e-mail: [email protected]

Czech Tourist Authority401 Bay Street, Suite # 1510Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y4, CANADAtel.: +1 416 363 99 28fax: +1 416 363 02 39e-mail: [email protected]

Asia:

�� , 700047, �. �� . �. ��!�� 67 �.: +998 71 1394992�/�.: +998 71 1394977e-mail: [email protected]

Czech Tourist AuthorityMSI Education, Ltd.Hatsudai-Suzuki Bldg. 2011-39-9 Hatsudai, Shibuya-kuTokyo 151-0061, JAPANtel.: +81 3 3375 3751fax: +81 3 3379 4753e-mail: [email protected]

Approximate flight time from selected European cities to Prague (in hours)www.czech-airlines.com

www.czechtourism.com

– official tourist presentationof the Czech Republic

This is the logo of official touristinformation centres

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Introducing Twenty Selected Castles, Chateaux and Historical Towns in the Czech Republic

www.pruvodce.com

Location: 50 degrees latitude north, 14 degrees longitude east. | Sights: The Infant Jesus of Prague – oneof the greatest sacred sights to be found in the Catholic world. | Culture: The Prague Spring – an internationalfestival of musical culture and its latest trends. | Sport: The Prague Marathon – a unique annual sports eventbringing together hundreds of sports enthusiasts from all over the world. | Information: www.pis.cz;www.festival.cz; www.pim.cz

Prague – Hradãany

The capital’s historical core, formed byfour medieval residential areas called theOld Town, the New Town, the LesserQuarter and Hradãany, is the largest urbanmonument reserve in the Czech Republic,with the greatest concentration of nationalcultural monuments. This is why thereserve has rightfully been entered into theUNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage.

For those who visit Prague, exploringPrague Castle, its greatest treasure, is a must. A dominant feature of the town,the castle is virtually a showcase ofarchitectural styles. Practically every stonehere has its own colourful history. Apart from this, however, the city boastsinteresting chateaux, castles andstrongholds.

Leaving Prague Castle, you will certainlyfind your way towards the ancient CharlesBridge, named after its founder and one ofthe most important figures of Czechhistory, Emperor Charles IV. From there youcan continue to the Old Town Square, a mute witness to many historic events in Czech history, or to the former JewishTown with a number of synagogues andone of the oldest and most beautifulJewish cemeteries in the world. Apart fromserving as a shrine for cultural relics, allyear round Prague is a focal point of socialactivities where everyone can select,according to their taste, from a wealth of cultural, sports and other events.

Thanks to its long, eventful history, Prague - the capital city of the Czech Republic

- is the destination most frequented by foreign visitors.

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Karl‰tejn

Karl‰tejn Castle is an imposing Gothic castle that was built by Charles IV. to protect

the crown jewels.

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Location: 39 km south-west of Prague | Sights: Display of historical crafts, medieval combat, regularKarl‰tejn grape harvest celebration | Culture: Regular concerts of classical or medieval music| Sport: Golf course, water sports, hiking, and cycling | Surroundings: The extensive cavern complexknown as Konûpruské jeskynû, the largest in Bohemia | Information: www.hradkarlstejn.cz

Ever since its foundation, this castle hasbeen a symbol of Czech statehood itself. Itis found not far from Prague in the âesk˘Kras area on the banks of the RiverBerounka and is the second most-visitedmonument in the Czech Republic. A visit tothe castle will not only afford you the perfectaesthetic impression of this significantmonument, which is located amidst someoutstanding natural scenery, but will alsoprovide you with a better understanding oflife in the Middle-Ages and thedevelopment of historic trades.

Praha – Karl‰tejn 39 km

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Karl‰tejn – the well tower

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Location: 52 km west of Prague | Sights: Visit the medieval prison and torture chamber, medievalblacksmith’s shop, the candle workshop, the medieval weapons workshop | Culture: Year-round programmeof theatre, musical, and film performances | Sport: Educational hiking path, water activities, cycling | Surroundings: The castles of Îebrák and Toãník – displays of medieval battles, traditional fairs, Zbeãno – a well-preserved village settlement from the 16th century | Information: www.krivoklat.cz

With origins going back to the 12thcentury, the structure has practicallypreserved its late Gothic appearance. Inbygone days, the castle was extremelypopular with Czech princes and monarchswho would come here for relaxation, aswell as distraction while indulging inhunting in the surrounding woods. TheRoyal or Great Hall of the castle is thesecond largest Gothic space of its kind tobe found in the Czech Republic.

Visitors to the castle particularly admire theRoyal and the Knights’ Halls withexhibitions of Gothic paintings andsculpture, the Fürstenberg Museum, thehunting display, the castle library featuringapproximately fifty-two thousand volumes,the ill-famed castle prison and the torturechamber with instruments of torture.

Kfiivoklát

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Praha – Kfiivoklát 52 km

Toãník

Kfiivoklát, one of the oldest and most spectacular Czech castles, is located

approximately thirty minutes’ drive to the west of Prague.

This magnificent chateau of descendent to the Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand

d’Este was based on the ground plan of a French chateau.

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It is found in an expansive landscapedpark that is enhanced by numerous areasof water and rare species of tree. Amongother things, the chateau boasts extensivecollections of weapons and huntingtrophies (from the period of the Hapsburgdynasty).

Location: 47 km south-east of Prague | Sights: Collection of almost 200 thousand hunting trophies,Glasshouses with tropical plants, Bear breeding, displays of falconry | Culture: Concerts, performances of dancing | Sport: Cycling, hiking, carriage rides and horse-riding, golf course| Surroundings: Jemni‰tû Chateau – magnificent Rococo-style chateau

Chateau chamber

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Praha – Konopi‰tû 47 km

Konopi‰tû

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Location: 145 km south of Prague | Sights: Zoo, displays of folk crafts | Culture: Concerts and exhibits,theatre, The Ale‰ South Bohemian Gallery | Sport: Cycling, hiking, golf, water sports| Surroundings: âeské Budûjovice, Hola‰ovice – UNESCO monument – South Bohemian country baroque| Information: www.hluboka.cz

This grand, romantic chateau, built in the English neo-Gothic style, is one of the most

frequently visited architectural historical monuments in the Czech Republic.

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Hluboká nad Vltavou

An interior decorated with unique wood-carvings

The chateau acquired its current appearance during the 1800s and is rightfully considered the mostmagnificent aristocratic residence to be found in the Czech Republic. Its splendidly furnishedinteriors boast rare woodcarvings and massive art collections. The library, one of the largest spacesin the chateau, contains twelve thousand volumes of books in several languages, including apriceless first edition of Diderot’s Encyclopedia.

The former riding school, the stables and the coach sheds now serve as a picture gallery presentinga permanent art exhibition as well as seasonal displays.

The chateau is surrounded by a large, natural landscape park, which smoothly blends with thesurrounding area, adapted in the Baroque style and featuring characteristic long alleys of trees andlarge fishponds.

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Praha – Hluboká nad Vltavou 145 km

Location: 106 km south of Prague | Sights: Non-traditional types of beer, view of the Orlická Dam,displays of traditional crafts and falconry | Culture: Concerts, period fairs | Sport: Rides in motorboatsand boats, cycling, hiking, horse-riding | Surroundings: Orlík Castle, boat trips

Zvíkov

Thanks to its unique natural defences, thecastle managed to resist all attacks andinvasions throughout the course of itshistory. When the Orlická Dam was built,the surface of the water rose almost to thecastle’s foundations, and some parts of thecastle settlement were flooded. The resultof this was that Zvíkov lost its commandingposition. The castle has undergone majorreconstruction and is once again open tovisitors.

An impregnable royal castle that stands on the high projection of land above the

confluence of the rivers Vltava and Otava.

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Praha – Zvíkov 106 km

A major attraction is the training of birds of prey

Location: 125 km south of Prague | Sights: Boat rides, displays of medieval weapons| Culture: Concerts | Sport: Cycling, hiking, horse-riding, swimming | Surroundings: JindfiichÛv Hradec– beautiful historic town

âervená Lhota

This picturesque, romantic “water” chateau, built in the Renaissance style, derived its

name from its red plaster at the end of the 16th century.

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The chateau was built on the site of an original Gothic stronghold built on a granite rock. When thelocal stream was dammed up and a fishpond was created there, the rock became an island. Visitorsto the chateau can inspect sixteen extremely cosy, intimate interiors that illustrate the lifestyles of thenobility from the Renaissance period to the 1800s. One of the most renowned and photogenicchateaux, âervená Lhota has been very popular with filmmakers, as it provides ideal exteriors forfairy-tale film stories.

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Praha – âervená Lhota 125 km

Chateau interior

This picturesque, well-preserved Gothic “water” castle, situated in an alluvial valley

plain on the outskirts of the small town of ·vihov, is one of the youngest structures

of its kind in the Czech Republic.

ŠVIHOV

Location: 124 km south-west of Prague | Sights: Night-time tours, display of historic battles – ransackingthe castle | Culture: Concerts, theatre performances, folklore performances | Sport: Cycling, hiking | Surroundings: Klatovy – historic town

·vihov

Visitors are able to witness the storming of thecastle

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Praha – ·vihov 124 km

At the same time, however, it holds a uniqueplace among Czech fortifications. Tworesidential wings enclose the inner regularcourtyards that form the core of the castle.Some parts of the castle have preservedmurals dating from the 16th century.

In the past a moat surrounded the innercastle, and the whole castle complex waslined by another wall with bastions that wasenclosed by yet another moat. Thanks to itsingenious water fortification system, ·vihovwas one of the most powerful fortresses ofits time. Enchanted by its charm, filmmakersfrequently choose the castle as a setting forfairy-tale films.

One of the best-preserved Gothic castles in the country, Loket sits on the high

projection of land that stands above the River Ohfie.

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Location: 146 km west of Prague | Sights: Night-time tours of the castle, fairs and displays of traditionalcrafts, medieval banquets | Culture: Concerts and festivals, opera performances in the amphitheatre| Sport: Cycling, hiking, swimming | Surroundings: Karlovy Vary, Franti‰kovy Láznû | Information:

www.loket.cz

Loket

The view from the river quite literally takesyour breath away. The castle was built onthe site of an older Slavonic fortifiedsettlement and in its time, it was thought ofas one of the strongest castles in CentralEurope. The castle interior houses acollection of porcelain and today you canfind an exhibition of ghosts andapparitions and other interesting features.

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Praha – Loket 146 km

A carver

Location: 67 km north of Prague | Sights: During summer, displays of archery and historic swordsmanship| Culture: Exhibitions, castle festivities, concerts | Sport: Cycling, yachting, swimming, bungee jumping| Surroundings: Máchovo jezero (Mácha’s Lake) – a resort for recreation and water sports

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The castle once boasted a robust fortificationsystem consisting of walls two metres thickand nine metres high and a 30 metre-hightower, which has remained the dominantfeature of the surrounding area to this day.The castle’s Devil Tower is associated witha legend that explains its name. It says thatdevils settled in the tower and disturbeddivine services held there. After they wereforced out, the chapel was consecrated to St.Michael. The most valuable part of thecomplex, however, is an early Gothic chapel.

From the mid-1600s to the end of the 1700s,the castle served as a monastery.

In the past, Bezdûz Castle providedinspiration for many romantic Czech poets.

Bezdûz

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Praha – Bezdûz 67 km

Mácha’s Lake

This early Gothic royal castle, built as a fortress with the use of the best expert

knowledge available in the late 13th century, is one of the most valuable and

magnificent structures of its kind to be found in the Czech Republic.

Location: 78 km north-east of Prague | Sights: Viewing platform, underground corridors and caves| Culture: Medieval fairs, displays of medieval weapons and shooting, concerts | Sport: Hiking trails inthe Bohemian Paradise area, cycle paths | Surroundings: Jiãín – historic town with Baroque chateau,Hunting chateau of Humprecht, Kost – one of the best-preserved Gothic castles| Information: www.trosky.cz

TROSKY

Trosky

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Praha – Trosky 78 km

Bohemian Paradise – the Prachovské Skály rocks

This ruin of a practically impregnable castle, built at the end of the 14th century, now

forms the most famous silhouette of a scenic area called âesk˘ Ráj (Bohemian Paradise).

At the same time it is the symbol of the whole region.

The impregnability of the castle - ensuingfrom the steepness of the two rocks onwhich it was built and the inaccessibility ofthe surrounding terrain - was furtherstrengthened by three walls and a systemof gates that prevented entry to its interiorspaces. Residential buildings weresituated on a crest between the rocks.From the end of the Thirty Years’ Waronwards, the castle was abandoned to theravages of time and it was not until the19th century that its remains weresalvaged, as in the case of other suchstructures, because of renewed interestduring the Romantic period.

Location: 91 km south-east of Prague | Sights: Tours of the castle given by guides in periodswordsmen’s costumes, archery, falconry, carriage rides, period tavern | Culture: Concerts, theatre andopera performances, puppet theatre | Sport: Cycling, hiking, horse-riding, golf | Surroundings:

Pardubice, Hradec Králové – historic cities

Hrádek u Nechanic

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Praha – Hrádek u Nechanic 91 km

It is possible to play golf in the chateau park

This lovely romantic chateau, a gem of architecture and a fine example of the English

neo-Gothic style, nestles in a beautiful park amidst deciduous woods.

Built in the mid-1800s, the castle is a finereplica of a medieval castle. A design drawnup - but never implemented - for therebuilding of Crewe Hall manor house inCheshire in England served as a blueprintfor the chateau.

The chateau interior boasts massive andrare paintings and period furnitureillustrating the lifestyle of the aristocracy at the end of the 19th century. It may be interesting to note that the furnishings of the chateau halls and drawing rooms -including furniture, coffered ceilings,paintings, ceramic objects or weapons – allcome from different chateaux locatedthroughout Europe.

In terms of its architectural value thechateau, the youngest neo-Gothic structureof its kind in the Czech Republic, is anexceptional historical monument in CentralEurope.

Kunûtická Hora

Location: 102 km east of Prague | Sights: Historic swordsmanship, exhibitions and displays of medievalarmy training, horse parades | Culture: Concerts and theatre performances | Sport: Cycling, hiking| Surroundings: Pardubice, Hradec Králové – historic cities

Once a Hussite fortress and now the dominant feature of the central part of the Polabí

area, Kunûtická Hora took its name from the hill on which it was built.

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Praha – Kunûtická Hora 102 km

Over the centuries, the structureunderwent a series of adaptations, themost extensive of which were carried outthroughout the 1400s and the 1500s, whenthe castle was gradually converted intoa chateau residence. At the beginning ofthe 20th century, the chateau underwentthorough renovation according to a designby the architect Du‰an Jurkoviã. Todayvisitors to Kunûtická Hora can explore theexhibition in the castle museum, theKnights’ Hall, cellars with anarchaeological display and the castlechapel. Apart from this they can climb theobservation tower. All year round thechateau plays host to many culturalevents, concerts and theatricalproductions. People with romantic heartscan get married in the Knights’ Hall or thecastle chapel.

Fencers displaying their art to visitors

Built over seven centuries this stronghold, one of the most valuable historical

monuments in the Czech Republic, has no equal in Central Europe both in terms of its

authenticity and its collection of artefacts documenting the development of the art of

fortification.

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Pern‰tejn

Location: 180 km to the south-east of Prague | Sights: The spaces of the inner castle are interconnectedby a system of twisting passages and spiral staircases. During the summer months fencing displays arestaged in the castle. | Culture: concerts | Sport: cyclo-tourism, hiking, horse riding | Surroundings:

The Îìárské vrchy – the most spectacular part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands

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Praha – Pern‰tejn 180 km

Combat displays using period weapons

Many legends and mysteries have been wovenround this castle. It is said that the apparition ofthe White Lady of Pern‰tejn used to appear inthe dark passages of the wall system. If shecame out in a black garment, it was an omen ofbad things to come. Visitors can admirea centuries-old yew tree located close to theentrance gate to the castle. Legend has it thatthe tree grew from a stick which St Methodius,one of the missionaries, wedged into the groundon his arrival in the local region. It was believedthat castle would exist as long as the yew-treeremained green.

Worthy of note is a large collection of 16th-century inscriptions that grace the walls of thepalace interiors. They are composed ofastrological signs and various mysterioussymbols.

The castle has preserved its authentic Gothiccum Renaissance appearance, which itacquired in the Middle Ages under the Pern‰tejnaristocratic family.

Location: 196 km south-east of Prague | Sights: Museum of Historic Weapons| Culture: Concerts, theatre and opera performances, folklore performances | Sport: Cycling, hiking,water sports | Surroundings: Vranovská Dam – popular place for recreation and water sports

Vranov nad Dyjí

Praha – Vranov nad Dyjí 196 km

This monumental Baroque chateau, rebuilt from a Gothic castle, is perched high on

a rock overlooking the River Dyje.

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The oldest surviving parts of the castledate from the 13th and the 14th centuries.The lavishly furnished chateau interiorsdocument the culture of the lives of thenobility at the end of the 18th century andthroughout the 19th century. The numerousexamples of stoneware, manufactured by alocal works founded in the 18th century, areanother interesting attraction. Alsonoteworthy is the monumental ChateauChapel of the Holy Trinity, the work of thefamous Austrian architect Jan BernardFischer of Erlach. Set in an extraordinarilyvaluable natural environment, the chateauforms an impressive sight indeed.

The Vranovská dam

This originally Gothic castle of the so-called cloaked type, was later rebuilt into a

Baroque fortress with an infamous prison.

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Location: 200 km east of Prague | Sights: Visit the historic underground area, tours of the medievalprison, displays of period crafts, annual firework festival | Culture: Concerts and exhibits, theatre andopera performances, museums, galleries | Sport: Brno offers a full range of sporting activities| Surroundings: Moravsk˘ Kras | Information: www.brno.cz

The castle, one of the dominant features of the town of Brno, became notorious as the “Prison ofNations”. Many prominent delinquents as well as political prisoners of the Austro-HungarianMonarchy served their sentences within its walls. Today, ·pilberk Castle is home to a permanentexhibition documenting the fortification architecture and the penal system in the reign of EmperorJosef I.

·pilberk

A concert in the Macocha cave

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Praha – Brno 200 km

This town, which is known throughout the world as Austerlitz, became famous mainly

thanks to the Battle of the Three Emperors that was fought here in December 1805.

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Slavkov

The battle, in which the French army led by Napoleon defeated the allied Russian-Austrian forces, isregarded as one of the French Emperor’s most significant victories. For this reason there is a reverentmemorial event to commemorate the anniversary of the battle organised here every year in December.

Slavkov, with its attractively laid-out historical centre, lies on the River Litava and boasts a magnificentchateau with unique collections that are dedicated to the Battle of the Three Emperors at Slavkov. Thismonumental Baroque chateau is enhanced even further by a typical French, geometrically dividedgarden, which was partially altered in the English style at the end of the 19th century.

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Praha – Slavkov 225 km

Re-enactment of the Battle of the Three Emperors (1805)

Location: 225 km east of Prague, 13 km north-east of Brno | Sights: Museum of the Battle of the ThreeEmperors at Slavkov, reconstruction of the battle | Culture: Concerts and festivals | Sport: Horse-riding,golf, swimming, cycling | Surroundings: Mohyla míru (Mound of Peace) – a monument at the Slavkovbattleground | Information: www.zamek-slavkov.cz

Location: 266 km south-east of Prague, 54 km south-east of Brno | Sights: Chateau wine cellar and winetasting, performances of swordsmanship | Culture: Concerts, theatre performances, folklore performances| Sport: Cycling, hiking | Surroundings: Buchlov Castle, Velehrad – Christian placeof pilgrimage | Information: www.zamek-buchlovice.cz

This extraordinarily valuable Baroque chateau, modelled on the Villa Colona near

Naples, is rightfully referred to as the jewel in the crown of Moravian architecture.

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Buchlovice

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Praha – Buchlovice 266 km

Velehrad

The chateau complex consists in fact of two chateaux that face each other. The two structures forma single grand whole with lavishly embellished facades. Its halls and rooms are distinguished bytheir splendid stucco decoration and ceiling paintings. The chateau is surrounded by one of themost glamorous parks to be found in Moravia. Despite later alterations in the French style, theItalian-style garden has preserved its original character, mainly thanks to its intimate quality andterrace-like arrangement. Somewhat later, the garden was expanded to include an English park.Close to the chateau, the medieval Buchlov Castle overlooks the landscape.

Olomouc is one of the most important places in the Czech Republic.

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The Cathedral of St. Wenceslas

Location: 240 km east of Prague, 67 km north-east of Brno | Sights: Botanic gardens and zoo, museums| Culture: Concerts and festivals, theatre performances | Sport: Cycling, hiking, “farm tourism”, horse-riding, golf, swimming | Surroundings: Svat˘ Kopeãek – place of pilgrimage, Helf‰t˘n – ruins of a medievalcastle, a centre of medieval crafts | Information: www.olomouc-tourism.cz

A number of Gothic monuments havebeen well-preserved in Olomouc, but theface of the city later changedconsiderably during the Mannerist periodand particularly in the Baroque period.Medieval development gave way to largechurch complexes and palaces in manyplaces. The collection of six fountains andthe monumental column of the Holy Trinityare unique. This has been included in theregister of UNESCO world culturalmonuments since 2001.

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Praha – Olomouc 240 km

Thanks to its rich history, ancient university, traditions of culture and trade, and above all its centralposition in Moravia, this has always been an attractive place for tourists and visitors to the region.Settlements have been documented on the site of the modern-day city since Neolithic times. Themost recent discovery of a Roman camp on the outskirts of Olomouc has cast new light on the legendof the establishment of the town by the Romans, but there are also archaeological documents thatdate back to the times of the Great Moravian Empire. The Royal Town was founded in the year 1253.

Olomouc – Column of the Holy Trinity

Location: 266 km east of Prague, 90 km north-east of Brno | Sights: Displays of smithery and ancientcrafts, presentations of medieval sword-fighting, look-out tower | Culture: Concerts and theatreperformances | Sport: Cycling, hiking | Surroundings: Olomouc – important historic town| Information: www.helfstyn.cz

Helf‰t˘n

It is also fortified all the way round withramparts and towers. In the adapted ruinsof the late-Renaissance palace you will finda display of artistic smithery. In fact, aninternational meeting of artistic blacksmithstakes place here every year.

The preserved ruins of this mighty and, in terms of area, the largest castle in Moravia

stand on a high hillock above the Moravská brána (Moravian Gate), which it protected

in the past.

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L’Hefaiston – l’incontro internazionale di fabbriartisticiHefaiston – the international convention of artisticblacksmiths

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Praha – Helf‰t˘n 266 km

www.czechtour ism.com

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