Small Group Tour
Explore the Czech Republic Countryside Medieval Towns and Traditional Spas of Western Bohemia Renaissance Towns of South & Southeast Bohemia
September 23-Oct 1, 2006 & May 4-14, 2007
Maximum Group Size 8 People
Day 1 Pick up at your hotel at 9am. Heading west, our first stop is Konepruske Jeskyne for a guided 60 min easy walk thru a complex of caves with beautiful sheets of crystalised limestone and stalagtites. In the quarry nearby, you can try your luck looking for fossils, and if you find some (everybody does), you are allowed to keep them. We will travel onward to Rakovnik, a small pleasant medieval town en route to Karlovy Vary with a nicely renovated synagogue turned gallery, good restaurant to stop for lunch. We'll arrive in Karlovy Vary approx 4 pm. Check in, rest of day at leisure.
Karlovy Vary is a truly cosmopolitan spa town, beautiful, charming. Its' distinct ambience has attracted a sophisticated clientele since the early 1800s, including a number of distinguished artists, politicians and generally the cream of the Old World aristocracy. We will stay in one of the old hotels, the grandeur of the architecture & proximity to the colonnade making this trip memorable. Apart from the most obvious activity which is strolling up and down the colonnade & sipping (free) mineral water from a spout of a special tea-pot like cup, there is a hot springs swimming pool not far from the center (everything is within walking distance). The old, tastefully renovated spa villas are scattered all over the park-like setting of the valley and just walking around is a pleasant & relaxing way to discover all the charms of this place. There are a number of spa services available, from 1hour bubble baths to a dry bath in CO2 to a week long spa procedure, starting at approx $20 for the 1hr.bath.
Day 2 All day in Karlovy Vary, optional trip to the 13 cent. Loket Castle (about 5 miles from Karlovy Vary) or a walk to Stag Leap, a rocky outcrop, view point above KV; can also be reached by cable car.
Day 3 Depart Karlovy Vary for a two hour drive to Cheb, the hub of the region that became part of the Bohemian Kingdom in 14th century, where Albrecht of Wallenstein, supreme commander of the Austrian empire, was assassinated in 1734. Founded in 9th century, Cheb is one of the oldest towns in central Europe. We`ll walk the narrow streets of the well preserved gothic core, visit the Romanesque castle & have lunch in one of the restaurants on the medieval square. Leave Cheb at 2pm, short drive to the old spa town Frantiskovy Lazne. Check in, rest of day at leisure.
Day 4 After breakfast, a short drive to the small spa town Lazne Kynzvart. We will enjoy a guided tour of the baroque mansion of Chancellor Metternich, maverick politician with refined taste for fine arts & one of the most powerful men of central Europe in early 1800s who was enchanted by the beauty of the region. Afterwards, a short drive to Marianske Lazne. Rest of day at leisure.
Day 5 Depart Marianske Lazne for a 120 mile scenic drive to SE along the foothills of the Sumava Mountains, shorts stops in small medieval towns: Horsovsky Tyn, Domazlice, Klatovy. We will explore the sleepy towns on foot, with lunch in Klatovy, visiting the Old Town Square & walking about through narrow crooked alleys. Six miles from Klatovy, there is a remarkable medieval castle Svihov, surrounded by water from all sides. We will enjoy a one hour guided tour. Afterwards, we drive to Prachatice, a pleasant small medieval town. Overnight.
Day 6 Morning depart Prachatice for 25 mile drive to Cesky Krumlov. We have a full day to explore with a two hour guided walking tour and then independent time to stroll, shop, relax.
Day 7 M orning, a 2 hr drive to Tabor, enroute we stop for a visit of Konopiste Castle. Upon arrival in Tabor, we`ll have lunch & spend an hour walking the cobbled streets of this medieval town Tabor was the spiritual center of the hussite uprising in the 15th century. Afterwards, we'll drive approx 30 minutes to Cervena Lhota, a beautiful small castle unknown by tourists, where we partake in a guided tour. Afternoon and evening at leisure. We`ll overnight near Cervena Lhota Castle at Pension Wratislav, a small gothic castle from14 century rebuilt in baroque style in 1759 and completely renovated in 1995, quiet setting in woods, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 Morning visit Jindrichuv Hradec, the place where the renaissance fairytale of Southern Bohemia & Moravia begins. In the 16th century, Jindrichuv Hradec was the second largest town of the Czech Kingdom (after Prague). A one hour drive brings us to Trebon, another renaissance town surrounded by ponds from all sides. The ponds were built in the 16th cent. and have supplied the country with fresh fish ever since. The town has remarkable architecture, castle & park. After lunch, we`ll turn east & drive for about an hour along a winding road among the ponds & rolling hills to the small town of Slavonice, a true jewel of renaissance architecture. Located approximately half way between Prague & Vienna, Slavonice once was an important stage coach stop. Until the fall of communism in 1989, the Iron Curtain (border between Czechoslovakia & Austria) was only 1 mile away and consequently the town was spared insensitive renovation that many other historical sites suffered. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel Besidka, a beautiful 16 century renaissance house renovated by a renown Czech architect. The Besidka has its own excellent restaurant.
Day 9 Morning enjoy Slavonice. After the Velvet Revolution in1990, Slavonice was discovered by the Czech artists for its unique ambiance with several galleries and pottery shops. We'll enjoy a short guided tour of the medieval catacombs and see outside of the synagogue (no entry) and several cemeteries in the vicinity. Slavonice is definitely the highlight of this tour! After lunch, 30 mindrive to Telc, a town on the UNESCO World Natural & Cultural Heritage List. We`ll spend time wandering about admiring the architecture & natural beauty of the place. Optional one hour guided tour of the castle. Another 30 mindrive to Trebic. This town has one of the best preserved Jewish Quarters in Europe: 123 residential houses, 2 synagogues & the cemetery and is also on the UNESCO World Natural & Cultural Heritage List. Onward drive to Mikulov, (1 hr). Mikulov is the regional center of South Moravia, located on the route from Prague to Vienna. The picturesque town founded in 14 th cent. originally gothic, rebuilt as renaissance in 16.cent, has a well preserved medieval core & Jewish quarter including a sensitively restored synagogue. Mikulov is dominated by a huge castle used by the Nazis during WW2 as an archive. In the last days of the war, they set it on fire but it it was completely restored in the19 50's. The southern slopes of the hills are covered by vineyards, so lots of wine cellars in the area. It is the only wine producing region of the Czech Rep. Departure at 5pm, arrival in Prague at 8pm.
Hotels (based on availability): Karlovy Vary: The Romance, the Rose; Frantiskovy Lazne: The Three Lilies, The Stone Inn; Marianske Lazne: The Bell, The Bohemia; Prachatice: Koruna, located in a 15th century gothic house; Cesky Krumlov; Cervena Lhota: Pension Wratislav; Slavonice: hotel Besidka
Prices: The following price is a ballpark figure. The exact price will depend on hotel availability and prices at the time of the booking.
Price per person is based on the number of people. The tour is guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people. Maximum group size is 8: $2280/2; $1950/3; $1888/4; $1770/5; $1600/6-8
Includes: daily breakfast, accommodations as listed or similar, land transport in ac car/mini bus, accompanying escort/driver, entrance fees.
Does Not Include: Intetnational flight, hotel in Prague*, insurance, tips, meals other than breakfast, Hotel in Prague, personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls. Hotel accomodation in Prague must be outside heritage zone in order for pick-up on day 1. We suggest hotel Ibis; reasonable and good location. www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1958/fiche_hotel.shtml or http://karlin.hotelibis.cz/
Your Escort: Petr Z’dek earned a degree in history, traveled and lived in many parts of the world including extended stays in the United States and Canada. He returned to his native Czech Republic in 2001 and became a dedicated guide with special interest in the European Jewish Heritage.
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