The origins of Chomutov lie in the 10th or 11th century when a small Slav settlement was founded on the key route from Prague to Leipzig. The earliest known reference to the town dates from 1252 when Bedrich Naceradec of Chomutov gave it to the Teutonic Knights. The town became the center of the order's North Bohemian lordship and the seat of its provincial commander. In 1605 it became a royal city.

The chateau Detenice, and adjacent brewery, are located about 60 minutes northeast of Prague. In 1404 there was a small stronghold here and the chateau was rebuilt at the end of 16th century into the Renaissance form. In 1760, the chateau was rebuilt in the Baroque style. In 1873, the Knights of Malta owned the building and adjusted the interiors. After this time, the chateau came into the possession of the state, but now it is privately owned. The new owner reconstructed the chateau, garden and the chateau brewery.

Karlovy Vary, better known by its German name, Karlsbad, is probably the most famous Bohemian spa. It was named for the Bohemian king and German and Holy Roman emperor Charles (Karl) IV who allegedly found the springs in 1358 during a hunting expedition. In the 19th century, royalty came here from all over Europe for treatment. Among the rich and famous who visited Karlsbad are Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Chopin, and Karl Marx.

Charles IV built this medieval castle between 1348 and 1357 to safeguard the imperial crown jewels and other relics of the Holy Roman Empire. The castle is perched on a hill, overlooking the River Beroun, and surrounded by lush forests and vineyards.

The castle was reconstructed in late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. The present appearance of the castle comes from the last reconstruction, which was carried out in the purist neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century.

Unfortunately, no photos are allowed to be taken inside the castle. And, a horribly cloudy and hazy day for photos in general!

The Museum of folk buildings was founded in the year 1972 at the Zdanicky creek. The creators have physically moved buildings from around the Czech region, especially from the Zelivka area.

The town of Kutná Hora was founded in the early Middle Ages and is closely linked with the mining of silver. By the late 13th century, one third of Europe's total production of silver came from Kutna Horá. The Prague groschen, one of Europe's strongest currencies of the time, was minted here. Due to its wealth, Kutna Horá became the second most important town of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and an economic, political, and cultural rival for the capital city of Prague.

The Church of St Barbara, a beautiful cathedral from the late Gothic period, has a very distinctive roof that has 3 tent-shaped spires and was built to rival St. Vitus’ cathedral in Prague.

On the outskirts of Kutna Hora, in Sedlec, is the interesting All Saints Cemetery Church (Ossuary). The church was closed for renovation, but it is decorated almost entirely of human bones, originally piled into a pyramid shape by a half-blind monk.

Orlik castle dates back to the 13th century during the reign of King Wenceslas II. The castle has been restored and transformed many times while not losing any of its beauty. The last significant restoration was between 1849 and 1860 when the façade was changed to the present day Neo-Gothic style.

When the castle was built, it was 60 meters higher above the river than it is today. This change in elevation is due to the building of the Orlik dam and the subsequent flooding of the river Vltava to create Lake Orlik.

The interior of the castle showcases many of the Schwarzenberg family’s furnishings, family trees and small armory. The Knight’s Hall has a spectacular carved ceiling, made entirely of wood, and completed in 4 years time.

Our guide was gracious enough to let us take a few photos of the interior as they are not allowed generally.

The Průhonice castle was established as a fortified Romanesque settlement in the 12th century and was soon remodeled into a small Gothic castle. This chateau was then rebuilt into an enclosed Renaissance castle in the 16th century. At beginning of the 19th century the castle was reconstructed in Empire style, and at the end of the same century it underwent its last reconstruction, in so-called "Czech Neo-Renaissance" style. The oldest preserved part is the small Romanesque church.

The park surrounding the chateau is about 250 hectares in size and was landscaped in 1885. Many imported species were added to the landscape in addition to the original vegetation and there is a lovely botanical garden as well. There are approximately 40 kilometers of walking trails throughout the grounds.

What a beautiful place this is, and only about 15 kilometers from the Prague city center.

The history of Pribram dates back to the 12th century when the archbishop of Prague purchased the town. Beginning in the 14th century, Pribram was a leading center of the mining of silver, lead and zinc, and more recently, uranium.

Since the 17th century, the main attraction in Pribram is Svata Hora (Holy Mountain), which is one of the most important and oldest pilgrim's places in the Czech Republic. On the Holy Mountain there is the Church of the Virgin Mary which was built in the 16th - 17th centuries and is considered a jewel of Czech early Baroque architecture. This structure incorporates a unique component: a long and roofed staircase connecting it to the town of Pribram. This staircase was built in 1658 and has 365 steps, one for each day of the year.

In 1632, a blind beggar dreamt several nights in a row that he was asked to go on a pilgrimage to Svata Hora and plead with the Holy Virgin for the restoration of his sight. Together with his 10-year old grandson, he set off on the journey to Svata Hora. After arriving at Svata Hora and praying for several days, the beggar regained his sight. The Roman Catholic Church, on the basis of testimonies of eyewitnesses and of doctor’s opinions, officially recognized his recovery as a miracle. And the pilgrim’s have been coming ever since…

Written sources dating back to the 11th to 13th century describe Žatec as an important church and administrative center. Later, Žatec became the center of the famous hop-producing area. In the 15th century Žatec was loyal to the Hussite movement and in 1421 the crusade army was defeated at the town walls. In the 16th century Žatec was one of the most densely populated towns in Bohemia. In 1961, the center of the town was proclaimed historical site containing many important buildings and a wide variety of architectural styles from Romanesque to Art Nouveau.

Zvikov, which was founded by King Wenceslas I, in 1234, sits high on the hill overlooking the Vltava and Otava rivers. It is an outstanding example of Czech medieval secular architecture.

The castle obtained its greatest fame under the rule of Charles IV, who had it totally renovated. Until Karlstejn castle was completed, Zvikov served as a sanctuary for the Crown Jewels.

Through the years, the castle has had many owners, with the most recent owners being the Schwarzenberg family in 1719. In 1829, the castle was in such disrepair that a major portion of it fell into the river. In 1880, it underwent yet another major restoration in order to return it to its former glory. The original stone has slightly rosy color and is easily distinguished from the reconstructed portions.

A few contemporary carved wooden sculptures are placed throughout the castle.