Czech cities: Plzen
Famous Plzen (Plzen, Pilsen) – the fourth largest city of the Czech Republic, lies in 85 kilometers south-west of Prague, in the place of merging four rivers at once – Mzh, Radbez, Corlava and Uslav.
The date of its foundation is considered to be 1292, when King Vaclav II commanded to build a new fortress 10 kilometers from the north-west of the town of Stari-Plzenets, who was already at that time the famous shopping center on Uslav (the old Royal Castle of the Radine on the Mountain of the same name remained. It is the merger of four rivers – the main transport arteries of that time – and contributed to the rapid development of the city, which was immediately built on a special plan with a huge central area and a clear division for the quarters, with man-made lakes and dungeons. As a result, he quickly grew up into the chief commercial center of the western part of the country, and the industrial revolution only increased its importance.
Sights Plzyena
Gothic cathedral is considered a real decoration of the city Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (Katedr&# 225; La SV Bartolomeje, 1295 g.) on the main square of Namesti Republiky. This is the highest temple of the country – his bell tower is 102 meters away, and from the observation deck (Vyhlidkova vez, is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00), which leads 301 steps, a beautiful view of the entire Pilsen opens. Initially, two twin bell tower was built, but the second was destroyed by lightning in 1525 and no longer restored. But the main treasure of the cathedral is a wooden statue of Madonna Plzenskaya (XIII in.) on a high altar. The complex is open from April to September – from Wednesday to Saturday, and from October to December – from Wednesday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00, entrance – 30 CZK.
The famous historical monuments also include Big Synagogue (Velka Synaagoga, 1888-1892, the second largest in Europe and the third in the world, now only part of its premises are used for services – concerts regularly organize), Old synagogue (XVII-XIX centuries.), former Franciscan Monastery with the Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, baroque Dominican Monastery with the Church of St. Anne (1711-1714., Now there is a state library here), one more Franciscan Monastery with the Church of Saint Barbara (XV-XVII centuries., Now museum), Renaissance Town Hall (XVI B.), old water tower (525 g., Part of the former urban fortifications), as well as famous Pilside dungeon – With a total length of about 24 kilometers (the most extended in Central Europe, but only 700 meters are available for visiting) they contain several hundreds of crypts, galleries and caves dug under the city in the XIV-XVII centuries.
Rich Pilsen for all sorts of expositions and exhibitions. The best museums of the city include West Czech Museum (www.zcm.CZ) – The largest in the city, besides possessing the biggest in Bohemia a collection of weapons (Plzenska Mestska Zbrojnice), West Czech Gallery (www.ZPC-Galerie.CZ) with an impressive meeting of national art, commercial art Gallery In the former black tower (CERNA VEZ) nearby, and, of course, the famous Museum of Brewing (Pivovarske Muzeum) in the building of the old licorious plant.
Beer for the city in general is one of the main business cards – despite the fact that the world-famous brewery PLZENSKY PRAZDROJ was registered only in the middle of the XIX century, the traditions of making this drink here are very ancient (the first mention refers as much as 1295). In many languages of Europe, the words Pilsner, Radegast, Urquell, Gambrinus and Velke Popovice (brands of local beer) are often synonymous with words "beer". And despite the fact that the company itself has long been part of a major international concern, Museum Pilsner Urquell (www.Prazdroj.CZ) and the largest in the Czech Republic Complex of beer restaurants Na Spilcepub (www.Naspilce.COM) many thousands of guests take annually.
Is it worth surprising that the annual Plsen beer festival (beginning of October) is one of the most popular in Europe, easily competing with Munich Oktoberfest.
Also well known local zoo with a unique entertainment and educational complex "Dinopark", in which you can watch static, movable and voiced models of prehistoric animals in full size.
