Czech Republic

An easy day trip from Prague, Kutna Hora is small in size, but has lots to see and do to keep any visitors happy for at least a full day. In its heyday, it was Prague’s equal, and wealthy beyond its wildest dreams. Much of its medieval splendour is still visible to this day. Indeed, it seems rather strange to have such opulence in what is now a small city of just 20,000 inhabitants. Despite its small size, Kutna Hora’s main attractions are at opposite ends of town, so use our guide to Kutna Hora to research your trip!

THINGS TO DO IN KUTNA HORA

Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) – Somewhere that will undoubtedly rank on a list of the most unusual tourist draws in the world, the Bone Church is remarkable. The inside of the chapel is decorated from top to bottom with the bones of people who died in medieval times. Many were plague victims, or died in war. There are over 40,000 skeletons on display, in displays ranging from an enormous chandelier, to the crest of the Schwarzenberg family who commissioned it. The chandelier contains at least one of every bone in the human body! It is incredibly creepy, but amazingly impressive!

Cathedral of St Barbara –  ‘Wow’ will be the first word you say upon entering. You’ll see a huge, tall ceiling with ribbed vaulting that looks almost floral, and countless shields and coats of arms painted onto the ceiling. The altar is amazing, with the last supper scene carved into the wood. Even the back of it was ornate, with a tree design. You’ll be given a laminated sheet to give you a self-guided tour. Around the sides are many ornate altars, beautiful stained glass windows and an awesome collection of medieval wall paintings. Many of them have survived remarkably intact. Superb. Don’t miss the chance to climb the tower, for amazing views, both inside and out.

Cathedral of Assumption – The second cathedral in Kutna Hora is Gothic Baroque, and part of the UNESCO site. It first opened around the year 1300. You’ll be given an information sheet with a self-guided tour to help you around. It is hugely impressive inside. Although rather plain and cream coloured, it is so very tall, with a narrow looking nave. Skeletons of saints lay rather morbidly in glass coffins, which we always find rather odd and unsettling. The most impressive feature is its amazing spiral staircase which appears to be unsupported. You can climb the spiral staircase to walk along the higher balcony level, and intriguingly even into the church rafters!

Italian Court – Housed in a beautiful palace with a large courtyard, the Italian Court is the former mint and royal seat. We’d recommend the tour that combines the royal mint, and the royal palace. The former features a coin making demonstration, whilst the latter takes you inside the royal audience hall and the royal chapel. The chapel in particular is a true wonder. It is mostly painted gold, but two parts are painted silver, in honour of Kutna Hora’s wealth coming from the silver mines.

The Church of St James – A very old and impressive medieval church with a stunning altar. The views from outside the church are even more impressive than the interior!

HOW TO GET TO KUTNA HORA

From overseas? Fly into Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague. Check Skyscanner to compare prices from your location.

By train? There are trains roughly every hour from Prague. Get off at Kutna Hora mesto for the Cathedral of St Barbara, and Kutna Hora hl.n. for the Bone Church. Check idos.cz for timetables.

By bus? Buses are also very regular from Prague. The idos.cz website will also give bus timetables.

By car? Kutna Hora is easy to reach by road. Check Skyscanner to compare car hire prices.

WHERE TO STAY IN KUTNA HORA

Kutna Hora is ideal as a full day out from Prague. However, if you’d prefer to get to know Kutna Hora better, then Hotel U Zvonu will be your best option. Book now, on Booking.com.

Cheaper and more authentic? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

WHERE TO EAT IN KUTNA HORA

For a truly romantic meal, ask for a table in the garden of Restaurace V Ruthardce. The atmosphere is like a medieval tavern, and you may even catch a glimpse of the cathedral through the trees!

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO KUTNA HORA

How to pronounce Kutna Hora? Koot-na hurra.

If you wish to visit both cathedrals, and the bone church, you can buy a joint ticket that will save you some money compared to the individual admission fees.

The historic town centre and its two cathedrals are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can walk around Kutna Hora easily enough. However, there is a fair distance between the city centre and the Sedlec area where the Bone Church is. You can get a local train between the two areas very inexpensively.

Kutna Hora’s rise and fall in terms of importance was dependent on the silver mines. Once the silver deposits started to run out, there was less to keep the wealthy in the town.

It was here that saw the minting of the famous silver groschen coin. Another coin that was minted here is the tollar, which gave the US Dollar its name.

The vast majority of Kutna Hora’s visitors come on a day trip from Prague. It is extremely easy to plan this yourself, so don’t book on an organised tour. They are overpriced, and you’ll be herded from site to site like cattle.

If you like flowers, the best time to visit is May, when they are in full bloom. However, Kutna Hora is somewhere that is suitable for visiting at any time of year.

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The Adrspach-Teplice Rocks are some of the world’s most stunning rock formations. They are to be found in the north of the Czech Republic, only fifteen miles away from the border with Poland. They are actually two separate sites, with a gorge in the middle. However, it is very possible, and recommended, to hike through the gorge between them as well. Just a couple of hundred years ago, nobody knew much about this natural wonder, since it was overgrown with trees. A fire devastated the trees, but revealed the hidden beauty that they had obscured for so long. Now is a great time to visit, and our guide to Adrspach-Teplice will show you what you need to know.

THINGS TO DO IN ADRSPACH-TEPLICE

Adrspach Rocks – The most beautiful rock formations are found in the Adrspach section. The only drawback is that crowds tend to be much larger here than at Teplice. Each rock formation has a name based on something that they look like. For example, you can look out for The Lovers, the Mayor and Mayoress, the Tooth, and the Indian. The Sugar Loaf is unusual, as it is bigger at the top than the bottom. People place small twigs up against it in the hope it helps it to not fall over! You’ll also have to squeeze through a tiny gap called the Mouse Hole!

Wolf Gorge – The link between the two sites is just spectacular, with its typical tall trees with greenery at the top and nothing but bare twigs at the bottom. This path is not for everyone as it has lots of ladders and roots to climb over. There are lots of tight gaps to squeeze through in the rocks too.

Teplice Rocks – The walk through Teplice Stone Town takes around three hours. Whilst in our opinion the rock formations aren’t quite as striking, you are far more likely to have the route to yourself than at the popular Adrspach. The scenery is stunning, so it is well worth adding the Teplice Rocks to your itinerary regardless.

Boat Cruise on the Stony Lake – A rather amusing boat journey, complete with comedic skippers. Although the commentary is in Czech, if you let them know you speak English, they’ll give you a sheet with the commentary on it, so you won’t miss out on the very funny jokes! The boat is more like a large raft, with the skipper pushing you along like a Venetian gondolier.

HOW TO GET TO ADRSPACH-TEPLICE

By car? The best way to arrive is by car, since the area is rather remote. To find a good price on car hire, check Skyscanner.

By train? Adrspach and Teplice nad Metuji are the two closest train stations. They are tiny, so you will likely have to take a number of connections to get there. However, don’t let this put you off. Many connecting trains in this part of the Czech Republic will wait until the previous train arrives, so it is unlikely you’ll miss the connection, even if your train is running late.

WHERE TO STAY IN ADRSPACH-TEPLICE

Luxury? Skalni Mlyn Adrspach is a four star hotel in a nicely restored old mill. Its location by the rocks is perfect. Book now on Booking.com.

Budget? We stayed in a guesthouse called U Janecko near to Teplice Rocks. The room was large and comfortable, but communication with the owner wasn’t great, as he can’t speak a word of English. But we coped enough. Book now on Booking.com.

Cheaper and more authentic? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ADRSPACH-TEPLICE

How to pronounce Adrspach and Teplice? Ad-dur-spackh and Teh-pleet-seh.

You’ll find no restaurants during your hike, so it is imperative that you find a supermarket before your hike to stock up on supplies such as food and water. There is a small supermarket near to the Teplice Rocks entrance.

You can get a local train between Teplice and Adrspach. Therefore, whichever is your starting point, you can return without having to retrace your steps. You could also get the train in the morning, and walk back to your accommodation point.

Be sure to get a map for both Teplice and Adrspach when purchasing your tickets.

One ticket is good for both locations if you walk through Wolf Gorge. If you exit and take the train, you will be expected to purchase another ticket at the next site.

Both Adrspach and Teplice are circular routes, so it is easy to get back to the starting point if you only wish to experience one of the hikes, decide to split them up over two days, or prefer not to hike through Wolf Gorge.

It is easy to find your way through Wolf Gorge, since they use a lot of yellow paint to point the way. The only problems may come from fallen trees making it difficult to find the path.

You’ll have to climb a fair few of what are called ladders. They are more like a staircase, but on a slant. Be aware that the route can be quite strenuous. You will sometimes have to squeeze through tiny gaps in the rocks.

Many people come to the area to try their hand at rock climbing, and even slacklining. However, it looks very challenging, so make sure to come with an instructor if you’re not an expert yourself.

Has this guide to Adrspach-Teplice helped you to plan your trip? Anything else that you would like to know?

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Baroque Castle Theatre, Cesky Krumlov

If you’re visiting Cesky Krumlov, chances are that Cesky Krumlov Castle is going to be your first stop. It should be, as it is a true wonder of the world. As well as the tower and museum, there are three main sightseeing routes around the castle. One features the original castle interiors from the baroque and renaissance periods, another the rooms of the Schwarzenberg family from the 1800s, and the third allows you inside the Castle Theatre.

If you’d like to visit the Castle Theatre, and you really must try, get your tickets early since they only allow a small number of people in each day. It is only open seasonally to add to the rarity of the experience. They have to severely limit the amount of people that can go inside, due to the effect of moisture caused by visitors. It is very precious.

The Baroque Theatre is the highlight of the castle. Each door has its own large skeleton key. These are the original keys from the 1700s! When we went in, we were amazed. It is the best preserved baroque theatre in the world, one of only two that are so well preserved, the other being in Sweden.

The cost per performance works out as something astronomical

The stage looks quite large, but is actually quite small as it has lots of layers of wooden scenes. It was built in the 1760s by the Schwarzenberg family. It was very expensive to build, especially when you consider that they only actually had ten seasons at the theatre before it fell out of favour. Each season only had a handful of performances for various dignitaries. They were big into illusions back then, as you can see for example in the illusion of the layers on the stage.

They even used fireworks, which was why most of these baroque theatres actually burned down. Hence why it is so unusual that this one has survived to this day. The scenes that you see on stage are the original scenes, and they have 600 costumes preserved from that time too. Everything is original – the building, orchestra pit, stage machinery, and the auditorium. Mainly, baroque operas were performed at the theatre, and there are still 1-3 performances each year nowadays.

A lot of skill went into these baroque performances

The lighting all used to be done by candles alone. Each performance back then was done by 8-12 professionals, and a whole team of technicians backstage. They mainly played music by Italian and French composers, chamber music and things like that. We got to go to the side of the stage. Quite a treat!

We were also allowed actually below the stage. Here, we could see the sides of all the scene changes and its slide system. One goes in and the other goes out. They could change the scene in just a matter of seconds. It was all done by a pulley system undeneath, like a big rolling pin with all rope around it. By hooking one piece up to another they could change them all at the same moment and synchronise it. It is amazing.

They also had a little box where a technician would have had to sit inside, and trapdoors where things came out of the stage. All the workings are very interesting, and we were shown lots of them before we left the baroque theatre. It is a totally extraordinary building.

A true wonder of the world

Another fantastic treat was getting to go in the Royal Box. There are just three chairs up there, and it is still used as a royal box today. The best view in the house! Without question, we’d recommend you try and include a visit to this precious theatre on your trip to Cesky Krumlov. It is one of the Czech Republic’s undoubted jewels, and indeed the world’s.

Have you had any rare experiences on your travels? Leave us a comment to let us know! 

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Trip to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov is an amazing little town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is certainly one of the world’s true marvels, and the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want picturesque scenery whichever way you look, a fairytale castle, winding river, and historic buildings, then Cesky Krumlov should be near the top of your list. Read on for all you need to plan your own fairytale break to Cesky Krumlov…

Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov

Planet Full Of Love’s Top 10 Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov – 1. Cesky Krumlov Castle Theatre, 2. Cesky Krumlov Old Town, 3. Castle Garden, 4. Cesky Krumlov Castle No. 1 Guided Tour, 5. Cesky Krumlov Castle Tower, 6. Church of St Vitus, 7. Photo Opportunities Galore, 8. Museum Fotoatelier Seidel, 9. Castle Museum, 10. Wiseman Walking Tours

CESKY KRUMLOV CASTLE – Cesky Krumlov Castle is the reason for the town’s existence. You will struggle to find a more beautiful castle anywhere in the world. It is completely free to explore the castle grounds, and see up close its awe-inspiring architecture. However, there is a rather confusing array of tickets available to see various parts of the castle. Therefore, we have summarised what is on offer below. Having been to each and every one, we are perfectly able to give you some insight.

No. 1 Guided Tour – If you must choose between No. 1 and No. 2, go for No. 1. The reason for this is the stunning Masquerade Hall. There are several things to make you go ‘wow’ actually. They include the golden carriage that the Eggenburg family had made in the 1630s, the Chapel of St George, and some fantastic renaissance and baroque architecture.

No. 2 Guided Tour – This tour takes you into the slightly newer part of the castle, used by the Schwarzenberg family until the early 1900s. Perfect for anyone who classes themselves as girly, you can see Princess Eleonora’s pink princess suite here. Another highlight is the long corridor known as the Portrait Gallery, which contains many Old Masters copies.

Castle Theatre – In our opinion, the highlight of the whole town. The best preserved baroque theatre in the world, and a place that will truly inspire you. The stage is made up of many layers of wooden scenery, that survives from the 1700s! Seeing the original stage machinery in action will be something you will not forget. Check out our experience here.

Castle Museum – A superb museum which tells the history of the castle, and the noble families who called it home. It all goes chronologically, with information in English within each room, and high quality exhibits. You’ll definitely get a better overview of all of the different periods of history here. Don’t forget, the castle dates back to the 1200s, so there is plenty of it!

Castle Tower – For the best views of the town, head up the Castle Tower. It really is like being part of a fairytale. The winding River Vltava looks amazing from up here, with its horseshoe shape hugging the town. The tower is the symbol of Cesky Krumlov, and the views are well worth climbing the 162 steps to the top for.

Castle Garden – The baroque garden dates back to the 1600s, and offers free admission. It extends all the way back to a large pond, covered in lilypads. Check out the marvellous water features and colourful flower beds as you take a romantic stroll.

Stables – A very small exhibition of coaches and harnesses, as well as other horse-related memorabilia. The highlight for us is the sled-coach, for use in snowy weather! See it only if you have extra time.

Wenceslas Cellars – The atmospheric cellars underneath the fourth courtyard contain an exceptional art exhibition. The work is by artist Miroslav Paral. He bases his artwork on the themes of the Czech Republic’s troubled history over the past century, and is extremely thought-provoking and original. You can also visit the Lapidarium, with a collection of statues.

Bear Moat – To be honest, we couldn’t quite believe that they still keep bears in the castle moat to this day. The tradition dates back to the 1500s. The Rosenberg family pretended to be related to the noble Italian Orsini family, by keeping the bears as a sign of prestige. Orsini means bears. They are currently refurbishing the moat, so there is now only one bear, named Maria Theresa.

Castle Smithery – A private enterprise on the castle grounds, you can see a blacksmith working on various souvenirs that are for sale. He is more than happy to show you the work he is doing, and perhaps even let you have a go yourself!

Revolving Theatre – A controversial spaceship style structure within the Castle Garden, the Revolving Theatre offers one of the most unusual theatre visits you will ever go on! The seating area actually turns as the action moves on to another part of the garden. Cool, eh?

CESKY KRUMLOV OLD TOWN – The old town sits below the castle, and is a complete delight to stroll around. Its narrow, cobblestone streets are filled with historic buildings, riverside eateries, and wonderful discoveries on every turn. Here are some of the top Old Town attractions.

Latran Houses – The town was built around the castle, and the Latran Houses below were home to many of the castle servants. The architecture is especially interesting. Some houses are built in levels, with each being from a different architectural era. Amazingly picturesque!

St Vitus Church – This historic Gothic church contains a beautiful altar, and a nice baroque organ. Worth popping in.

Namesti Svornosti – The main square of Cesky Krumlov is a great place to watch the world go by. It takes on an ultra-romantic feel at night, with musicians performing in the streets and beautifully lit buildings. The Town Hall is just one of many striking buildings that surround the square. There are lots of atmospheric eateries, though the prices are higher than elsewhere in town.

Wiseman ‘Free Tour’ of Cesky Krumlov – For a great introduction to Cesky Krumlov, look no further than Wiseman. Their tours start in Namesti Svornosti every single day. The tours cover all of the main sights in the town, and add a local’s perspective to them. What’s more, the tours work on a ‘pay what you feel’ basis.

Wiseman ‘Free’ Ghost Tour – Like the tour above, Wiseman also offer a ghost tour in the evenings. The ghost tours are not phoney, for entertainment value. Instead, they focus on real stories and legends from the town. A member of the Schwarzenberg family who was believed to be a vampire due to her pale complexion, and a Russian soldier who fell in the bear pit are just a couple of the tales.

Egon Schiele Art Centrum – A gallery devoted to a controversial artist who painted nude women, which was a scandal in Cesky Krumlov a hundred years ago.

Photo Opportunities – Almost everywhere you look. However, our favourites are the view from the Lazebnicky Bridge, of both the castle and town together on Horni Street, and the viewpoint in the Jesuit College Garden, now part of Hotel Ruze.

Marionette Museum – An exhibition of old Czech marionettes. Maybe too creepy for most…

Plague Column – The major landmark in the Main Square. It isn’t something to allow much time for, but definitely worth checking out this baroque monument. It is topped by the Virgin Mary, and eight saints who they believed would help to ward off the plague. Plague columns are found in pretty much every town square in the Czech Republic!

Regional Museum – A short stop-off point with some folk art, and a huge model of the town how it looked 200 years ago…

MUSEUM FOTOATELIER SEIDEL – A fascinating place to visit. This is the former studio and home of a photographer from the late 1800s, kept almost as a time capsule. You can learn much about the history of photography as well as a typical home from the time. You can even have the chance to pose for your own vintage photograph. Check out our experience here.

How to Get to Cesky Krumlov

The best place to fly to from overseas is Prague. Check out if there are any cheap flights to Prague from your nearest airport here.

Once in Prague, Cesky Krumlov is easily reachable on road. To find great prices for car hire, click here.

If, like us, you prefer to try out the local public transport, then you are spoiled for choice. There are direct coaches from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. Student Agency and Flixbus are companies that we have used, and can recommend.

You can also get a train from Prague to Cesky Krumlov. However, you will have to change trains in Ceske Budejovice. Maybe you wouldn’t mind visiting the Budweiser brewery whilst there, though?

For bus and train schedules, check out the IDOS.cz website.

Where to Stay in Cesky Krumlov

Luxury? Hotel Bellevue is a luxury hotel within a medieval building, with elegant rooms and free sauna. Click here to book.

Mid-range? Penzion Delanta is within walking distance to the Old Town, but set in a very inconspicuous, quiet area. Click here to book.

Budget? Hostel Krumlov House was once Cesky Krumlov’s old bakery. It offers a very cosy stay in an unusual pixie-type house.

Looking for somewhere even cheaper? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

Where to Eat in Cesky Krumlov

Something special? Try Le Jardin, a charming restaurant with exceptional food. There aren’t many tables, so you may have to book in advance during busier times.

Want to try the local food? Krcma v Satlavske Ulici is a traditional pub on the site of the old jailhouse, where meat is cooked on a wood-burning stove. The ambience is like being in the catacombs.

Want something cheap and cheerful? Travel Hostel Restaurant is cheap and tasty, with all of the classic Czech dishes on offer. Try the svickova – sirloin steak in an ultra-creamy sauce, served with bread dumplings.

Other Tips For Your Trip to Cesky Krumlov

How to pronounce Cesky Krumlov? Chess-key crum-loff

If you are going to try and fit everything the castle offers in to a single day, aim to visit the Tower first. It will be much more pleasurable without the crowds that arrive around lunchtime. Most of the other attractions are seen on guided tours, and are likely to be full no matter what time you go.

If you want to visit the baroque Castle Theatre, it is advisable to purchase your tickets as soon as possible. It often sells out, since visitor numbers are strictly capped.

Try and time your visit with a festival. Cesky Krumlov has many internationally-renowned festivals. The best are the Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations, with medieval entertainment, held in June; and the International Music Festival, the Czech Republic’s longest running music festival, which is held between July and August.

If you would prefer low crowds and decent weather, try April to early May, or the end of September to October.

Don’t forget your camera. Cesky Krumlov is one of the world’s most photogenic towns.

There are no supermarkets within walking distance of the Old Town. Whilst this keeps its old character, it can be frustrating if you need any essential supplies. Stock up before you arrive if possible. There is a DM shop for any toiletries.

There is also very little in the way of fast food options. A handful of takeaways can be found if you cross over the river Vltava, though on the Old Town side you will find very little. One option for very budget travellers is a place up the corner of the Main Square, that sells pizza by the slice.

Cesky Krumlov is easily walkable. All of its attractions are within walking distance from each other. It would only take around twenty minutes to walk from one end of the town to the other!

Don’t be afraid of getting lost. The town is so small that you would find this extremely difficult. Yet, there are many cute side streets that are begging to be explored.

There are lots of restaurants catering to tourists. To avoid the tourist traps, give a wide berth to anywhere charging more than 40 korunas for a small local beer.

If you want to try local beer, you can visit the Eggenberg Brewery. Try the yeast beer if you can.

Do not come to Cesky Krumlov on a day trip. You will leave wishing you had spent at least one night here. Indeed, the evenings have a magical atmosphere all of their own, that really should be experienced.

An ideal amount of time to spend in Cesky Krumlov would be two days, with more if you are using it as a base. Spend one exploring the castle area, and the second exploring the Old Town and the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel.

If you are feeling active, you can take part in lots of watersports on the River Vltava. Canoes, rafts, or even tubes can be hired on the riverside. They are particularly popular with backpackers.

Ceske Budejovice is worth a day trip. Known also as Budweis, this is where the original Budweiser Brewery is located, and tours are available. Other places worth a day trip include hiking up Klet, the UNESCO village of Holasovice, the charming Hluboka nad Vltavou, or picture-perfect Rozmberk Castle.

Has this guide helped you to plan your trip to Cesky Krumlov? Anything else that you would like to know?

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking them to purchase your flights, hotels, and car hire, the companies involved pay a small commission to us at no cost to yourself. This helps to keep us on the road, creating guides like this one. Thank you for using them!

Prague Zoo: One of the world’s best

Prague Zoo opened in 1931, and is now one of the world’s greatest zoos. It contains around 450 species of animals, including over a hundred that are classed as threatened. We spent an amazing day out there, and could barely tear ourselves away when it was time to leave!

The journey to Prague Zoo can be pretty stressful by public transport. Whilst there is a direct local bus from Nadrazi Holaeovice, they pack the buses so full that it can be an unpleasant journey. Once at the zoo, you can purchase your tickets and use the free lockers if you need to. Maps are available for a small fee. It is a minor annoyance to have to pay for a map, but well worth paying for, since it is a sprawling site.

Prague zoo is absolutely huge, and you’ll therefore have no idea which way to go first. You can try to avoid the groups of children that head left to the penguins, and instead go up a very steep hill to the right where you may see some lovely red pandas. This dark and mysterious area is themed around the Indonesian Jungle. They have an awesome komodo dragon, and the cutest little monkeys ever, swinging from tree to tree. After checking out the otters, enter the twilight zone. In here are all of the animals that prefer the dark, like bushbabys and various rodents.

Seeing the animals interact with each other is priceless

It is a thrill to see the polar bear, since unless you live somewhere very cold, you’re unlikely to see many! The orangutans are always fun to interact with. We caught one playing with a hay bale on his head, which was hilarious. Africa Up Close is a really cool area which contains a fennec fox who is adorable. You’ll love seeing the cape ground squirrels play fighting with each other too, with the bigger one stealing the smaller one’s nuts.

There are some interesting rock formations, a la Stonehenge about the area too. You might get to see a bat-eared fox, and African pygmy mice who are so, so tiny it is unbelievable. There are even a couple of honey badgers wandering around, looking menacing.

From here, we had to return to the entrance. Since it was quieter now, we went down the left hand path towards the fur seals. The penguins are next, and it is great fun trying to get them to follow your finger on the glass. It is strange when coming out of their enclosure, since they also have an outside area. This is a grassy area rather than the fake ice look that are preferred in UK zoos. It looks funny seeing penguins walking on grass.

It is a journey around the world

In the birds of prey area, you can spot owls, vultures and eagles. Flamingos elegant sit on the opposite side of the walkway, with tapirs and all manner of exotic and rather large, birds. The Sichuan area is a Chinese themed indoor pavilion with birds flying about. Outside, there are extraordinary views of the chairlift, which looks mega scary.

Another pavilion contains giant tortoises and monitor lizards. It is cool inside here, perfect for cooling off if it is warm outside. What is interesting are the signs that were dotted around, showing the height that the floods reached in 2002. It must have been a scary time in Prague!

Squirrel monkeys are on the way to the gorilla pavilion. A huge pregnant gorilla and a little mischievous child with two teenagers were the first gorillas we saw. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to see the Silverback. We love the gorillas, and the next area contains another of our favourites – the big cats.

Go at feeding time to ensure you see the big cats

The big cats are often difficult to see. However, if you time your visit with their feeding time, you can guarantee seeing them inside. The tigers and the lions devour their lunch with just the glass separating them from your view. There are also reptiles in here, like iguanas. Amongst the big cats is an enclosure containing what looks like a domestic cat. It always makes us laugh to see tiny cats like this with a huge enclosure.

People with a fear of snakes won’t like the seating area in the middle, since a huge fake anaconda looks like it is slithering amongst the seats. They have real anacondas too! The Giant Salamanders have their own house, which has an extremely strict no photography rule in place. Make sure to try and find the ridiculously scary looking bird called the shoebill. The bird wetlands contain all sorts of exotically coloured birds, from ibises to cranes and waterfowl. They also have a walk through aviary.

The rock outcrop offers a natural enviroment

One of the most unusual features of Prague Zoo is the rock outcrop, on which actual mountain-dwelling animals are situated. These include tahrs and turs, barbary macaques and barbary sheep. It is such a cool thing to see. From here, you can walk up the zig-zag path known as the Zakazanka Path. It is hard work in hot weather. From the path, however, you can get amazing views of different areas of Prague. You can even make out St Vitus Cathedral from here!

Some of the animals that are supposed to be on the hill are very hard to spot, which makes traipsing up this path feel not so worthwhile at times. The layout of the path makes it rather difficult to come up with a good route to make sure you see everything without too much backtracking. At the top, there is a playground area with a cafe. The American Bison was moulting, and shedding all of his fur so looked a bit scraggly. There are also camels and deer on the route back down the hill.

Prague Zoo is a world leader in Przewalski Horse conservation

A tent tells the story of the Przewalski Horses. The story is interesting, about how many of Prague Zoo’s wild horses have been returned to the Gobi Desert. However, the tent itself can get unbearably hot. Another area takes you past wallaroos towards the Australia section, which contains huge cassowaries, emus and kangaroos. On the opposite side of the path are zebras and wild dogs. The South American carnivores are pretty interesting, and lead back to the otters.

You may even get lucky enough to get a few good glimpses of the notoriously hard to spot hippos in the Africa section, but you’ll definitely see the sitatunga. The Elephant Valley is the next major stop. Themed to a Hindu-style village, it takes you on a rather long-winded path around. On this path, there are a few different opportunities to spot Prague Zoo’s Asian Elephants.

Giraffes wander the savanna

The path has a detour to the African Savanna. This is a viewing platform high above a huge grassy area inhabited by giraffes, ostriches and other African animals. The giraffes are normally close to the platform, since their feeding post is nearby. On ground level, you can see a bunch of meerkats, and get a close-up view of the giraffes. There is an inside part to the giraffe enclosure, called African House. Here, yoy may see some sleepy aardvarks and cute little dikdiks.

Back to Elephant Valley, you may be lucky enough to see some of the elephants enjoying a bath. In particular, it is cute to see a little baby elephant playing around in the water. You can take another path round the top part of Prague Zoo. It takes you past hyenas, to the forested areas that are home to some of the big cats, like jaguars and tigers. Good luck seeing those big cats, though, as they blend in very well to their background!

Deer and horse-like kiangs follow on the trail. Down a different path back to the top of the hill, check out the wolves, peccaries, reindeer and European Bison. The European Bison are cool to watch, whilst the European Elk is a funny looking thing! Up the top is an Observation Tower. Despite being someone on the door and an entry barrier, it is completely free, so go on up.

Be brave, and take the chair lift!

It is a wooden structure, that offers great views, particularly over the African Savanna and Prague. You can see the world’s largest stadium pretty good from up here too. After climbing down, head down to a walk through area filled with lories and lorikeets. At this point, you can go down the chair lift! To be honest, it is pretty scary, but they views are amazing and it is a very cool experience!

There is a patch of land near the bottom of the chairlift that includes more aviaries and anteaters. One of the coolest animals in Prague Zoo is the gharial, an unbelievable looking crocodile from an area of India called Chambal. He has a really long and thin jaw with ultra-sharp teeth, perfect for catching fish with. European pond turtles bravely share the tank with him.

Monkey Islands are also fun to explore. Our route leads back to the hornbills and prairie dogs near to the entrance and exit. If you like, you can backtrack to the birds of prey aviary. One bird is intriguingly called the white-bellied go-away bird. Again, buses pick up directly from the zoo exit to take you back into central Prague. We’d highly recommend Prague Zoo to anyone who loves zoos, since there are few better zoos in the entire world. If you have enough stamina, we’d suggest allowing the entire day to explore everything.

What is your favourite zoo? 

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If you’re looking for somewhere with history galore and the most picturesque market square you can imagine, then our travel guide to Olomouc will help you plan the ideal trip. Supposedly founded by Julius Caesar, it is truly an undiscovered gem. We visited in a very warm early September, and it was empty. The ‘tourist season’, whilst small by many cities’ standards, only lasts for a very short time in summer. However, with a stunning mix of beautiful buildings, romantic surroundings, and culture, it is well worth visiting.

THINGS TO DO IN OLOMOUC

Upper Square – You should start your visit to Olomouc by exploring this vast and wondrous space. You can find many of the cities’ top tourist draws in or around the square. Don’t miss the bronze scale model of the city as you wander.

Holy Trinity Column – The pride of Olomouc is its elaborate Baroque carved stone column, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the 1700s and consecrated by the Empress Maria Theresa. Most cities in the Czech Republic have a column of this sort. This is the best one, so don’t miss it!

Fountains – Both Upper and Lower Square contain a series of beautiful fountains mostly dating back to the 1600s and 1700s. The baroque Caesar’s Fountain is the largest, built in honour of the city’s legendary founder. There are five other baroque fountains in the area, mostly with Roman themes. There is even a modern addition to the set, with Arion’s Fountain that features a dolphin that saved a man from drowning.

Olomouc Old Town Hall – In the middle of Upper Square, you’ll find the majestic Old Town Hall. It dates back to the 1300s! It is well worth climbing its tower. However, this can only be done as part of a guided tour, which is only run at certain times.

Astronomical Clock – The most interesting part of the Town Hall’s exterior is its fascinating communist-era Astronomical Clock. It was once a grand medieval clock like the one in Prague, but was destroyed in World War II. Its replacement, in line with communist values of the time, replaced the saints with ordinary 1950s style workers. It is amazing to see. At noon each day, it does a little show with the figures spinning around. Stay until the end, if only to hear the dreadful cockerel sound it makes!

Baroque Architecture – Fans of architecture will delight in a walk around Upper Square. Its pastel coloured buildings are a true marvel. Many of the buildings have marvellous history of their own. A self-guided tour of the city, which you can get from the tourist information centre in the Town Hall, can help point them out.

St. Wenceslas Cathedral – The number one religious building in this religious city, it is huge and filled with history. It is around a thousand years old! Remarkably tall, with a beige vault painted with a geometric pattern, it is an awesome sight. Make sure you go down into the crypt, where you can see some of St Valentine’s bones. Creepy indeed, but a Catholic tradition. Albeit an odd one. In the burial area at the bottom of the crypt, you can see the tombs of former Bishops of Olomouc that wouldn’t be out of place as a prop in a vampire movie.

St. Kopecek Church and Monastery – Get the number 11 bus from the train station here. The area around it has the appearance of a Wild West town. However, the interior of the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is unbelievably stunning. One of the most beautiful churches we have ever seen. The sumptuous ceiling even has a painting of a horse with pink hair! The views from outside are expansive. Ask around and they will open up the museum within the monastery for you, and head up the ‘Holy stairs’.

Archdiocesan Museum – On the site of the former Olomouc Castle, which dates back 1000 years, you can learn about the history of both Olomouc and its importance to the Catholic church. The assassination of King Wenceslas III took place on the site. The building is built around the Romanesque foundations, and you can see the development of architectural styles as you go around. Despite the age of the building, the exhibits are very modern and easy to follow. Don’t miss the large golden coach, and the huge painting of medieval Olomouc where you can spot how it has changed over the years. Try to time your visit to a Sunday, since they offer free admission on Sundays.

St. Moritz Church – This dark, Gothic church contains the largest pipe organ in central Europe. It has a staggering 10,400 pipes. Look out for regular performances. It is a great experience to see it played by an expert. There are two oddly shaped towers, and you can climb one of them for a small fee.

The ambience at night – In the evenings, Olomouc can feel deserted. However, they illuminate many of its finest buildings, such as the Town Hall and the Holy Trinity Column, beautifully at night. This gives you a unique opportunity to stroll around the vast market square practically alone. Olomouc is one of the most romantic places in the world when seen like this.

Bouzov Castle – One of the finest fairytale castles on the planet! It is rather difficult to get to, despite being quite close. However, the picture perfect scenes are well worth the effort. It is a popular filming location for fairytale movies, and it is not difficult to see why. It also has a darker history, and was once the Czech headquarters of the Nazi Party. You can take a guided tour of the castle, and a separate one up the tower. However, tours are rarely offered in English, and you will have to take a sheet offering the translation instead.

St. Michael’s Church – Another grand discovery, that is well worth a quick stop. An early Baroque church, it doesn’t look that impressive from outside. However, inside it is luxuriously decorated. You won’t regret stopping by for ten minutes or so.

Chapel of St. John Sarkander – This is a stunning round chapel built around the city prison where the Catholic priest John Sarkander was tortured in the 1600s. His relics can be seen at St. Wenceslas Cathedral.

Try the ‘stinky cheese’ – Olomouc’s famous local delicacy, ‘Olomoucke Tvaruzky’ or stinky cheese, doesn’t sound appealing at all. However, don’t be put off. It is quite an experience to try it, and will cause a bit of excitement should you dare. Some eateries even provide mints to eat straight after! Actually, we found it to be quite tasty, and the smell not as unpleasant as we had feared. Restaurant U Morice is a great place to try it. Alternatively, there is an official shop on the Upper Square where you can purchase it, and the tourist information centre even have a vending machine!

Church of Our Lady of the Snows – Yet another grand Baroque style church. It is nice to see if you are passing, but the others mentioned come more highly recommended.

HOW TO GET TO OLOMOUC

From overseas? Brno and Ostrava are the closest airports to Olomouc. However, you would probably find it easiest to fly to Prague or Vienna. Both have excellent transport links to Olomouc. Check Skyscanner to compare flights from your location.

By train? Olomouc has an excellent train station, with regular fast arrivals from Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and other cities in the Czech Republic. There are also trains from neighbouring countries such as Poland. Check Czech Railways for timetables and prices.

By bus? You can easily reach Olomouc by bus from Prague and Brno. It is often cheaper, but slower, so best for people rich in time and not in money. Check Student Agency for the most comfortable ride.

By car? It is easy to reach Olomouc by car from all over the Czech Republic, or from Vienna. Check Skyscanner to compare prices on car rental.

WHERE TO STAY IN OLOMOUC

Luxury? Clarion Congress Hotel is great for those arriving by train due to its proximity to the railway station. Book now, on Booking.com.

Mid-range? Ibis Olomouc Centre is, like the name implies, close to the centre. Rooms are spacious, and the Wi-Fi is fast. Book now, on Booking.com.

Budget? Poets’ Corner Hostel is a retro style place, where you can have views of St Wenceslas Cathedral from the balcony. Book now, on Booking.com.

Cheaper and more authentic? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

WHERE TO EAT IN OLOMOUC

Something special? Entree Restaurant has you sitting within an exclusive open kitchen area with a living garden. The dishes are inspired by nature, and its experimental dishes feel like food theatre.

Local food? Restaurace U Cerveneho Volka, or The Red Bull is a fantastic mix of modern and romantic, with some unusual brewery inspired decor. Dishes are local specialities, at reasonable prices, especially considering its location on Lower Square.

Cheap and cheerful? Don’t look for takeaways, try the stinky cheese! Our favourite place to try it is Restaurant U Morice.

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO OLOMOUC

How to pronounce Olomouc? Ol-oh-moats.

Olomouc is a very walkable city. You will only need public transport to get to St Kopecek, and Bouzov Castle, from the things to do list above.

The city has been the seat of the Catholic Archbishop for around 1,000 years. Its churches are some of the most ornate in the Czech Republic.

You’ll find it hard to believe how few tourists are there. Visit now whilst it is still undiscovered.

Olomouc has many cultural festivals. It is well worth trying to catch the International Organ Festival in late summer. You will get the chance to see the famous organ at St Moritz Church performed by a star of the organ world.

Olomouc City Festival in June, and the Marshall Radetzky Celebrations in September are also well worth seeing.

Bouzov Castle is our top tip for a day trip on a short stay in Olomouc. On a longer stay, we recommend Litomysl and Kromeriz. Prague is doable, but it would be rather silly to see Prague on a day trip. There is way too much to see!

You can find plenty of places to try Moravian wine or local beers. Olomouc has a sizeable student population. The quality of the nightlife depends very much on term times.

You should allow at least two days to visit Olomouc. Longer would allow you to take your time, and do a few day trips though.

Has this travel guide to Olomouc helped you to plan your trip? Anything else that you would like to know?

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If you’re looking for an off-the-path destination that you can easily combine with a trip to Prague, then our travel guide to Litomysl will help. Litomysl is a very small town that you can easily see in one day. However, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site, centuries of history, and a picturesque setting, you’ll be sure to enjoy visiting the town. There are also nowhere near the crowds you will find in the most touristic parts of Prague, so will offer some welcome respite.

THINGS TO DO IN LITOMYSL

Litomysl Castle – The main reason for your visit should be this stunning renaissance castle/palace. It is one of the biggest of its kind in the Czech Republic. Litomysl Castle is most famous for its sgraffito decorations on the walls, which are like scratched-in bricks. Each one contains a unique decoration. It is worth taking an interior tour, though it will likely be in Czech with English text handouts. The basic tour takes you to all of the highlights, including a beautiful baroque theatre, and the nicest rooms. We took the long tour, which is more comprehensive.

Main Square – One of the prettiest main squares you’ll come across, though it is hardly square! It is filled with pastel coloured renaissance-era buildings. Don’t miss the ornate Town Hall, and the statue of composer Smetana, who was born in the town.

Piarist Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross – Recently re-opened after decades of closure due to several fires, a lot of money has been spent on this beautiful church. You can climb up to an amazing balcony that overlooks the entire town, and offers superb views of the castle. Inside, there are interactive exhibits, and the creepiest crypt you are ever likely to visit. They even have haunting sound effects piped in!

Monastery Gardens – This is a beautiful, open space with manicured lawns, and a set of sculptures by artist Olbram Zoubek. The tall, nude statues stand amongst a fountain between two pretty churches. It is the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon.

HOW TO GET TO LITOMYSL

From overseas? Fly into Prague, where you can connect to Litomysl by train, bus or car. Check flight prices on Skyscanner.com.

By train? Litomysl has an extremely quaint train station. Despite how small the city is, the locals we met didn’t even know it was still working. However, it is, albeit only via a local train from Chocen. Chocen is easily reached from Prague however. Check IDOS.cz for timetables and prices.

By bus? You can get straightforward buses from Prague, Olomouc, and Brno. Check IDOS.cz for timetables and prices.

By car? Litomysl is easy to reach with a car. You won’t need one within the city though. Check Skyscanner to compare prices.

WHERE TO STAY

Zlata Hvezda Hotel is in the main square and offers everything you’ll need for a short stay in the city. It even has a rooftop terrace with amazing views of the city. Book now on Booking.com.

Cheaper and more authentic? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

WHERE TO EAT

Restaurace U Kolji is slightly out of the town centre, and the surroundings aren’t exactly picturesque. However, inside it is nicely decorated and offers decent food at reasonable prices.

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO LITOMYSL

How to pronounce Litomysl? Lit-o-mishel.

The city is extremely walkable. It won’t take long to get from sight to sight.

Drinks prices are ridiculously cheap. However, this is not the city to visit if you are interested in partying.

You’ll find it hard to believe how few tourists are there. Visit now whilst it is still undiscovered.

Litomysl can be easily seen in one day. It can be used as a base for those with access to a car, but the lack of good, regular public transport will make it frustrating for those without.

Has this travel guide to Litomysl helped you to plan your trip? Anything else that you would like to know?

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Museum Fotoatelier Seidel, Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic is one of the world’s most beautiful medieval cities. Tourists throng on one side of the river, by the fairytale castle and its buildings covered in Renaissance wall paintings. However, on the other side of the River Vltava is a hidden gem where you can completely avoid the coach tours. It is still only a ten minute walk from the castle. Here you’ll find one of the oldest working photography studios in the world, the Museum Fotoatelier Seidel.

Museum Fotoatelier Seidel is the former home and studio of Josef Seidel. Seidel was a photographer in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The house and studio is a remarkable survival. Luckily, it has been preserved thanks to a strange course of events including communist times and disenfranchised relatives. It is like time stood still here.

A beautiful building in itself, it was built in 1905, and has been a museum since 2008. The museum is a very relaxed place, so don’t panic if the doors are closed when you arrive. Just sit in the peaceful garden until someone shows up to let you in. We were lucky enough to get a personal tour from the manager, Martin. However, you can also take an audio guide to follow the story.

A time capsule house from over a century ago

The ground floor is mainly the living quarters, decorated in art nouveau style. The house is a great example of how people lived at the turn of the last century here, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There is a reception room, bedroom and small living room. It is a great place to just wander around, and they allow guests to be much more hands on here than most similar places. It would be perfectly acceptable to sit on the furniture and gaze out of the window at the beautiful garden.

The photography rooms will hold the most interest for many, with piles upon piles of glass plate negatives. Examples of Seidel’s photography are proudly displayed everywhere, as well as personal artefacts and business bits and pieces like customer records. It really does feel like stepping back in time into this time capsule property.

Vintage equipment is everywhere you look, including a hand operated printer which was used to make postcards. There are also plenty of vintage cameras, magnifiers, copiers, and the like, all of which Martin assured us are in pretty good working order. He uses them for various workshops throughout the year, and it is clear that he relishes the chance to master them all.

It is still a working studio to this day

A highlight is the dark room and daylight copy room, again still very much so a working space. Communication in the studio was done via some primitive phone pipes, which are cool to see. Another room has a video about the history of the company, which is very informative.

Upstairs was our favourite bit, since it was the actual studio. They have a professional photographer up there on occasion, to take authentic black and white photographs of guests. They weren’t there on our visit, so Martin kindly offered to take one using our not so vintage camera. We headed into the costume room, where we were precisely dressed up in period clothing. It is extremely professional, with lots of attention to detail. A great experience!

The final part of the tour is up in the attic, where heaving shelves are struggling under the weight of hundreds and hundreds of glass plate negatives.

We highly recommend a visit to Museum Fotoatelier Seidel as a welcome respite from the crowds in Cesky Krumlov. There are few places in the world that can transport you back in time so authentically as here. Admission is a very reasonable 100 korunas, with discounts available.

Have you ever felt yourself transported back in time when visiting somewhere? 

Zlin is a lovely city in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic. It is totally devoid of tourists really, yet offers a great place to visit. There is a great mix of culture, sights and friendly locals to make your trip there totally worthwhile. Read the rest of our guide to Zlin to find out how to make the most of your stay.

THINGS TO DO IN ZLIN

Zlin Zoo – This is one of our favourite zoos in the world, and much quieter than zoos in the larger cities. Each section of the zoo is themed around a different continent, which gives you a real journey around the world. It is one of the very few zoos that let you hand-feed the stingrays, and they have one of the best walkthrough spaces, where you might come face to face with sloths and monkeys! You can also walk through the wallaby enclosure. Be sure to allow a full day there if you love animals.

Lesna Chateau – Within the zoo is a grand chateau, which you can visit on regular guided tours. If you’re a traveller, you’ll marvel at the family’s room full of travel mementos. They include a straw suit, and an ornately carved ivory ball within another ball. The tours are well worth the time and money.

Museum of Shoemaking – Zlin is the home of the famous Bata shoemaking company. As well as the shoes, Bata helped to modernise Zlin and even built some rather interesting square half-houses for his employees, which you can still see around the city. The museum has some great interactive things, and is a must for anyone interested in shoes.

Bata’s Skyscraper – Another way of seeing the impact that Thomas Bata had on Zlin is to visit Bata’s Skyscraper. When it was built, it was one of Europe’s tallest buildings. You can take the elevator to the top for great views over Zlin. One thing you should definitely not miss is the office that Bata had built within one of the lifts! It is amazingly cool and quirky!

HOW TO GET TO ZLIN

From overseas? The closest major airports to Zlin are Prague, Vienna, and Bratislava. Check Skyscanner for cheap flights from your location.

By train? Daily trains reach Zlin from Prague and Olomouc. For more flexibility, you can also get a train to Otrokovice, where you can easily get a fast connection to Zlin. Check cd.cz for timetables and prices.

By bus? Buses arrive to Zlin from many Czech cities. You can check IDOS for timetables and prices.

By car? To hire a car for your trip to Zlin, check Skyscanner to compare prices.

WHERE TO STAY IN ZLIN

The best bet for a hotel stay in Zlin is Hotel Baltaci Atrium. It is rather old-fashioned, but offers large, comfortable rooms. Book now through Booking.com.

Cheaper and more authentic? Try Airbnb, where you can find some unusual and fantastic homestays in more traditional surroundings. Click our special link to receive £25 off your first stay!

Free? Couchsurfing is a vibrant community of over 14 million world travellers, who host others on their travels.

WHERE TO EAT IN ZLIN

Local food for a special occasion? Restaurant U Johana offers great food in a nice location. Make sure to reserve a table in advance, especially if you’d like to dine outside as those tables are particularly popular.

Cheap and cheerful? Pizza La Strada is a very friendly place. It offers some tantalising pizzas indeed. Edam cheese, chicken and camembert? Yes please!

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ZLIN

Zlin is quite walkable. However, to reach the zoo, you’ll need to get the bus or a taxi without a car. You must buy bus tickets before boarding the buses from ticket machines that can be found at the larger stops.

Within easy reach of Zlin are places like Kromeriz, Lednice-Valtice, and Olomouc.

Be sure to check out the Bata houses in the residential neighbourhoods, just a short stroll from the town centre.

You can see the highlights of Zlin in one day. However, a better pace would be achieved by devoting one day to the zoo and chateau, and another to the rest of Zlin.

Has this guide to Zlin helped you to plan your trip? Anything else that you would like to know?

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking them to purchase your flights, hotels, and car hire, the companies involved pay a small commission to us at no cost to yourself. This helps to keep us on the road, creating guides like this one. Thank you for using them!

The Prague Loreto: A place to reflect in the Czech Republic’s capital

The Prague Loreto is a famous Marian pilgrimage destination in the Hradcany district of Prague, with a stunning Baroque facade. It was built between 1626 and 1631 by an Italian architect, and paid for by a member of the Lobkowicz family. The facade was added less than a hundred years later.

To take photos, you have to buy a photo pass. This is always quite annoying! Even more so here, since there was no one inside checking this, so everyone was taking photos, pass or not!

The Loreto Complex has a famous clock tower with a carillon that produces a famous chime. It has rang here since 1695! You can go upstairs to see a video screen which shows the inner workings of the carillon. However, we watched from down in the cloister. It was a special experience! It has a really unique sound with a rather high pitch playing a Czech Marian hymn. You can hear it every hour between 9-6.

Read about the miracles and decide for yourself whether they are true

The storied cloisters are filled with ‘miraculous’ religious icons, many with information boards sharing the miracles that they are associated with. One of them is a painting of Christ that some Swedish soldiers had stabbed during an argument, only for it to start to bleed. The ceilings of the cloisters are also beautifully painted. We spent quite a while looking at the various altars around the cloisters.

Our favourite find was a Jesus sculpture that looked like Michael Jackson in a dress, complete with real hair! There tends to be very few other visitors, so it is nice to have some peace and quiet for a while. Especially in a city like Prague! Unbelievably, this world class tourist attraction is less than ten minutes walk away from Prague Castle, which has over 7.5 million visitors annually.

In the centre of the cloisters is the Loreto Chapel itself, a freestanding stone building that houses an unusual black Mary and Jesus statue. It is a copy of the Santa Casa in Loreto, Italy. This is supposedly the house that the Holy Family lived in. Apparently, it was flown over to Italy by angels to protect it from the Turks! The linden wood statue of Our Lady of Loreto is now even more precious, since the original was lost in fire around a hundred years ago.

Possibly one of the creepiest discoveries in recent years

You can also visit the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord. It is an amazing Rococo style church, very ornate with lots of gold and marble. There is a marble slab, underneath which was recently found an impressive crypt though visitors aren’t allowed in. Upstairs, however, there is a life-sized recreation of the inside of the crypt. The crypt’s walls are covered in ridiculously creepy macabre paintings of things like walking skeletons shooting bows and arrows and the like.

There are some benches in the courtyard, which make for an ideal place to stop for a drink and a snack. There is nowhere to buy food and drink in the complex, however, so you’ll need to take your own. We enjoyed some gorgeous Czech pastries and soaked up the atmosphere.

Upstairs is home to some of the treasures of the complex, and lots of interesting exhibitions. As well as the live video of the carillon, and the recreation of the crypt, there is a wealth of beautiful religious treasures. The most impressive room is full of monstrances. This is quite a modern room with nice glass cases and a ceiling made from dangling glasses! The ‘Sun of Prague’ is a star-shaped monstrance studded with over 6,000 diamonds!

The Prague Loreto is a hidden treasure

Unfortunately, the treasury room was closed during our visit. Overall, the Prague Loreto is hidden in plain sight amongst Prague’s plethora of tourist attractions. Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square, and Prague Castle may get visitors galore. However, Prague is a city that you should give an extra couple of days. Spend one morning at the Prague Loreto. You can combine it with a visit to Strahov Monastery and Petrin Hill.

Have you got any favourite ‘hidden treasures’ in Prague?