Lands of the Former Czechoslovakia

DAY 1 – Fly to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

DAY 2 – Prague

After we arrive in Prague early today, a local guide joins us for an orientation tour of Prague. We see the areas of Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square all while learning about the Velvet Revolution, the people’s march that toppled the Communist regime in 1989. We check into our hotel where we have time to rest before dinner. Hotel Hotel Modra Ruze or similar, Prague (D)

DAY 3 – Prague

We start our day off with a locally guided walking tour of Hradcany, the largest castle complex in the world. In addition to Prague Castle, the grounds also include St. Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane, a collection of small cottages from the 16th century. After lunch, we cross the famous Charles Bridge and continue our walk to Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, where we visit the Old Cemetery and Pinkas Synagogue which houses children’s artwork from Theresienstadt, a concentration camp just north of Prague. Hotel Modra Ruze or similar, Prague (B,D)

DAY 4 – Prague
After breakfast this morning, we drive to ?eský Krumlov. A local guide joins us as we explore the medieval town in South Bohemia. We visit the grounds surrounding ?eský Krumlov’s castle, a series of courtyards with shops, contemporary art galleries and even a bear pit. The Town Hall, built in 1580, is famed for its Gothic arcades. After lunch we continue on to ?eské Bud?jovice, a city named Budweis in German. We tour the brewery which was once the imperial brewery of the Holy Roman Empire, supplying the empire with Budweiser beer. This is the “real” or original Budweiser, after which Anheuser-Busch imitated its beer. We stop in town where we have an hour or so to explore on our own and then we return to Prague. Hotel Modra Ruze or similar, Prague (B,L)

DAY 5 – Prague
Today we will take a day trip to east and north east of Prague. We start our day with a tour of Kutna Hora also known as the city of silver. Kutna Hora, a former royal city and a center of medieval silver mining, has monuments that symbolize its earlier prosperity. We see the Church of St. Barbara, a jewel of the late gothic period. We also visit Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel below the Cemetery Church of All Saints. The ossuary is estimated to contain the skeletons of between 40,000 and 70,000 people, whose bones have in many cases been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel. After lunch we head north to the Bohemian Paradise region. We admire the beautiful bohemian countryside filled with sandstone rocks transformed by wind, water, frost, erosion, and humans into unique and curious shapes. We take a guided tour of Kost castle and then return to Prague where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Hotel Modra Ruze or similar, Prague (B,L)

DAY 6 – Prague
Today we drive to the spa town of Karlovy Vary in western Bohemia, famous for its hot springs (13 main springs and about 300 smaller springs). A local guide takes us thru colonnades where we can sample thermal springs and learn about their health benefits. Some of the springs are as hot as 160° F, but there are plenty of cooler varieties to choose from too. After lunch we take the funicular up to Diana Observation Tower from where we have phenomenal views of the town and its surroundings. We return back to town and visit the Jan Becher Museum where we get to taste the traditional herbal liquor named “Bechorovka” after its creator Jan Becher. After some free time, we return to Prague to get some rest before our Moravian adventure begins. Hotel Modra Ruze or similar, Prague (B,L)

DAY 7 – Brno
After breakfast we say goodbye to Prague and head southeast to Moravia. Our home for the next two nights will be Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. We meet our guide who takes us on a journey around Brno. We see the Old Town Hall, walk thru the vegetable market and visit the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. We also visit the Monastery of Capuchin Monks, home of the Capuchin Crypt housing the mummified remains of the 18th-century monks that used to live here. Around 24 mummies are preserved in their robes, holding the rosary beads they were buried with. After this unusual (and a bit dark) experience, we lighten our mood with a tour of Villa Tugendhat. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a perfect example of early functionalism and modern architecture in Europe. We check into our hotel where we have dinner tonight. Hotel Best Western Premier International or similar, Brno (B,D)

DAY 8 – Brno
Today we head north to the Moravian Karst consisting of over 1,000 caverns and a 450 ft deep abyss named Macocha. We begin by exploring the Punkva cave. Be sure to bring warm clothes as the cave system stays cold even in the summer! We ride by eco-train thru the cave, then an underground boat ride on the Punkva River and a cable car ride to Upper Bridge to see the abyss! We have lunch at a local restaurant and then return to Brno. We stop at a little town along the way to visit the pilgrimage church from the 18th century. We have time to stroll thru cobble streets of Brno tonight before continuing to Slovakia tomorrow. Hotel Best Western Premier International or similar, Brno (B,L)

DAY 9- Zilina
Today we start in South Moravia, a wine region of the Czech Republic. We tour chateau Lednice and its garden also known as the Garden of Europe. Then it’s on to Valtice, a vintners’ center since Roman times. We visit the National Wine Salon located in a cellar of the Valtice chateau. We have a wine tasting tour followed by free time to shop for our favorite wine! We say good bye to the Moravians as we journey thru stunning countryside filled with vineyards and colorful villages. We arrive in Zilina, Slovakia where we overnight. Hotel Holiday Inn or similar, Zilina (B,L)

DAY 10 – Bratislava
A visit to Slovakia would not be complete without seeing the mountain area. After breakfast we meet our guide and start with a visit to the Liptovský Mikuláš region, famous for rich cultural life and sheep cheese! After cheese tasting we move on to Vlkolinec, an UNESCO Heritage mountain village. The village remains untouched and well preserved. Here we see historical monuments from the 15th century! After lunch and some free time at the Low Tatras region, we head south to Bratislava, the capital and the biggest city of Slovakia. We check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. Skaritz Hotel & Residence or similar, Bratislava (B,L,D)

DAY 11 – Bratislava
After breakfast, a local guide joins us for a tour. Today we continue to learn about Slovak history, culture and traditions as we walk thru town and admire the National Theatre, St. Martin’s Cathedral or Bratislava Castle among others. After lunch and free time, we head to the Danube River for a cruise! An hour and half long ride will take us all the way to the Devin Castle ruins, Slovak cultural monument and a symbol of glorious Slavic history. The castle had been used as a frontier fortress during the Great Moravia Empire. We have some time to imagine what it used to be like while we explore its grounds. We return to Bratislava for a farewell dinner. Skaritz Hotel & Residence or similar, Bratislava (B,D)

DAY 12 – Return
It is time to get back home. We transfer to Vienna Airport, leaving the land of former Czechoslovakia behind. We are filled with memories and a better understanding of Czech and Slovak culture. Nashledanou or Zbohom! (B)