Plzeň
Plzeň is Bohemia's second largest city and the Czech Republic's fourth. About halfway between Prague and Munich in West Bohemia, Plzeň was founded at the end of the 13th Century on the old trade route from Passau to Prague and retains its original Gothic street plan to the present day.
In the middle of the huge open central square stands the Gothic cathedral of St Bartholomew, boasting the tallest church spire in the Czech Republic (102 metres). Lining the edge of the square are some impressive three and four storey town houses including the sgraffito-covered renaissance town hall.
The grid of streets surrounding the square are home to historic attractions such as thebrewery museum, the entrance to the Plzeň underground and the Franciscan monastery complex. Just outside the line of the old town walls to the west are the Great synagogue and the fascinating Patton memorial and museum that tells the story of Plzeň and West Bohemia's liberation by American troops at the ends of WWII.
Plzeň is not an especially green city, but outside the historic centre there are five rivers. On a short visit the three names to remember are Radbuza, Mže and Berounka. The Radbuza flows from the Šumava mountains in the south through Plzeň to the north, with the historic old town on the left bank and the train station on the right (eastern) bank. The Mže flows from west to east and joins the Radbuza just north of the city centre. From there the combined waters are named Berounka and flow north past Beroun and Karlštejn castle to join the Vltava on the southern outskirts of Prague.
Near the junction of the Mže and Radbuza rivers lies the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery, which is the single attraction that draws most international travellers to Plzeň. The city's old German name is Pilsen and here in 1842 bottom fermented lager was brewed in a commercial quantity for the first time ever. This style of beer became so popular that most of the world's beer is now made this way and Plzeň is considered by many to be the birthplace of modern brewing.
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Christmas Market in Prague City
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Prague's Christmas market is a traditional pre-Christmas time event in Prague. The market is characterized by candlelight, Czech music, and food. Christmas markets are held all over the Czech Republic, Prague, too, and there are four places: the higher the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and the smaller of the Republic and the Havel plazas. Marketplaces has a colorfully decorated wooden stalls selling traditional handicraft such as keramiikkavateja and marionette puppets. Square in the middle of a stage for singers and musicians for.
Christmas markets are street markets associated with the celebration of Christmas during advent, mainly four weeks before Christmas Day. Origin are in the Middle Ages, in Germany and Austria, where it spread to the whole world. Over time, markets have become an integral part of the Christmas traditions. For most real Christmas markets begin Christmas. Among the first Christmas markets are Dresden markets that took place in 1434. Markets in Bautzen took place even in 1384. Vienna markets dates back to 1294. Originally, Christmas markets served to people at the beginning of the cold season to stock up before the winter season food, warm clothing and other needs necessary for winter survival.
Traditional Czech handicrafts, local foods and Czech Christmas choirs against the backdrop of the Old Town Square in Prague and Český Krumlov castle of making the Christmas markets in the Czech Republic so beautiful. With a choice of regional sweet, like the showered with powdered sugar walnut pastry Trdelník , roasted chestnuts, delicious corn on the cob and other regional delicacies your taste buds are put into the Christmas spirit. And what would a visit to the family Christmas markets, without dealing with a hot mulled wine (Cz svařák cheer)?
All provide the well-known and competitively priced Christmas markets in Prague, Brno, Cesky Krumlov (Cesky Krumlov), České Budějovice (Budweis), Rožnov pod Radhoštem, Horšovský Tyn and Kuks.
The magic of Bohemian Christmas can be experienced not only on the Prague Christmas markets. Also in Český Krumlov is the Christmas market was dominated by the Czech Christmas and attracts an international clientele. At the foot of the old Krumlov castle of the Christmas market is held on the town square regularly around Christmas. Again, every year all sorts of dealers will offer their crafts and traditional Christmas products, goods priced.
Also festive, it shall also be at the Christmas markets in České Budějovice (Budweis) and the city of Brno (Brünn). Markets in Brno are from the end of November ulice held at the Freedom Square, on the Zelný trh and in the Radnická, during the Christmas market in Budweis is open from mid-December. Again, the delicious smell of vanilla is (Cz Vanilkové rohlíčky ) perceive and hear the melodies of Christmas poems.
The Prague Christmas markets open on 29 November and throughout December on until 1 Opened in January. The markets are usually open 9 to 19 clock. The main markets are located around Wenceslas Square and the Old Town Square, while you will find some minor variations around Havelska Trziste and Namesti Republiky. Another market is located on the Vystaviste. The best market is probably the Old Town Square: A huge Christmas tree lights up the center of the square, and the whole place is full of decorated wooden booths and stalls where Handmade and Czech products such as carvings, lace, ceramics, glass figures and Christmas decorations are sold. If you want the atmosphere to absorb even more, you should try delicious gingerbread, sausages, hot punch or mulled wine while street performers, local or international choirs and music groups you look at.
The main idea is to get people in the Christmas period to each other and to enjoy Christmas carols, food and mulled wine together. It's in the markets, however, is not just about shopping, but also about the very special Christmas atmosphere. The seller will not only offer the opportunity to purchase unique gifts, but also get old traditions. The true Christmas idea is so alive.
Christmas is the most important festival in the Czech calendar, and 24 December to 1 January make the most Czechs with their family holiday. That's why the streets of Prague are still busier than usual just before Christmas you can see at the fishmongers barrels full of carp, all put into the Christmas spirit. On Christmas Eve, one without meat, so fried carp with potato salad is served in most families.
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