| alazaro |
Enviado - 27 enero 2007 : 13:40:25 |
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Czechs eye "medical tourism" as a way to solve what ails healthcare
RADIO PRAHA, 23-01-2007
By Ilya Marritz
In a Prague suburb full of timeworn old villas, one house stands out like a robin's egg in a nest of straw. It is even painted blue. This is the Alfadent clinic, a private dental center geared towards foreign patients.
Inside, everything is spotlessly clean. All signs are posted in English and German, as well as Czech, and an enormous plasma screen TV is tuned to CNN.
I came here to find out about the growing industry in what's called "medical tourism". In the recovery room, I meet Heidi from Germany sitting in a chair clutching her jaw.
"I had a root canal. And I will get about nine crowns. I came here because one simply can't afford dental care in Germany. And also the care is great - you feel like a king here, even if you're not doing so well after the long dental operation. It really is worth it. In Germany, I would have paid more than twice as much, even with everything included."
Heidi is not unusual. Alfadent sees twelve to fifteen clients for major procedures every day, and dozens of other clinics around the city have started to cater to Germans, Austrians, British, and other western Europeans in need of bridges, crowns, or just a whiter smile. Czech hospitals get fewer foreign patients - not quite 9,000 in 2005. Nevertheless, it's an 85% increase in just four years.
Karel Rubes is the clinic's managing director. He says the key to attracting foreign clients is making them feel at home.
"It begins with our reception, we have bilingual staff who speak English or German, so they are welcomed here in their home language. We arrange to pick them up at the airport. There are also often family members traveling with them. We have for them here TV, wifi extension so they can take their laptop, they can browse the internet, do their emails, whatever they want. So we try to be here very service oriented, kind of a five star hotel."
All this is possible, Rubes says, because of the country's low labor costs.
"The funny thing is that the material is exactly the same as in the UK, the cost savings stem mainly from lower overhead costs, operating in Prague compare to for instance London, and lower wages and salaries, that adds up and certainly we pass it on to the customer, and we create a certain value proposition to customer."
Now some economists say it's time for the Czech Republic to fully cash in on that price advantage, and specialize in medical tourism. Tomas Sedlacek, is chief economic strategist CSOB bank, and a former advisor to President Havel.
Lately he's been talking up the idea of medical tourism, and says there's a great deal of interest - from people in government, from doctors, and from other economists.
"You can make a very nice deal for foreigners. You know if you want a hip replacement you can either wait for 60 days in your home country or we can fly you to the Czech Republic first class. You can spend two weeks after the operation at a spa. We've done in our heads calculations and rough estimates, even if you do this it's still half price of what it would cost in Western Europe. So for local insurance this would be good thing especially at first while prices are still low and people are not used to coming here for their medical care."
You might call it reverse exploitation. It's not simply westerners taking advantage of the low prices in the east, it's the Czech healthcare system taking advantage of how much Western Europe's health insurers, and private clients, are willing to pay.
"If we instead of shipping doctors to foreign countries, ship foreign patients here, we gain in many respects. Firstly, the good doctors stay here, secondly, the economy will profit, not only healthcare but the whole economy - the tourist industry because there will be other services joined to this core business. Thirdly, the quality of our healthcare would not have decrease, on the contrary it would increase because of the influx of new money. Fourthly, it would become a prestigious industry for Czechs to devote to for a couple of years. And fifthly and lastly, research and development which we so much need, would start flowing in the Czech Republic, even more than it does now."
It's a question, then, of finding a way for hospitals to start offering hip replacement, heart surgery, and other major procedures which can be scheduled in advance. At the moment, because of the way the labor market is structured, only dentistry and plastic surgery have drawn many foreign clients.
"It works with the teeth business because that area of healthcare is already reformed, not the other areas of healthcare. You can have private dentists and you can pay them money directly in cash, you cannot do that with doctors or it's very very complicated. And that's exactly where the inspiration came from - dentists and dental care."
Right now, a consensus seems to building that that more "medical tourism" would be a good idea. David Rath, the former health minister, has voiced his cautious support, and Milan Kubek, President of the Czech Medical Chamber, says he sees thinks it could bring badly needed money into cash-strapped hospitals.
The clinic where he works as an angiologist, Poliklinika Prosek, is perhaps typical - a well-run health center with chipping paint and shabby stairwells. Kubek's main concern about "medical tourism" is that there would be enough doctors on hand to see foreign patients.
"It's a question of capacity. What's a major problem here is that we are losing doctors. Many go to Germany, or the UK, and especially in the border areas with Germany there is a serious shortage of qualified physicians. Often they are replaced by colleagues from Slovakia, who unfortunately are less qualified, and in many cases they have come here only as a stop on the way to countries where they can make more money."
In 2006, new overtime rules took effect, limiting the number of hours Czech doctors may work, and further aggravating the situation. According to the Ministry of Health, the country now needs about 2,000 more physicians to fill the gap. Its answer - recruiting doctors from new EU members Romania and Bulgaria. But so far, very few of them have expressed an interest in coming to the Czech Republic. Kubek scoffs at the program - there aren't enough doctors in those countries who speak Czech, and anyway most would rather go to Western Europe, just as about 1,000 Czech doctors have done.
"The basic problem is the chronic under-financing of healthcare system. We only spend about seven percent of Gross Domestic Product on healthcare, which is far below level of old EU 15 who spend more than eight percent of their considerably larger GDP. The Czech healthcare system is not a black hole. If you follow the money spent, you'll see it's actually a miracle of efficiency."
And that, says economist Tomas Sedlacek, is where patients like Heidi from Germany, can make a difference.
"We have always as Czechs been used to having a very high quality of healthcare, from the Communist regime. So you can do two things - downgrade to a car that is lower rank, or invite other passengers to share the costs. That's what I'm suggesting."
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/87525) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 21 septiembre 2009 : 22:09:05 |
Repubblica Ceca, il Ghetto di Trebíc'
di Andrea Lessona
IL REPORTER
07.09.2009
Cammino per il Ghetto ebraico di Trebíc'. I miei passi si perdono nell’eco della storia, quando persone inermi venivano fatte marciare in fila e caricate sui camion. Partivano da qui, verso i campi di concentramento nazisti per non tornare mai più.
Oggi, questo luogo è Patrimonio dell’Umanità per volere dell’Unesco che nel luglio del 2003 lo ha inserito nella lista dell’Eredità Mondiale Culturale. Per non dimenticare. E il ricordo vive in queste vie dalle case colorate che hanno origini antiche.
Secondo vecchi documenti, i primi ebrei arrivarono a Trebíc' tra il 1338 a il 1410. Ma solo nel XVIII secolo la zona è diventata un vero e proprio quartiere dove nel tempo sono sorte due sinagoghe, la residenza del rabbino, la scuola e l’ospedale.
I 123 edifici, quasi uno sopra l’altro, che vedo seguendo queste vie strette intersecate con piccole piazze, sono ancora quelli originali: solo cinque sono stati abbattuti.
Superando un passaggio a volta che lega il quartiere, arrivo sino alla Sinagoga Anteriore, costruita intorno alla metà del 1600. Non posso entrare, perché chiusa: oggi è usata per funzioni religiose dalla Chiesa Ussita Ceca. Ancora qualche passo lungo le stradine, costeggiando piccoli negozi, caffè e ristoranti alla moda, e mi trovo di fronte all’altra Sinagoga del Ghetto: quella Posteriore.
L’esterno bianco, quasi anonimo, tradisce l’imponenza architettonica e culturale dell’interno. Qui, l’eco della storia è ancora più forte: cammino piano nel salone principale e mi siedo su una delle piccole sedie di fronte alla guida che spiega le origini della chiesa.
E’ stata realizzata nel 1669, poi tra il 1705 e il 1707 fu ammodernata in stile barocco. Pitture preziose scivolano dal soffitto lungo le mura: motivi ornamentali e floreali si distinguono nell’opacità della sala e si intervallano con scritte liturgiche.
Salgo al piano superiore: nei riflessi del sole, che entra ballerino dalle ampie finestre della struttura, distinguo il modellino in scala 1:100 del Ghetto ebraico nel 1850. Lo protegge una teca in vetro che come altre custodisce vecchi oggetti appartenuti agli abitanti di un tempo.
Esco dalla sinagoga e riprendo le vie strette e colorate per lasciare alle mie spalle il quartiere. Costeggio il fiume Jihlava che placido scorre a fianco di Trebíc', città accogliente e ricca di fascino nella regione Ceca della Vysocina.
Accompagnati in auto da Jikta, la guida locale, Paula, l’interprete, Federico ed io arriviamo proprio di fronte all’entrata del Cimitero ebraico sul pendio nord della collina Hrádek. Anch’esso come il Ghetto è Patrimonio dell’Umanità: gli unici due luoghi di questo tipo nel mondo che abbiano avuto tale riconoscimento fuori dallo Stato di Israele.
La Hall Cerimoniale all’ingresso, dove si celebrano funzioni funebri secondo le antiche tradizioni, è stata edificata nel 1903, ma le origini di questo posto risalgano al 1620. Nel 1888 è stato ampliato su un’area che oggi copre 11772 metri quadrati.
Entro dal cancello in ferro cigolante, e cammino nell’erba soffice sino a incontrare il Memoriale delle vittime della Prima e della Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Poi gli occhi vagano nel verde pace di questo luogo, intervallato dallo stile barocco e neoclassico delle oltre tremila tombe ospitate qui. La più vecchia risale al 1631.
Mentre Federico le immortala con la sua macchina fotografica, Paula mi spiega che i sepolcri contrassegnati da simboli particolari sono quelle delle famiglie più importanti. Le vedo sfilare insieme a quelle più povere, e penso che una volta Lassù torniamo tutti a essere uguali.
Esco dal cancello per ultimo. Lo accosto cigolante alla serratura, lasciandolo aperto per il prossimo visitatore.
(http://www.ilreporter.com/reportage/repubblica-ceca-il-ghetto-di-trebic) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 27 agosto 2009 : 13:54:49 |
Hradec Králové
Ryan Scott
Expats.cz
14.8.2009
This quiet town is about 120 kilometers east of Prague. While on the surface it appears quite sleepy, it holds some rare opportunities for you culture vultures and Czechophiles.
Getting There
Connections to Hradec Králové are quite frequent. There are three train routes, two via Pardubice, and buses leaving at irregular intervals through the day. Check Jízdné Rády (http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/) for times.
First Impressions
I was in Hradec Králové for the first time about five years ago. The city had the charm of a European city with wide streets, surrounding an older historical square but without the crush of tourists. This did not mean there was no atmosphere and I was lucky enough to meet some expats studying at the University of Hradec Králové and the Charles University Medical campus.
The city has changed since then. The modernist train station still stands but the square in front is new. There is a display board that shows which stands buses depart from and when, which is handy information.
Getting to the Center
You can walk to the center and in doing so take in Hradec Králové's mix of modern, communist and more recent architecture. Maps are available at the main station for 79 CZK. You can plan your route from there. Incidentally, the map also contains a detailed map of the historical center and a regional map, if you plan any journeys out of the city.
Or you can take one of the city's trolley buses. You can take number 2 in the direction of Nový Hradec, numbers 3 or 6 in the direction of Slezské Pr, number 5 in the direction of Slatina, numbers 11 and 17 (both circular routes) and 12 in the direction of Vertex, or number 16 in the direction of Roudnicka, and get off at either Adalbertinum, Muzeum or Magistát Mesta, depending on the route. Timetables are available here.
Tickets are available from the Pont shop in the main train station. A single journey is 14 CZK. The ticket has to be stamped in an old fashioned mechanical punch. They are usually red and near the front of the bus. You slot the ticket in and pull the black part toward you. Tickets are also available at newsstands.
Cultured Out
Now you are on your way. If you take a number 3, 12 or 16 you can get off at Muzeum and check out the Museum of East Bohemia. The building contains a permanent exhibition with minerals as well as history of the area. Until January 31, 2010 there is also an exhibition of Czech Art Nouveau with fine examples of ceramics, jewelry and furniture. The displays were perfect in that they gave you a taste without overwhelming you. What's more, the building itself is worth visiting. It is a great example of modernism with imposing semi-nude statues flanking the stairs, a fountain and tastefully decorated interior with ornate plaster, stain glass and mosaics by Czech artist Jan Preisler. The interior is so well preserved you feel that you are heading back to the beginning of the century to a time of class and elegance.
From the museum it's just a matter of going up Palackého across Cs. Armady and up V Kopecku which you can follow to the Great Square (Velké námestí). On the square you will see the Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Its interior includes what is considered one of the most distinctive pewter baptisteries, though some of the interior is so-called pseudo-Gothic as it was repaired after the Hussite War.
If you're looking for a view or place to try out your camera's panoramic capabilities you can also climb to the top of the renaissance White Tower. Actually, I shouldn't be so dismissive. The views are pretty impressive as you can see from these photos.
But more than this, if you are on the square, you have to visit the Gallery of Modern Art. You are not going to find lesser pieces by Picasso or Cezanne but gems by many Czech painters and sculptors of the 20th century. There are works by Emil Filla and former resident Josef Capek and my favorite, a macabre scene of wizards and the devil by Czech painter, poet and mystic Josef Váchal.
The gallery is also hosting a temporary exhibition of the fantastic slightly alien images of major Czech painter Jan Zrzavý (ends 30th August) and the abstract stone work of Jirí Kacer (ends 27th September). Check the gallery’s website for upcoming events. The building is also worth visiting for itself because, like the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, it is a great example of modern architecture. The large ornate wooden revolving door is especially impressive.
Lunch Break
The square and nearby streets will provide you with more than enough places to grab a snack or have a meal. There is the upmarket U Radnice with garden seating or the more utilitarian Sport Cafe which seemed pretty busy when I went past. It could be the fairly low prices. If you're in the mood for something different there is Mexita, which also does vegetarian meals, or the trendy looking Cartellone. All have outside seating with a view to the square.
However, I opted for the medieval themed restaurant U Rytíre. The fairly wide range of food and cold Pilsner made up for the fact it was not totally authentic. (I don't think medieval women wore Crocs.) From the meals, which included pasta, fish, game or 200g, 300g or 400g steaks on the grill, I went with the pork knuckle and toast with cranberries, pears and grilled cheese for a starter. The cranberries were a little too sweet to make this work, but the knuckle was as fine as it gets. The meat was tender and smoky and there was a lot of it. Even with the crackling cut away there was too much for one.
Legging It
After such a meal, I needed a walk. Being on the Elbe, Hradec Králové has plenty of places to stroll. You can head away from the church down the square to Žižka's Park. From there you can head to Šimek's Park. From here you can head to the Elbe and turn left toward the city baths. Or you can go left toward Jírasek's Park. The park is at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice Rivers. It's also a good place to chill out, especially after a big meal. Nor does anyone seem to mind if you start exercising; if the locals I saw practicing martial arts were anything to go by.
Other Attractions
Giant Aquarium
One for the kids. There is an underwater tunnel to see tropical aquatic life. For the sporty, there is also a court, sauna and fitness center.
Opening hours: daily except Mon (during school holidays every day) 9am-6pm.
Address: Baarova 10
Tel: + 420 495 534 555
www.obriakvarium.cz
Elbe Steamers
Take a steamer along the Elbe River. The one-hour cruise allows you to have a unique view of Hradec Králové.
Opening hours: May-Oct, Mon-Fri: 3pm-8pm; Sat-Sun: 10am-8pm, other times by prior arrangement.
Address: Docks' at Semtana's embankment
Tel: +420 777 009 143
www.paroplavba.wz.cz
Observatory and Planetarium
If the cosmos is your thing, then you might want to check this out. They also offer activities for kids.
Opening hours: Wed and Fri: 7pm and 8:30pm, Sat: 2pm, 3pm, 7pm and 8:30pm
Address: Zámecek 456
Tel: +420 495 264 087
www.astrohk.cz
Botanical Garden and Medical Plants
Whatever you wanted to know about the medicinal uses of plants should be answered here.
Opening hours: The greenhouse is open all year by prior arrangement. Outdoor is Apr-Oct: 8am-4pm.
Address: Heyrovského 1203, the grounds of the Faculty of Pharmaceutics
Tel: +420 495 067 443
www.faf.cuni.cz/org/center/garden/
City Spa – Aquacenter
Cool off at this 1930s public bath. There is a 50m pool and a wave machine.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm, Sat-Sun: 10am-8pm
Address: Eliscino nábreží
Tel: + 420 495 404 444
www.snhk.cz
Places to Visit Nearby
If you're planning a longer stay in Hradec Králové, you might want to visit some of the historical or natural places of interest nearby.
For hikers and nature lovers there is a network of marked hiking paths starting just outside the outskirts of the city.
For the history inclined, you can take a trip to Chlum to visit a monument to the Battle of Hradec Králové between Prussia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1866. Prussia's victory is seen as a decisive step toward German unification five years later.
A little south is Pardubice, Hradec Králové's rival. It might be worth the trip to find out what all the fuss is about.
Places to Stay
Penzion u Ceské Koruny: This recently renovated pension is in the center of the city. It boasts a restaurant, cafe and pub.
Hotel Boromeum: Located in the center, this hotel offers five types of apartments, either 1 or 2 room.
Hotel Adalbertinum: This is a luxury hotel not far from the town square. The hotel offers a range of rooms with one, two to three beds.
Hotel Eliška: A luxury family hotel on the square. Rooms have views of the square or park. Their restaurant serves brunch on Sundays.
Queens Castle Hostel: Also centrally located but for those on a more restricted budget. They do offer free linen, 24 hour access and flexible check out.
For more information, check the city website: www.hradeckralove.cz
(http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/czech-tourism/hradec-kralove/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 26 agosto 2009 : 23:21:50 |
Šumava museum has unique art nouveau, art deco patterns set
Prague Daily Monitor / CTK
3 August 2009
Prague, Aug 1 (CTK) - The Museum of Sumava in Kasperske Hory, west Bohemia, has a world-unique archive of glass art nouveau and art deco patterns besides an extensive collection of Loetz firm decorative glass products, daily Pravo writes Saturday.
All this was saved by the local teacher in Klastersky Mlyn, the seat of the former firm, Emanuel Bouska who transported the whole "treasure" on horse-drawn waggons as as well as on an ordinary cart to Kasperske Hory when the glass-making firm's buildings were abandoned in 1947, Pravo writes.
It writes that the firm was among the world's leading decorative glass makers from the 1880s until the 1920s. Particularly its art nouveau glass is now among pieces that fetch the highest prices at international auctions.
Samples of Loetz's products are now on display in the Museum of Sumava until October 31.
The exhibition also present a part of the museum's project of processing paper patterns that were used in the production and decoration of glass, Pravo writes.
Some 90,000 of them for about 40,000 glass products have been preserved in the archive of the former glass factory thanks to Bouska, the paper writes.
It says the museum launched the project in 2004 with the financial support of private donator Christian Clausen from Austria.
Within the project, digitised as well as paper copies of the patterns are now being made. They will be accessible to the public in the Glassmaking study centre in Kasperske Hory as from the autumn, Pravo writes.
(http://praguemonitor.com/2009/08/03/pr%C3%A1vo-%C5%A1umava-museum-has-unique-art-nouveau-art-deco-patterns-set) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 26 agosto 2009 : 22:53:57 |
Ceské Budejovice
More than the home of Budweiser
Expats.cz
31.7.2009
Located in the south of the Czech Republic, Ceské Budejovice, home of the original Budweiser, is a perfect place to base yourself if you want to explore Southern Bohemia. The small streets around Otokar II's square are ideal for aimless wandering, and there are enough restaurants and clubs to keep you entertained at night.
Getting There
Buses and trains leave quite frequently from Florenc or Na Knížecí (near Andel) and the main train station or Smíchov train station, respectively. Check Jízdné Rády for times. The journey takes about two and a half hours, a bit less for the bus, a bit more for the trains.
Heading to the Center
It's only a short walk from the bus and train stations. Head right out of the train station and left out of the bus station on to Nádražní street. At the first set of traffic lights, turn left onto Lannová and follow this to the center.
Or take a trolley bus (numbers 2 and 9) or a regular bus (1, 12 or 104) and get off at the stop “Poliklinika Sever.” Then take Knežská street into the center and take the second or third right to the square. Tickets for both trolley buses and buses are available from ticket machines at or near the stops. The journey costs 20 CZK.
Around the square you will find a number of places to eat and drink. However, if you arrive too early on a weekend you might have problems as many places are not open first thing in the morning. When I was there recently, the cafe at the Malý Pivovar hotel, fortunately, was. They have a range of coffees between 26 and 60 CZK. The place is a mix of modern and old world and a quiet place to plan your visit.
Or if you want a first hand view of the city, head straight to Cerná vež (the Black Tower) and take in the view of the city and the surrounds. For the history buffs, or just the curious, the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary is considered among the most important buildings in the city because of its blend of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo features. A medieval fresco is also still visible. The church is located on Piaristický square, which is two blocks west of the main square.
If you want a more in depth view of the region and its history, there is the Museum of South Bohemia. The permanent exhibition is not so enthralling unless you're interested in rocks and stuffed animals. Currently, the sports organization Sokol has a small exhibition. On display are certificates, medals, equipment, photos and quite incongruously, Sokol ashtrays. For me, the exhibition about Šumava was more interesting. It includes a display with wildlife from the region and a small exhibit dedicated to the region's famed writer Karel Klostermann. Better is the exhibit upstairs which gives you a real impression of life in the region in the last century. On display is a typical house with kitchen, complete with utensils and tools, clothing and scale models of coal deposits. For glass lovers, there are samples of glass work from the area, including a glass violin, similar to the one played at the Chicago 1893 World Fair.
The Brewery
Of course a trip to Ceské Budejovice would not be complete without a trip to the brewery. Sadly, it is not in the center of the town. To get there you need to take bus number 2 either from stop “Poliklinika Sever” or outside the train station in the direction Nemanice or Borek. Get off at stop “Budvar.” The ticket is 20 CZK. The Visitors' Center is just around the corner to your left when you face the brewery. There's a sign, so you can't miss it.
If you're expecting a trip back to the roots of beer brewing, you might be a little disappointed. The Ceské Budejovice brewery is a modern concern, but still one that is proud of its traditions. Tours take about an hour and are in groups except at 14:00 when individual tours can be arranged.
An hour seems enough because at the end, you know more about the beer than you’ll probably ever need to. My guide certainly was enthusiastic about his product and was happy to answer any questions about the process and the brewery. One of the most interesting points is that the brewery sits on an artesian basin located 342 meters below the surface. The water is filtered by the layers of rock and is as pure as water naturally gets. They use this water to brew the beer as well as clean the brewery and, according to my guide, it should last 10,000 years.
No trip to a brewery would be complete without a taste test. Before the beer is poured, the guide talked us through the ingredients, allowing us to sniff the bottles of hops and even sample the four varieties of barley used to make the malt. On this day the little group I was with was particularly lucky. There were only a few of us; someone was driving, and the brew master was in generous mood, so a couple of us got three cups each. I doubt the huge group of tourists behind us was so lucky. I would suggest bringing a sweater with you even if it's warm. The temperature in the vat room is a crisp 2C (35.6 F).
Located around the corner from the Visitors' Center is the restaurant 'Pivnice Budvar.' The restaurant is classic beer hall with long wooden tables and a menu that errs on the heavy side. There are many Czech staples such as svicková and dumplings or roast duck and cabbage. On this visit I went for the malter's goulash, which consisted of thin strips of lean pork with sausage in a mild, spicy, if somewhat salty, sauce. It came in a deep metal bowl and was served with bread. To drink, what else but Budvar, which thankfully was cold.
The rest of the region
The city also makes a good base camp to explore the southern part of the Czech Republic. The famed Ceský Krumlov is only a short bus or train ride away. Another picturesque south Bohemian town is Jindrichùv Hradec, also about an hour away on public transport. The chateau there is well worth a look and its cobblestoned paths and streets make for a pleasant walk in the spring and summer, again with fewer tourists.
The spa and carp capital of the Czech Republic, Treboñ, is even closer, so close you could ride there. Treboñ and its surrounds have enough to see to justify a whole weekend, but if you are pressed for time, it would be worth adding this to a trip to the south. The town is surrounded by cycle paths, which take you through the extensive system of ponds.
One place you should definitely see while in the region is the chateau Hluboka.nad Vltavou. The impressive chateau was designed in the so-called Windsor style and does deserve that oft-used description of a “fairy tale castle,” with its crenellated walls, towers and picturesque gardens, you probably can't help imagining donning a suit of armor and charging into battle, or a princess costume – whatever tickles your fancy.
Places to Stay
Malý Pivovar - 25 rooms and 4 luxury apartments, fitted with bathrooms and WC, satellite TV, phone and internet connection.
Address: Karla IV 99/8
Penzion Garni - quite affordable accommodation near the square. It has double and single rooms, each with their own shower and WC.
Address: Na Mlýnské stoce 358/7
Hotel Zatkùv Dùm - provides a historical setting at a fairly affordable price. There are ten en-suite rooms. A buffet breakfast is available.
Address: Kajinská 214/41
Ubytovna u Nádraží - as cheap as it gets. So you're not paying for class. The building is handily located near the bus station and they do cater for big groups.
Address: Dvorákova 161/14
Places to Eat and Drink
You might just prefer to wander the small streets and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. There are bars, pubs and restaurants on most blocks, so you're bound to find somewhere that takes your fancy.
Some of the more notable are:
Gateway of India – Indian cuisine, Piaristická 22/8
Castella – Indian, Mexican and Greek cellar restaurant, námestí. Premysla Otakara II 114/30
Restaurant Gourmet Symphony – High class dining. Check out their website for monthly special offers, nám. Premysla Otakara II. 90/28
Restaurace Masné Kramy – traditional Czech cuisine with tank beer (beer aficionados swear that this is the best way to store beer.) The place comes recommended from several generations of Czechs.
Džin Bar – a mid-budget place with a relaxed atmosphere.
(http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/czech-tourism/ceske-budejovice/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 21 agosto 2009 : 00:31:48 |
Váchal's Portmoneum in Litomyšl
THE JOURNEYS OF CAPTAIN ODDSOCKS
Monday, 18 May 2009
Litomyšl is among Bohemia’s most attractive and interesting towns, and one of its best features is that so many prominent artists lived there and left their work behind for people to enjoy.
Composer Bedrich Smetana was born in Litomyšl and his music can be enjoyed on a visit to his original home, at the musical fountain in the monastery gardens or during the annual opera festival in the renaissance chateau. Similarly, the sculptures of Olbram Zoubek are displayed at several locations across town; the main square, the monastery gardens, the chateau cellars and even in the local cemetery.
Josef Váchal is another prominent artist who worked in Litomyšl. As well as being a painter and illustrator, multitalented Váchal was also an author, woodcarver, typeface creator, and bookbinder. In the newly-independent Czechoslovakia of the 1920’s he was open to a wide spectrum of influences and combined art-nouveau symbolism, expressionism and futurism with his technical skills to create a unique style of artistic expression. Some of his designs have been reproduced as sgraffito murals along a lane named in his honour, and the Portmoneum museum on a modest Litomyšl back street is dedicated to his life and work.
The Portmoneum is the former home of Litomyšl native Josef Portman, who inherited a love of printing, graphic art and literature from his typographer father and became an avid collector of original prints and books of the Czechoslovakian avant-garde, especially the verse of Otakar Brezina and woodcut prints by Josef Váchal.
Portman regularly corresponded with Váchal to purchase artwork. After several years they became friends and Váchal agreed to decorate the interior of Portman’s house in Litomyšl.
Portman had requests like “with that statue in the alcove, for that 600 crowns, carve out something devilish, grimacing…. let him have glass eyes which could be given a coat of that luminous paint… Just imagine how diabolic it would look in that recess, as if the eyes were glowing”. In small bursts between August 1920 and July 1924, almost the entire interior of the house was covered with Váchal’s primitive and demonic murals, creating a claustrophobic effect something like a cave of nightmares.
During those years, tensions developed between demanding Portman and erratic Váchal, and the friendship suffered further when Portman chose not to purchase a copy of Váchal’s new novel; Murder Story, which was set in a thinly disguised Litomyšl (the local town of L.) and featured Portman as one of the main characters (Count Portmon). The last straw for the friendship was when the artist sold a unique and irreplaceable copy of Otakar B#345;ezina’s verse, which had been lent to him by Portman for illustration.
Portman tried repeatedly to mend the relationship but was always rebuffed. After the communists came to power in the late 1940’s, Váchal found it increasingly difficult to work and grew gradually more isolated until his death 40 years ago this month (10.5.1969) at Stud#283;nany near Jicín. Portman died in Litomyšl in 1968 and his house of murals at Ul. Terézy Novákové 75 gradually fell into such disrepair that it was eventually used only for storage.
By the fall of communism in 1989 the murals had either been painted over or were in atrocious condition. After a long, technically demanding and skillful reconstruction funded by Paseka Publishing, the house opened to the public as the Portmoneum museum in June 1993.
It’s now open Tuesday through Sunday from May to September for an admission fee of 40Kc and is one of Litomyšl’s not-to-be-missed attractions.
(http://captainoddsocks.blogspot.com/2009/05/vachal-portman-josef-litomysl.html) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 20 agosto 2009 : 21:35:27 |
Las Sendas del Vino de Moravia...en coche, en tren,...o ¡en bicicleta!
TURISMO DE DEPORTE Y VINO EN LA REPÚBLICA CHECA
A FUEGO LENTO.com
Año XII - Numero 191
08.2009
300 ciudades vinícolas, más de 600 bodegas, más de 1.200 km de ruta entre hermosos viñedos y verdes senderos serpenteando a través de la región checa de Moravia son el mágico enclave de esta ruta en la que descubrir los singulares sabores de los vinos de la región. La Oficina Nacional Checa de Turismo lanza la campaña "Ciclista Bienvenido"
Las Sendas del Vino Moravo son diez rutas que transcurren por 300 ciudades vinícolas de la región de Moravia del Sur, en la República Checa. Cada una de ellas, conectada con la red principal que une Znojmo y Uherské Hradiste. En total hacen más de 1200 km entre hermosos viñedos y espectaculares monumentos como el Palacio de Lednice-Valtice o el Parque Nacional de Podyji, donde los amantes del vino, la bici y la naturaleza pueden disfrutar de una diferente y bella escapada en un entorno único.
Rutas
Para escoger la ruta que mejor se adapte a las condiciones personales de cada uno, se editan mapas y cada sendero cuenta con señalizaciones específicas donde se ofrece información sobre la duración de cada itinerario, la altitud, el estado de la carretera y los servicios y cuestiones de interés.
A pie, en coche, en tren, o en bicicleta
Además, de poder utilizar otros medios de transporte, como el tren o el coche, la República Checa ofrece muchas facilidades para recorrerla en bicicleta: perfecta señalización de sendas, campings a precios asequibles, alquiler de bicicletas en más de una decena de estaciones de tren, se pueden dejar las bicicletas en una estación distinta a la que se alquiló
Por otra parte, numerosos transportistas ofrecen la posibilidad de transportar sus bicicletas, y disponen de líneas de autobús también para las bicicletas así como, en todos los recorridos, existen hoteles con la certificación de “Ciclista Bienvenido”, que hará mucho más cómodo el viaje.
Durante el recorrido, los visitantes se pueden acercar a las bodegas y cooperativas vinícolas para realizar catas y adquirir vinos in situ. Las condiciones ambientales de la región hacen que estos peculiares vinos tengan una compleja escala de intensos aromas y sabores.
Celebraciones populares durante el mes de septiembre
Si se visita esta zona en septiembre, el Mes del Vino, durante el fin de semana del 11 al 13 se encontrarán con celebraciones pintorescas.
En Znojmo preparan grandes desfiles históricos, uno de noche y otro por la tarde, torneos de caballeros y el mercado histórico. En diferentes escenarios actuarán tanto estrellas de la música pop checa como grupos regionales. El año pasado acudieron a esta fiesta unas 80.000 personas.
También en Mikulov se degustarán durante tres días vinos y el mosto llamado "burcak". Esta encantadora ciudad de Moravia del Sur ofrecerá a los visitantes un rico programa cultural y folclórico, además de puestos callejeros de comida y un mercado de artesanía. La fiesta se desarrollará en la plaza, el anfiteatro y el parque del Palacio de Mikulov.
Más información
De Moravia procede la primera alusión acerca del cuidado de la vid en el año 1101 en los documentos del monasterio benedictino de Trebic. Esta región vinícola produce en la actualidad el 96 % de la producción de vino checo, y se divide en las comarcas de Znojmo, Mikulov, Velkopavlovická y Slovácká.
Hoy en día, los vinos de Moravia gozan de reconocimiento en todo el mundo, prueba de ello son los premios que han ido obteniendo en los más prestigiosos certámenes internacionales.
Más información:
Oficina Nacional Checa de Turismo - CzechTourism
www.CzechTourism.com
(http://www.afuegolento.com/noticias/191/actualidad/6793/las-sendas-del-vino-de-moraviaen-coche-en-treno-en-bicicleta/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 12 agosto 2009 : 21:58:47 |
La Moravie de l’Est
Par Jaroslava Gregorová
RADIO PRAHA
09-08-2009
La Moravie de l’Est est une région au sol fertil, au paysage varié, renommée pour le bon vin et la slivovice, cette fameuse eau-de-vie à base de prune. Les gens y sont joyeux et chaleureux, et d’ailleurs, le Morave est très différent du Tchèque.
Faisons d’abord un petit arrêt dans la ville royale de Uherské Hradištè, dont le territoire était au IXe et au Xe siècles au centre de la Grande Moravie, premier Etat des Slaves occidentaux. La ville a été fondée en 1257 par le roi Premysl Otakar II, prince de la dynasite des Premyslides. En ces temps éloignés, c’était une forteresse entourée d’un rempart, d’une douve et d’un glacis portégeant la frontière de l’est et du sud contre l’invasion des troupes ennemies. La forteresse n’a été supprimée que vers la fin des années 1780.
Dans la seconde moitié du XVe siècle, les citoyens de Uherské Hradištè ont défendu la ville avec passion et ardeur contre l’armée du roi de Hongrie Mathias Ier Corvin. En guise de récompense pour leur courage, le roi leur a octroyé de nouvelles armoiries ainsi que le droit de cacheter les actes et les titres avec de la cire rouge. La ville n’a jamais été conquise. Au Moyen Age, Uherské Hradištè comptait parmi les villes les plus importantes en Moravie. Elle a connu son plus grand essor au XVe et au XVIe siècles. A cette époque la ville jouissait de nombreux privilèges. Au fil des siècles, Uherské Hradištè, comme beaucoup d’autres villes, a dû faire face à des guerres, des incendies et des épidémies, dont la pire a été la peste. Au XIXe siècle la ville est devenue le siège de nombreuses organisations et offices. Depuis, elle n’a cessé de se developper.
Parmi les monuments intéressants citons la chapelle de Sainte-Elisabeth, construite dans un style gothique et bâtiment le plus ancien de la ville, la porte Mathyas, l’unique porte de la ville encore existante, le cloître des Franciscains fondé au XVe siècle, l’ancienne mairie datant du XIVe siècle, la fontaine baroque située sur la place Masaryk, la colonne de la peste en mémoire des victimes de l’épidémie ou la nouvelle mairie, construite vers la fin du XIXe siècle, et dont la salle de cérémonie est décorée par les fresques du peintre Jožo Uprka.
Il est également intéressant de visiter le Musée local se trouvant dans le parc de Smetana, qui fait découvrir aux visiteurs le folklore et le mode de vie des habitants de la région à une époque déjà révolue. Dans le parc, on trouve aussi la réplique d’une habitation typique de la région, construite à l’occasion de l’Exposition slovaque organisée en 1937. La maison, détruite par la crue de 1997, a été reconstruite par la suite et décorée par les peintures du peintre breton Moarch Even. Actuellement elle sert de salle de répétition des ensembles folkloriques.
La ville de Uherské Hradištè a une vie culturelle très riche. Parmi les activités les plus importantes citons le festival d’été du film qui cette année a fêté son 35e anniversaire. La ville a acueilli de nombreux invités du monde du cinéma dont les réalisateurs belges Raoul Servais, avec son cycle de dessin animé, Jaco Van Dormael, qui a entre autre présenté ses films Toto le Héros, Lumière et Compagnie, le Huitième jour et Maedli la brèche, ou encore Jan Bucquoy, avec ses six films sur la vie sexuelle des Belges. La toujours ravissante actrice Marika Green, qui incarne le second rôle dans le film de Just Jaeckin Emmanuelle, a remporté un grand succès auprès du public, en étant naturelle et agrèable.
Si vous vous trouvez à Uherské Hradištè, il est bien aussi de visiter les environs. En premier lieu Ostrožská Nová Ves où se trouve le lieu de baignade en pleine nature. C’est une ancienne carrière de sable et l’eau y est claire et propre. Ensuite il y a le château de Buchlov, Buchlovice, et celui de Uherský Ostroh. Et il ne faut certainement pas omettre de visiter la basilique de l’Assomption de la Sainte Vierge se trouvant à Velehrad.
(http://www.radio.cz/fr/actuel/tourisme) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 10 agosto 2009 : 20:36:45 |
Descubre Moravia en bicicleta por las Sendas del Vino
ViajaryViajar.com
7 de agosto de 2009
Más de 1.200 km de verdes senderos serpenteando a través de la región checa de Moravia son el mágico enclave de esta ruta en la que descubrir los singulares sabores de los vinos de la región en sus más de 600 bodegas.
Las Sendas del Vino Moravo son diez rutas que transcurren por 300 ciudades vinícolas de la región de Moravia del Sur, en la República Checa. Cada una de ellas, conectada con la red principal que une Znojmo y Uherské Hradiste. En total hacen más de 1.200 km entre hermosos viñedos y espectaculares monumentos como el Palacio de Lednice-Valtice o el Parque Nacional de Podyjí, donde los amantes del vino, la bici y la naturaleza pueden disfrutar de una diferente y bella escapada en un entorno único.
Para escoger la ruta que mejor se adapte a las condiciones personales de cada uno, se editan mapas y cada sendero cuenta con señalizaciones específicas donde se ofrece información sobre la duración de cada itinerario, la altitud, el estado de la carretera y los servicios y cuestiones de interés.
Además, se alquilan bicicletas en más de una decena de estaciones de tren así como, en todos los recorridos, existen hoteles con la certificación de “Ciclista Bienvenido”, que hará mucho más cómodo el viaje.
Durante el recorrido, los visitantes se pueden acercar a las bodegas y cooperativas vinícolas para realizar catas y adquirir vinos in situ. Las condiciones ambientales de la región hacen que estos peculiares vinos tengan una compleja escala de intensos aromas y sabores. Las marcas más solicitadas son Veltlínské zelené, Müller-Thurgau o Muškát moravský, en los blancos; y Frankovka o Svatovavrinecké, en los tintos.
Si se visita esta zona en Septiembre, el mes del Vino, durante el fin de semana del 11 al 13 se encontrarán con celebraciones pintorescas. En Znojmo preparan grandes desfiles históricos, uno de noche y otro por la tarde, torneos de caballeros y el mercado histórico. En diferentes escenarios actuarán tanto estrellas de la música pop checa como grupos regionales. El año pasado acudieron a esta fiesta unas 80.000 personas.
También en Mikulov se degustarán durante tres días vinos y el mosto llamado "burcak". Esta encantadora ciudad de Moravia del Sur ofrecerá a los visitantes un rico programa cultural y folclórico, además de puestos callejeros de comida y un mercado de artesanía. La fiesta se desarrollará en la plaza, el anfiteatro y el parque del Palacio de Mikulov.
De Moravia procede la primera alusión acerca del cuidado de la vid en el año 1101 en los documentos del monasterio benedictino de Trebíc. Esta región vinícola produce en la actualidad el 96% de la producción de vino checo, y se divide en las comarcas de Znojmo, Mikulov, Velkopavlovická y Slovácká. Hoy en día, los vinos de Moravia gozan de reconocimiento en todo el mundo, prueba de ello son los premios que han ido obteniendo en los más prestigiosos certámenes internacionales.
Más información:
Oficina Nacional Checa de Turismo - CzechTourism
Call Centre: 807 300 565
http://www.czechtourism.com/
(http://viajaryviajar.blogspot.com/2009/08/descubre-moravia-en-bicicleta-por-las.html) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 09 agosto 2009 : 21:24:00 |
Brtníky
Bohemian Switzerland
Brtníky is an oblong but not a very large village situated in the valley of the Brtnický potok (Brtníky Brook) on the northern edge of the Národní park Ceské Švýcarsko (Bohemian Switzerland National Park) near the towns of Rumburk and Krásná Lípa. According to the administrative structuring, Brtníky belongs to the five-kilometre-far village of Staré Krecany in the County of Decín, Ústecký Region. It lies in the high of 415-430 m above sea level.
For its situation near the border line with Germany Brtniky is the starting point of the tourist routes and paths leading to the Bohemian Switzerland National Park as well as to the Saxon Switzerland National Park, to the Šluknovská pahorkatina (Šluknov Hilly Land) and to the Lužické hory (Luž Mountains).
Accommodation
In Brtníky, there are two possibilities to get an accommodation: to rent a whole cottage or a room in a cottage with rooms for rent.
+ iNFO: http://www.brtniky.cz/cz/
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| alazaro |
Enviado - 09 agosto 2009 : 20:42:40 |
Parque checo es reconocido como nuevo "Destino Europeo de Excelencia"
Ceské Svycarsko destacó por su fomento a programas medioambientales y a su turismo responsable
LA TERCERA (Chile)
04/08/2009
La República Checa entró en el proyecto europeo EDEN ("Destino Europeo de Excelencia"), gracias al Parque nacional de Ceské Svycarsko ("la Suiza Checa"), ubicado al noroeste del país, donde los programas medioambientales se desarrollan junto a un turismo responsable, manteniendo intacta la belleza de la zona.
Según el sitio español PRNoticias, este parque se encuentra en la frontera con Alemania y está dividido entre los dos países, adentrándose unos 80 km2 en la República Checa.
Al área checa se le conoce como la "ciudad de las rocas de piedra arenisca" por sus representativas formaciones rocosas de peculiares aspectos, como puertas, torres, paredes y cañones. En tanto, se trata de un paisaje que ofrece innumerables posibilidades al turista que quiera disfrutar de la naturaleza y actividades al aire libre.
Sus características naturales, además del exitoso modelo de gestión aplicado en una zona protegida dentro de una industria del turismo, permitieron que este parque fuera reconocido con el título "Destino Europeo de Excelencia" de la República Checa.
Hay que recordar que es el primer año que el país Centro europeo participa en esta iniciativa de la Comisión Europea.
(http://www.latercera.com/contenido/660_164515_9.shtml) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 07 julio 2009 : 15:34:16 |
ALIMEX CS
Car rental and transportation company
Alimex CR provides professional, reliable and quality individual transport for short or longer distances. Individual transport is provided with vehicles of all categories and with professional driver. We do not only rent a car, but we provide full service in accordance with client´s needs. We will process plan for business or leisure trips troughout the whole of Czech republic, we will provide guide in all languages including catering or interpreter services. We will provide regular or irregular transportation of emlpoyees and children to nursery school, tours and trips and all corporate and family events, transfers within CR and abroad.
+ INFO: http://www.travel-czech.eu/en/homepage/
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| alazaro |
Enviado - 09 junio 2009 : 00:38:45 |
INTER BOHEMIA ANSTALT
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To enjoy really perfect holiday like thousands of tourists before you, there should be also beautiful weather. This is the only thing we (unfortunately) can not guarantee ;-)
So come on and visit our catalog with hundreds of vacation rentals and find your dream house. Take now the first step towards your unforgetable holiday!
Our specialization is the rental of holiday homes, cottages, chalets, apartments, hotels, guest houses and other accommodation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We offer quality for very low prices, holidays at the water or in the mountains in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. With us you can experience wonderful summer or winter vacations, in the summer swimming, skiing in winter. We care for your summer vacation at the water, or romantic Christmas and New Year's Eve in the mountains. We rent private accommodation, villas, bungalows, chalets, apartments, hotels and guesthouses. Join us for a memorable vacation with your children but also with your dog.
Contact:
Pod Kaninem 1051
CZ-373 41 Hluboka nad Vltavou
Tel. +420 387 965 510
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E-mail: info@interbohemia.cz
Office opening hours: Monday - Friday 7.30 - 16.00 h
+ INFO: http://www.interbohemia.cz/interbohemia-kontakt_en.php |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 21 febrero 2009 : 21:49:42 |
No-Frills Pampering in a Czech Spa Town
By Mary Ellen Monahan
The Washington Post
Sunday, February 8, 2009
A slender blonde sitting next to me on a bench in Karlovy Vary's Spa III got up, tossed off the white sheet she was wearing and jumped naked into a pool 20 feet away. I sat there, paralyzed, wondering how to discreetly grab my clothes and find an exit.
Too late! The gruff spa attendant returned, clucking at me in Czech, pointing first to the pool, then to the sheet clutched tightly about me. Off it went -- along with any shred of modesty -- as I joined the blonde and two plump, orange-haired Russians for a gals-only naked swim. I had no idea the massage I had booked came with nude swim privileges, but suddenly I felt as free as a bare-bottomed toddler.
Western Bohemia is rich with thermal springs, and spas began sprouting up around them hundreds of years ago to harness the waters' reputed healing properties. While initially available only to European royals, aristocrats and the literati, the masses began arriving for rest or medical treatment following the Iron Curtain's descent after World War II.
I was curious about these places since first visiting what was then Czechoslovakia in 1990, but I never made it beyond Prague. Then, while traveling through Eastern Europe last March, my lower back suddenly rebelled. Serendipitously, I was in Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad), the Czech Republic's most famous spa town.
These are not spas in the lavender-scented, chakra-realigning sense from the United States, land of Canyon Ranch's $1,000-per-day packages. Although for those who prefer their pampering more patrician than proletariat, boutique hotels and luxury spas such as the Castle, Karlovy Vary's most popular, have mushroomed since 2004, when the country joined the European Union.
But I wanted an authentic old-school experience, that of the Cold War-era peasant rewarded for a bumper cabbage crop. Two days later, I secretly hoped for another muscle pull so I could stay on.
Spa III, the town's oldest, looked as if it hadn't changed much since the 19th century, when it was built. Employees clad in white walked the long, anonymous corridors. A few geriatric Russian and German visitors sat on vinyl chairs outside the many doors, waiting to confer with a doctor before starting a wellness program.
This often involves "taking the waters," a reference to the centuries-old tradition of drinking mineral waters freely available at numerous taps around town. Such water is reputed to ease digestive and other ailments, but after sampling the stuff -- reminiscent of rusty water -- I thought it might instead cause a few. A shot of Becherovka, the town's famous herb liqueur, proved more beneficial later in the day.
Treatments included such mysteries as "lymphodrainage with apparatus" and "Scottish strikes," but also the familiar: underwater massages, saunas and mud or mineral baths. I booked a 15-minute classic massage ($22). A burly woman in line ordered in Russian; I was prepared with a Czech phrase book and cobwebbed college Russian, but the helpful clerk spoke some English.
In contrast to the corridors, the vintage dressing area (all decorative white woodwork and wrought iron) would've won over even the most zealous communist. I changed, donning a white sheet like everyone else. A gruff attendant then walked me to a bench outside the massage rooms . . . and the nude swim spectacle.
Post-swim, a stout masseuse poured oil on my back and expertly kneaded my muscles while Czech pop tunes played. The room felt sterile, like a doctor's office; in contrast, a recent massage in the United States included vanilla candles, soothing taupe walls and New Age music. But all that seemed superfluous now, and after 10 minutes in the sauna, I was in a steamy, pleasant stupor.
I left to wander along the Tepla River, which slices the town in half and whose rushing sound was trance-inducing. Classical colonnades and pastel neo-Renaissance, neo-baroque and art nouveau mansions competed for attention from both sides of the river.
Peter the Great, Goethe, Beethoven, Marx and Freud, and more recently Bond -- James Bond, in the 2006 film "Casino Royale" -- have also ambled along the cobblestones here. And now?
This Story
"This is Russian town," said Jan, a university student I met several days later.
It did appear that way. The below-freezing temperatures probably felt comfortable to the predominantly Russian tourists wearing patchwork fur coats or dark leather jackets, strolling soberly, arm in arm. They clutched ceramic souvenir cups bearing pictures of the town and occasionally stopped to refill them at one of the many mineral-water taps. Or to sample oplatky, the ultra-thin baked wafers and local specialty whose sweet scent drifted past jewelry stores, boutiques, cafes and souvenir shops.
The next day I visited Elizabeth Spa, the town's largest, opened in 1906 and named for Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph's wife. The receptionist booked a 20-minute classic massage ($22), which again included sauna time. Because I hadn't scheduled in advance, the "carbon dioxide bag" and "mouth irrigation" treatments were fully booked for the day. I stifled my disappointment, realizing that life must retain some mysteries.
Hana . . . Eva . . . Jana . . . Milena. Every few minutes an attendant called out the lyrical names of robust-looking Czech women of all ages and sizes. Despite a clinical atmosphere, everyone smiled and greeted one another, adding to a good vibe here.
My masseuse -- a tall, powerful blonde who looked as if she could have been on the national volleyball squad -- dug in deep for a vigorous massage in an austere yet sunny room. Feeling fantastic afterward, I showered off and entered the sauna as two paunchy women soaked in large steel tubs.
When I came back out, I heard a whooshing sound reminiscent of Niagara Falls. Across the way, an attendant was using what looked like a fire hose to spray a woman standing against the wall. "Scottish strikes" mystery solved! (Note to self: Stick to baths when in Scotland.) But afterward, the recipient of the water assault also appeared invigorated.
I wondered if Austrian Empress Elizabeth had it this good.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/02/06/ST2009020602567.html) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 18 febrero 2009 : 13:48:11 |
Do It: Winter walks in Roztoky
By Kristina Alda
PRAGUE DAILY MONITOR
15 January 2009
Prague in mid-winter certainly has its moments: On sunny days, pale smog-filtered light casts a strange silver glow over everything, and the city's crooked cobbled alleys never look better than around 4pm when dusk falls. But then there are the crowded trams, the chugging traffic, the all-permeating damp cold – it can get a bit dreary.
Fortunately, you don't need to travel far to experience Czech winter in a more bucolic setting. Roztoky is a tiny town just a 15-minute train ride from Prague, nestled in the appropriately named Tiché údolí – the quiet valley. It's got cozy pubs, a network of hiking trails – which are cross-country skiable in winter – spooky-looking mansions, a chateau and the most charming 19th century train station.
The train trip itself is a delight. Board the Kralupy nad Vltavou-bound train from Masarykovo nádraží (take time to pause and admire the run-down beauty of Prague's oldest station before it gets shut down and converted into a shopping mall).
As the train passes above the streets of Karlín on the elevated tracks of a 19th century viaduct, you can look in through the windows of nearby apartments and check out how other Praguers are spending their weekend.
After it crosses the Vltava, the train continues along tracks that run between the Stromovka park and an arm of the Vltava. This part of the river is now frozen, and you might see some skaters and hockey players making the most of the season's unusually cold weather.
Once in Roztoky, you have several options. There's the Museum of Central Bohemia, housed in the town's chateau, not far from the station if you're craving something educational. My advice, though, is to head straight to Hospûdka Zvírátka (Little Animals pub) for some grog, mulled wine or the excellent unpasteurised Cerná hora beer.
It's about a 10-minute walk to the pub along a street that leads through the old part of Roztoky. On either side, you will see mansions, some apparently abandoned with boarded up windows and crumbling facades. The villas date back to the second half of the 19th century when Roztoky became a popular place for wealthy Praguers to spend their summers. The composer Bedrich Smetana used to spend his summers here.
It's a long enough walk – especially when it's cold out – to build up a small appetite. Along the way, you will pass a local wine cellar, where you can fortify yourself before hiking the last 30-metre stretch to Zvírátka, so named because of the pets – birds and cats, mostly, although there also used to be a pot-bellied pig – that share the space with guests. The pub has an outdoor barbecue that runs year round. The menu isn't extensive but offers precisely the sort of food the winter-chilled traveller might desire: barbecued ribs, fried cheese, sausage and home-made pies.
You could while away hours, especially if you manage to snag a seat near the wood-burning stove, but best move along before it gets dark because another not-to-be-missed Roztoky experience awaits.
The ideal route is to backtrack down the street from which you came and get on a trail that follows a small brook that runs on the edge of the town. A 10-minute walk along the brook through a wooded area takes you to a clearing with a pond – now frozen enough to skate on – with a restaurant next to it that looks like a mountain chalet. This is Koliba. It has a full menu that alongside Czech standards like guláš and pork knee also includes Slovak specialties like halušky with sheep cheese or kapustnica, a rich creamy cabbage soup. Best of all, Koliba has a sizeable fireplace and plenty of seating right next to it.
The downside to all this coziness is that you can easily become lazy and, rather than strapping on skis or lacing up your hiking boots, might feel tempted to return the same way you came and take a train back to Prague.
If, on the other hand, you are feeling ambitious, you can follow one of the trails all the way to Prague. This is about 10km, so make sure there is plenty of daylight left. Alternately, you can follow the red trail along the brook to Únètice, a neighbouring village, from where you can catch a bus to end of the A metro line in Dejvice.
(http://praguemonitor.com/2009/01/15/edit-do-it-winter-walks-roztoky) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 26 enero 2009 : 00:57:58 |
HotelOnline
http://www.hotelonline.sk/en/index.php
Aquesta agència té una bona oferta d'hotels, hostals i apartaments arreu d'Eslovàquia i a la República Txeca, que es poden reservar per Internet.
Esta agencia tiene una buena oferta de hoteles, hostales y apartamentos en diversos lugares de Eslovaquia y de la República Checa, que se pueden reservar por Internet. |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 28 noviembre 2008 : 13:29:42 |
Konopištè Chateau
By Jan Velinger
RADIO PRAHA
26-11-2008
The Czech Republic is famous as a country of castles but this week I had a chance to visit one that is truly exceptional: the renowned Konopištè Chateau, found just 40 kilometres south of Prague. Konopištè, together with its wide surroundings and gorgeous interiors, is of course particularly famous for its ill-fated last owner – the heir-apparent to the Austrian throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, assassinated, together with his wife, in Sarajevo in 1914 - the spark that set off the First World War. In this edition of Spotlight we visit some of the magnificent rooms at Konopištè which Francis Ferdinand and his family once used to welcome notable guests.
But before we get to Francis Ferdinand, a little more on the castle’s extensive history: I met with one of Konopištè’s main guides, Miroslav Marek, this week. He explained that Konopištè goes back to the late 13th century, when it was founded as a medieval castle by the Benešovs, compete with fortified walls, tall towers, and deep ditches. After their line died out in the 14th century, ownership passed to another famous noble family.
“The last in the Benešov line died out at the start of the 14th century and Konopištè came into the ownership of the Sternberks, and they had it longer in history than anyone else, for roughly 300 years. They did a lot of renovation in the gothic style.”
Other notable owners were the Vrtbas – who transformed Konopištè into a Baroque palace, but of course the one who left the greatest stamp on the chateau was its last owner, Francis Ferdinand, nephew of Austrian Emperor Franz Josef and the successor to the Austrian throne.
“The last changes of course were made by the last private owner Archduke Francis Ferdinand d’Este. Ferdinand took over Konopištè in 1887. He bought the site for 2.5 million gold coins, a huge amount of money. Imagine he was the richest Habsburg and one of the richest people in Europe. He inherited from his uncle, Franz V d'Este of Modena, in Italy, on the condition he would accept the d’Este name (ensuring its survival) and get the inheritance. Francis Ferdinand accepted and he received. He got collections, pictures, palaces, money. As an adult he bought Konopištè and began renovation at the end of the 19th century. The Konopištè we know is how it looked in his day.”
The very first room on view at Konopištè’s tour of representational chambers is a hallway stuffed with an overwhelming amount of hunting trophies, which some visitors may find shocking but which attests to Francis Ferdinand’s aristocratic rank as well as the norms of his day. The collection also attests to his abilities as a marksman; he is said to have shot with rifle only and, according to sources, followed strict hunting etiquette which required “piety” towards hunted animals. He was equally famous for downing game with one shot. Miroslav Marek again:
“Of course, it was quite common at the time that nobility had such exotic trophies. Francis Ferdinand organised a famous trip around the world which lasted ten months, including India, China, Japan, Australia, and America. And because he was a very precise Austrian gentleman, he kept records of all his successful hunts. That is how we know that during his life he brought down almost 300 thousand animals, including exotic specimens around us in this room like Russian bears, antelopes from India, and tigers from Nepal. Just here in the hall you can see more than 800 specimens on the left and right.”
By comparison, one of the next rooms on the tour couldn’t be more different: far more personal and intimate, a room connected to the Archduke’s lovely wife, Sofie Chotková, who Francis Ferdinand married against his uncle’s wishes.
“We are now entering the room known as the Pink Salon, and this room is connected to an alcove where you can see a portrait of the last lady to live here, Francis Ferdinand’s wife Sofie Chotek. It wasn’t easy for him to marry her: as Archduke and as successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne he wasn’t supposed to marry beneath his aristocratic position, a difficult situation given his wife was ‘only’ a Czech countess. Emperor Franz Josef I was against their union but they were able to luckily get permission.
But there was a penalty: they were forced to a marriage which was not ‘equal’, a morganatic marriage. Ahead of his wedding, Francis Ferdinand had to agree to renunciation before his uncle and before the court. He had to sign a law that was harsh against his future children: they lost rights, including some inheritance rights, and they lost the right to the Habsburg name but were named after their mother, who received the title of princess of Hohenberg.”
And this is a painting of her…
“That’s right. It was done by a Hungarian painter and she was about 40 at the time, but still very beautiful as you can see. They used to say that she was the second most beautiful woman in the empire, after Empress Elisabeth, known as Sissy, Franz Josef’s wife.”
Time passes all too quickly at Konopištè, even as history stands frozen in place. There is a cascade of impressions – from the view from the window into the gardens to the cosy upholstering and wallpapering of guest bedrooms, to the luxury of the dining hall. In one’s mine eye tries to imagine what life must have been like for the noble family that once lived in this chateau. A day is barely enough to see everything, including a walk around the grounds by the nearby lake. But it is well worth it. Even now, one can’t help but marvel over Francis Ferdinand’s renovations which completely transformed Konopištè to the comfortable family seat where he spent much his life.
“He was very wealthy but he also knew how to invest money. Since the end of the 19th century Konopištè was very well equipped: he introduced a central heating system. Since 1896 the castle had electricity thanks to an underwater turbine under the lake, and he had an elevator installed to take him to the family’s home on the 3rd floor. Plus, twelve bathrooms were introduced, with running hot and cold water and showers. We are talking about the end of the 19th century. It was a five-star hotel compared to Schoenbrunn or Hofburg!”
Konopištè is open for the better part of the year to the end of the November. You can find out about tours in English and other languages at www.zamek-konopiste.cz
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/110683) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 20 septiembre 2008 : 20:24:29 |
Hiking in the Czech Republic
Explore the beauty of the Czech Republic on foot
Written by Jacy Meyer
for Expats.cz
04.08.2008
Stretch your legs and take a hike. The Czech Republic has a variety of hiking “styles;” be it flat, mountainous, fields or forests. An extremely well-marked trail system makes it a no-brainer to shed your weekly city life and get out for a nice easy/strenuous walk/hike in the fresh air of the Czech countryside.
The Czech Tourist Club (Klub ceských turistû, www.kct.cz, limited information in English and German) is who to thank for the decently maintained and very well-marked hiking trails. Formed in 1889, the club really began going trail-marking crazy after World War II. They claim more than 40,000 kilometers of marked routes maintained by 1,350 volunteers. The club also coordinates the bike and skiing trails across the country. The club is divided into 14 different branches, corresponding to the different Czech regions. Contact information to each of the groups can be found at their website.
If you’ve been out walking around the country already, you’ve probably seen the three striped markers on trees, signposts, and other handy marking spots. Two white bars sandwich an either red, blue, yellow or green stripe to indicate what path you are on and where you are going. Periodically on your walk you’ll come across a posting with information on how many kilometers to select cities on your chosen route. You’ll also see other variations on this colored sign; for example an arrow indicates the direction you should go. Loop paths and educational trails are specially marked; a symbol key can be found at the Czech Tourist Club’s website. The group also produces the very useful hiking and cycling maps, available in just about any bookstore. The green ones are designed more for hikers; the yellow for the bikers. If you have a region you’d like to explore, it’s worth it to pick up one of these maps before the trip. Not only can you plan a rough route, they also offer points of interest along the way – and a very helpful beer mug indicating where you can stop for the all-important hiking pivo.
The Czech Republic is also a walker’s paradise not only for its beautiful mountains, rivers and forests but for the amount of castles and chateaux connected by the trails. There are so many different landscapes and paths that you can explore a different part of the country every time you want to go out. We offer some popular suggestions here. The Prague Post’s Fiona Gaze has been highlighting a hike about once a month this summer; check back issues online (www.praguepost.com) to discover some of her excellent ideas, lots of them quite close to Prague.
The Prague Vienna Greenways is a more than 250 mile long network of trails and country roads that connect the two cities. Many people choose to bike the whole route, as it’s obviously a bit quicker, but you go ahead and walk it. The nice thing about the Greenways, for the less ambitious among us, is the possibility to do the paths in parts or loops. The Friends of Czech Greenways (www.pragueviennagreenways.org) is a non-profit organization based out of New York dedicated to raising funds and promoting the Greenways. They have a wealth of information about the trails, including maps and selected itineraries. Since the paths were specially designed, they bring you past a ton of interesting points including castles, quaint villages, and UNESCO sites and along rivers and other picturesque scenery. Two examples of trails they suggest include a walk starting at Hluboká, going through Ceské Budèjovice and ending in Ceský Krumlov. In addition to the fairy princess Hluboká chateau, you’ll walk along the Vltava in the foothills of the Šumava Mountains. The landscape varies between forests and fields. Or head further east into Moravia and follow the trails around the wine making town of Znojmo. You’ll also stroll through the towns and castles of Vranov nad Dyjí, Znojmo and Bítov.
There’s an opportunity to hike every corner of the country. For a more hilly and forested experience, head towards Pardubice and the Svitavy River. There’s an eight kilometer trail of mostly field and forest paths beginning in Brezová nad Svitavou. Also in this region is the Králický Snèžník education trail. You’ll start from the city of Dolní Morava and follow the yellow path. You’ll begin in the Morava River Valley and nine kilometers later find your self at the top of Králický Snèžník. You can keep going along the red trail for another five kilometers, ending at Návrší lodge. From the town of Slatinany, you can take an easy two kilometer walk to Kocící Castle. In relatively the same area, near the Orlické Mountains you can pay an educational visit to the Museum of Hiking, Winter sports and Crafts (Muzeum turistiky, zimních sportû a remesel) in Deštné v Orlických horách. Here you can learn about glass making in the Orlické Mountains; domestic textile production; hiking and winter sports in the region, and a rare exhibit of washers and irons.
Forest lovers should head south of Prague to the town of Písek. Lots of trees east of the city amongst the 60 kilometers of paths. A nature trail, the Jarník lookout tower atop Kraví hory and the Živec chalet are a few sites you may see.
On the Austrian border, from the town of Šatov you can take a fascinating walk to former military fortifications. Three former infantry log cabins can be found along the trail, as well as other Czechoslovakian military outposts.
Heading north to the Polish border and the Jizerské Mountains will reward rock climbers, and people who like to observe rock formations. Jizerskohorské buciny is a national nature preserve offering a forested walk on the steep slopes.
This is a very brief introduction to only a few of the hiking areas across the country. Mountain enthusiasts should of course head to the Krkonoše; Ceský Ráj is another not to miss location with beautiful forested paths and amazing rock formations. The best rock labyrinths though can be found in the Teplice-Adršpach Rocks of East Bohemia. South Bohemia and its fish ponds are for lovers of flat walking, while South Moravia offers the more rugged rolling hills of wine country.
(http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/czech-tourism/hiking-in-the-czech-republic/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 27 agosto 2008 : 00:46:30 |
Czech Mountains
http://www.czech-mountains.eu/
Informació turística sobre les regions muntanyoses de la República Txeca.
Información turística sobre las regiones montañosas de la República Checa. |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 06 julio 2008 : 00:53:36 |
Blatná Castle
By Jan Velinger
RADIO PRAHA
25-06-2008
The summer months are here and with it tourists visiting many of the country’s most notable castles and chateaux. But one site you might want to consider visiting, somewhat off the beaten path, is Blatná Castle in southern Bohemia, some 95 kilometres south of the capital. It’s not an understatement to say Blatná Castle is something out of a fairly tale, overlooking a surrounding moat and deer park. Blatná is the location we visit in Spotlight today.
The first mention of the castle dates back to 1235 when it was probably little more than a wooden hill fort: through the centuries it was renovated into a classic stone chateau, transformed in the Renaissance and later Neo-Gothic styles. The first owners were lords from Rožmitál, the last, the Hildprandts, who bought the castle in 1798. They lost the property for some 40 years after being forced out by the Communists and it was only in 1992 that the castle and surrounding lands were returned. Jana Germenis, one of the co-owners today, was a little girl when her family was forced out in 1953:
“Of course the days when we were put out, I was about four or five were very hard. When I was a child we lived in a village which was about ten kilometers from here. But the locals were very nice. Of course, as a good human being you forget the bad things.”
Eventually, the family relocated to Ethiopia: Jana Germenis’ grandparents had already left earlier - in 1948 - and her parents followed roughly a decade later, when they were given permission at last to leave.
“My grandfather from my mother’s side had been Czechoslovak ambassador to the League of Nations in Washington DC. In 1936 he met the Ethiopian Emperor Hailie Selassie who gave a speech there asking for help against the Italian occupation. They met, because Czechoslovakia supported Ethiopia, and he asked ‘Why don’t you come one day to Ethiopia?
“So in ’48 when they escaped they went to Ethiopia and then they asked for his daughter, my mother, and us to come out. He visited Karlovy Vary twice to go to the spas and asked the Czechoslovak president to allow us to leave, which we finally did in 1959. We lived in Adis Abeba 2,500 metres above sea level and you really feel it when you run or do anything, but the climate was beautiful as well as the green landscape.”
Moving abroad brought new difficulties and challenges but also rewards Jana Germenis says:
“It was wonderful and Africa brought something new. Those were some of the best years that we had, like a fairy tale when the emperor was alive.”
But of course, memories of Czechoslovakia lingered; there was especially a longing on the part of her parents:
“My father used to drive – when we used to visit Europe from Ethiopia – he used to drive to the German or Austrian border and say ‘one day I will go back’. That was always his wish. He was allowed to come back once or twice. The older generation always believed they would return. He was always saying they would come home one day. For us children it was easier. My parents had to leave with one suitcase and go from the home. I myself never believed it. Very few friends of mine knew that I could be an owner of such a property. So when it came afterwards they were sort of upset, saying ‘why didn’t you tell us, and that you were a baroness, and so on’. I really thought that we’d never get it back.”
In the 1990s Jana Germenis, her mother (today 92) and the Hildprandt family strived to restore Blatná Castle, cooperating with the culture ministry and others to renovate the property, no easy undertaking which continues today. Most of the castle has been restored including its tower and most of the facades and unique timbering. The interiors are open to the public, with many of the original furnishings: settees, writing tables, an intact family library. Jana Germenis was kind enough to show me around. First, the library:
“I do come here sometimes: I love the books and I love the old magazines, like the Times, going back to the 19th century. I do come here sometimes secretly to read!”
Then, the trophy hunting room:
“This is our hunting room which is quite famous. These are of course deer that were shot mostly by my grandfather and some by my father. They were great hunters both of them.”
RP: Do you yourself hunt?
“No, no, never! I am not a hunter. In our park here we have some 60 Fallow deer. They are such darlings that they eat from your hand. They are a great attraction for the tourists.”
RP: What about this bear here? Is there any family legend that goes with it?
“Yes indeed! He attacked my grandfather from behind, when my grandfather was hunting deer. He was attacked from behind and my grandfather had to shoot backwards. He shot him and killed him – poor thing, I am awfully sorry for him – but he killed him and my grandfather was saved, my grandfather was alive.”
And of course, there is no way one should miss a visit to the castle tower itself with gorgeous wall paintings colorful as if they were painted yesterday.
“This was done in 1348 I think and has never needed to be repaired or renovated: they have only been washed. These paintings were done by an Italian painter.”
RP: Are they all biblical motifs?
“That’s right: you see St Barbara there, for example, or Adam and Eve. Legend has it that the shell over Adam and Eve, by the way, hides a treasure or fortune.
I didn’t find it if there was but then many would agree Blatná Castle alone is probably treasure enough. It doesn’t take long to view and is ideal for a quick stop while touring south Bohemia. Just be sure to leave ample time to pet some of the miniature fallow deer in the surrounding park.
“I am from southern Bohemia I really do think this is the nicest part of the Czech Republic! You have everything here: lakes, greenery, and more. A beautiful country.”
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/105467) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 05 junio 2008 : 19:58:20 |
Get on your bike
By Carrie Briffett
Czech Business Weekly (CBW)
05. 05. 2008
Beginning every spring, national railway company Ceské dráhy (CD) has a bike rental service in those regions most popular with tourists and new branches are opening every year.
Cyclists who are frustrated by the chore of transporting their bikes to the best cycling areas have the option of taking a train to various locations across the country and renting bikes at the station. The facilities will be available until Oct. 31. The bikes can be booked in advance either online or by phone and in meny cases do not have to be returned to the place where it was rented but can be dropped off to one of the other stations participating in the service. In some areas, the rented bike can also be transported by train free of charge to specific stations. Bikes can be deposited free of charge at any luggage deposit facility of CD.
Anyone wanting to rent a bicycle through the new service just has to show two forms of ID, pay a returnable deposit for the bike, which ranges between Kc 500 (€ 19.9) to Kc 1,000, and pay a rental fee, which varies at each station. Rental periods also vary from a few hours to a whole day.
The system started in 2003, with just three rental places. Markéta Krausová, A press spokeswoman from CD, said that new branches have been added every year. “We also made a few changes in the system. We analyzed all the branches and … we made the conclusion that a few sites are not very popular and people don’t borrow the bikes that often. That is why we closed a few rental [places] and the bikes from these were given to more successful rental areas, where there used to be lack of bikes because there were simply too many customers. It is an improvement because the chance you will be able to borrow a bike in these popular places is bigger now,” she said.
CD loans out trekking bikes for men, women and children, and in Lysá nad Labem, Central Bohemia, bike helmets are also available to rent. “The rental prices are cheaper when you have a valid train ticket, plus if you travel by train you don’t have to pay for transportation of the bike, the bike travels for free. The prices for a day are from Kc 180 to Kc 350,” she added.
It is also possible to borrow the bike for couple of days if cyclists plan a longer trip.
“The main advantage of this system is that people don’t have to travel with their car on vacation. They can just simply rent a bike [where they are staying] and not bring it from home. … You can bicycle as far as you want and don’t need to come back, you can use another rental, which is more convenient for you,” Krausová said.
(http://www.cbw.cz/en/get-on-your-bike/7748.html) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 17 mayo 2008 : 17:08:59 |
ALLOTJAMENT A LA REPÚBLICA TXECA
ALOJAMIENTO EN LA REPÚBLICA CHECA
http://www.limba.com/es/republica-checa/oferta
Cases, apartaments i habitacions en hotels de diversos indrets del país. Preus interessants.
Casas, apartamentos y habitaciones en hoteles de diversos lugares del país. Precios interesantes. |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 31 diciembre 2007 : 22:57:13 |
Czech Tourism - presentación oficial de turismo de la República Checa
http://www.czechtourism.com/spa/es/docs/holiday-tips/news/index.html
Pàgina oficial del turisme txec. Útil per conèixer l'essencial del país i per preparar un viatge en qualsevol època de l'any.
Es pot consultar en nombroses llengües.
Página oficial del turismo checo. Útil para conocer lo esencial del país y para preparar un viaje en cualquier época del año.
Se puede consultar en numerosos idiomas. |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 30 diciembre 2007 : 01:33:56 |
Šumava, Bavarian parks to open new border crossings
Prague Daily Monitor / CTK
14 December 2007
Plzen, West Bohemia, Dec 13 (CTK) - The managers of the Šumava and Bavaria national parks want to jointly prepare a new system of access to the joint border in connection with the Czech Republic's entry in the Schengen area next week, Frantisek Krejci, director of the Šumava park said Thursday.
He said the first joint map of possible new border crossings might be completed by January 15.
There are now three crossings along the parks' joint border, and only two of them are open throughout the year.
Karl Friedrich Sinner, head of the Bavarian park, said the greater permeability of the border in the strictly protected areas must be organised so as not to harm nature.
The new system counts with guided tours for smaller groups of people at places where a normal border crossing cannot be opened due to nature protection.
Jan Strasky, head of the Club of Czech Tourists, said the club considers doubling the current total of 18 border crossings as optimal.
Tourists have listed 16 possible new border crossings, municipalities in the national park have listed 17 places.
They concede, however, that the complex terrain will leave certain longer sections of the border without any crossing.
(This story is from the Czech News Agency, CTK. - http://www.praguemonitor.com/en/234/czech_national_news/16007/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 29 diciembre 2007 : 23:30:03 |
Eastern Bohemia’s Dvur Kralove
By Rosie Johnston
RADIO PRAHA
14-11-2007
It’s a bit of a grey day here in Dvur Kralove. About the brightest thing I have seen so far is a café called Santorini, which has a picture of Greece in its window. But, there is more to Dvur Kralove, I have been told, than first meets the eye, and I am on my way to the zoo to find out.
Eureka the Siberian tiger flares up as I visit her enclosure. I’m in the big-cat house at Dvur Kralove zoo with Erich Kocner, a zoologist and my guide for the day:
“Here in the Carnivore House we are surrounded by animals from all over the world, which is slightly unusual for our zoo here, because we actually specialize in African fauna, and more specifically in large African hoofed animals. Actually, in Dvur Kralove you can see the biggest herd of giraffes in captivity in the world, and you can see the biggest herd of zebra as well, that is, outside of Africa.
“But right now we are in the so-called ‘universal pavilion’, which means that you can see alongside those African animals some interesting and rare animals from other continents as well.”
Meanwhile, over in the Primate House, it’s feeding time. On the menu are peanuts, which seem to be a hit with the chimpanzees. In the feeding frenzy, I nearly waved goodbye to my microphone, when one of the chimpanzees lost interest in shelling peanuts, and tried the same technique on my radio equipment instead.
Dvur Kralove zoo spans some 28 hectares and, in terms of the number of animals it contains, is the largest zoo in the Czech Republic. In communist times, it was one of the best-known zoos in the country, with buses of workers arriving at the zoo from all over Czechoslovakia. But does it still get a lot of visitors today? Erich Kocner again:
“The zoo here in Dvur Kralove became famous for all of the African animals in its collection. When it started to specialize in African fauna forty years ago, this is when it really got famous. It was presented as the first safari park in Eastern Europe, and people from all over the former Czechoslovakia came to see it. It got a lot of media attention from even further afield as well. And its reputation has lasted right up until today, we get a lot of visitors from Poland, Germany, Slovakia. The zoo is well known throughout Europe.”
My next stop in Dvur Kralove was a meeting with Jana Mikiskova, one of the guides at the town’s Tourist Information Office. We met at Dvur Kralove’s most central meeting point:
“We are standing on T. G. Masaryk’s Square. This is the historic centre of Dvur Kralove nad Labem. In the middle of the square is the Marian [Plague] Column, and on the right side is a statue of Zaboj.”
And can you tell me a bit about the history of Dvur Kralove? Because it seems to be quite a historic town.
“The first information we have about the town Dvur dates back to 1270, but we don’t have too much information about the beginnings of Dvur Kralove, because that remains uncertain. In the 14th century, Dvur Kralove became a dowry town for Czech queens, and it remains a dowry town even now.”
Dvur Kralove’s heyday lasted right up until the 17th century, then came the Thirty Years’ War, and the town took a bit of a bashing, with Swedish, Saxon, and Imperial forces all ransacking and plundering the settlement. As if that wasn’t bad enough, then along came the Seven Years’ War, and the ransacking and plundering started all over again.
Dvur Kralove may have been all but destroyed on several occasions, but some old buildings do remain - like the Town Hall, claiming somewhat dubiously to date from the 16th century. And, as Jana Mikiskova says, it isn’t all bad to be a resident of Dvur Kralove in modern times either:
“I like this town, this town is good for life.”
Why?
“Because you can do all types of sport, the nature here is nice, and Dvur Kralove is only 40km from the Giant Mountains. It’s a very interesting place.”
The next stop on my tour with Jana is Fugnerova street:
“We are standing in front of the municipal museum. The museum has three buildings. In the first building is an exhibition of the history of Dvur Kralove, the second building is on our right hand side, and in there are exhibitions and concerts and different activities. And the third building is closed to the public.”
This is really super, is this some sort of children’s part of the museum?
“Yes, there are exhibitions for children here, and they are interactive exhibitions.”
Jaroslava Tomankova is the woman behind the exhibition entertaining Dvur Kralove’s younger citizens:
“Right now we have an exhibition going on which takes brainteasers and mind-games as its theme. And as you can see, the children are really making the most out of it. They have to consider the problems, engage their logic and concentrate on what is going on. So they are having to work hard, and they are absorbed in the exhibition which they seem to be enjoying. So I think this has been a rather successful exhibition.”
As Jana Mikiskova tells me, Dvur Kralove is also quite an industrial town. The town traditionally made textiles but, in modern times, it has become more famous for its chocolate factory, and its Christmas decorations.
Mr Sorma is giving me a tour of the Christmas decoration factory, which sits on the edge of the town. Groups and individuals can visit the factory too with a bit of prior arrangement. I’m not sure that such a factory would ever be open to the public in Britain, the whirring that you heard there was the sound of 1,000 degree flames, which are used to melt the glass into shape.
Back in the comfort of his office, Mr Sorma tells me the history of the factory.
“This used to be a bead-making factory, it was set up at the end of the 19th century by a Mr Kincuch, who learnt his trade in Vienna. It was a rather successful factory, but then, during the First World War, Japanese prisoners of war were sent here to work. So they learnt the secret of how to make these glass beads, and after the war, they went back to Japan and started to make these beads there, and priced us out of the market. So we stopped making beads, and started making blown-glass Christmas decorations. We became a cooperative in 1931, and we have been making Christmas decorations ever since.”
I returned from Dvur Kralove all covered in glitter, and with much more information about the Christmas decoration factory than there is time to put here. So look out for a Christmas special on the making of Czech blown-glass Christmas decorations, or alternatively, get down to Dvur Kralove to take a look for yourself!
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/97564) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 22 noviembre 2007 : 23:26:52 |
New cave in Moravian Karst area opens to public
Prague Daily Monitor / CTK
29 October 2007
Adamov, South Moravia, Oct 26 (CTK) - Vypustek, a cave in the Moravian Karst area, which hides a unique anti-nuclear shelter for the then Czechoslovak Communist military command, was opened to tourists in a test operation Friday, Robert Dvoracek from the cave management told CTK.
More than hundred tourists saw the cave and further tens of them booked a New Year's Eve tour in advance.
Dvoracek said speleologists had sought the opening of the cave for many years. First they held long-lasting negotiations with the military about the transfer of Vypustek, a part of a previously top secret military complex, to their management.
Afterwards the reconstruction works dragged on due to lack of money. Their total costs have reached 13 million crowns.
Vypustek is the 14th Czech cave to be opened to the public.
The anti-nuclear shelter is situated some 50 metres underground.
It is 200m long and has capacity of 250 people. Its equipment enabled the communist commanders to deliver orders to units fighting at potential fronts hundreds of kilometres away from Vypustek.
Apart from the shelter, tourists can walk through the cave's broad corridors.
Speleologists also plan to renew, partly at least, the former secret Nazi factory where components to aircraft motors were made.
(This story is from the Czech News Agency, CTK. - http://www.praguemonitor.com/en/200/life_in_the_czech_republic/13876/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 13 noviembre 2007 : 23:50:51 |
The royal town of Pisek
By Pavla Horakova
RADIO PRAHA
03-10-2007
A well-known 19th century student song sings about Putimska brana - one of the three historic gates in the town walls around Pisek. Only a remnant of the gate is preserved to this day and the town has long expanded beyond its medieval defensive walls.
"Pisek is a town in southern Bohemia, about 100 kilometres south of Prague so it's quite easy to reach the town. It takes only 1.5 hours by bus or by car. The town itself has a pleasant location on the Otava River. The river goes really through the town so it's nice to walk around and you would always find the water."
Edita Kucerova from the town hall's department of tourism and foreign relations.
Founded by a royal decree in the 13th century on the gold bearing Otava River, in the midst of game-rich forests, the town soon became a favourite with medieval Czech kings, Premysl Otakar II, Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV.
"The history goes back to the 13th century when the town was established by the Czech kings. They actually did it because there were important trade routes going along the river and also people in those days washed sand from the river to get gold. And this was so important that the Czech kings decided to establish a town here and call it Pisek which means 'sand'."
Pisek was such an important crossroads in those days that it had a stone bridge built in the 13th century. Over 100 metres long and 6.5 metres wide, it is the oldest standing bridge in the country.
"We have the oldest remaining bridge in the Czech Republic and this is really a jewel of the town. Everybody in Pisek is very proud to have the oldest remaining bridge in the country. It is even older than Charles Bridge in Prague."
The historic town centre is located on the right bank of the Otava on a hill just above the bridge. The town's other landmark, a tall white church tower standing on the hill, is therefore visible from afar. Edita Kucerova again.
"The main church in Pisek is the Virgin Mary Birth church which is a large white building located on a small hill. Since the end of the 15th century the church has had a very high tower. So this tower you will see from everywhere in Pisek and it is really a kind of landmark of the town. We also used to have a monastery but the monastery does not stand anymore, there is only the monastery church left. And also there is another important church, the Holy Trinity church in the former cemetery. In this church there are no services right now but the town organises concerts there and different other activities but no religious services."
Pisek has traditionally been known as a student town, it always had more schools than is usual for a town of its size. It is true to this day.
"Pisek is called 'the town of students and pensioners' because for more than a hundred years, we have had many schools and also in the summer many visitors came. Especially in the old days the elderly people used to spend the summer here and had a very nice life here. In the old days from autumn until spring the students were here in the flats. Then they left for home and the pensioners came.
"We have the schools until now. Pisek is quite famous for its schools. There are of course primary schools, there are many high schools, we have even some very specialised schools, like the forestry school, one out of only two in the country, we have the grammar and business school. What is also quite new and interesting in Pisek is a film college. Even many students from Prague come here to learn to make movies."
Pisek is also the centre of the Prachen region, an administrative unit which no longer exists. But you can visit a museum dedicated to the region on Pisek's main square.
"This is the Prachen Musem. The museum is located in a part of the former royal castle. So from this old castle we only have one remaining wing and in this wing this museum is located. It is a regional museum, it shows the history and culture of the region. In the 1990s it was under renovation and I must say the exhibitions inside are now really nice and modern, visitors really like to go there. The museum even got a prize 'European Museum of the Year 1996'.
"Last year the museum even opened a newly renovated exposition, which is a house of Adolf Heyduk, an important Czech poet. So besides this castle they also have a house where this poet used to live. You can go and see the flat of this poet from the beginning of the 20th century."
Most of the historic town centre has been beautifully renovated and Pisek is now concentrating on its industrial heritage.
"Pisek always used to have only light industry which is good for the town, it is good for the tourists. In the town centre you can find the old buildings of some kind of industry if we want to call it like this. There is a malting house which was part of a brewery. This brewery is undergoing renovation right now. It should be finished next year, in 2008, and we expect a centre of illustration to be there and many more different activities. But all for culture, so it's not going to be for any industrial use.
"And of course, the old power station is a very important site for the tourists here. It is a building on the Otava River which used to be a mill. Later on, at the end of the 19th century, the town of Pisek established there the first water power station. Pisek claims to be the first town in Bohemia to have public electric lighting. And what is interesting about this building and its equipment is that it's still working, so you can go inside and see the machines more than 100 years old still working, in a very good condition, of course, after renovation. There is also a small museum of the lighting of the town."
The Otava River has been a source of wealth for the town, be it its gold bearing sand or its hydro-electric power. But is has also proved a disastrous element several times in history. Most recently it was five years ago when pictures of the raging river covering all but the heads of the sculptures on the bridge made the front pages.
"In 2002 the situation was really bad. In August, there was there was a lot of water coming from the Bohemian Forest where the Otava River comes from. There were two points of culmination of the water and I think on the 12th or 13th of August the situation was the worst. The water was really high, some ten metres above its normal level, so even the old bridge was completely covered underwater. We could only see the sculptures on the bridge and people were very afraid. They didn't know if the bridge would survive or not.
"Also many houses were flooded, especially on the left bank of the river which is more flat. Thank God, the bridge was not damaged heavily and could be repaired in the next few months after the flood. And also the town put a lot of effort and money - there were even public collections - into repairing the bridge and other things as well. So a few months after the flood, you wouldn't realise there was something like this. But the situation was really bad and critical and there was a lot of damage in Pisek."
If sightseeing is not really your cup of tea and you prefer a more active way of spending your holiday, there are plenty of cycling and hiking opportunities around the town.
"We have a very large area of forest which belongs to the town of Pisek. Pisek is the second richest town in forest property in the Czech Republic. The forest stretches some 20-30 kilometres outside the town. For tourists it is very nice that not many cars go through there, car traffic is limited there. It is good for walking and especially for cycling. Not far from the town there is a viewing tower called Jarnik. It takes some 1-1.5 hours to walk from the town centre to reach this tower. There is no entry fee, you can climb it and have a very nice view of the town and even of the Bohemian Forest."
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/96044) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 01 octubre 2007 : 00:54:37 |
Deep cellars and tall follies
By Hana Kùrová
CZECH BUSINESS WEEKLY (CBW)
17. 09. 2007
Growth in wine tourism has helped to put South Moravia on the tourist map, but the region has another big draw in the Lednice-Valtice area.
A three-hour train ride from Prague brings you to the heart of one of the most attractive regions of the Czech Republic. South Moravia is developing rapidly as a tourist destination, with the area of Lednice-Valtice one of its most popular attractions.
“We’ve definitely experienced a sharp rise in bookings, especially over the traditional festival and holiday periods, most of which are related to wine making,” said Petr Mühlhandl, director of the Hotel Apollon in Valtice. In the second quarter of 2007, some 395,000 people visited South Moravia, a 35 percent growth year-on-year.
Wine production has dominated the landscape and culture of South Moravia for centuries, making wine tours in this region a more absorbing experience than they can be elsewhere. As well as the usual chateau visits and wine tastings, tours of the Lednice-Valtice area also take in the former estates of the powerful Lichtenstein clan who lorded over the region for five-and-a-half centuries. The estates, which include acres of landscaped parkland, artificial lakes and some rather quirky architecture, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
The mix of wine tourism and cultural interest is drawing ever greater numbers of visitors to the area, according to Tereza Lvová, the mayor of Valtice. “I can’t give you the exact figures [for tourism in Valtice], but I can tell you that the main square is getting fuller each year,” Lvová said. “Some 20,000 visitors per year now use the tourist information center and about 50,000 visit the chateau.”
Lvová said that entrepreneurs had also invested heavily in augmenting and improving tourist accommodation in Valtice. “There is now much greater demand for land in the area, a lot of people are choosing to build homes and settle here,” she said.
The towns of Valtice and Lednice are noted chiefly for their sumptuous chateaus, which were endlessly modified and rebuilt by the Lichtenstein family starting in the second half of 14th century when Alžbèta, wife of John I of Lichtenstein, inherited a part of Valtice castle. The chateau was given its current configuration in the 18th century by the Lichtensteins’ favorite architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and is considered one of the finest examples of the baroque style. Lednice chateau, some seven kilometers away, served as the family’s summer palace and reflects the summit of the neo-Gothic period in Czech architecture. The unusual name, which means refrigerator in Czech, is said to have been adopted because its interior was so much cooler than other chateaus in the region.
Perhaps of more interest than the two chateaus however, are the 16 buildings and monuments scattered around the surrounding parkland, which include follies, statues, an obelisk, miniature castles, a hunting lodge and occasional residences. They were constructed at the beginning of the 19th century to keep the Lichtenteins entertained and to show off the family’s wealth. Most impressive are the Turkish-style minaret, the hunting lodge called Diana’s Temple and Pohansko castle, which is also a significant archeological site. All the constructions were originally located so as to be visible to each other, but trees have since obscured most of the views. The majority of the trees in the park are now hundreds of years old. The alley connecting Valtice and Lednice chateaus was planted in 1715. The artificial lakes around Lednice chateau also merit attention and are a popular area for birdwatchers.
But despite the many natural and architectural treasures of the Valtice-Lednice area, tourism providers say that wine is still the main draw for the region. Valtice is regarded as the wine capital of the Czech Republic and the town hosts numerous wine festivals, seminars and conferences for sommeliers throughout the year. The annual Valtice wine market takes place in May and welcomes over 5,000 visitors from the Czech Republic and abroad. Valtice is also home to the oldest wine secondary school in the Czech Republic, founded in 1873, and a branch of the National Wine Center. In the ancient cellars under the chateau, the National Salon of the Wines of the Czech Republic offers what it claims are the 100 best wines in the country.
A new project is also in the pipeline that will put the local vintages to a rather different use. A thermal wine spa is scheduled to be built on the Czech-Austrian border between Valtice, and Schrattenberg, lower Austria, with overall investment planned at Kc 2 billion (€ 71 million). The Austrian municipality of Schrattenberg will participate in the project, which may be partly subsidized by EU funds. The spa will include a wine pavilion offering wine and grape extract treatments, wine baths and other services.
(http://www.cbw.cz/phprs/2007091722.html?search=all-phpRS-all) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 16 septiembre 2007 : 01:23:26 |
Out of reach
Pinned in by the Šumava, south Bohemian mayors dream of building ski lift to Austria
By Victor Velek
The Prague Post
September 12th, 2007
Towns across the border from Austria's Hochficht resort, above, hope to cash in on the destination's popularity with winter tourists.
In summer, the towns of Nová Pec and Horní Planá in the Šumava Mountains’ Lipno region, south Bohemia, draw plenty of tourist crowds. But, in the fall, winter and early spring, they turn into sleepy, forgotten places.
Local mayors and businesses hope that a ski-lift project that was first conceived not long after the fall of communism can prolong the local tourist season and boost the region. But, located as they are within environmentally protected lands, each proposal floated by the towns has been shot down out of concern for the nearby Šumava Nature Reserve.
“Tourism is our only hope,” said Jirí Hùlka, a mayor of Horní Planá, home to some 2,300 residents. After the 1989 revolution, the region was hit by an economic depression, as traditional businesses went bankrupt and agriculture became less extensive. “The last large, long-existing employer — a wooden-frame factory — closed down last year,” Hùlka said.
The summer unemployment rate sits at 4 percent but soars to 20 percent in winter, according to Hùlka.
“Today, our tourist season lasts six weeks or so,” Hùlka said. “A winter sports center could make life and business here sustainable,” annually injecting the region with approximately 240 million Kc ($11.8 million), he estimates.
However, after more than a decade of negotiations between environmentalists and local mayors, the towns’ dreams are still far from reality, as each increasingly modest proposal prepared by the region has gone nowhere.
Most recently, in late August, the Environment Ministry rejected a proposed ski lift to Hranicník Mountain, located on the Czech-Austrian border. After bolder versions of the project were rejected, this latest “soft version” was designed to simply transport enthusiasts to the Hochficht ski resort, across the border in Austria.
The environmental risks the project would run were unacceptable, the ministry said.
“The increased number of visitors could result in land erosion and irreversible damages to precious ecosystems,” said Jarmila Krebsová, Environment Ministry spokeswoman. Czech, Austrian and German environmental groups jointly protested the project as well, sending a letter to Environment Minister Martin Bursík.
However, while Bursík is against the lift to Hranicník, he seems more open to an alternative resort plan. Nearby Špicák Mountain, located outside the nature reserve in the Boletice region and currently reserved for military uses, like training, would be a much better location for a lift, the ministry said.
“Minister Bursík will initiate a meeting with [Defense] Minister Parkanová on the issue,” Krebsová said.
This is welcome news for Hùlka.
“It’s a positive step forward,” he said. “Now, we know what variant is acceptable. But this has taken almost 15 years.”
Powder power
Austria’s Hochficht ski resort is a great source of inspiration for the mayors. In winter, tourist money rumbles down to the resort from the Czech Republic like an avalanche.
“Dozens of buses and hundreds of cars with skiers are passing through the village to get to Hochficht,” said Zuzana Janátová, mayor of Nová Pec.
Not only do they not spend money in Nová Pec, but the heavy traffic damages the roads and pollutes the environment, Janátová added. She hoped the lift to Hranicník would give Czech skiers the opportunity to lodge and eat in Nová Pec and other local towns while skiing on the Hochficht runs.
Senator Tomáš Jirsa of the Civic Democrats, elected by constituents in the Lipno region and involved for several years in the project, also looks beyond the frontier for inspiration.
“On the Austrian and German parts of the mountains, there are thriving ski resorts, making the winter time a successful tourist season,” he said.
There are positive examples of regional development in the area, Jirsa said, pointing to the town of Lipno nad Vltavou. The town, featuring a marina and a ski resort, has gradually turned into a local tourist magnet.
“Since 1989, approximately 1.3 billion Kc has been invested there,” Jirsa said. “For many neighboring villages, it’s an example they want to emulate.”
While Jirsa still believes the project by Hranicník can be pushed through, Hùlka is looking forward to the more promising Špicák option.
“With a clear statement of what is feasible for the environmentalists, we are finally finding ourselves on firm ground,” he said.
The regional government is also looking in this direction. Last year, it signed a preliminary agreement with the previous environment and defense ministers on opening the Špicák area.
However, the regional government still supports the Hranicník project.
“[The Špicák ski resort] is not an alternative or competitor to the idea of using the Hranicník area,” said spokeswoman Maria Ptácková. “It remains in the region’s prepared land-use plan as a ski sports location.”
(http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/09/12/out-of-reach.php) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 28 agosto 2007 : 23:48:52 |
Sumava National Park to open its forbidden zones to public
By Ruth Frankova
RADIO PRAHA
28-08-2007
Sumava National Park is one of the Czech Republic's last remaining untouched nature reserves. It stretches some 120 km across south-western Bohemia along the German border and has not been accessible to the public for years. First because of the Iron Curtain during the communist days and later for reasons of nature conservation, when it was declared a national park in 1990. Now, however, the new management of Sumava National Park has announced a new plan to make the "forbidden zones" accessible to public. I asked the park's spokesman Radovan Holub why the park decided to open up.
"I would like to say first that it's a future. It will not happen today or tomorrow. The opening of the core zones will be relatively slow and it can take years, before these core zones will be opened. Basically it's a philosophy of the national park to preserve wild nature and to show it to the people."
Isn't it risky in terms of nature protection to let people in these zones?
"No, because you must reckon how many foresters there are still in the core zones. They fight against the bark beetle. So there are cars there. There is traffic, but no traffic of tourists. So this balance should be improved."
Why is it important to let people see theses places that were enclosed in the past?
"Because behind the iron curtain, now close to the border area of the Sumava National Park there is well-preserved nature, which is showing something else than other parts of the national park. Especially these core zones close to the border are not accessible for the tourists. And we want to change it. We want to show tourists what happens here. How nature helps itself fighting against bark beetle, floods and other problems. Shortly that nature can stand without men just by itself."
Will this be limited to a certain time of the year or can people visit it all year long?
"No, we think this should be possible only during summer months, lets say from August to the end of September. But it will not be possible to make it during spring because of protection of nature."
When will the first opening take place?
"I am not a prophet and I know that it's a long journey. I am a bit sceptical - not about the policy of the National park Sumava but about scientists who will not be happy about the opening of all these places. So some kind of balance should be done in the foreseeable future."
So we shouldn't rejoice just now. It is too early...
"I think so, but the project is here and let's hope that it will happen. Let's hope it will happen next year."
(http://www.radio.cz/en/article/94872) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 22 agosto 2007 : 21:34:36 |
Number of tourists in CzechRep up at 3.4 million in Q2
Prague Daily Monitor / CTK
21 August 2007
Prague, Aug 20 (CTK) - The number of tourists who stayed at Czech accommodation facilities in Q2 rose by 2.3 percent year-on-year to 3.4 million, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said today.
They spent 10.1 million nights at the facilities, 0.6 percent more year-on-year.
Out of the total number, 1.8 million were foreign tourists (+ 1.5 percent on the year), and 1.6 million domestic tourists (+3.3 percent).
The number of nights spent by foreign tourists was 1.7 percent up year-on-year, and the number of nights spent by domestic tourists 0.7 percent down.
Foreign tourists stayed on average for three nights, and domestic tourists 2.9 nights.
The growth in number of guests was different in different regions.
The growth by 11.9 percent in Prague in Q1 2007 slowed to 2.3 percent in Q2. In spite of this fact, accommodation facilities in Prague contributed 35 percent to the growth in the total number of overnight stays.
The second highest share in the growth was recorded in Jihomoravsky region (31 percent).
Moravskolezsky region showed the fastest year-on-year growth (accelerating from 0.1 percent to 15.0 percent).
A fall was registered in both quarters in Jihocesky, Ustecky, Liberecky and Kralovehradecky regions.
Tourists staying in Prague in Q2 numbered 1.2 million, in southern Moravia 395,000, in northern Moravia 277,000, and in the western Bohemian spas 205,000.
"There is a great disproportion between Prague and the regions," said ACCKA association spokesman Tomio Okamura.
Government agency CzechTourism is doing its best to attract tourists to the regions, according to its spokeswoman Karin Seligova.
The fastest growth in guest arrivals was recorded at four- and five-stars hotels.
The number of domestic guests increased remarkably at five-stars hotels (+54.9 percent), however their share in number of guests in this category was only 9.3 percent.
The highest number of tourists (1.8 million) stayed at lower-category hotels and boarding houses; this was a growth of 3.8 percent.
Spa accommodation facilities were used by 183,000 guests (+10.7 percent year-on-year) in Q2 2007 of which 84,000 were foreigners.
Most guests arrived in Karlovarsky region (100,000).
Most tourists came from Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, Italy, and USA, in spite of the fact, that all these countries showed a decrease in Q2 2007 compared to Q2 2006.
Russia was at 6th place by number of arrivals due to the fastest growth in number of guests (more than 40 percent up).
The number of British and French guests dropped by over 8 percent.
"This is alarming. Numbers of tourists from eastern European countries are growing, and those from western Europe declining," said Okamura.
He noted that eastern European tourists are spending less than those from western Europe. However, tourists from Russia are among the biggest spenders of all, he added.
CzechTourism analyst Hana Fojtachova said that the structure of the arriving tourists has also been changing. Young Brits seeking cheap alcohol and sex are gradually being replaced by families with children and middle-aged couples.
She also said that while the number of U.S. tourists has dropped, the number of nights spend by them has grown.
Germany remained at first place by overnight stays and Russia took the second position, the CSU said.
Net use of rooms at hotels and boarding houses was 46.1 percent in Q2 2007 (+0.5 percentage point year-on-year).
Tourists in the Czech Republic by nationality, Q2 2007
(nationality - number in Q2 2007 - yr/yr change in pct)
1. Germany, 420,078 (-4.4)
2. Great Britain, 129,226 (-8.4)
3. Italy, 109,377 (-3.2)
4. USA, 99,821 (-0.2)
5. Poland, 89,653 (+11.6)
6. Russia, 83,949 (+42.2)
7. Slovakia, 83,641 (+12.4)
8. France, 70,985 (-8.5)
9. Spain, 60,273 (+11.2)
10. Netherlands, 50,763 (-8.1)
(Source:CSU)
(This story is from the Czech News Agency, CTK. - http://launch.praguemonitor.com/en/152/czech_business/11054/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 19 agosto 2007 : 22:45:21 |
Ryanair arrives in Prague, will launch flights to Dublin in November
Prague Daily Monitor / CTK
16 August 2007
Prague, Aug 15 (CTK) - Europe's largest low-cost airline Ryanair will as of November 7 be flying from Prague to Dublin and back every day, Letiste Praha representatives said at a news conference Wednesday.
Its rivals on the route are Czech Airlines and Aer Lingus.
Ryanair expects to carry over 100,000 passengers in the first year, sales director for central Europe Tomasz Kulakowski said.
He said the flights are likely to be used mainly by Irish tourists.
A survey conducted by the Czech Local Development Ministry has shown that Irish tourists are the biggest spenders in the Czech Republic, spending on average Kc2,800 daily.
Low-cost airlines flying to and from Prague raised their market share at Prague's Ruzyne airport by five percentage points in H1, and are now used by 25 percent of passengers at the airport.
Letiste Praha's Jiri Pos said the share could rise to 40 percent.
Ryanair already flies from Brno to London, and has announced the launch of flights from Brno to Gerona, Spain in October.
(This story is from the Czech News Agency, CTK. - http://launch.praguemonitor.com/en/149/czech_business/10852/) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 19 agosto 2007 : 22:37:42 |
Despiertan los fantasmas de Ceské Budejovice
Por Katerina Oratorová
RADIO PRAHA
18-08-2007
En este Radioviajes vamos a la capital de la Región del Sur de Bohemia, Ceské Budejovice. Pero esta vez no vamos a pasear por la plaza más grande del país, ni probar la mejor cerveza checa. Nos vamos a sumergir en los cuentos y leyendas relacionados con la ciudad. ¡Bienvenidos al paseo nocturno llamado Cuentos de Fantasmas de Ceské Budejovice!
Son las ocho y media de la tarde, cae el sol y, como todos los jueves de este verano, 50 personas se han reunido en la casa número nueve de la calle Hroznova de Ceské Budejovice para encontrarse esta noche con los fantasmas de la historia de la ciudad.
Estamos esperando la llegada de dos hermanas reñidoras, Leyenda e Historia, que nos harán compañía en nuestro paseo nocturno por nueve monumentos históricos y nos revelarán los secretos de sus antiguos habitantes. ¡Silencio! Aquí viene la primera.
"Queridos amigos, ¡bienvenidos a la ciudad real de Ceské Budejovice! Me siento complacida de que hayan recibido mi invitación y hayan venido aquí a esta hora para descubrir las bellezas de esta ciudad. Me llamo Leyenda. Les voy a contar historias y cuentos que se transmiten de una generación a otra. Les haré olvidar los problemas cotidianos y les abriré la puerta al mundo de la fantasía".
Mientras que todos estamos sentados cómodamente en una sala y estamos escuchando a Leyenda, se acerca Historia, y las dos se ponen a narrar sobre la fundación del primer ferrocarril tirado por caballos en el continente europeo.
Éste fue inventado por Frantisek Josef Gerstner y construido por su hijo Antonín en el año 1825. Comunicaba Ceské Budejovice con la ciudad austriaca de Linz y servía, sobre todo, para el transporte de la sal de la Cámara salada de Austria.
Hemos bajado la escalera y nos encontramos en el patio de la casa. El cielo se ha puesto oscuro y Leyenda está a punto de contarnos la primera historia de miedo de esta noche.
"Érase una vez un sereno que juraba haber visto cada medianoche pasar por las calles un carro tirado por caballos negros que llevaba a la Muerte. En la ciudad vivía entonces un joven sastre llamado Janek, que no se dejó intimidar con la historia del sereno y decidió esperar la llegada del misterioso visitante en la plaza de la ciudad. Esperó y esperó, pero la Muerte nunca llegó", concluye Leyenda, disculpándose por el fin de la historia tan ordinario.
Llega el momento de trasladarnos a otra parte de la ciudad. Seguimos a Leyenda e Historia y nos dirigimos a la Torre negra para revelar el secreto de la campana llamada Bumerin.
Leyenda dice que la campana Bumerin fue encontrada por un porquero que vivía en el pueblo de Lisov, en las afueras de Ceské Budejovice. Un día, al porquero se le perdió un cerdito, así que mandó a su perro a buscarlo. Más tarde encontró a los dos sacando de la tierra una cosa brillante.
Se acercó y vio que era una campana preciosa. Quiso ponerla en el campanario de la iglesia de su pueblo, pero la campana resultó demasiado grande y pesada. Entonces decidió regalarla a la ciudad de Ceské Budejovice. La pusieron en la recién construida Torre negra, donde sigue tocando hasta estos días.
Historia precisa que la campana fue fundida en 1577 y refundida en 1723. Y que pesa unos cuatro mil kilos.
Nuestra próxima parada se llama "Casa del panadero muerto", y está ubicada en la calle Krajinská, número 17. Vamos a ver de dónde surgió la denominación tenebrosa de la casa.
Hace muchísimo tiempo, en la casa vivía el panadero Benedicto. Tenía una hija que iba a casarse. Desgraciadamente, la chica enfermó y murió. Cuando la enterraban, el sepulturero, que era un hombre muy codicioso, se fijó en el anillo de compromiso que la chica llevaba puesto y quiso quitárselo.
Cuando cayó la noche, se acercó a la tumba queriendo robarle a la chica muerta el anillo. Como no podía sacarlo, cogió un cuchillo y se puso a cortarle el dedo. En ese momento, la chica que no estaba muerta de verdad, despertó y salió viva de la tumba.
Hasta aquí la leyenda. Pero la verdad es mucho más prosaica. En el siglo XVII vivía en la casa el panadero Benedicto Tot. Y como "tot" significa en alemán "muerto", empezaron a llamar la casa "Casa del panadero muerto".
Pero ahora vamos corriendo a la torre Rábenstejn para llegar antes que el comisario imperial. A principios del siglo XVII vivía en la torre el escribano de la ciudad, Simon Plachý con su mujer.
En el año 1611 se divulgó la noticia de que el comisario imperial había llegado a Ceské Budejovice para controlar la economía de la ciudad. Simon estaba escribiendo las memorias en su despacho. De repente alguien tocó a la puerta y...
"Soy el comisario de su Majestad, el emperador Rodolfo II. Tengo una misión por cumplir en la corte imperial de Viena y busco alojamiento. Me gustaría reposar en tu casa. Mañana temprano partiré de viaje, y no te preocupes, te pagaré bien".
Simon recibió al comisario en su casa, pero grande sería su asombro con los acontecimientos que ocurrirían al día siguiente. El comisario se despertó, le pagó a Simon por el alojamiento y salió en un carro de caballos.
Cuando pasaba por la puerta de la muralla de la ciudad, ordenó parar el carro. En aquel momento entró por la puerta el ejército de Pasov y ocupó la ciudad. Y es que no era el comisario imperial, sino el general del ejército quien había dormido en la casa de Simon.
En la pelea que se armó murió también el pobre escribano. Su mujer hizo instalar en la puerta de la ciudad una placa en su memoria.
Ya se nos hace tarde, pero seguimos el paseo. La siguiente parada va a ser realmente espectral. Vamos a la Plaza de los Escolapios, lugar del antiguo cementerio de la ciudad. Según la leyenda, anda por allí un caballero sin cabeza.
¡Qué pena que empiece a llover! Saca el paraguas, por favor.
¡Mira, allí viene el caballero!
"¿Quién se atreve a molestarme a estas horas? ¡Ah, las hermanas pícaras, Leyenda e Historia! ¿Ya os habéis cansado de andar siempre disputando cuál de las dos es más importante? Pues, ¿Por qué me estáis sacando de la tumba?"
Es muy simple. Las dos quieren saber por qué anda por el mundo sin cabeza y no puede descansar en paz.
El caballero se llamaba Hirzo y jugó un papel importante en la historia del Sur de Bohemia. Hirzo sirvió al rey Premysl Otakar II, quien mandó en 1265 fundar Ceské Budejovice para hacer frente al creciente poder de los señores de Rozmberk. Fue Hirzo quien empezó con la edificación de la ciudad y le dio el carácter de hoy: calles rectas y amplias.
Hirzo se ocupó también de la fundación del monasterio de Zlatá Koruna, de la construcción del castillo y el puente de Písek, y fue el castellano del castillo de Zvíkov.
La leyenda dice que por haber estado tan ocupado, perdió la cabeza y ahora vaga todas las noches por la ciudad buscando la paz.
Y ya nos falta poquito. Al lado de la Plaza de los Escolapios está ubicado el monasterio de los dominicanos con el edificio del antiguo arsenal. Vamos a verlo.
El monasterio fue fundado en 1265 y los dominicanos lo ocuparon más de 500 años. En 1785 pasó a manos de los Escolapios, y cien años más tarde a los redentoristas.
En el muro del antiguo arsenal hay tres máscaras de piedra. Leyenda cuenta que son cabezas de unos ladrones que habían asaltado a una monja en el monasterio. Sin embargo, según Historia, se trata de plásticas de los constructores del edificio.
Nos queda la última parada. Es una torre de la muralla, llamada "Virgen de hierro", situada en la confluencia de lo ríos Moldava y Malse. La torre data del siglo XIV, pero en 1612 pasó por una profunda reconstrucción por haber sido alcanzada por un rayo.
La denominación de "Virgen de hierro" la adquirió porque en ella se utilizaba un instrumento de tortura del mismo nombre. Según dicen los cuentos, una de las víctimas de la torre fue Prokop de Dubné, acusado de conspirar con los husitas.
Y aquí se terminó nuestro paseo nocturno por la ciudad de Ceské Budejovice. ¿Cómo les pareció a los participantes? Pavel Zeman, de 25 años, lo encuentra muy bonito.
"Es una buena idea hacer los paseos por la ciudad en forma de pequeñas funciones teatrales. Resulta divertido y uno se entera de cosas que no vienen en los libros de historia".
En el proyecto participan la agencia de viajes Jihotransa y los órganos estatutarios de la ciudad de Ceské Budejovice. Sin embargo el autor es la agencia Kultur-Kontakt de Ceské Budejovice. Fue fundada en 1999 y se dedica, sobre todo, a la realización de paseos nocturnos en castillos y palacios. También organiza campos de verano para niños, festivales, bailes de sala y fiestas de empresas.
Tras haber organizado paseos nocturnos en varios castillos checos, como el de Nové Hrady, Bechyne y Rozmberk, decidieron en 2004 realizar el primer paseo nocturno por la ciudad de su sede, Ceské Budejovice. El director de la agencia, Miroslav Mares, recuerda las primeras dificultades que surgieron con este proyecto.
"Comparándolo con los paseos en castillos y palacios, el proyecto resultó mucho más difícil. En un palacio, los visitantes se mueven en el interior, pasan de una sala a otra y prácticamente nada les disturba. La ciudad es distinta. Vive su propia vida y hay muchos elementos perturbadores. Además, tuvimos bastantes problemas para persuadir a los propietarios de los edificios de que no les molestaríamos con el ruido".
Decidir qué monumentos formarían parte del paseo tampoco era fácil. Mares explica qué criterios se usaron para seleccionarlos.
"Puesto que el proyecto lleva el nombre de Cuentos de fantasmas, primero había que buscar las leyendas apropiadas y después los edificios que estuvieran relacionados con ellas. Decidimos incluir lugares poco conocidos para que el paseo resultara interesente aun para los habitantes de Ceské Budejovice. También quisimos evitar las partes más animadas de la ciudad".
En Ceské Budejovice, sin embargo, hay muchos más lugares interesantes que los que forman parte del paseo. Sobre algunos de ellos seguramente hablaremos en una de las próximas ediciones del espacio Radioviajes.
(http://www.radio.cz/es/edicion/94526) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 12 agosto 2007 : 16:56:49 |
Hradec Kralove - a beautiful historical town which also embodies
the hopes and dreams of the First Republic
By Coilin O'Connor
RADIO PRAHA
08-08-2007
Hradec Kralove lies on the spectacular confluence of the Elbe and Orlice Rivers, about 100 km east of Prague. This extraordinarily pretty town boasts a rich archaeological heritage, especially in its historical quarter where handsome renaissance buildings testify to the wealth and status the town enjoyed thanks to the trade that used to pass through en route to Silesia.
History of Art student Barbora Chmelikova hails from Hradec Kralove where she also works as an occasional tour guide:
"Hradec Kralove was a royal town and ranks among the oldest cities in Bohemia. The first reference to the town was made in a decree by King Otakar Premysl I in 1225. At the beginning of the 14th century, together with other towns in east Bohemia, the city became a dowry town for the queens of Bohemia. There was a castle here where widowed queens resided. The face of the town changed significantly during the time of Queen Eliska Rejcka, the wife if Wenceslas II. During this period the city's gothic Cathedral of the Holy Ghost was built."
The use of the town as a dowry gift for Bohemian queens is where Hradec Kralove gets its name from, which roughly translates as "Queen's Castle". Not surprisingly, besides Eliska Rejcka, a number of other important female monarchs also resided in the town. Barbora Chmelikova again:
"Later, other queens stayed in the castle of Hradec Kralove, including Eliska Premyslovna, the wife of John of Luxembourg and mother of Charles IV. Zofie, the wife of George of Podebrady, also stayed here in the 15th century. The castle was then completely destroyed during the Hussite Wars."
The fact that the castle in Hradec Kralove was destroyed during the Hussite Wars is hardly surprising. As the town was the first Bohemian municipality to side with Jan Zizka who led the protestant revolution inspired by Jan Hus, it was often a focal point for the conflagration. Zizka himself stayed in Hradec Kralove during the conflict and Barbora Chmelikova says it's possible that the town even became the great military leader's final resting place:
"According to some historical references, Jan Zizka was buried in Hradec Kralove. Maybe it's more a legend than anything, but in the 1970s some relics were found in the town although nobody is really sure if they are really his relics or not."
After the hiatus of the Hussite Wars, Hradec Kralove began to prosper once more and this is reflected in its historical architecture. Besides the aforementioned gothic Cathedral of the Holy Ghost, the town's main square also boasts the spectacular sandstone White Tower (Bila vez) and some renaissance arcade housing, most of which was paid for from the profits of Bohemian-Silesian trade.
The town's importance increased even further after it was made a bishopric in 1664 and it also benefited when the industrial revolution firmly established itself in Europe in the late nineteenth century.
The manufacture of musical instruments is one industry that emerged in Hradec Kralove during this period and is still associated with the town to this day. Local inventor Vaclav Frantisek Cerveny made a name for himself with his innovations in brass woodwind instruments, which eventually led to the development of the Wagner tuba and the alto trumpet. There are some who say that Cerveny's achievements are comparable to those of Alfred Sax who invented the saxophone.
Unfortunately, the Cerveny workshop no longer exists as it succumbed to the mass "nationalisation" of industry that occurred after the communist coup in 1948. Nevertheless, the famous Petrof piano company is another important instrument-manufacturing business, which is still a going concern in the town.
Petrof pianos are now considered to be of the finest quality and are the piano of choice for many conservatories, theatres and other musical institutions. The first Petrof instrument was made by Hradec Kralove native Antonin Petrof, who was the son of a local carpenter. Like many great success stories, Barbora Chmelikova says the company had some fairly humble beginnings in the town:
"The Petrof firm was founded by Antonin Petrof. He began constructing his first piano in 1864 in his father's joinery. One decade later, he had to establish a larger workshop outside the walls of Hradec Kralove. In the following decades, the Petrof brand won a good name for itself abroad and the Antonin Petrof company became the largest producer of pianos in Austria-Hungary. After the birth of the Czechoslovak Republic, the company expanded its activities to countries outside Europe and in 1935 Petrof's grand piano won the World Expo in Brussels."
The fact that Petrof had to build a factory outside the walls of Hradec Kralove was symptomatic of a situation that persisted in the town up to that time. Hradec Kralove had long been considered strategically vital to Bohemia's defences, and had been required to maintain fortress-like barracks walls, which had slowed down the town's development. Nevertheless, this state of affairs came to an abrupt end in after the Battle of Kooniggratz in 1866.
With nearly half-a-million men on the battlefield, the Battle of Koniggratz (as Hradec Kralove is called in German) was the biggest battle in the history of mankind up to that time. It was also the decisive battle in the Austro-Prussian war and paved the way for Bismarck's unification of Germany. For Hradec Kralove itself, the routing of the Austrian Empire's forces made it obvious that the town's fortifications were useless for modern warfare and the barracks walls were eventually removed.
This development paved the way for the construction of Hradec Kralove's New Town. In the early twentieth century, renowned modern architects such as Jan Kotera and Josef Gocar (who designed Prague's House of the Black Madonna) were brought in to help with the town's expansion. An architectural master plan was formulated in 1911, which gave rise to many extraordinary modern constructions over the next few decades, including Kotera's dome-topped regional museum and Gocar's imposing housing complex on Masaryk Square (Masarykove namesti).
Another important building designed by Gocar was the beautiful red-brick riverside construction used to house the town's "gymnasium" or grammar school; an institution which had been in Hradec Kralove since the 14th century.
Appropriately for a town that has a reputation for educational excellence, with its own university and a medical faculty affiliated with Prague's Charles University, many leading Czech intellectuals and scholars attended this grammar school. Barbora Chmelikova again:
"Karel Capek went to this grammar school at the beginning of the 20th century. There were other students of this grammar school - mainly in the 19th century - who were important figures in the Czech national revival such as the writer Alois Jirasek and the composer Frantisel Skroup, who wrote the music for the Czech National Anthem."
Other famous members of the Czech Revival who lived in Hradec Kralove are the writer Josef Kajetan Tyl and the dramatist Vaclav Kliment Klicpera, whom the town's main theatre is now named after.
It is fitting that so many members of the Czech renaissance are associated with Hradec Kralove, because many of the architectural changes that occurred in the town in the early 1900s are thought by some to reflect the ambition and optimism of the First Republic.
Whether you agree with this or not, Kotera and Gocar's spectacular early-twentieth century buildings certainly give the town a unique and expansive atmosphere not to mention an architectural heritage whose fame Barbora Chmelikova says has spread far beyond the borders of the Czech Republic.
"The modern part of the city, with its large streets and squares with a number of monumental buildings as well as a lot of greenery was a really fitting counterpart for the Old Town. As a result, this city's urban planning, great works of architecture and high-quality services attracted a number of domestic and foreign admirers and earned the city a reputation as the 'Salon of the Republic'. Consequently, the unique twentieth century architecture of Hradec Kralove is known not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad."
If you are interested in a tour of Hradec Kralove contact Barbora Chmelikova at barbora.chmelikova@centrum.cz
(http://www.radio.cz/en/issue/94200) |
| alazaro |
Enviado - 15 abril 2007 : 17:11:11 |
Low-cost airlines to make up 25 pct of air transport this year
By Prague Daily Monitor / #268;TK
11 April 2007
Prague, April 10 (CTK) - Low-cost airlines will raise their market share in regular air transport on Prague's Ruzyne airport to 25 percent this year from 23 percent in 2006 and 21 percent in 2005, Prague airport operator Letiste Praha marketing manager Jiri Pos told journalists today.
No-frills carriers have the potential to control up to 40 percent of the market, he added.
Letiste Praha CEO Hana Cernochova said today low-cost transport was one of the fastest growing segments of the market and had a large share in last year's growth in passenger numbers.
Statistics showed that seven of ten most busy low-cost flights from Prague head for Great Britain. Paris ranks third in the top ten, Roma is eighth and Germany's Dortmund comes ninth.
Although low-cost airlines flying from Prague raise passenger numbers every year, their number decreased for the first time from 19 to 18 because Swedish company FlyMe Sweden announced bankruptcy in early March.
Low-cost airlines in Prague:
Airline Passenger numbers in 2006 --- Number of destinations in summer 2007
easyJet - 814,000 --- 9
SkyEurope - 300,000 (from April 2006) --- 16
bmibaby - 300,000 --- 4
Smart Wings - 240,000 --- 9
JET2 - 140,000 --- 5
Source: Letiste Praha
(This story copyright 2007 CTK Czech News Agency. - http://launch.praguemonitor.com/en/62/czech_business/4638/) |
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