Towns

From the historic perspective, Kutná Hora is one of the most significant towns in the Czech Republic and is rightfully considered a treasury and a gem of the country. Its notable history began in the Early Middle Ages and the town’s importance grew with silver mining. In 1995, the historic center, the Church of St Barbara and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Sedlec were listed in UNECO’s World Heritage List.

Practical tips:

Information center – Infocentrum

Palackého náměstí 377, 284 01 Kutná Hora

+420 327 512 378, fax:  +420 731 801 004, www.infocentrum.kh.cz, infocentrum@kh.cz

Recommended:

The Church of Saint Barbara - UNESCO

This is a unique work from the high and late Gothic periods. Construction began in 1388 by Petr Parléř’s workshop.

The Corpus Christi Chapel

In the mid 1380s, the construction of a charnel house, or a two-story cemetery chapel with an ossuary, commenced in close proximity to the Church of St Barbara.

The Czech Museum of Silver, Hrádek

The first mention of the building dates back to 1312. In 1490, Hrádek was bought by mining entrepreneur and royal officer Jan Smíšek of Vrchoviště, who rebuilt the old castle into a stately “patrician” manor

The Valachian Courtyards

This was a town castle at the end of the 13^th century. After a mint reform by King Wenceslas II, all period operating mints were concentrated here around 1300 and the coinage of Prague’s groschen started.

The Sedlec Abbey – The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - UNESCO, Ossuary

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the oldest Gothic cathedral in Central Europe, is found in Sedlec Monastery. Between 1699 and 1709, it was rebuilt by Jan Blažej Santini Aichl in the Baroque-Gothic style. Interior decorations come from the first half of the 18^th century.
The Ossuary (cemetery chapel) from the late 14^th century was rebuilt by J. B. Santini Aichl. Decorations are made exclusively from human bones (from the remains of approximately 40,000 people).

Do not miss:

GASK – Jesuit College

The Central Bohemian Region Gallery GASK is the second largest gallery in the Czech Republic.

The KLIMEŠKA Sports and Recreation Center

This year-round facility offers an indoor swimming pool (with a gym and a sauna), an outdoor swimming pool with attractions, including a toboggan run and a slide.

The Grandmother’s Prams Museum

This museum features historic prams and doll buggies from 1860 – 1960. There are about 180 pieces on display.

Make sure to visit other historic towns :

Čáslav

The town was founded around the mid-13^th century by King Přemysl Otakarem II. The dominating feature of the town centre is a large square with St Mary’s Column, a statue of Jan Žižka from Trocnov by J. V. Myslbek and an 18^th century Baroque town hall where the Calvaria of the Hussite army leader is preserved with all respect in Žižka’s Hall. Časlav also has one the oldest and best preserved fortification systems in Bohemia with Otakarova Tower from the early 14^th century.

Information center – Infocentrum

Náměstí Jana Žižky z Trocnova 197, 286 01 Čáslav

+420 327 300 265, fax +420 327 300 267, www.meucaslav.cz,  info@meucaslav.cz

The Čáslav Municipal Museum is one of the oldest rural museums in Bohemia.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul – a lookout tower

The original Romanesque church was turned into an early Gothic presbytery in the 13^th century and a Gothic three-aisled Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Sorrows in the 14^th century. Towards the end of the 15^th century, the construction of a tower and church remodeling in the late Gothic style commenced. Between 1908 and 1911, architect Kamil Hilbert performed finishing work on the church. At that time, the remains of Jan Žižka from Trocnov were placed in a niche in St Mary’s Chapel. The lookout tower is 88.5 meter tall.

Kolín

The town of Kolín, founded in the second half of the 13^th century under King Přemysl Otakar II, lies in the fertile plain on both banks of the Labe. The dominating feature of the historic center is the Gothic Church of St Bartholomew, which was finished after a 14^th century fire with the participation of Petr Parléř’s workshop. In the 19^th century, Kolín became a significant industrial center. The town is known by brass music lovers because of the traditional Kmoch’s Kolín Festival.

Information center – Infocentrum

Na Hradbách 157, 280 02 Kolín 1

+ 420 321 712 021, + 420 774 138 197, www.infocentrum-kolin.cz,  mic@mukolin.cz

The Synagogue – It is one of the oldest and most precious monuments of its kind in Bohemia. Its main part was finished in 1696.

The Regional Museum in Kolín – The museum is divided into three parts. The Kolin section includes Dvořák’s Museum, prehistoric and permanent expositions entitled “The Royal Town of Kolín in the Middle Ages” and “The Town House”, located in Červinkovský House. The Old school features an attractive model of the Battle of Kolín. The second part is the Kouřim Museum and skanzen, and the last part is the Museum in Český Brod (an interactive exhibition of the Battle of Lipany).

Poděbrady

The town’s history dates back long before the origins of the Czech state. Not far from a ford across the Labe on an important trade route connecting east Bohemia and Poland, a settlement was founded. Its location gave rise to the town’s name, Poděbrady (which in Czech means “under the fords”).

The most prosperous period for the Poděbrady state was under the Lords of Kunštát, namely under the most famous one from the family, Jiří z Poděbrad (George of Poděbrady). Under his order, Poděbrady was promoted to a town in 1472.

Information center – Infocentrum

Jiřího náměstí 19, 290 01 Poděbrady

+ 420 325 511 946, www.polabi.com,  ticpodebrady@polabi.com

The Polabí Museum

The museum also includes a listed medieval hospital from 1444 called Kunhuta and a former cloister from the end of the 19^th century. Permanent exhibitions include “The Nature of the Poděbrady Region and Its Protection”, “Prehistory in the Poděbrady Region”, “The History of the Poděbrady Region between the 10^th and the 18^th centuries” and “From the History of Balneology in Poděbrady”.

The King George of Poděbrady Memorial is located in the former castle chapel and King George’s Hall, the only part of the Poděbrady Castle that is open to public.

Nymburk

The royal town of Nymburk was founded by King Přemysl Otakar II around 1275. The historic center with medieval walls, Church of St Giles and other monuments were proclaimed an urban monument zone in 1992. The famous Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal spent his youth here (the museum, the brewery).

Information center – Infocentrum

Náměstí Přemyslovců 165, 288 28 Nymburk

+420 325 512 433, www.město-nymburk.cz,  infocentrum@meu-nbk.cz

The medieval fortification system

In 1280, together with the construction of the Church of St Nicolas (today St Giles), development of the town’s fortification system commenced. Brick walls with approximately 52 towers and 4 entrance gates were surrounded by a moat, today’s Malé Valy. Later a marl wall and another moat were added, today’s Velké Valy. The perfectly preserved double moat system and some of the brick walls can be seen today. No admission is charged.

Regional Museum

The museum has three permanent exhibitions: one on Bohumil Hrabal (his life, works and personal belongings closely related to the town) – naturally, there is also a period pub where you can sample beer from the Postřižiny brewery while watching a documentary); Nymburk over the Times (archeological findings); and From the Railway History (railway models, railway construction, railway workshops and unique residential colonies for railway workers).

Beroun

The town’s history dates back to the mid-13^th century when it was first mentioned by King Přemysl Otakar II in a 1265 letter to the Ostrov monastery.

Today, Beroun is a tourist destination in close proximity to two landscape protected areas, Křivoklátsko and Bohemain Karst (caves). The most significant sights include the town hall, the town walls, the Prague and the Pilsen Gates and the Bohemia Karst Museum.

Information center – Infocentrum

Husovo náměstí 69, 266 01 Beroun

+420 311 654 321; www.město-beroun.cz,  mic@muberoun.cz

The fortification system with the Pilsen and Prague Gates

Beroun’s fortification is the best preserved wall system in the Czech Republic.

Karlštejn Castle

This Gothic castle was built by Charles IV in the 14^th century, originally to protect the imperial and Bohemian coronation jewels and relics. There is a unique original mural – a collection of tabular paintings by Master Theodorik.