ADVERTORIAL • June 2018

Six reasons to check into the Czech Republic

Gobsmacking architecture, restorative spas, world-class beer… and (as if you needed another excuse to visit) this year marks the centennial of the founding of Czechoslovakia. Here’s why you need to hop on a plane to the Czech Republic

Pretty Prague

First timers to Prague will have a must-see list as long as their arms - the Castle, Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock, the Jewish Museum, Wenceslas Square... After navigating the labyrinth of cobbled lanes and gawping at the epic architecture, take coffee in one of the city’s historic cafés. Whether it’s Café Louvre, Grand Café Orient, Municipal House Café, or Café Imperial, expect ornate decor, old-world glamour (read: waiters in bow ties), and ambrosial cakes.

Keep it minimal

While Prague may be littered with gilded palaces and historical museums, Brno - the capital of Moravia - is all about Modernism. Few European cities boast as many functionalist buildings, and Villa Tugendhat is its finest example. Built in the early 20th-century, the interiors are astonishing. If you’re in town, catch the Janáček Brno Opera and Music Festival, which this year celebrates the centenary of the birth of independent Czechoslovakia.

Happy hour

To say the Czech Republic has a strong beer culture is something of an understatement - the country is swimming in the stuff. If you only choose one place to sup on a pilsner make it the town of Zatec, with its Hop Museum and Hop and Beer Temple. But don’t allow beer to bag the limelight. Moravia is the home of Czech wine. How better to drink a toast to Czechoslovakia’s 100th birthday than following the famous Wine Trail by bike?

Journey back in time

There’s no place like the Czech Republic for a history fix. If fairytale castles are your thing, South Bohemia’s Orlík and the breathtaking Hluboká are a must. Equally as photogenic are the Lednice and Valtice chateaux, though it’s the park here which shines (it’s now a UNESCO site). For something a little more “modern” head to the city of Hradec Králové, which was given a makeover at the beginning of the 20th-century by leading Czech architects, who transformed it into the ‘Salon of the Republic’.

King of the road

The city of Mlada Boleslav - in Central Bohemia - may have the requisite castle and be home to a thriving football club, but did you know it’s also the birthplace and home of Škoda Auto? The Škoda story actually began on two wheels: a bicycle called the ‘Slavia’, which founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement built it in 1895. Now it’s the biggest Czech motor vehicle manufacturer, the country’s largest exporter and one of its biggest employers.

Spa quality

The Czechs love a spa town, though don’t go expecting swanky facials. We’re talking bubbling, mineral-rich natural springs said to cure every ailment under the sun, from sinus problems to infertility. Interestingly, as the water content in each town differs, so too does its healing properties. Digestive or respiratory issues? Head for Luhačovice; Karlovy Vary is a magnet for those with obesity and diabetes; while anyone suffering from circulation and rheumatoid conditions might like to try Franzensbad.

Book your Czech Republic break

For more information about the 100th anniversary celebrations in the Czech Republic, visit czechtourism.com

Have an opinion on The Club that you’d like to share? Let us know

This article has been tagged Advertorial