www.theblisspages.com - travel: Czech Republic
www.theblisspages.com - travel: Czech RepublicWhen I first visited the Czech Republic, the country was still Czechoslovakia.
Prague is one of my favourite cities, with the famous Charles Bridge over the Vltava river, the castle, and Wenceslas Square with its famous clock or horologe. It's a delight to stroll round and I spent many happy hours just wandering.
I remember a very elaborate meal in Wenceslas Square, and especially the post-prandial brandies, which came in glasses nearly twelve inches high.
I bought some lead-crystal glasses and a decanter in a small shop near the Square.
I also remember some meals on the balcony of the deliciously decadent U Patrona restaurant, scene of drama in the Velvet Revolution of 1989.
On one visit, my office was being renovated, and an old sweet shop facade had been uncovered behind a false wall. The architect was planning to relocate it, but I suggested it was kept as a display frontage, and this was duly incorporated into the plans. I was delighted to see this completed on my next visit and it looked as good as I had imagined.
We went to visit an ossuary in Sedlec.
An ossuary is a chest, building, well or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains.
Senlec is a suburb of Kutná Hora and about 800 years old.
The ossuary began as a monastery in 1142 in what was then Bohemia. An abbot brought some earth from Golgotha, and sprinkled it on the monastery's graveyard. Eventually it became a popular place to be buried, particularly for the many who died of the plague during the Middle Ages.
In the 14th century a small chapel was built, and in 1870, a Czech woodcarver, František Rint, decorated the church with the bones from the cemetery to make room for more people.
The bones of about 40,000 people were used to create this fascinating chapel.
See a short history of the ossuary in Kutná Hora.
We also visited Ceské Budejovice in South Bohemia, a very attractive tourist region, rich in artistic and historical monuments. The town, which was founded in 1265, is famous for Budweiser beer from Budvar Brewery.
Cesky Krumlov is situated on the banks of the river Vltava. This is one of the most magnificent historic towns in the country.
The centre of Cesky Krumlov has preserved its authentic medieval character and has been given the status of an urban reserve protected by UNESCO.
After we left Cesky Krumlov, we travelled on to Bratislava in Slovakia.
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: © Mike Bliss 2008