Central Bohemia - Culture

Central Bohemia is the region surrounding the city of Prague. If you enjoy visiting old castles, your first stop in this region should be the Karlštejn. It is, perhaps, the most remarkable Czech castle. The Karlštejn is one of the symbols of the Czech Kingdom, founded in 1348 by Charles IV, a Czech king and Roman emperor, the castle has three floors. The first floor entailed secular residential rooms occupied by the emperor, his wife and his company. The second floor is where the Church of Our Lady was built. It was connected to the private chapel of Charles IV by a narrow corridor. The chapel was devoted to his patroness, St. Katerina. The highest place in the castle was the prismatic tower with the Chapel of the Holy Rood, symbolising Heavenly Jerusalem. The castle was initially intended to serve as a place of relaxation for its founder. It took seven years to build. Once complete, the castle was predominately a representative seat. It took one day to travel to the city of Prague on horseback. The castle of Karlstejn has a long religious history as well. Today, the Chapel of the Holy Rood is open to the public, but it is necessary to reserve a tour ahead of time.

This ancient town Melnik became famous mainly due to grapevine cultivation. Today the town features an impressive manor located at the conflux of the Labe and Vltava rivers. From this vantage point, you can see the Ríp Mountain area and much of the Bohemian Central Highlands. Also in Melnik, the tower of Saint Peter & Paul's Temple is very impressive.

Another place to visit is Krivoklát, one of the oldest and most important castles of Bohemian princes and kings. The castle dates back to the 12th century. Over the years, Krivoklát has been severely damaged by fire several times. For many years it served as a prison. It was saved from decline in the 19th century thanks to the renewed romantic interest in historic monuments. There is stunning chapel here and the Royal and Knight Halls with a full exhibition of Gothic paintings and sculpture. The monument also features a large library containing about 52,000 volumes. The Fürstenberg museum and gallery is here also. In the basement there are prison cells and torture chambers complete with torture instruments. The massive tower of the castle offers a lovely view of the surrounding landscape. A walk along the castle walls is also a pleasant experience.

The Rotunda of St. George dates back to the 11th century. It is located at the top of Ríp, which is the best known Czech mountain. The top of this basalt bell shaped mountain was probably a cult place in early times. Ceramic findings from primeval and medieval times have been uncovered by acheaologists in this area. The Mountain of Ríp has been the place of famous pilgrimages and folk gatherings at important moments in Czech history.

We offer a great selection of luxury rental accommodation throughout the Czech Republic, including houses, villas, cabins and apartments. Our rentals feature saunas, hot tubs, swimming pools and also a maid service for an additional fee. Book your accomodation today and immerse yourself in the culture of this region.