Pilsen

The royal city with a rich history, the city world-known for beer production, the birthplace of the Škoda brand and the European Capital of Culture 2015, all this is Pilsen.

The city lies in western Bohemia at the confluence of four rivers: Mže, Radbuza, Úhlava and Úslava. It is the capital of the West Bohemian region and with an area of 140 km2 and with its 175,000 inhabitants it is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic.

It was founded in 1275 by King Wenceslas II. under the name New Pilsen as an important trade crossroads of Western Bohemia on the way from Prague to Bavaria. At the time of its foundation, some of its most important monuments were built here: the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, then known as the Church of St. Bartholomew, the Franciscan monastery and the church of St. Mary Magdalene from 1320. Pilsen achieved significant development at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, when monuments such as the Great Synagogue, the J. K. Tyl Theater, “Měšťanská beseda“ or the famous Loos interiors designed by the Austrian architect Adolf Loos, who is considered the founder of modern architecture, were built.

The culture in this beautiful city has flourished. It is no coincidence that world-known artists such as Jiří Trnka, Josef Skupa, Ladislav Sutnar and many others come from Pilsen. The Second World War and the subsequent years of communism slowed down the development of Pilsen and the city found itself on the border of the Iron Curtain due to the political division of Europe. Despite this adversity, after Pilsen managed to continue its traditions and raise the name Pilsen again. The people of Pilsen celebrate the liberation of the city by the American army to this day. The beginning of May is therefore full of celebrations every year.

Today's Pilsen is the seat of culture, education and development. Culture lovers go to Pilsen for a rich spectrum of festivals, museums, clubs, theaters and galleries. The most sought-after place is certainly Pilsner Urquell. The brewery, founded in 1842, is visited annually by more than half a million visitors from all over the world. This world-known lager has become a legend and 70% of the world's beers are named after him. Under the historical center of Pilsen, there are almost 20 km of corridors, cellars and wells of the Pilsen historical underground. The underground labyrinth is one of the largest in the Czech Republic. An attraction for families with children are the Techmania Science Center, which contributes to the popularization of science, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, a dinosaur park or also a puppet museum.

The historic center is surrounded by beautiful parks, which attract you to walk in the evening, and has a wide selection of quality restaurants and cafes.

The sooner you explore this beautiful city, the better.