Czech Getaways: Central Bohemia/Prague

Central Bohemia
A large recreation area extends south of Prague along the rivers Vltava and Sázava. Many Praguers spend their weekends and holidays in their private weekend houses situated here. This area is also popular with hikers and fans of waters sports, from canoeing and kayaking to windsurfing. The tradition of camps with wooden chalets has still been preserved here. Two of the most beautiful Bohemian castles – Karlštejn and Křivoklát – attract local tourists as well as foreign visitors. They are located in the centres of the two most significant natural reserves of the central Bohemia, the Protected landscape area Český kras (Bohemian Karst) and Křivoklátsko. The chateaux Konopiště, Dobříš, Český Šternberk (pictured here; click for a larger view) and Hořovice are also located near Prague. The surroundings of Prague are very diverse. The undulating, hilly northern area alternates with the plains to the east, the Brdy range extends in the south-west, the picturesque Posázaví area spreads out in the south-east and the Křivoklát Highlands extend in the west.

Transport accessibility
A dense network of highways and high-speed roads of the European system runs in all directions from Prague. The railway network includes high-speed railways as well as regional ones in the directions of: Kolín, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Beroun, Benešov, Kladno, Lysá nad Labem and Posázaví.

Prague
The capital city of the Czech Republic; the political, economical and cultural centre of the country; the seat of the president, of the government and the parliament; the centre of university education, the seat of the Academy of Sciences and numerous sacademic institutions. Prague is a significant cultural centre with a variety of theatres, museums, galleries and exhibition halls. It is an important European transportation hub. Prague is unusually rich in significant architectural monuments of all periods. The historical centre, which covers 866 hectares, has been included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage since 1992.

Transport accessibility
Prague is a significant railway and road junction. The modern, expanded international airport Praha-Ruzyně is located here, as well. The city public transportation includes: three lines of underground trains, trams, buses and extensive integrated transport system around Prague in the Central-Bohemian region.