Historical heritage of the Czech Republic

 

 

 

 

COURSE PAPER

“Historical heritage of the Czech Republic”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Czech Republic is one of the most popular countries for holidays. It seems that everyone is created in the Czech Republic for an unforgettable holiday: excellent natural conditions, a lot of architectural and historical monuments, many ancient temples, churches and castles. There are some of the oldest and best resorts of the world.

Tours in the Czech Republic is not only a health vacation, but also a wonderful opportunity to see many sights.

In recent times there has been increasing interest to history. Ancient Czech castles kept a long history of this country, they are full of secrets, mysteries and legends.

For a specialist in the tourist industry is very important to make tours to various destinations. It necessary makes all travel arrangements: selection of the means of transportation, food, accommodation, sightseeing, guide, shopping opportunities and so on.

The purpose of the course paper – to make a tour of the Czech Republic under the title "Historical Czech heritage".

The object of the work – the Czech Republic as a tourist center.

The subject of the course paper – old castles of the Czech Republic.

My work consists of an introduction, theoretical and practical parts, conclusion, bibliography, and appendix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. TOURISM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

 

1. Overview of tourism in the Czech Republic

 

The Czech Republic, and in particular the capital Prague, has become one of the major tourist destinations in Europe. Other highly-visited destinations include Karlštejn Castle, Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov, and Lednice.

The Czech Republic is extremely rich in historical sites, monuments, and well-preserved and wafting up to us to the rustle of the ages. So Plzen, Ceske Budejovice, Hradec Kralove, are centers of national parks, established in the 13th century and retained a large number of historical monuments. Prague, Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Telč and a set of locks Lednice-Valtice, Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Green Hill declared monuments of international importance (protected by UNESCO). One of the main attractions of the Czech Republic are its famous resorts throughout Europe, such as Karpovs Vary, Marianske Lazne, Lazne Frantiskovy and others attracted numerous mineral springs, beautiful nature, there is a rest such famous writers, composers and politicians like Schiller and Gogol, Beethoven and Bach, Marx, and Bismarck. The traditional area of ​​the Czech Tourist Authority is water. Already in the Middle Ages knew the medicinal properties of many of the local mineral and thermal springs. By the age-old traditions were added modern methods of  balneology and  balneotherapy, the introduction of scientific achievements of recent decades. Lovers of winter sports can spend a vacation in places that have become traditional ski centers: Giant, Bohemian Forest, Beskid, Jeseníky, Southern Bohemia, Eagle Mountains. The Czech Republic belongs to countries with a dense network of hiking trails and roads with route signs. Many ponds, rivers, reservoirs, swimming lures, sailing, windsurfing and water sports.

Prague attracts large amounts of foreign (mostly from Germany, Israel , Russia, Spain and United Kingdom) tourists because of low costs associated with nightlife. The large number of bars and clubs, located close together and often open late, serve as additional incentives for tourists from Europe.

The Czech countryside offers protected areas such as Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj), Bohemian Karst (Český kras) and Šumava National Park. The countryside features castles, caves and other landmarks. In Southern Bohemia, the Šumava Mountains contain many hiking and cross-country skiing possibilities. The nature reserve Rejvíz is a popular destination in the Jeseníky Mountains.

Skiing resorts are located from Northern East to Northern West Czech Republic. The most famous and popular resorts lies in the Krkonoše Mountains. Krkonoše includes the tourist centre of Harrachov.

 

1.2 Types of tourism

 

Sightseeing tourism

The Czech Republic offers some 130 historical monuments, each of which is unique. Some objects, such as Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Kromeriz, Litomyšl, etc., included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Czech Republic is among the ten most visited countries in the world.

There are 1500 castles and palaces in the Czech Republic. Of course, the most popular city among tourists is the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. But there are pretty small towns with monuments, medieval castles, quiet and beautiful nature, villages, and, of course, good people with their unique customs and habits.

Health and Beauty Tourism

Healing mineral water made famous Czech Republic. A good level of service and relatively low prices have made available to health resorts, such as Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne, Frantiskovy Lazne, Jáchymov.

Karlovy Vary.

The largest and best known Czech spa. Located in West Bohemia, 130 km from Prague. It has its own airport. Karlovy Vary use for the treatment 13 mineral springs with temperatures ranging from 42 to 72 degrees, similar in chemical composition. Treatment includes a unique combination of drinking water treatment, baths, applications and other procedures. The resort specializes in treating diseases of the digestive tract, liver, pancreas, disorders of the endocrine glands, obesity, diseases of the joints and spine.

Marianske Lazne.

Located 48 km south-west of Karlovy Vary. This is the second largest health resort of the country. It is full of greenery, the whole city is like a huge park. Used for the treatment of cold water shallow, having an average and a high degree of mineralization and relatively high iron content. In the vicinity of the city - up to 100 sources. These waters used for drinking, bathing and inhalation. Also, use of therapeutic mud deposits, and a powerful source of natural carbon dioxide. The resort specializes in diseases of the kidney, urinary tract, respiratory system, disorders of musculoskeletal system, metabolism, thyroid disease, diseases of the nervous system, obesity.

Frantiskovy Lazne.

At 180 km from Prague is situated resort with an acid source (due to the high content of carbon dioxide) of mineral water. In the city are open 24 source. In addition, the treatment uses sulfur-iron source of dirt and dry carbon dioxide (for gas baths). The choice of a course given drinking, physical therapy, carbonic bath, carbonic gas packs, gas injections, mud baths, mud applications. The resort specializes in diseases of the cardiovascular system, digestive system, kidneys, diseases of musculoskeletal system, infertility.

Czech Republic is not washed by the seas, beach holidays are not very common. It is mainly represented by the rest on the incredibly beautiful lakes in the Czech Republic.

Mácha Lake provides an opportunity to rest on its sandy beaches and swim from May to September. The water temperature this time of year does not fall below 24 degrees. This is a relatively cheap option, but with a fairly good level of service. Lake is 70 km from Prague. In the vicinity there are many hotels, campgrounds, recreational camps for children. Tourists will find plenty of entertainment. This catamaran and biking, and a zoo, bars and cafes, discos – all open to visitors.

Ski Tourism

Recently, the Czech Republic have become increasingly popular ski resorts, which are quite numerous, very famous for constant weather conditions and are relatively cheap, although facilities are still "not up" to Western standards.

The most famous ski resorts in the Czech Republic - Resort Giant. It is located in the highest mountains of the Czech Republic - Giant Mountains (maximum altitude 1602 m).

In the Giant Mountains resort consists of several small towns, the largest of which – Spindleruv Mlyn. It is situated at an altitude of 715–1300 m There are 16 ski runs, 3 cableways, 7 lifts. Length of the route – from 250 to 3700 meters. One track has night lighting, it is possible to do almost any winter sports, restaurants, bars, discos and much more. The season from December to April.

Another, less well-known town Harrachov. It is located in the western part of the mountains on the border with Poland, in the valley of the river Mumlava. From the south the city borders the steep slope of Devil's mountain 1020 meters high from the north - from the slopes of the Silesian Ridge.

Despite the fact that Harrachov – a small ski resort, it will bring pleasure to both beginners and advanced skiers. Good conditions for families. Ski season - from December to April. Ski area – 650-1020 m, elevation – 370 m, number of lifts – 15. Total length of trails – 10 km, the number of tracks – 8, 6 of them are for beginners and one complex. There is a lighted track.

On the slopes of Devil's Mountain built five jumps, one of which is among the six highest jumps in the world. There are five ski schools, ski rentals and snowboard equipment.

 

 

 

 

1.3 Main tourist regions

 

Prague region

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. Political, economic and cultural center of the state. The residence of the president, government and parliament. It is centre of Higher and Professional Education.

Prague is world famous cultural center of Europe with a lot of theaters, museums, galleries and exhibition halls. Prague unusually rich in splendid buildings of all ages. The historic core of the city area entered in the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Central Czechia

Central Czechia is wide recreational area. This area used by residents of Prague for the weekend and holidays. In Central Bohemia, tourists can visit many historical and cultural centers, ancient residences and monuments.

There are two most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic – Karlstejn and Krshivoklát, which are the centers of two protected reserves in Central Bohemia: Czech Karst and Krshivoklátsko. Not far from Prague, tourists can visit the castles Konopishte, Dobrish, Czech Shternberk.

South Czechia

South Czechia is practically not disturbed by modern civilization area with many cultural and historical monuments. This vacation area offers to visitors a huge selection of tourism – from hiking and fishing, water sports to visit historical cities, castles, cathedrals and monasteries. Treasure of the South Bohemian region is Czech Krumlov, whose historical center recognized as part of the world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The most popular monuments of South Bohemia are rural architecture in the village Golyashovitse, the castle Gluboka nad Vltavou, Chervená Lgota Castle, Castle Svikov, monasteries Vyshí Brod and Zlata Koruna.

Shumava

Shumava Mountains and hills with wonderful nature creates ideal conditions for summer tourism and winter travel. In summer, tourists can discover the charm of the nature of primeval forests, silent valleys, mountain meadows, streams and rapid lakes, swamps and quarries. This is a land with many mountains. Shumava and its centers offer excellent conditions for winter sports. Well-equipped ski slopes and trails are located in such centers as Iron Ore, Shpichák, Zadov, Houranev, Nova Guta . The region also offers many historical monuments, folk architecture, picturesque villages and romantic ruins of former castles.

Pilsner Region

Pilsner is picturesque region of forests and hiking trails. Pilsner is woodland, filled with a network of rivers and ponds, with almost untouched nature, picturesque villages and castles. It is economic, cultural and social center of the entire western Bohemia.

Pilsen received worldwide name thanks to the production of famous brand of beer "Pilsner Urquell". The historic city center, founded in 1295, declared a reservation. The place manages the Gothic Cathedral of St. Bartholomew Kostelní with a tower 102,6 meters. The most famous forest in this region – Brdskie, located in the east. Krshivoklátsko – biosphere reservation of UNESCO.

The entire territory of the region well suited for leisure, family tourism and sports training. One of the most popular forms of recreation – fishing, hunting, rural tourism and horse riding, ecological tourism. Attractive conditions, wonderful nature and suitable terrain make this area especially attractive for local travelers and foreign tourists.

West Czech Resorts

West Czech Resorts is the most western tourist region in the border with Bavaria, has become famous primarily for its resorts. Its region with the largest number of mineral springs in the world. The local mineral springs are exceptional, and a variety of chemical composition, and the scale of the physiological and therapeutic effects.

The best known resorts are Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Frantiskovy Lazne.

The unique atmosphere of the resort parks, colonnades and architectural buildings leave the impression of a lifetime. Cheb is one of the oldest city in the Czech Republic, offers to visit the set of objects of cultural heritage with historical monuments and buildings of folk architecture. There are produced porcelain, tourists  can  taste  here the famous resort wafers.

At the resort Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary are located the most beautiful golf courses in Europe. You can also relax, doing water sports, fishing and swimming, cycling and hiking. Amazing nature will surround you in the reserve Slavkovský forest, on which is laid for the tourists a variety of ecological paths.

For winter sports enthusiasts will appreciate the excellent conditions in the mountainous center of the Ore Mountains, Boží Dar, Klínovec, and Potuchki Pernink. In a region centered 18-patching three golf courses, well worth a visit and architectural treasures of the region. In the City of Bečov nad warm exposed relikviary St. Moor, the most famous treasure is, after the coronation jewels of Prague Castle.

Eastern Bohemia

Polabe is a land of plains and warm climate with opportunities for swimming, water sports, hiking or cycling. Adrshpashsko-Teplice Rocks is the unique nature reserves, Eagle Mountain and the area Králický Sněžník attracted mostly lovers of mountain tourism and winter sports. Throughout the region is developing agri-tourism, mainly aimed at breeding horses. Guests can experience folk tradition, including handicrafts, also to visit many castles and cities, old military fortifications, local monuments of the Renaissance, baroque, secession and modernism. There is a wonderful opportunity to relax at the resort and to organize congresses, secular, cultural and sports events that have always attracted visitors.

South Moravia

Center of Moravia is Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. There are monuments of UNESCO – Villa Tugendhat, Shpilberk Castle and many other interesting places. Literature fans interested in the Moravian Museum of Literature in Rajhrad.

Touristic region, located in the north, called the Moravian Karst. The most interesting sights are Mountain Punkva, the gap Macocha, Lysice Castle, a fortress Pernshtejn. In the Western Park Boskovice visitors can spend a day full of entertainment.

Slovak is the area that became famous thanks to folklore, wine and traditional handicrafts. There is the Museum of the villages of Southeast Moravia in Strážnice, castle Milotitse, the Slavic settlement in Mikulchice.

Valtice called the capital of wine, where is located in the residence of the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic. Mikulov attracts tourists its historical monuments and the beauty of nature

North Moravia and Silesia

The eastern part of the region is called Wallashsko. There is a unique style of wooden buildings (churches and folk architecture) and preserved traditions. Jeseníky and Ryhlebsky mountains with excellent conditions for recreation and mountaineering, summer and winter sports, the possibility of spa treatments, are attractive to tourists.

Center of the region is Ostrava, city with industrial sites. Among the most popular attractions is the Wallachian Museum in Rozhnov on Radgosht, place of pilgrimage Maria Opava and the youngest city of the Czech Republic Gavirzhov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. ANCIENT CASTLES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

 

Cheský Krumlov Castle

Cheský Krumlov Castle is located in the city Cheský Krumlov. It dates back to 1240 when the first castle was built by the Witigonen family, the main branch of the powerful Rosenberg family.

By the 17th century the Rosenbergs had died out and the dominion of Krumau was given to Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg by Emperor Ferdinad II and Eggenberg was named Duke of Krumau. After the death of Hans Ulrich's son, Johann Anton I von Eggenberg, the castle was administrated for the period between 1649 and 1664 by his widow Anna Maria.

One of her two sons, Johann Christian I von Eggenberg, was responsible for the Baroque renovations and expansions to the castle including the castle theatre now called the Eggenberg Theatre. When the male line of the Eggenbergs died out in 1717 the castle and duchy passed into the possession of the Schwarzenbergs. The entire area was declared a national monument in 1989 and in 1992 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kostnice Sedlec

The Kostnice Sedlec is a small Roman Catholic chapel, located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic.

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. The ossuary is among the most visited tourist attractions of the Czech Republic, attracting over 200,000 visitors yearly.

Henry, the abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec, was sent to the Israel by King Otakar II of Bohemia in 1278. When he returned, he brought with him a small amount of earth he had removed from Golgotha and sprinkled it over the abbey cemetery. The word of this pious act soon spread and the cemetery in Sedlec became a desirable burial site throughout Central Europe. During the Black Death in the mid 14th century, and after the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century, many thousands were buried there and the cemetery had to be greatly enlarged.

Around 1400 a Gothic church was built in the center of the cemetery with a vaulted upper level and a lower chapel to be used as an ossuary for the mass graves unearthed during construction, or simply slated for demolition to make room for new burials. After 1511 the task of exhuming skeletons and stacking their bones in the chapel was, according to legend, given to a half-blind monk of the order.

Between 1703 and 1710 a new entrance was constructed to support the front wall, which was leaning outward, and the upper chapel was rebuilt. This work, in the Czech Baroque style, was designed by Jan Santini Aichel.

In 1870, František Rint, a woodcarver, was employed by the Schwarzenberg family to put the bone heaps into order. The macabre result of his effort speaks for itself. Four enormous bell-shaped mounds occupy the corners of the chapel. An enormous chandelier of bones, which contains at least one of every bone in the human body, hangs from the center of the nave with garlands of skulls draping the vault. Other works include piers and monstrances flanking the altar, a large Schwarzenberg coat-of-arms, and the signature of Rint, also executed in bone, on the wall near the entrance.

Karlshtejn Castle

Karlshtejn Castle is a large Gothic castle founded 1348 AD by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor-elect and King of Bohemia. The castle served as a place for safekeeping the Imperial Regalia as well as the Czech crown jewels, holy relics, and other royal treasures. Located about 30 km southwest of Prague above the village of the same name, it is one of the most famous and most frequently visited castles in the Czech Republic.

The castle was built upon a promontory from the south side of Kněží hora hill, divided from it by a narrow sag. The first gate, a square, two-storey tower with a tall hip roof, stood above a moat at the western slope of the promontory. It was connected with the rampart traverse by means of a small portal. The traverse was protected by battlement and divided by a covered bastion in the middle. The second gate led to the Burgrave House courtyard. Drawbridges closed both entrances. The Burgrave House formed the Karlštejn settlement, it was fortified with a two meters wide rampart, the Well Tower stood slightly lower. In the burgraviate's rampart a third gate was staved - the main entrance into the inner castle.

The core of the castle consisted of three parts placed on three levels-differentiated terraces; every level express different importance. On the lowest terrace there stood the Imperial Palace, above it there was the Marian Tower and the Big Tower stood the highest. The Palace is a single-tract building, about 12,5 m wide and 46 m long, closed in the east by a semi-cylinder tower, had – aside of the cellar dug in the rock – the ground floor and two walled floors; the third floor under the roof was built from half-timbered work. The ground space is open to the courtyard, the rest was occupied by a granary. Three rooms form the first floor; largest is the central room, the so-called Knight Hall. The emperor inhabited the second floor of the palace; the floor was divided into four rooms by self-supporting partitions. A spiral staircase connected it with the third floor in which – according to the record from the 16th century – there was a residence of the "empress with her female retinue". The layout and equipment of the second and third floor was approximately the same: bedrooms on the eastern side, then the stateroom, a hall and the rooms in the west.

The central area of the 60m high and separately fortified (4–6 m thick walls) Big Tower is the Chapel of the Holy Cross; it has no analogy in concept elsewhere in the world. In the safety of the chapel, behind four doors with nineteen locks to each key was guarded independently, the valuable documents of the state archive were kept along with the symbols of the state power – the Czech Crown Jewels.

The Well Tower, being the logistical centerpiece the castle could not function without, was the first part of the castle to be built. Miners were brought in from the mining town of Kutná Hora, however, water was not encountered even after the depth of the well was 70 meters, well below the level of the nearby Berounka river. An underground channel was therefore excavated to bring in water from a nearby stream, yielding a water column of 25 meters, sufficient to last for several months. The reservoir had to be manually refilled roughly twice a year by opening a floodgate. Considering the significant strategic weakness incurred to the castle by the lack of an independent water source, the existence of the underground channel was a state secret known only to the Emperor himself, and the burgrave. The only other persons aware of its existence were the miners, who were however allegedly massacred on their way from the castle after the construction, leaving no survivors.

Konopishte

Konopishte is a three storey castle, about 50 km southeast of Prague, outside the city of Beneshov. It has become famous as the last residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered World War I. The bullet that killed him, fired by Gavrilo Princip, is now an exhibit at the castle's museum.