Explore Fascinating Revived Destinations: Where History Meets Modernity!

Discover Svijany Castle

The stunning landscapes of the Bohemian Paradise inspire many to visit the charming village of Svijany. Here, the brewery shares its name with the historic Svijany Chateau, which has been lovingly restored to reflect its original design from the 17th and 18th centuries. When you tour the castle, you’ll not only experience its rich history but also see a remarkable archaeological exhibition, featuring a 3,000-year-old bronze needle, displays on noble families, and an interactive showcase on the history of brewing. Kids will delight in the archaeological site for children located in the garden. Additionally, you can explore the beautifully reconstructed interior, which includes a chapel adorned with restored ceiling frescoes. Svijany Castle offers unique tours tailored to different audiences. For younger visitors, there are special children’s tours, while adults can enjoy night tours led by archaeologist Peter Brestovansky, who has unearthed ancient secrets from the granite burial site in Příšovice. His discoveries are showcased in the castle’s exhibition. During a tour lasting around two hours, you’ll gather extensive knowledge and hear fascinating stories about the castle and the Eduard Štorch archaeological exhibition.

Discover the Magic of Touch

The three-hundred-year-old Krkonoše parsonage has been transformed into an eco-friendly House of Restoration of Traditions, Ecology, and Culture, known as Touch. Its goal is to help people reconnect with nature and the landscape, preserve cultural heritage, and teach sustainable living skills.

It offers year-round guided tours of the house and nature garden, along with educational events and activities. You can participate in thematic walks around the area, like mountain farmer trails or fairy tales, and explore unique sightseeing routes with clues. There are also a shop, a playful exhibition featuring a moving model landscape of the Krkonoše Mountains, and a puppet theatre. The garden hosts a small farm with various animals and a cozy sitting area by a fireplace.

Experience Factory in the Walzel Centre

This is a wonderful place to be, a wish factory and experience factory all rolled into one. Located in the Broumov region within an Intermediate town rebuilt from a former weaving mill, it’s a great spot for friends or families looking for a fun outing any time! Enjoy exciting and active relaxation here. After many productive years since 1940, the mill had fallen into disrepair. Fortunately, the Walzel Center has been revitalized and is now a hub for active recreation, entertainment, and commerce. You can take advantage of a shooting range, fitness center, bowling, climbing wall, salt cave, and a restaurant.

Farmyard with Bread Exhibition in Rymice

In the summer of 2022, the Museum of the Kroměříž Region opened a beautifully reconstructed farmstead in Rymice. This provides an exceptional opportunity for anyone interested in folk culture to explore rural life as it used to be. The centerpiece of the farmstead is the exhibition named From Sourdough to Logs, which pays tribute to the vital role of bread in people’s lives. Bread-making was steeped in special rituals, and for many housewives, baking delicious bread was a cherished skill. The 18th-century courtyard remains well-preserved despite some unfortunate changes after World War II, during which it was even converted into a cowshed. The Rymice Open-Air Museum is open to visitors daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except on Mondays.

Iconic Villas in Brno: Tugendhat, Löw-Beer, Stiassni, Arnold, and Jurkovič Villas

Five unique family villas showcase remarkable architectural styles from modernism and Art Nouveau at the start of the 20th century, as well as from the avant-garde movement during the interwar period. These buildings, now shining gems of the city, hide incredible stories about their owners, many of whom were industrialists of Jewish descent, who built these luxurious homes and then had to escape from the Nazis.

The Villa of Greta and Fritz Tugendhat, constructed between 1929 and 1930 by the renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, stands out as the only UNESCO World Heritage site representing modern architecture in the Czech Republic.

Villa Stiassni, built by Brno textile manufacturer Alfred Stiassni for his family, was designed by the popular architect Ernst Wiesner between 1927 and 1929. While the villa’s exterior aligns with the architect’s purist style, the interior embraces a First Republic luxury with elegant wood paneling, marble fireplaces, stucco detailing, and historic furniture.

Villa Löw-Beer is an Art Nouveau villa in Brno-Cerné Pole, constructed from 1903 to 1904 based on a design by architect Alexander von Neumann for industrialist Moritz Fuhrmann. From 1913 to 1939, the Löw-Beer family, including Greta Tugendhat’s parents, resided in this villa.

The Arnold Villa, built in 1862, exudes the atmosphere and elegance of the First Republic. Josef Arnold designed this historicist villa with art-deco features.

Villa of Dušan Jurkovič was completed in 1906 near Brno’s Wilson Forest on Jana Nečase Street in Brno-Zabovřesky. It is considered one of the key examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Brno.

To Loos Interiors in Pilsen

Staying within the realm of wealthy industrialists, we now head to Plzeň. Here, you can explore a unique architectural masterpiece created by the famous architect Adolf Loos in the 1930s. For wealthy individuals from the local Jewish community, this set of eight surviving apartment interiors showcases Loos’s brilliant design. He also crafted various family homes in and around Brno and notable villas in Prague, including the Winternitz Villa and the Müller Villa, employing the innovative principle called Raumplan, where the design of rooms is prioritized over their area. Guided tours of these interiors in Pilsen not only reveal the intricate designs but also provide a fascinating glimpse into how affluent families lived during the First Republic, intertwining their often tragic personal stories with the broader historical events surrounding World War II and the communist era.

Farmstead U Matoušů in Pilsen – Bolevec

In Pilsen, you can also explore the farmstead U Matoušů, one of the significant monuments managed by the National Heritage Institute that’s accessible to the public. Miraculously, a piece of traditional rural living has managed to survive right in the middle of the Pilsen residential area. The story of Bolevec alongside the farm U Matoušů stretches back to the Middle Ages; during the 19th century, the entire courtyard underwent significant renovations. The exhibition showcases life and work on the farm during the 19th and 20th centuries. Visitors can explore the open-access exhibition in the granary and barn and view themed exhibitions in the former stables, along with guided tours of the residential buildings. The courtyard frequently organizes entertainment and educational programs for children, and it’s also possible to host weddings and various social and cultural events.

Steam Engine Brewery Lobeč Near Mšeno

The Czech Republic’s dedication to restoring historic sites is highlighted by the award Europa Nostra Awards 2023, which recognized the remarkable steam engine brewery in Lobeč. Over a period of more than 15 years, architects Jana and Pavel Prouz worked diligently to revive this brewery, which has a rich history dating back to 1586. The steam engine brewery in the picturesque village of Lobč, located within the Kokořínsko Protected Landscape Area, exemplifies the blending of historic charm with modern functionality, ensuring the building continues to thrive in contemporary times. Regular tours allow you to learn more about the brewery’s intriguing story, and you can even sample the beverages being brewed in the on-site restaurant, where you can also savor delicious meals! If you wish to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere for longer, stylish and modern apartments mimicking a countryside vibe are available for a stay.

Berl’s Limeworks – Exposition of Limeworks Near Třemošnice

Another impressive restored technical monument is Berl’s lime kiln in Závratec near Třemošnice. The lime works functioned from 1880 to 1960 until it closed its doors for sixty years. Today, it stands as a remarkably preserved site from the early industrial lime production era beneath the Iron Mountains and hosts an exhibition about the history of the lime industry. You can read through informative panels, view display cases, and touch tools that were once used in the industry. Not to be missed is a peek inside the towering chimney! Initially, limestone from the surrounding quarries was transported by wagon, and in 1882, a unique cable car z Dust was built, measuring five kilometers in length, representing an engineering marvel of its time.

Winternitz Automatic Mills

The Winternitz Automatic Mills, located just a short distance from the heart of Pardubice, is recognized as a national cultural monument and represents one of the initial architectural projects by Josef Gočár. This magnificent mill structure, perched along the Chrudimka River, was designed by Gočár in 1909 for the Winternitz brothers and was further expanded in 1924 with a grain silo. The mills operated continuously for over 100 years until they closed in 2013. Since 2016, the site has been undergoing a transformation into a thriving modern cultural and social district. Visitors can now explore the Gočár Gallery, the Gampa Gallery, the Silo art space, and the Sféra craft and technology education center. Future plans include adding new residential and commercial buildings alongside civic amenities.