APRIL 2018 7372 MAY 2018

WHAT TO DO … … WHERE TO GO

A Bohemian RhapsodyIn their anthem, Czechs wistfully praise the beauty of their land. And indeed, from orchards decked in spring's array to technological prowess bustling away, Czechia may truly be a magic garden in the heart of Central EuropeCompiled by Benjamin Wolf

LEDNICE-VALTICE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, SOUTHERN MORAVIAThe UNESCO-protected Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape in southern Moravia offers an astonishing wealth of monuments, gardens and parks, most of them erected by the House of Liechtenstein that had its main seat in this region (1249-1939) for nearly 700 years. Among the essential sights are Lednice castle, built in the late romantic neo-Gothic style; the high Baroque Valtice castle and the Victorian-style greenhouse of Valtice.

GAZE IN AWE AT VIDEO-MAPPED PRAGUE AT THE SIGNAL FESTIVALReturning for its sixth installment this October, the SIGNAL Festival transforms Prague into a canvas: At over a dozen locations, landmarks are turned into projection spaces for creative, beautiful, historical or provocative light installations, often accompanied by music. Two paths, one in the Old Town and one in Vinohrady, offer myriad sights and sounds.

KARLŠTEJN CASTLE, CENTRAL BOHEMIA

A scenic Gothic stronghold near Prague, Karlštejn castle was built in 1348 by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and patron of

Prague’s famed Charles Bridge and Charles University. In medieval times, it guarded the Imperial regalia (crown, scepter,

etc.) of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 20th century, the beloved Czech movie A Night at Karlstein was filmed there.

EAT SVÍČKOVÁ AND DRINK PIVOCzech cuisine is tasty and hearty, so, it’s no surprise that Czechs see Svíčková, beef sirloin in cream sauce with cranberries, as their national dish. The meat is prepared with vegetables (carrots, parsley root, celeriac and onion), spiced with black pepper, allspice, bay leaf and thyme, and boiled with double cream. Goes well with a pivo (beer) – from Pilsen, Budweis or one of the other 398 breweries of your choice.

DOUBRAVKA HILL, TEPLICESometimes unjustly dismissed due to its mining

history, northern Bohemia is an ancient landscape of spas, hills and orchards, dotted by towns boasting

majestic 19th century mansions and town houses. A hike up the myth-enshrouded Doubravka Gill to the

rebuilt ruins of its late Gothic castle offers a stunning panorama of the charming spa city of Teplice and its environs, from the Ore Mountains in the north to the

Elbe River in the south.

TASTE BEER FROM PILSEN’S URQUELL In a nation of beer brewers and drinkers, Pilsner Urquell, the

namesake of Pilsner, still has an outstanding reputation. A cellar tour of the major brewery, founded by Bavarian Josef Groll in 1842, guides you through the history of beer brewing, ending in a delicious tasting. Pilsen itself, European capital of culture in 2015, is the charming center of Western Bohemia,

home to St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral and the Great Synagogue, the second largest in Europe.

TELČ, VYSOČINAFounded in the 13th century where the merchant

routes between Bohemia, Moravia and Austria met, the village of Telč offers monuments from every era.

The Gothic castle was reworked as a Renaissance palace in the 16th century, and was further enlarged

in the 17th and 18th centuries. Telč’s grand Renaissance plaza is lined with well-preserved Baroque houses and arcades, earning the town

recognition as a UNESCO world heritage site.

WATCH THE ŠKODA ASSEMBLY LINE IN MLADÁ BOLESLAV

Founded as a bicycle manufacturer in 1895 by Czech engineers Laurin & Klement, Škoda Auto is the pride of

Czech industry and the biggest employer in the country. Since 1991, the company has been a subsidiary of

Volkswagen, selling more than 1.1 million cars in 2016 and becoming the most profitable manufacturer within the

group. At Škoda’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav, visitors can book a tour and observe how automobiles are made.

PICK PÁLAVA GRAPES (AND ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR) IN MIKULOV

What the Grüner Veltliner is for Austria, Pálava is for the Czech Republic. And no wonder – the picturesque

wine-growing regions of southern Moravia are just across the border from Austria’s Weinviertel.

Surrounded by vineyards, the scenic city of Mikulov is well worth a visit, especially during its annual grape

picking festival.

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INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, KARLOVY VARYA favorite of Russian guests for its famous spas all year round, Karlovy Vary (formerly Karlsbad) also attracts the culturally inclined with its high-profile International Film Festival every June and July. Its beautifully renovated houses, bridges, colonnades and fountains make the city of 50,000 people a model of 19th century Central European architecture.

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