Discover the Glorious Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a country of stunning architecture and rich in history. While visiting the Czech Republic, you can tour the splendor of its capitol city, Prague, or visit towns that are smaller and quieter such as Kutna Hora in Central Bohemia, relax in the spa towns of Carisbad, Marienbad and Franzensbas in Western Bohemia and the renaissance town of Crsky Krumlov situated in Southern Bohemia.

Of course you cannot miss the picturesque Moravian towns such as Olomouc and Telc, which are included in the UNESCO list.

The natural rare beauty is one of the top attractions here and there are national parks, mountains, rivers and rock towns. There have been six areas that are included in UNESCO's list of Global Biosphere Reserves.

For those that love active vacations then the Czech Republic offers hiking, mountain climbing, bungee jumping and balloon flights. And for those that wish to have a less strenuous time lovers of the spa will find 40 towns to choose from that are dedicated to wellness and health.

The Czech Republic became a member of the Schengen Zone at midnight on December 20^th 2007. This simply means that traveling in Europe has become a bit easier and the border posts that divided the country from its neighbors are now no longer there.

If you are looking for a vacation that offers historic monuments, castles, and palaces then the Czech Republic is the right match for you. There are over 2,000 preserved castles and chateaux here to be explored.

Of course whilst in this glorious place you will need to discover why the Czechs are the number one beer drinkers in the world. I can say that Czech beer is some of the finest in the world but don't just take my word for it........

Let's take a closer look at the capitol of the Czech Republic, Prague. Prague has become one of the most visited cities in Europe thanks to its rich cultural and historical inheritance. Take Prague Castle, for instance, which is the symbol of Czech statehood and is now the seat of the Czech President but was once the home to the Kings of Bohemia.

The architecture in Prague ranges from the Gothic through the Art Nouveau to Modernist and has gained Prague nicknames such as the Mother of Cities, the City of a Hundred Spires and Golden Prague.

The sightseeing areas of Prague are separated by the Vitava River. On the left bank you will find the Prague Castle Area and the Lesser Town and on the right bank you will find the Old Town, the Jewish Quarter and the New Town. Connecting these two areas and spanning the Vitava River is the beautiful Charles Bridge.

Prague Castle

This has to be the most popular attraction in the city and is the largest inhabited castle in the world but be warned you will need at least one full day for comprehensive tour.

Tours of the castle include the Picture Gallery, Imperial Stables, the Spanish hall, Rudolf Gallery, St Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Mihulka Powder Tower, Convent of St George, Royal garden, Ball-game House, Summer Palace, Riding School, Golden lane, White Tower, Daliborka Tower, Lobkowicz Palace and the Toy Museum.

Prague Lesser Town

The Prague Lesser Town was founded in 1257 below Prague Castle and is typified by its red roofs. The top tourist sites here include, Nerudova Street, Lesser town Square with St. Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Church, Church of the St. Thomas, Vrtba garde, Church of our Lady, Maltese Square, the romantic Kampa island and Petoin Hill which is a miniature Eiffel Tower.

Prague Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

It is that the remains of Prague's former Jewish Ghetto are to be found. From the original quarter there still remains the Jewish town Hall, six synagogues and a cemetery. This cemetery is Europe's oldest and best preserved and has around 12,000 gravestones.

The top attractions in the Jewish Quarter are the Pinkas Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue, Old-New Synagogue (this is the oldest functioning Synagogue in Europe), High Synagogue, Jewish town Hall, Maisel Synagogue and Spanish Synagogue.

Prague Old Town

Prague Old Town has origins that date back to 1091 and the Old Town Square is dominated by the Church of Our Lady of Ty'n and the Town hall, which houses a unique Astrological Clock.

The Main sights to see in this area include Powder Tower, Municipal House, Estates Theater ( this is where in 1787 Mozart conducted the premier of his opera Don Giovanni), Carolinum, kinsky Palace, Jan Hus Monument, Church of St Nicholas, the House at Stone Bell, Rudolfinum Concert hall and the Convent of St, Agnes.

Prague New Town

Prague New Town was founded in 1348 by Charles IV. It was mainly inhabited by craftsmen and tradesmen and is twice the size of the Old Town.

Here you can see Wenceslas Square with the statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse, Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Franciscan Garden, national Museum, Prague State Opera, Charles Square, Church of St. Cyril and St. Methodious, Slovanic Monastery and the National Theater.

Prague also offers a rich nightlife, theater opera and music performances, a vast array of restaurants, bars and cafes.

There is also plenty for the shopper with a variety of stores selling Czech products such as garnet jewelry and Czech glass.

Although Prague is possibly the most known of Czech cities there is much more to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic has a population of 10.3 million and its historical areas (Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia) are divided into 14 tourist regions. All having castles, chateaux, charming towns, ancient villages and spa towns.

Tours and packages to the Czech Republic can be found at www.czechtourism.com

If traveling by air Czech Airlines has nonstop flights from New York's JFK to Prague.

There are also regular flights between Prague and other major Czech cities plus Prague can be easily reached by train from Berlin, Budapest, Vienna and another of other European cities.

Whilst in Prague I would suggest purchasing the Prague Card which is the only all-inclusive ticket to Prague's main attractions. With this card you will receive unlimited sightseeing with free admission to more than 50 city attraction, and a150 page full-color pocket guidebook. When you buy a Prague Card you can also buy a 3 day public transport pass.

Source: www.czechtourism.com