THE MOST POPULAR REGIONS

Let yourself in to the place where the time has stop.

The capital of the Czech Republic is our most valuable historical city reserve. In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.

Prague is accepted as one of the most beautiful and unspoiled cities in Europe. Here, the natural forms of the land and the river have been enhanced by 10 centuries of building a significant cultural centre.

Prague is the highlight of all of our Czech art history tours. The verdicts of our visitors are usually unanimous: Prague is the most beautiful capital in Europe. Although the city was isolated by the Iron Curtain for more than 40 years, it has now resumed its place as a major cultural and intellectual centre of Europe. Nowadays Prague is one of the most visited cities in the world. Prague is like a history lesson come to life. As you walk among the long stone palaces and pointed towers all around, you'll feel as you had stepped back into the 18th century. Goethe called it 'The prettiest gem in the stone crown of the world'. Others called it 'The Mother of Cities' or 'The City of One hundred Spires', or 'The Golden Prague' and 'The Prague that would touch the stars'. What makes Prague so attractive then? It is difficult to put into words - easier to savour the experience with your eyes and other senses. Situated on seven hills and divided by the river Vltava, Prague is one of the oldest and architecturally diverse cities in Europe. For six centuries it has remained near untouched by war, leaving intact stunning examples from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo architectural styles. In the 20th century Prague has also produced some important examples of art nouveau and art deco architecture, and it is one of the few places where Cubism was turned into architecture.

Our expert guides reveal to you the unique character of the 'Golden City'. From the highlights you will enjoy the 1100 year old 9th century Prague Castle - place of the coronation of Czech sovereigns and now the seat of the President, St. Vitus Cathedral - a glorious French Gothic structure built in 1344 by order of Emperor Charles IV; the 14th century chapel contains the tomb of St. Wenceslas (the 'Good King Wenceslav' of the Christmas carol) Charles Bridge - the oldest original surviving bridge in Europe, Old Town Square dominated by the Old Town Hall with the Horologe - the unique Gothic astronomical clock from 1410.

Every visitor to South Bohemia is sure to be pleasantly surprised - it is a region uniquely rich in architecture and culture, and which for centuries has been administered in harmony with nature. Visitors are constantly impressed with how enlightened (and powerfully wealthy) the local noble families must have been - and how talented were the local artists and craftsmen. They have left for future generations a region full of lively culturally-rich Renaissance and Baroque towns, complete with grand Gothic churches, dreamy castles, medieval monasteries, unique folk architecture and a mosaic of beautiful fish-ponds.

The territory of this region has always been of a recreational rather than industrial character. Industrial production is concentrated primarily in the Ceske Budejovice (producer of excellent Budvar beer) conurbation and in the districts of Tábor a Strakonice. Processing industries predominate (manufacturing of food and drinks, means of transport, machinery and equipment, textile and garment production).

Agriculture is focused on crop production, predominantly cereals, oilseed and potatoes, while livestock centres on cattle and pig breeding. South Bohemia also has a long tradition of fish farming. The rearing of fish in 25 000 ha of ponds represents half of all the Czech Republic's freshwater fish production.

For centuries, ponds have been an integral part of the Czech landscape; they are one of the basic elements forming its image. They have a positive effect on the landscape both from aesthetic and environmental point of view.

Their history in the Czech lands goes back to the middle Ages, when pond systems began appearing on the plains. The most famous and probably the most famous and probably the most distinguished builder of ponds was Jakub Krcin of Jelcany in the 16th century, who contributed in a principal manner to the conversion of the marshy region of South Bohemia into an area of ponds and fish-pond cultivation. It is worth mentioning his greatest works - the Svet or Rozmberk ponds and the Nova reka (New river) channel. This heredity is technically unique and a natural treasure in the whole of Europe and the entire Trebon basin has rightfully been placed under the protection of the UNESCO organization. At the present time, more than 24 thousand ponds and small reservoirs are to be found in the territory of the Czech Republic.

Fish farming in the Czech Republic (current production level is 18 - 20 thousand tons of fish) is very well known for its production of high-quality fish. Of the fresh-water fish species, the dominant role on the domestic marked is played mainly by carp, which is also among the success Czech export commodities. The proportion of export fluctuates at the level of 50% of the total production of fresh-water fish. In the surrounding countries carp has the position of a regional product.

South and Central Moravia are specific regions in the very heart of Europe, which you will come to love, as did so many more before you - in no time, and forever. Some of the small towns and villages still look the way they did in the past. You can admire old houses neatly painted with bright colors and even see some older people wear traditional folk costumes in the streets. Some places not to miss are the Kromeriz chateau with its beautiful gardens, the Lednice chateau, the beautiful Telc town square, and one of Moravia's main tourist attractions, the Moravsky kras (Moravian Karst), and a limestone karst region with caves. For many people, South Moravia is a place of cultivated vineyards, blossoming orchards and fertile fields. You can discover for yourself the beauty of the beech woods and orchid meadows of the White Carpathian Mountains, mysterious charms of the floodplain forest at the forks of the Morava and Dyje rivers, or the unforgettable silhouette of Palava. Viticulture is an integral part of South Moravian culture. Discover the region producing Rieslings, Veltlin, Frankovka, and St. Lawrence wines. Walk among the vineyards and wine cellars, taste our liquid sun in central Moravia you can enjoy local Olomouc cheese and wash it down with beer from a local brewery or wine from the Archiepiscopal Wine Cellars in Kromeriz. Olomouc is lovely historical town also called "the pearl on the green cushion". The Holy Trinity Column on the main square is one of the monuments of Central Moravia listed in the UNE SCO world heritage list.

If you are a wine lover Moravia is the place to be. It is the country's wine growing region. You can bring home memories of the time you spent in the wine cellars being invited by the friendly Moravians.

The metropolis of the region is the largest Moravian city, second largest in the Czech Republic, Brno.

Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic with 380,000 inhabitants, is the business and social center of the Southern Moravia Region. It is, likewise, a center of exhibitions and congress tourism. Business people and visitors from around the world come to the Brno fair grounds to attend nearly 50 international exhibitions and trade fairs each year. As a city accustomed to foreign visitors, Brno offers sufficient infrastructure in terms of accommodation capacity and accompanying tourist services including, cultural, social and sports events.

Despite being one of the most fertile parts of the Czech Republic with a relatively important role played by agriculture, the overall importance of this sector in the economy of the region is relatively small and is on a further decrease. Currently agriculture employs less than 6 per cent of labor force.

Pig farming dominates livestock production but cattle breeding are also important, especially in the hilly areas in the northern part of the region. Crops cultivated in the region are mainly corn (wheat, barley, and oats), maize, sugar beet and rape. Wine-making is an important regional specialty with over 90 % of Czech vineyards located in South Moravia. Contrary to the overall trend in agriculture, this sector has been on a steady increase over the past decade owing mainly to the growing popularity of wine among Czech consumers but also due to an increased export of production that has until recently been almost unknown abroad. Production and processing of fruits and vegetables are also important and employ an important share of population in the southern part of the region.