Insight Travel Logo

Czech Republic  Highlights

Viewed from the castle hill, the historical centre of Prague clings to the gently curving bend in the Vltava, its rooftops reflecting the golden patina of the midday sun. Its banks seem to be only just held together by the filigree constructions of its bridges: on the one side the Lesser Quarter and on the other the Old Town. Today, Prague is a living architectural museum, vividly documenting succeeding phases of development, from its Romanesque origins, its mighty Gothic churches and monasteries, to the baroque palaces and the magnificent Art Nouveau boulevards of the "foundation years," laid out towards the end of the 19th century.

Dotted throughout the Bohemian Forest landscape of woodland, mountain ranges and lakes are the exquisite villages and castles of this historic region.

This area is dominated by the town of Plzen - home to the famous Czech beer - but other villages, bordering Germany, have traditions and history that make them worth a visit.

Famous for its fruit, hops and wine, this region is also a mining district containing great scenic beauty as well as rich history and culture set amid the southern slopes of the Ore Mountains.

This region is characterised by contrasting scenery, including natural sandstone rock formations, forested uplands, broad lowlands and the highest massif in the country.

This modern city has some good museums, a rich cultural life and a handful of historic sites. It's possible to escape the crowds in Prague by spending a couple of days here.

In this landscape there are no mountains, just hills and very little woodland. The region contains some fine castles and wine estates, and most people here make their own wine.