Bike tour czech republic, bicycle tours europe

The Tugendhat Villa in Brno is the first masterpiece of modern architecture in the Czech Republic and the fourth in the world to be honored with this prestigious acknowledgement. The Villa was built between 1929 and 1930. The Tugendhat Villa was named after the owner of a Brno textile mill, Fritz Tugendhat, who had built this jewel of the interwar functionalistic architecture for his family. The glazed villa on a hillside above Brno was designed in 1928 by famous German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who used top quality materials and modern technologies of the early 20th century.

The steel skeleton of the Villa with windows reaching from the ceiling to the floor and slender chromium plated columns carrying the individual floors made it possible to combine the hall and the garden into one optical whole. The building was equipped with furniture designed by the architect and was heated and cooled by an air-conditioning system.

Tours linked to Brno: UNESCO Tour
For more info check: www.tugendhat-Villa.cz

The first written record of Cesky Krumlov dates back to 1213 when the Austrian and Styrian duke Otakar mentioned it as a residence of the Vitkovci family. In 1302, Krumlov became a property of Rozmberks and during the era of Jindrich and Petr of Rozmberk it was granted the town status. The latter helped the town to acquire various privileges, construct several churches, monasteries and other buildings, while trades, business, cultural activities and general standards of education thrived. This period is viewed as the most prosperous one in the history of Cesky Krumlov. However, the prodigal life of the last Rozmberk, Petr Vok, made him sell the ruling powers to Emperor Rudolf II who passed it in 1622 to the Eggenbergs, later replaced by the Schwarzenbergs. But the glorious days of Cesky Krumlov were gone and it gradually became rather a provincial town. Following the Munich Treaty, it suffered from German occupation and after the World War II. Cesky Krumlov became a nearly forgotten town in the boarder zone, doomed to isolation. The historical buildings in the center suffered enormously from neglect. Although proclaimed a national heritage reservation in 1963, Cesky Krumlov could not escape its fate of disinterest in the reconstruction and development along the country’s boarder with the western world. Fortunately, the situation has changed with the new regime, and particularly since 1992, when Cesky Krumlov was put on the UNESCO list of cultural and natural heritage. The unique complex of three hundred historical houses and buildings and the country’s second largest (after Prague) castle complex attract millions of visitors every year. They are able to admire the rebirth of the “pearl of the Renaissance era”, a nick name given to the town by history experts.



Tours linked to Cesky Krumlov: UNESCO Tour, Prague – Linz, Sumava National Park, South Bohemia Tour, Beer Tour
For more info check: www.ckrumlov.cz

Dresden Elbe Valley is a stretch of land developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, which extends around 20 kilometres from Übigau Palace in the north-west to Pillnitz stately home and an island in the Elbe River in the south-east. It centers around the historic skyline of Dresden's old town. Dresden Elbe Valley is a synthesis of nature, architecture and cultivated landscapes – the banks of the Elbe are lined with Renaissance forts and late 19th century villas, while palaces and gardens blend seamlessly into the vine-clad landscape. The bulk of the architectural heritage is found in Dresden's old town, including the Royal Palace, the Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady. Other highlights include Semper Opera House, a stunning 19th century theatre in a late Renaissance style, and Zwinger Palace, one of Europe's foremost Late Baroque buildings. Meanwhile Brühl Terrace, is a magnificent Baroque remake of the mighty fortifications that once lined the banks of the Elbe in Dresden's old town.

Tours linked to Dresden Elbe Valley: Prague-Dresden
For more info check: www.dresden-tourist.de

South Bohemian Folk architecture, which can be admired in many villages in this charming fishpond country, is probably best represented by the surviving brick houses, the finest examples of which are to be found in the picturesque village of Holasovice, 15 km west of Ceske Budejovice. Holasovice is a typical South Bohemian village with large village common and an uninterrupted row of brick farmsteads.

The South Bohemian Folk Baroque is a form of folk architecture, which in this particular place had been influenced by the Baroque and Empire architectural styles.

The atmosphere of the period is evoked by the large farmsteads, which usually have two richly decorated gables connected by a vaulted gate with a small door. The gables have an undulated outline and many different stucco ornaments. Most of the houses have an oblong ground plan with the shorter side facing the village common. Holasovice was founded approximately in the 13th century. The village common, lined by 22 houses of a similar pattern and dating back to the middle of the 19th century, is one of the best preserved examples of folk architecture. The fishpond in the center of village common, like most of the fishponds across this fishpond rich country, had been used for fish farming. The village with a long-standing folklore tradition had been selected as the location for the film version of Bedrich Smetana’s opera The Bartered Bride. It is a living example of the skills and feeling for beauty, which had prevailed throughout the difficult times that the Bohemian villages had to go through in the 19th century.

Tours linked to Holasovice: UNESCO Tour, South Bohemia Tour
For more info check: ftp.czechtourism.com/unesco/index_cz.html

The old historical town of Kutna Hora was founded in the second half of the 13th century in the place of a former mining settlement. In the Middle Ages, the town was renowned for its silver mines, whose wealth backed the power of Bohemian souvereignes. Apart from wealth, silver mining brought the town the status of the country’s second most important town after Prague.

In 1300, King Wenceslas II founded the mint Vlassky Dvur which produced silver “Prague groschen” coins and granted the town the right of mining – “Ius regale montanorum”. In the 15th century Kutna Hora even became the residential town of Czech kings.

The population increased and the town prospered. The church of St. James was built in the first half of the 14th century and construction works on St. Barbora’s Church started after 1380. In the late Gothic period numerous rich patricians in the town built their representative residences.

Next changes in Kutna Hora occurred only during the Baroque period when numerous outstanding architects, contractors and artists worked in the town. Coinage in the local mint ended in 1727. The town badly suffered from attacks by the Swedes in 1640s. Unfortunately while reopening the mines and reviving the old mining glory at the turn of the 17th century attempts failed.

In 1961, the historical center of Kutna Hora was declared a national reservation and it was put on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List in 1995. The well-preserved historical character of the town is sure to offer a unique experience to its visitors.

Tours linked to Kutna Hora: UNESCO Tour
For more info check: www.kutnahora.cz/index.php?lns=en

When, the Liechtenstein family acquired their first land in Lednice in the middle of 13th century, they suddenly owned unusable meadows and swamps, annually flooded by the Dyje River. Seven hundreds years later, the Liechtensteins were leaving the estate, the swamps had been reclaimed and singular complex of structures large and small had been erected between Lednice and the neighboring village of Valtice, like gems fitted in a huge mosaic of rivers canals and parks. The Lednice Park which seamlessly merged with surrounding landscape has been nicknamed “the Garden of Europe” and “the Paradise Garden”. The Lednice-Valtice complex is a perfect example of a “cultural landscape”, or landscape, which has been changed by humans into an original work of art. When possible, visitors are advised to take bikes with them because the Lednice-Valtice Complex is so large that it can hardly be visited in one day, even biking.

Between 1666 and 1669, Karl Eusebius of Liechtenstein had an Early Baroque residence constructed in Lednice, having moved here from Valtice. He also had the Orangerie built and the park landscaped, with scores of Romantic structures added later and popping up into view here and there, among them the Hardtmuth minaret of 1792 – 1802, and the artificial ruins of John’s castle of 1807. The overall look of the complex is further enhanced by the Lednice fishponds which have become an ideal nesting place for water-fowl and have been included on the list of international ornithological reserves. The last major changes to the chateau were made in the 19th century, when the garden wing was rebuilt in the French Empire style and a tropical glasshouse was added at the eastern side of the chateau. The interiors were adapted in the Neo-Gothic style. The Lednice Chateau is one of the finest examples of High Romanticism in this country.

Tours linked to Lednicko – Valticky Complex: Prague-Vienna, Moravian and Austrian Wine Trails, UNESCO Tour
For more info check: www.radnice-valtice.cz

The city of hundred spires built on the banks of the meandering Vltava River has been quickening the heartbeats of poets, painters, and photographers for centuries. It is a cult, administrative, cultural, business and industrial center of the Czech Republic. In the past it was the capital of the Czech kingdom and the residence of the rulers and archbishops – all this for an uninterrupted period of thousand years. History of Prague in many ways resembles the history of the Czech state. First a settlement around the Prague Castle and, later, the Vysehrad Castle as well, evolved into a town with all the town privileges in the 1230s, and developed into a self confident agglomeration of Prague towns. Under the emperor Charles IV. in the 14th century, it was one of the capitals of the Christian world, the seat of the first Trans-Alpine university and huge building works, some 250 years later, during the reign of Rudolf II, it became a mysterious metropolis full of artists, scientist and well studied rabbis.

He who first referred to Prague as a symphony in stone has perfectly captured its nature, a peculiar rhythmic beauty literally pervading the city. In some towns, art and beauty are haphazard additions. Prague has an unusual concentration of theatres, concert and exhibition halls, museums and galleries. It is a city where creation and reception of art have a long-standing tradition. Present-day Prague is also a city of trade fairs and a business hub. Known for centuries for its hospitality, Prague offers innumerable attractions and has as many faces as one can imagine. Each visitor is certainly able to choose what pleases him or her the most.

Tours linked to Prague: All our tours are linked to Prague
For more info check: www.prague.cz

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Romans founded the imperial town of Regensburg around the northernmost reaches of the Danube River. Originally a Roman camp based around the Castra Regina fort, this perfectly preserved medieval town is home to around 1,400 architectural monuments from the Middle Ages. Regensburg was a seat of the German emperors and the Bavarian dukes for centuries following Charlemagne's reign. In the Late Middle Ages, overseas merchants made the free imperial town one of the most prosperous in central Europe. Stretching 300 meters and with 15 huge stone arches, the famous 12th century bridge over the Danube is the second-oldest in Germany. Regensburg's old town is the largest complex of original Romanesque and Gothic architecture north of the Alps. It is home to an array of outstanding man-made structures, including the Romanesque Scots' Portal and the Regensburg Cathedral, which is the only French Gothic cathedral east of the Rhine. Alongside its two towers, which rise to a height of 105 meters, the cathedral is blessed with some of the finest medieval stained glass in Germany.

Tours linked to Regensburg: Prague-Regensburg
For more info check: www.regensburg.de

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria. From the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors and therefore is full of outstanding examples of decorative art. Together with its gardens, the site of the world's first zoo in 1752, it is a remarkable Baroque complex and a perfect example of “Gesamtkunstwerk”. The Palace and the Gardens are exceptional by virtue of the evidence that they preserve modifications over several centuries that vividly illustrate the tastes, interests and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. All attractions at Schönbrunn are seen by more than 5.2 million visitors each year.

Tours linked to Schönbrunn: Prague-Vienna; Moravian and Austrian Wine Trails
For more info check: www.schoenbrunn.at

“Moravian Venice”, “pearl of uplands”, “lake rose”, or “poem in stone” – all these parables have been rightfully used for Telc, a town of irresistible beauty situated on the Bohemian Moravian frontier. Telc was founded in the middle of the 13th century at an intersection of two routes. Although its founding date is unknown, the oldest historical monument in Telc, the late Romanesque tower of Holy Ghost, comes from the early 13th century. In 1339, the rule over Telc was passed from the Royal family to the Lords of Hradec who turned it into a medieval water stronghold protected by ponds, moats, town walls and gates.

Telc acquired its Renaissance appearance thanks to Zacharias of Hradec, the most significant person in the town’s history. During his reign the originally Gothic castle was rebuilt into a grand Renaissance residence. Lavishly decorated interiors and beautiful arcades in the courtyard make the ambience of unforgotten experience. Many Italian artists were then invited to Telc to remodel originally Gothic houses into the Renaissance style.

Baroque buildings appeared in Telc when the Slavata and Lichtenstein Kastelkorn families were in power. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the town hosted the Jesuitical order which also contributed to the look of Telc as we know it today. Building activities during the 19th century continued only on the outside of the town’s center. In the 20th century, Telc has been a growing and lively center of cultural and economic activities. Even today, the center has retained its grace from Zacharias’s times. For this reason the historical center of Telc has been put onto the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.

Tours linked to Telc: Prague-Vienna, UNESCO Tour, South Bohemia Tour
For more info check: www.telc-etc.cz

The complex of the Jewish Quarter, the old Jewish cemetery and the Basilica of St. Procopius in Trebic are reminders of the co-existence of Jewish and Christian cultures starting in the Middle Ages and continuing through to the 20th century.

The Jewish Quarter bears an outstanding testimony to the different aspects of life of this community. It is a unique documentation of the Jewish culture in Moravia and the only Jewish monument outside of Israel specifically placed on the UNESCO List. The area remained in its historical layout that developed in the limited area between the Jihlava River and the Hradek Hill. The Quarter exhibits a mysterious atmosphere with its tortuous streets, dark nooks, vaulted passages and other typical features. Unforgettable view of the romantic Jewish Quarter roofs can be enjoyed from the Hradek Hill. Today, no indigenous inhabitants live in this quarter any more. Therefore, many buildings, such as the town hall, rabbi’s office, hospital or school, do not serve their original purposes any more.

St. Procopius Basilica, built as part of the Benedictine Monastery in the early 13th century, is an exceptional witness to the influence of west European architectural heritage in this region. The rich monastery was an important religious, cultural and economic centre and, last but not least, an important military stronghold. It could keep its position until the Hussite Wars. Its decline culminated in 1468 when it was stormed by the Hungarian Army. Then, the Church lost the property, which was later rebuilt into an aristocratic palace. It was owned by the Valdstejn Dynasty from the early 17th century until its confiscation in 1945.

Tours linked to Trebic: UNESCO Tour
For more info check: www.kviztrebic.cz

The historical center of Vienna was named a UNESCO World Heritage landmark in December 2001. The city had developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, later into the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It played an essential role as a leading European music centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The criteria for the UNESCO selection were the variety and quality of the architecture and urban construction in Vienna, which comprises the Middle Ages, the Baroque period, the end of the eighteenth century and the beginnings of Modernism. The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural complexes, including Baroque castles and gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

Tours linked to Vienna: Prague-Vienna; Moravian and Austrian Wine Trails
For more info check: www.info.wien.at

The St. John’s of Nepomuk Pilgrimage Church at Zelena Hora (the Iron Hill) in Zdar nad Sazavou evokes the admiration of visitors from all over the world by the originality of the Czech Baroque-Gothic style with a masterful composition of the whole area. That is why the Iron Hill has been included in the world’s cultural heritage of the UNESCO.

The abbot of the cloister in Zdar had the pilgrimage church in a forested region on the border between Moravia and Bohemia built in 1720 in honor of the Czech martyr and St. Jan Nepomucky This impressive structure was entrusted to gifted Prague builder G. B. Santini, who chose the symbolic five-tipped star for his work.. This was because, according to a legend, a crown with five stars appeared above the body of the drowned martyr. A five-tipped star is characteristic of the composition in constructions featuring the so-called Baroque-Gothic style (the ground plan is in the form of a star, the church has five exits, on the main alter there are five stars and five angels). The main altar represents the martyr who was raised into heaven by angels. The side of the altar is sanctified by four evangelists. The figures are situated in a special vortex of flames and it seems that they are deeply moved. The top of the cupola is decorated with a monumental tongue of the saint (the symbol of Jan Nepomucky) in a circle of fire. The work of Giovanni Blasio Santini conveys the originality of the idea and the brilliance of the technique in which both the Gothic and Baroque elements are here combined in the splendor of the Czech Gothic-Baroque.

Tours linked to Zdar nad Sazavou: UNESCO Tour
For more info check: www.zdarns.cz