Prague Environs (Central Bohemia)

Encircling the capital in a wide band, this region was once at the core of the Kingdom of Bohemia. It can, therefore, come as no surprise that visitors to the area discover an array of historical gems such as the town of Kutná Hora, once dubbed the kingdom’s silver treasury. The town’s old centre, the Cathedral of St Barbora and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in the suburb of Sedlec have rightly taken their place on UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage.

If your fancy is tickled by sturdy ramparts and opulent period interiors, then get yourself along to the best known of Czech castles, Karlštejn and Křivoklát. If a bit of romance is your thing then fairytale chateaux at Konopiště, Jemniště and Žleby might be for you. And if you’re looking for a place with a chateau and that something extra, then head to the so-called ‘labyrintarium’ in the park surrounding Loučeň chateau or to the chateau park in Vlašim, where you’ll find the impressive Chinese pavilion, the only one in the Czech Republic.

Central Bohemia also offers some quite unexpected places of natural beauty; why not make a trip along the railway line following picturesque valley of the River Sázava, which is lined with wooded hills and the ruins of several old castles. If you prefer pieces of industrial and mining heritage, then the place for you to go is Příbram where you’ll find a Mining Museum. Nearby is the Bohemian Karst area and the Koněprusy Caves, the Solvay Quarry, and the Mayrau open-air mining museum in Kladno.

Kutná Hora – The town’s conservation area is also a UNESCO-listed site. The best known locations include the Late Gothic Cathedral of St Barbora, the former Cistercian Monastery in the suburb of Sedlec, including a bizarre ossuary and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the former Italian Court mint, the Stone House on Václavské Square and a building called the Hrádek, which now houses the Czech Silver Museum. The Sankturinovský House on Palackého Square is home to the tourist information centre, the Alchemy Museum and the Pram Museum.

Mělník – This town at the confluence of the Elbe and Vltava is the centre of a long-established wine producing area. The main draws are the chateau with its extensive 14th-century wine cellars and tasting sessions, the Regional Museum boasting an exhibition on Bohemian wine, and the town’s underground passageways featuring a 54m-deep well. In the crypt of the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul there’s also an ossuary.

Labyrintarium at Loučeň Chateau – In the huge chateau park here you can tackle ten labyrinths and mazes of various shapes and sizes and made of different materials; in fact you won’t find such a large collection of mazes and labyrinths anywhere else in central Europe. The romantic interiors can be visited on a guided tour and you can also take a picnic into the chateau park.

Botanicus history centre and herb gardens in Ostrá – In this village, which looks as though it has been lifted straight from a fairy tale, you can see demonstrations of old skills and trades and try them out for yourself. The complex includes a large garden with decorative and practical sections and a maze.

Svatá Hora u Příbrami – This Baroque complex on a hill above the town is the oldest and most important Marian pilgrimage site in the country. The early Baroque appearance you see today is the result of work carried out between 1658 and 1709 by architect C. Lurago. The complex includes the basilica minor, the cloisters, chapels and terraces.

Poděbrady – This spa town on the Elbe floodplain has a chateau housing a permanent exhibition on King George of Poděbrady. The spa specialises in treating cardiovascular disease, metabolism complaints and musculo-skeletal problems, and uses alkaline mineral water with a high concentration of magnesium and calcium, as well as special mud, to do so.