Czech Republic

My Czech Republic travel summary:

Visited: July 2006, February 2007

Duration of visit: 9 days

Capital city: Prague

Population: 10.2 million (2007)

Czech Republic travel blog reading time: 8 minutes

• Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, great beer, and beautiful girls in Prague.
• Business meetings with local distributor in ex-textile center of Liberec.
• Budweiser beer tasting in Česke Budejovice.
• The oldest city map in UNESCO World Heritage city Český Krumlov.

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe that was born out of old Czechoslovakia during the fall of communism on 1^st of January 1993. It is well recognized for high quality beer industry, its capital city, excellent hockey team and beautiful girls. It is also the homeland of famous writer Franz Kafka and superstitious king Charles IV.

Although the Czech Republic is close to Slovenia, I never developed a real interest in exploring it thoroughly. I visited different parts of the country several times, for both travel and business.

During my position as an export sales manager for Central and Eastern Europe in an American corporation, I was responsible to promote sales of HVAC products in Czech Republic. At the time, I was based in London, and our local distributor was located in Liberec.

Liberec, known as the Bohemian Manchester, was a major textile center from the 16^th century until the 1930s. It is the fifth-largest Czech city, located in the north of the country.

Today, the city feels rather unattractive, with few tourists visiting landmarks like the City Hall, Ještěd Tower, or botanic garden. During my trips, I never found exciting places to visit or interesting things to do.

The highlight of my travels was a stay in luxury hotel. I enjoyed staying in a local spa-hotel and getting a quality, affordable massage after long meetings with our distributor.

My business partner, Ivo, grew up in socialist Czechoslovakia. After the Berlin Wall fell, he seized a great business opportunity importing well-recognized international brands.

He was a tough businessman to negotiate with, finalize agreements, or explore new distribution channel opportunities.

I will never forget the long hours of meetings to finalize the new distribution contract for the corporation I represented. The first paragraph strictly prohibited owners or directors of local distribution companies from joining left-oriented political parties.

Ivo hated the previous system and was not a member of any political party. But, according to him, the local Czech law prohibited to sign this kind of statements. For months, he insisted to remove this clause from the contract, until he finally gave up and approved it.

At the end, he invited me to the best restaurant in Liberec. We cheered with local beer and continued discussing business.

I visited “the mother of cities” on various occasions and I might be there again soon, since it is not far from my hometown.

Prague is considered one of the most beautiful cities, not just in Eastern Europe, but across the entire continent.

Situated on the Vltava River, offering home to about 1.3 million people, Prague is a political, cultural, and economic hub of Czech Republic. Museums, galleries, theaters, and other landmarks attract many visitors to Prague. Inexpensive food, drinks, parties, and accommodations make it a popular party city for Western Europeans.

No other place matches Prague, where middle-class Western men can fly cheaply and book affordable luxury hotels. They can drink unlimited beer and enjoy the company of some of Eastern Europe’s most beautiful women on a bachelor party. It can actually be any kind of party!

Prague was an important city to the Habsburg monarchy and Austro-Hungarian Empire. Prague largely escaped bombing during the Second World War, preserving its unique historical appearance. Its medieval cobblestone streets wind past beautiful palaces and churches of all architectural styles.

Since 1992, the extensive historical center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Prague Castle started as a walled fortress around AD 870, serving as the home of Bohemia’s kings. Today, it serves as the official residence of the Czech Republic’s President and is the world’s largest castle complex. Inside the castle, I visited St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the Powder Tower, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the Czech Republic’s largest and most important Christian church, taking over 525 years to complete. Its architecture combines 14^th century Gothic, Neo-Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. Inside, I admired stained glass windows, a 1370 mosaic, and a jewel-encrusted altar with over 1,300 precious stones.

I walked across Charles Bridge, 516 meters long, linking Prague’s Old Town and New Town over the Vltava River. Street artists and performers entertained me as I mingled with crowds of visitors. The bridge was the sole mean of crossing the Vltava River until 1841. All the traffic over the bridge was cancelled in 1965 and since then, only pedestrians can use it.

The Old Town Square, founded in the 12^th century, is the oldest and most significant square that initially served as a marketplace at the crossroads of European trade routes. The Old Town Hall, the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell and the monument to Jan Hus, dominate the area, which is flooded with foreign visitors every summer. I mingled with tourists in front of the 15^th century Astronomical Clock. 12 Apostles and other figures parade across its face every hour.

I continued my Czech Republic travel adventure to Česke Budejovice. The city is famous as the home of the original Budweiser beer headquarters.

The factory started brewing its reputable beer in 1895. The trademark dispute between Czech and American breweries has lasted over a century, starting in 1907. It has triggered more than 100 court cases worldwide.

The current status seems as a big confusion.

Some countries allow distributors to sell the original Czech Budweiser Budvar. Others permit only American Budweiser, while some regions trade the beers under different names, like Bud.

Since there are not many places to visit around, the best thing to do is beer tasting. During the brewery tour of the factory in Česke Budejovice, I was guided through different phases of production and maturation, before finishing in the packaging department.

Tasting the Budweiser Budvar confirmed its renowned quality. Artesian water, Moravian barley, and Saaz hops give it a distinctive flavor. The main reason that makes this beer special is the fact that it is matured for a minimum of 90 days, contrasting with 72 hours of lagering for commercial beers.

I ended the brewery tour with a delicious lunch at the factory’s affordable restaurant.

Nestled on the banks of the Vltava River, Český Krumlov is a charming medieval town. It is one of the Czech Republic’s most stunning destinations, rivaled only by Prague. It impressed me with the narrow streets, the main square and the castle, which rises above the city.

These are also the main reasons that the city has been on the UNESCO list since 1992.

The oldest city map in the world, made of tiles, is attached to the wall of the city hall. It used to serve to the visitors that arrived in the city for errands.

I enjoyed visiting the city’s many typical pubs, where locals serve excellent beer and hearty dishes. Being vegetarian, I chose to skip the local specialty, goulash.

I will always remember driving through Northern Czech Republic’s remote roads in winter, as dense fog turned forests into impenetrable depths.

Somehow, my Czech Republic travel adventures always led to happy endings. This happened whether I was traveling for pleasure or handling the strangest business negotiations.

Prague reminds me a lot of Budapest, which had been much less promoted and off the main tourist maps until recently. Due to many visitors, especially in summer, the Czech capital suffers from noisy, disruptive crowds and inappropriate behavior.

I loved exploring Český Krumlov and Česke Budejovice, where the castles emphasize the region’s rich history and charm. When travelling around the country, my days were filled with various things to do. Tasting local food, sipping beer, and strolling through the old towns became the highlights of my days.