The multi-genre “Living Street Festival” taking place between June 23 and September 9 will bring sixteen days of great entertainment to the West Bohemian city. Showcasing Czech and international bands, theatre companies and performances for children, the festival will involve local people and local businesses. The project promises to be an interesting summer event with a programme appealing to Czech as well as international visitors.

Often dubbed the Athens of the Hana Region, Kromeriz lies on the Morava River close to the town of Zlin and has approximately 30,000 inhabitants. In 1997 Kromeriz was voted the most beautiful historic town in the Czech Republic and a year later its Archiepiscopal Chateau with the Flower Garden and Castle Garden was added to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list. The town regularly hosts music festivals, exhibitions, congresses and conferences.

Despite the fact that there are 15 zoological gardens in the Czech Republic, Ohrada Zoo in Hluboká nad Vltavou does have one thing that sets it apart from the rest. This is to say that it specialises in rearing of small and medium-sized species of animals that live predominantly in our country. You will find here those species which they do not rear in other zoological gardens, be this for their commonness, such as the squirrel, jay or hare, or due to their rarity – for example the European otter.

This poetic name was given to railway line 210 in the direction Prague-Vršovice/Vrané nad Vltavou/Čerčany by ramblers as far back as the first half of the last century. And it well deserves the name. The train travels through the Sázava Canyon, where beautiful and wild countryside awaits you. You will glimpse the gurgling cascades of the Sázava and ramblers’ cabins nestled on the slopes of the valley along with little wooden cottages dotted around the romantic countryside. Anybody who enjoys the atmosphere of the Wild West can bring this to mind on this route.

A long history of balneology, 37 spa towns, hundreds of healing springs and numerous locations rich in peloids (mud, clay, peat) – all of this places the Czech Republic among the world´s super powers in this field. It comes as no surprise that the numbers of visitors from abroad to the Czech spa towns is steadily increasing. This year, apart from the traditional healing and relaxation procedures, visitors to the spa towns can also join the celebration of numerous significant anniversaries.

Agrotourism offers the possibility of spending a holiday in typical rural conditions. You can even volunteer to help the running of the farm and thus earn some money towards the stay itself. The aim of this sort of holiday is a return to life in the countryside and getting closer to nature. You will have the opportunity to come into close contact with farm animals and plants.

The Prague Food Festival, the gastronomic event of the year, will take place from May 25 - 27, 2012 in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle. The theme of this year´s festival is “Think globally, eat locally”. While the strapline suggests the direction the event will be taking, the festival also promises to offer a truly unique range of tastings which have never been presented in the Czech Republic before. The Prague Food Festival has been endorsed by Livia Klausova, the wife of the Czech President, and Bohuslav Svoboda, Lord Mayor of the Capital City of Prague.

Come and test your golfing skills in the Czech Republic. There are almost 100 golf courses in the country to suit all abilities from beginners to professionals. Please do not let your level of ability be the only thing to influence your choice. For lovers of relaxation and wellness there are golf courses situated just a stone throw away from renowned Czech spa towns. If it is history and romantic settings of castles and chateaux which hit the spot for you, you will have plenty courses to choose from.

The pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Hill is an exceptional building designed in Baroque Gothic style which was included in the prestigious UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage in 1994. The architect Jan Blazej Santini-Aichl dedicated the church to St. John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of Bohemia as well as of all priests, confessors, pilgrims and sailors. That is why the statues portraying the saint are often placed at crossroads and on bridges.

The Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region in Kutna Hora will become a venue for the Czech section of the international exhibition project Europa Jagellonica /Art and Culture in Central Europe under the Jagiellonian Dynasty /1386-1572.

The South Bohemian town of Český Krumlov has received The Golden Apple, a prestigious award which is the tourism equivalent of the film industry Oscars. The UNESCO-listed town has joined the highly-regarded list of the most significant tourism destinations in the world. The Golden Apple has been awarded annually for more than 40 years by the World Federation of Travel Journalists & Writers (FIJET). The only other Czech city that has achieved the accolade is Brno which received the award in 2004.

Ten Czech bands have been selected by the organisers of the 11th edition of the international festival JAZZFESTBRNO to feature in its attractive programme. From April 10 until 26 Brno will turn into a true “jazz hub” and see international stars such as Brian Blade, Avishai Cohen and Pat Metheny alongside the leading Czech jazzmen including the trendsetters of the jazz music scene of the last decade. “We are delighted that our invitation to perform at the festival has been accepted by the top Czech musicians including renowned performers such as Milan Svoboda or Jiri Stivin and the new jazz generation of Libor Smoldas, David Doruzek and Marta Töpferova,” says Vilem Spilka, Programme and Art Director of the festival.

Come to Prague to enjoy some of its exquisite gastronomy. The most recent edition of the Michelin Main Cities Guide has awarded two restaurants in the Czech capital a Michelin star each. This is the first time ever that Czech chefs have secured this prestigious award. Prague has also increased the number of BiB Gourmand restaurants, a label signifying good quality food for reasonable prices.

Has your holiday in Prague been truly unforgettable? Do you think Prague would deserve the title of the best destination in Europe? If so then vote for the city in the European Best Destination 2012 Competition, where the winners are decided solely by travellers.

The Czech Republic belongs to Europe´s super powers when it comes to its beautiful array of castles and chateaux. There are more than two hundred of these historic buildings spread all over its thirteen regions and during the tourist season they come to life with fascinating cultural programmes. From concerts to theatre performances and period markets showcasing traditional crafts, historic dances and fencing tournaments, the castles always make a fantastic setting. There are special guided tours by night as well which are particularly popular.

This year, the Czech Republic celebrates the 20th anniversary of the incorporation of its first monuments on the UNESCO List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Come and discover 12 true “jewels of the world”.

Celebrate the last of the winter snow and the first green chutes of spring with a special Easter break in the Czech Republic. If you look forward to celebrating Easter then there are many different ways to do it traditionally or unconventionally. You can take the opportunity for you and your kids to craft your own original souvenir at one of the traditional markets. Those who prefer peace and relaxation will welcome one of the special rejuvenating spa packages. Or would you like to try slightly different ways of celebrating Easter? In that case we would like to invite you to a special celebration in a wine cellar. This Easter the Czech Republic has something for everyone.

One Czech saying is, “If someone is Czech, he's a musician.” Several famous composers were either born in the Czech Republic or enjoyed staying here, including Leoš Janáček, Antonín Dvořák, Gustav Mahler and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Follow in their footsteps and listen to the best pieces of fine music in delightful concert halls, castles and chateaus or at open air concerts.

Villa Tugendhat underwent major reconstruction over the last two years and from this March it will offer visitors countless new features. Apart from the main living areas visitors will be able to see the unique utility and technical floor housing the engine room of the air distribution system, the “moth-resistant” room for the storage of fur coats and flats for the staff. A brand new research centre will be available for professionals looking to find out more about the unique building. The garden adjacent to the villa has also been fully restored.

Norwegian film crews are busy working at Pernštejn Castle in the Czech Republic shooting a popular Christmas fantasy which draws Norwegian families to the screen every year. Visit Pernštejn Castle and see for yourselves why it has been selected as a film setting. Just two hours away from Prague you can experience your own adventure at this magical castle.

Maybe you are saying to yourself: What a lot of rubbish that is, Prague is not on the water. Most of it is not, but a small part of the ancient centre is. Although you won’t find any gondolas here or singing gondoliers, viewing Prague from the surface of the Vltava can be interesting. You will get to see places which are inaccessible on land. You will discover the genius loci of ancient Prague and investigate the mystery of the watery underground here.

Prague Castle is a dominant feature of our capital city, the most important monument and also reputedly the largest castle complex in the world. Simply put, Prague Castle is unique. It is a place from where princes, kings and presidents have ruled for centuries and where the footsteps of all visitors to Prague lead, because you just have to see this castle!
Most tourists only visit the well-known places heaped in superlatives. But there are corners which people do not visit much and yet which are well worth walking around.

“The ICON Hotel & Lounge” in Prague was selected by the users of the worldwide server TripAdvisor as the trendiest hotel in Europe for the year 2011. It is located in the city centre, V Jámě Street, Prague 1, just a few steps from Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. A team of young designers combined traditional architectural elements with modern conceptions, thus creating a unique transformation of a 19th century house into a very interesting space. The name of the hotel itself was not chosen by accident: the building was once owned by Orthodox believers, which is proven by a magnificent icon that has been preserved until today. The hotel was opened in March 2007.

Combine your passion for running with a great travel adventure! In a new project, the Runczech.com running circuit, Prague International Marathon now offers runners six events in four of the Czech Republic’s beautiful cities. Whether you choose the big city race in historic Prague or the charming evening race in baroque Olomouc, running in the Czech Republic can be an unforgettable experience – for you as well as for your family and friends.

Religious monuments, places of pilgrimage and other interesting religious destinations attract more and more tourists. That is precisely why we would like to invite you to the Olomouc region. The city of Olomouc itself has one of the 12 monuments that the Czech Republic is especially proud of: the sights included in UNESCO's world heritage list. However, there are many more reasons to visit the region.

Our era provides us with comfort and ease, which we would probably not swap for anything. But if you were really honest with yourself, who would not want to try out life in the Middle Ages, at least for a little while. Have a look how our ancestors lived, how they had fun and how they worked. How did they entertain themselves when they didn’t have any computers? How did they learn any news without the existence of television, radio and newspapers? Where did they get their food from if not from a supermarket? You will find the answer to all of these questions if you visit the medieval village of Řepora, which can be found between Stodůlky and Řeporyje. Although it is only a replica of a settlement in the 14th century, you need not worry about it being true to the period down to the very last detail.

If at any time, you find yourself in the Jeseník Mountains, don’t forget to visit Velké Losiny. This is one of the oldest municipalities in the Šumperk area, which was founded as far back as 1297. From the second half of the fifteenth century, it was closely linked with the Žerotín Family, which it has to thank for its fame, not only in the paper industry. Many monuments remain to their three hundred years of activity here – a chateau, parish church, spa and world famous handmade paper mill.

Although the Czech Republic cannot boast of enormous mountains or ski runs tens of kilometres long, the Czech mountains nevertheless have much to offer in winter. Last year, the operators of mountain resorts invested approximately CZK 400 million into modernising their technical equipment; this year, large investments are expected to increase the quality of the services provided.

Only a few pages of the calendar remain to be turned until St. Valentine’s Day, the lovers’ holiday. If you are still unsure how to please your significant other, we offer you here several original tips to help you enjoy this holiday. We will divulge to you some of the romantic spots tucked away in the Czech Republic.

Last year marked the passing of 800 years since the birth of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, daughter of the Bohemian King Přemysl Otakar I and his second wife Constance of Hungary. Although she was his last child, Agnes was the historically most important among her siblings. In her time, she was fortunate enough to be able to choose her own path in life, and this is why her destiny panned out differently than her father had originally imagined. And this was certainly not a bad thing!

To get one’s fill of eating and amusement ahead of the Lenten fast – those were the main aims of the Czech carnival tradition known as “Masopust”, extending from Epiphany till Ash Wednesday. This tradition originated in the Middle Ages and was quickly adopted by all strata of the population – from the poorest to the rich, in the countryside and in the cities. The Masopust of today, too, offers especially abundance and merriment and is celebrated in many places across the Czech Republic.

Christmas Eve is behind us and the subsequent Christmas holidays too. We even survived celebrations to welcome in the New Year. Everything was nostalgic, boisterous in places, but above all exhausting. We are now all just puffing and panting and hoping that we won’t see food again until sometime in spring. We think that the only really interesting thing to await us in January is the sales in the shopping centres. This is a mistake! The true conclusion of Christian Christmas is not until 6 January …

President Havel died in the early morning of 18 December at the age of 75.

As usual, the eleventh annual international festival JAZZFESTBRNO presents a wide spectrum of jazz and related genres. From April 11 to 26, a myriad of exceptional foreign guests and top domestic performers will come to Brno to offer fans of modern jazz and improvised music unique musical (and other) experiences. The festival retains its traditional and proven format of two concerts on selected days, amended by night jam sessions.

The Czech capital found itself among very noble company in the ranking of the 10 most attractive places for celebrating the New Year by the prestigious tourist server Gajet. Prague placed fourth after Las Vegas, Savannah and the Niagara Falls, thus giving it the highest rank in all of Europe.

There are few places where you can return to your childhood and nobody will laugh at you. It is possible to turn back time in the Railway Kingdom exhibition. If you come and have a look, you will immediately forget about the worries of the working day. An unprecedented display awaits you, with your children too, at which you will feel like Gulliver with the Lilliputians.

The holidays and time for fooling around in the water have long passed. The countryside is gloomy and damp and it gets dark early. This sort of atmosphere doesn’t help anybody get into a good mood. But there is a possibility here how to have fun in the water for at least a few hours. The number of water parks in the Czech Republic really has boomed over the past ten years, so why not go and mess around in them whatever the weather is like outside. Water slides, whirlpools, water jets and “wild water” are already waiting for you.

We have a few more tips here for you on where to set out for trips to learn something new. This time, our tips will above all be for lovers of beer. Of course this will be a great experience even for the occasional tipplers among you and those who are new to beer. Interest in the Czech brewing industry has been increasing perceptibly in recent times. The Czech Republic is famous for production of quality beer. It is up to you which location you want to have a look at. Small family breweries or large brewing companies which export beer all over the world.

Again we can claim a world record – the greatest number of ghosts per square kilometre. Every respectable palace or medieval castle in Europe has at least one ghost wandering around the corridors, but Prague has tens of such houses and locations. You can stumble across some sort of ghost or apparition almost every step of the way in the Old Town. All you have to do is look and know where to look …

You can set out by train from the North Railway Station in Smíchov along one of the most beautiful railway lines in Prague. It runs above Hlubočepy Valley to Řepy and the view from the window will take your breath away …

Prague nightlife is an interesting mixture of generations and musical styles. Everyone is catered for in the city because the music scene in Prague is very varied. It offers many genres and interesting venues. Discotheques and music clubs - simply put, places which are alive with the rhythm of live or electronic music. The programmes offered by the clubs promise a full house even over the winter, ranging from rock & roll, beat and disco right through to pop.

This facility served its purpose for more than one hundred years. In its time, it was the most modern sewage treatment plant in Europe. Now it has been turned into a unique Eco-technical museum.

The fortress museum industry did not experience a boom until the 1990s. After the events of November in 1989 and change in the political situation, there was nothing to prevent the creation of various clubs and associations, which began to look after the buildings of the former fortifications all over the country. Several museums of a European standard were gradually created, visited by tens of thousands of people every year.

Get to know the Czech Republic through its gastronomy. A unique opportunity to do so is coming up soon. The advanced ticket sales for the GRAND RESTAURANT FESTIVAL which will take place from January 15 until February 15, 2012 in 12 regions, 20 towns and 63 restaurants all over the country will be opening shortly. Visitors will taste fantastic delicacies at special festival prices in restaurants which have been rated highly in the exclusive Maurer´s Restaurant Guide, the Czech equivalent to the renowned Michelin Restaurant Guide. CzechTourism with its project Czech Specials is a proud partner to the event.

Advent should be a time of relaxation and contemplation. A time to step back from the everyday hustle and bustle and catch your breath. Adherence to the traditions of this pre-Christmas period dates right back to the 7th century. Nowadays however, this holy time is considerably subject to commercial pressures. It tends rather to be regarded and enjoyed as days and weeks of peace and calm only by those living in a Christian environment.

The interesting thing about technical monuments is the fact that as opposed to castles and chateaux, they live through that which people invented in order to achieve progress. Technical monuments do not generally rank among those most attractive for tourists. They are most frequently visited by students and members of the professional public who come here above all for educational purposes. But try to give them a chance – you will see that it is worth it.

The sound of clinking glasses to the toast, flamboyant celebrations with friends and magnificent fireworks are just some of the many delights the Czech Republic has to offer to its visitors coming to celebrate the end of the year. Are you dreaming about welcoming the New Year as lords of the castle or soaked up in a bath tub full of beer? Maybe it is the romance of a snow covered cottage in the mountains that your heart desires? The Czech Republic offers a wide range of possibilities for saying farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one. Feel free to choose.

Christmas carols sound through the streets, stars of Bethlehem shine from town squares, and fresh snow crunches underfoot. The scent of evergreen trees, mulled wine and incense permeates city streets. It’s Christmas time in the Czech Republic. Visit the Czech Republic and see the most beautiful Christmas fairy tale with your own eyes. Christmas fairs and markets with unique gifts await you in towns and cities as well as at castles and chateaux.

Do you get the feeling that a visit from a run-of-the-mill St. Nicholas at home this year is not very attractive for your children? Are you already sick of walking the streets teeming with fake devils and angels? Then why not arrange a visit for your children to meet the real Lucifer in the real hell! This is to say that the real “Hell” really will be opening for your children this year too in the Koněprusy Caves.

We have something here for those of you who love mysterious stories from not too far back into history, or those who are interested in the shadowy moments of World War Two. Set out to take in an exhibition in the former Nazi factories. You will often hear interesting stories directly from those who spent some time here in person!

Have you ever heard the words “Protected Geographical Indication”? Only foods which come from a specific region, specific location or country can boast this designation. Their quality or properties must be predominantly or exclusively given by the special geographical environment, which includes natural and human factors. Their production, processing and preparation also take place in a defined geographical area.

Who could fail to admire the graceful curves of old cars, motorcycles, bicycles and other historical means of transport? The eye of a person who loves old forms of transport always lights up when they see something lovely and old pass by. And often it doesn’t even have to be a person who loves old things. This is to say that almost everybody likes looking at beauty from times long past, when there was still a balance between functionality and taste. So don’t miss out on the last meetings and exchanges devoted to these ancient beauties this year.

A major new player is entering the busy wedding fairs market this season. Wedding Expo 2011 aka “Wedding fair with flair” promises to be anything but an ordinary and traditional wedding event. Taking place at the impressive Crowne Plaza Hotel in Prague Dejvice from November 11. – 12. the two day fair will offer a wide range of new products and services which aim to make lengthy and time-consuming wedding preparations as simple as possible.

2 November – a day when the world of the living and the world of the dead symbolically mingle, when people commemorate all of the loved ones who have already left them. This special day to honour the memory of the deceased is part of Christian tradition. People stop off at the cemetery in order to place flowers and light a candle on the graves of their ancestors. The point of All Souls Day is however also contemplation. But All Souls Day is facing ever greater competition from Halloween, which is a festival pertaining rather to the English-speaking countries.

Have you already had enough of museums, castles and chateaux and have you also eaten too many gastronomic delights? We have a tip for an absolutely untraditional experience for you! Find your nearest sporting airport and take a look at the Czech Republic from above. You can be sure that you won’t be disappointed.

… is the patron saint of soldiers, horses, riders, geese and wine makers. He is most frequently depicted on a horse with half a cape and a beggar … St. Martin – one of the most popular saints of the autumn since time immemorial.

The first weekend in December 2011 will be dedicated to a world meeting of creators, admirers and fans, as well as those interested in the so called doll art in the National House in the Prague area of Vinohrady. The international doll and teddy bear trade exhibition called “Teddy Bears - Doll Prague” and a unique art textile exhibition, “Artextil Prague”, will arrive in the capital of the Czech Republic, and Central Europe, for the first time.

The season when the countryside begins to resemble the patchwork of an artist’s pallet is starting. Astronomical data among other things has announced to us that autumn is here. The deciduous trees are already starting to play with all of their colours. Have you noticed that thanks to this, the same countryside looks different every week? If you are fans of these sceneries verging on the kitsch, which only nature is able to offer us, set out for one of the lookout towers. We have a country full of them…

Just like every year, this autumn we can also look forward to the traditional harvesting of the fishponds in the Třeboň Region. This is one of the biggest events of the year in South Bohemia, so don’t miss out on the unique atmosphere here.

Prague is undoubtedly unique in its copious amounts of well-preserved ancient monuments. This does not only concern their beauty, but also the wealth of history relating to them. This is doubly true of Jewish monuments. This is to say that Prague holds a very important position in terms of Jewish history.

Do you have a small child and still have to take a pram when making trips? Would you like to leave the city or visit castles and chateaux? Here are some tips for interesting trips to places you can get to comfortably - even with a pram!

The www.tipsfortrips.cz portal offers fans of excursions and unusual experiences an overview of interesting activities and upcoming events taking place throughout the Czech Republic. The month of October offers both traditional and non-traditional cultural experiences in particular. The towns of Český Krumlov, Brno and Holešov will be echoing with melodies by baroque and contemporary composers and jazz lovers will also be more than satisfied. As well as in other months, October will bring interesting events taking place in various sights and monuments: the Kačina chateau will host a horse riding celebration and you might be welcomed by Maria Theresa herself in the Terezín fortress. Another extraordinary experience, taking place under the Circuit Open Days, will be a unique opportunity to have a ride on Masaryk Circuit in Brno.

Despite the fact that wine does not enjoy nearly as substantial levels of consumption as beer in the Czech Republic, this drink does have a wealth of tradition in our country stretching way back into history. The first evidence of cultivation of grapevines on the slopes of Pálava dates back as far as AD 280, when they were planted by the soldiers of the Roman Emperor Probus. Wine making was already a developed field at the time of Great Moravia, testament to this being the numerous finds of wine-making knives and various types of grape seeds. Wine has left its mark throughout the whole of Czech history. Merit in its spread goes to the monasteries and later also wealthy burghers who established their own vineyards. In the area around Prague, it is the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV himself to be thanked for the vineyards, due to his supporting establishment of vineyards by means of his decrees. Wine was of course also an essential item on the table of every wealthy household and no less so on the tables of the Czech ruler.

The Czech Republic is not only remarkable for its many perfectly preserved monuments from our turbulent history in the form of churches, castles and chateaux, but also for its wide range of remarkable technical monuments, which map the development of many crafts and trades in our country. One of the oldest, which undoubtedly has a wealth of tradition in our country, is mining.

The fact that Prague is a modern metropolis offering fun without limits to all is proven by more and more gay and lesbian events. The “Mezipatra” queer film festival, held in Prague every November, the sympathy competition called the “GayMan CR” or various sports tournaments organised under the so called “Prague Rainbow Spring” are all successful events, attracting numerous visitors.

Is spa treatment to you nothing more than drinking from healing springs and mud wraps? Come to the Czech Republic and let yourself be proven wrong! We will let you decide whether you prefer bathing in chocolate or beer, or if you’d rather a massage with real pearls…

Discover the luxury, quality and history of Czech glass! Czech glass is a byword for quality and tradition throughout the world and today it is considered to be one of the most valuable jewels belonging to our heritage. The first glass factories were founded in the Czech Republic as early as 13th century and the development and use of glass have expanded into all branches since that time. Glass is a symbol of purity and luxury - so come to the Czech Republic and see its magic with your own eyes!

New kinds of tourism include, among others, travelling to “dark” history. Apart from Second World War themes, with typical destinations such as the towns of Terezín, Lidice, etc. that are stressed more often, there are also many places in the Czech Republic that could attract tourists keen on dark stories.

Prague Airport was the only airport in the world to be awarded the prestigious Eagle Award at the 67th annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The airport earned this award for its technological development and satisfaction on the part of its customers as well as for its transparent and equal approach to all airlines and its incentive policy.

This summer will be colourful and brimming with culture. The theatre scene will not be lagging behind the many concerts and music festivals offering wild entertainment. Visitors to large cities around the Czech Republic will have several opportunities to make the mild summer evenings more pleasant by taking in entertaining and serious plays performed by Czech and foreign companies.

Just as every year, there will be countless sports events taking place throughout the Czech Republic this year that attract crowds of sports fans. Lovers of fast cars, combat sports as well as team sports will definitely appreciate the offer and those of you who prefer more to participate than watch will have an opportunity to take part in one of the marathons traditionally organised for a number of years in the Czech Republic.

Although the spas are open year round, the spa season usually starts in May. This has been a Czech tradition for many years. It has its origins in the time honoured practice of sanctifying springs and is usually accompanied by lavish celebrations. This year too, visitors can look forward to numerous cultural and entertainment events in the most famous spa centres, such as Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Luhačovice.

It is said that spring is the most beautiful season of the year. In the Czech Republic this is symbolised not only by the traditional Easter celebrations, but also the start of the new tourist season. Apart from several castles and chateaux, other tourist attractions also open at this time and new cycle and in-line paths are set into operation. The Czechs also like hiking. The Czech Republic has an extensive system of marked tourist trails. The central square in the city of Mladá Boleslav will be reopening for the first time since its renovation as will the square in the historical town of Polička, which was nominated for the title Historical City of the Year 2010. We would like to invite you on a short walk around the Czech Republic in the spring.

Say goodbye to winter and welcome the coming of spring in the Czech Republic. The varied programme of Easter festivals will help you to chase away that spring fatigue. Traditional fairs at castles and chateaux will take you hundreds of years back in time. Special Easter packages for stays in Czech spas will provide you with an energy boost for the whole year and festive Easter dishes will widen your gastronomic horizons.

Is chemistry a nightmare for you with a bad reputation which has stuck with it since primary school, or on the contrary, do you know of nothing better? Whether you belong to the first group or the second one, the International Year of Chemistry may help you to become friends with chemistry (or deepen your passion even further). This was officially commenced at the end of January 2011 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. You can also look forward to several events connected with celebration of the Year of Chemistry in the Czech Republic.

It is not at all important whether you like beer or not for you to take a trip to the town of Žatec. Several new tourist attractions combined with the renowned local hop growing industry offer entertainment for the young and old, for fans of the amber nectar and even for those who have never fallen for its charm. In short, gather up your family or friends and set out from Prague to the northwest of Bohemia!

Vysočina is a slightly harsh yet enchanting region, which is ideal for weekend trips thanks to its varied offer of tourist activities (it is also accessible from Prague and similarly from Brno). The countryside here and clearly rural character of the scenery - in the romantic sense of the word – then present a direct challenge to explore our history.

Saint Agnes of Bohemia is not only the most famous Czech saint and patron of all those who are ill, poor and suffering, but was also a royal daughter who rejected three suitors (or were there more?) and gave precedence to a life of faith and abnegation. We know that in 2011, 800 years have passed since her birth, and we also know where to find traces of her work …

Prague is not the only cradle of culture in the Czech Republic. Several festivals have a long tradition in many cities all over the country and jazz festivals are some of the most eagerly anticipated every year. Two quite exceptional ones await us soon this year, these being the AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festival and JazzFest Brno.

There is a good reason why the Czech Republic is nicknamed the “Golf Republic”: 87 golf courses can be found here, and new ones are continuing to emerge. Some of them date back to as far as the beginning of the 20th century. Many are situated near chateaux, castles or spa resorts. Enjoy your real relaxation and get to the greens in the heart of Europe!

Prague has become famous for its wonderful architecture as well as for its artists and intellectuals who have always been looking for inspiration in a delicious cup of coffee and pleasant company.
If you have already seen all of the Prague’s major sights, but still miss something for the full experience, try visiting one of the local traditional cafés that will embrace you with its unique atmosphere. You can have your cup of coffee in a number of famous places that are closely connected with outstanding figures of Czech history as well as stylish cafés.

Celebrations for its 215^th anniversary are being commenced by the National Gallery, the second oldest European institution of its kind after the Louvre in Paris, by opening an exhibition showcasing the art of the ancient world in Kinský Palace on the Old Town Square. Take a stroll through Egypt and Nubia in the Nile Valley, ancient Greece and Rome, visit the Near East and set out for destinations as far afield as China, Tibet and Japan!

The opening ceremony for the National Technical Museum will be taking place on 16 February on the occasion of the birthday of the eminent Czech architect, builder and patron of culture, Josef Hlávka. The museum has been closed since 2006, when visitors were last able to view its exhibitions. Demanding reconstruction work lasting two years was performed while the museum was closed. This was followed by renovation of the interior accompanied by establishment of new exhibitions.

Would you like to amaze your partner and spend Valentine’s Day in an original, unforgettable way? Come and celebrate the day of lovers in the Czech Republic. The wide range of Valentine’s packages will definitely not disappoint you.

Dive into a world of fantasy, originality, allegory, mysteries and history: visit Prague during the Carnival season! You will discover a whole new world during the bohemian festival called “Carnevale Prague”. Moreover, folk celebrations with masquerade costumes will captivate you in the Czech, Moravian and Silesian regions, too…