Old, New and Post-Modern: The Varied Architecture of Ostrava
Every town I visited in the Czech Republic had impressive architecture. But Ostrava, the scene for this year’s TBEX (Travel Bloggers' Exchange) conference, was the most intriguing. It might be a bustling industrial town, but it still had the historic heart, complete...
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Nové Hrady, the “Czech Versailles” in East Bohemia
Even after all the castles I had seen in East Bohemia, Nové Hrady came as a surprise. Not far from the town of Litomyšl, this is a beautifully intact rococo castle with formal gardens tumbling down the hillside. No wonder it is known as the “Czech Versailles”. Nové...
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Sleeping Among the Ghosts: Svojanov Castle in East Bohemia
It’s not every day you get to sleep in an old castle. Let alone a haunted one. But Svojanov Castle, close to Polička in East Bohemia, has its own guest accommodation. You can sleep, explore and discover the ghosts... Exploring Svojanov Castle The castle has an idyllic...
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The UNESCO World Heritage of Litomyšl, East Bohemia
Litomyšl, in East Bohemia, is another Czech town that deserves to be much better known. A UNESCO World Heritage castle and a charming town centre with lots of notable buildings are part of the attraction. As is the annual opera festival in honour of the composer...
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Shine Like Pardubice: Architecture, Horses… And Beer
I have to confess I had never heard of Pardubice before my recent visit to the Czech Republic. Yet the phrase “Shine Like Pardubice” was once common, a reference to the town’s grand architecture. There is plenty to see and do here, even apart from the buildings, the...
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Enjoying East Bohemia, the Czech Republic’s Hidden Secret
More than 8 million tourists a year visit Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. They jostle among the overcrowded streets and bars, but few of them venture beyond the city. Yet just an hour away by train is the unspoilt region of East Bohemia. An area jam-packed...
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