Uncover the Hidden Gems of the Czech Republic and Europe

 Our journeys through the tri-border and tri-state areas have uncovered tales about border stones. This might lead you to believe that discovering the central parts of our country would be straightforward. But is that truly the case?

The challenge lies in the fact that many places claim to be the center, and it all hinges on perspective and the method used for determining this location.

The easiest exploration: the Via Czechia and Číhošt’, Golčův Jeníkov and Senesnice

If you’re looking for the simplest option, try the Central Trail, a long-distance hiking route that is part of the Via Czechia network. It connects three key locations in the Czech Republic. Spanning 1,036 km, this trail goes from the easternmost to the westernmost points of the Czech Republic, providing a fantastic introduction to the countryside. Along the way, it passes several significant spots: the geometric center in Číhošt’, the center of diagonals in Golčov Jeníkov, and the border center in Senesnice.

You may wonder if three points are enough? It is, because each was defined using different criteria. The main and officially recognized geographical center of the Czech Republic is in Číhošt’, identified by a land surveyor in 2005 as the center of gravity within the national borders. An obelisk marks this location, which is surrounded by a small park featuring a gazebo.

Other Wednesdays in the Czech Republic

Not far away, you’d find the next center, in Golčov Jeníkov, which represents the intersection of the diagonals of the smallest regular quadrilateral that can be drawn around our borders. The third location is situated in a field near the settlement of Senešnice in Central Bohemia. It is relatively obscure, not shown on maps or marked in the landscape, and is, in fact, the farthest point from any border, where the total of all direct distances to the Czech borders is maximized.

But there’s more: for example, others have calculated the geometric center of the Czech Republic at Číhošt’ using different methods, but it usually falls within a kilometer of the Číhošt’ obelisk. You might also think to connect the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost points of the Czech Republic. If you do, you would find that others have already done this as well, and their intersection point lies in Prague, particularly in the Řepy municipality.

Prague and Bohemia: the heart, center, and core of Europe

Though we don’t have a sea, our location is at the heart of Europe , and Prague is often called its heart. Historically, Czech lands were referred to as the center of the old continent since the Middle Ages. The geographer Philipp Clüver (1580-1622) even depicted Europe as a queen, with Bohemia represented as her core. This idea has recently resurfaced in Jakubovice near Golčovo Jeníkov, where they have designated the area as the Pupik of Europe. The concept was sparked by the discovery of an ancient stone engraved with two zeros, which the Jakubović family proposes marks the starting point of Europe. When questioned about the origin of this idea, they simply say it’s an imaginative story and challenge anyone to disprove it.

Cimrman’s Centre of Europe in Havlíčkův Brod

In the land where the beloved character Jára Cimrman is adored, it’s important to visit the Cimrman’s Centre of Europe. This location is in Havlíčkův Brod, specifically in the garden of the café called U Notáře. Jára Cimrman famously proposed that the center of Europe is located in Havlíčkův Brod. Ladislav Smoljak reinforced this notion by insisting that the center of Europe is defined by where people are most determined. Since others have relented in their efforts to discover this center, only the residents of Havlíčkův Brod have persisted, thus claiming the title permanently. A massive funnel in the café garden marks the exact center of the continent.

Astronomical Centre of Europe in Kourim

The Centre of Europe also has its own center in Kourim, positioned in the fields just outside the town, but since 2010, a monument stands directly on the Kouřimské náměstí. This represents the astronomical center of Europe, which is the intersection of the 50th parallel north and the 15th meridian east, and is essential to calculations of astronomical occurrences in the Czech Republic.

Melechov and Dylen, other centers of Europe

One of the oldest known marked centers of Europe is said to be on Melechov hill in the Havlíčkův Brod region. Various sources indicate that there was once a stone marking the center of Europe there, but it no longer seems to exist. Or maybe you could be the one to find it where others have failed?

A significant granite stone marking the center of Europe is located on the Czech-German border, just southwest of Dyleň Mountain’s peak. According to folklore, this site was indicated as the continent’s center by Napoleon’s cartographers prior to his 1805 campaign to Russia, and today, it’s part of the Bohemian Trail.

European centers in other European countries

• • A number of other locations also vie for the title of geographical center of Europe, not just in our country, but also in Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, and Ukraine.

• • Like the assessment of the center of the Czech Republic, there are various methods for calculating Europe’s center. Depending on whether you seek a point closest to all surrounding seas (considering only those that border Europe), or the intersection of Europe’s most extreme points—the southernmost, northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost—you’ll get different results. Different outcomes emerge when you treat Europe as a perfect plane to determine the center of gravity. If you account for altitude and include French overseas territories like Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion, you’d find another location entirely.

• • In our neighboring Slovakia, the search for the geographical center leads to the Kremnické vrchy mountains, located north of Kremnica, on Jánský vrch between the villages of Kremnické Bane and Krahule. This spot is marked by a plaque on a rock close to the Gothic church of St. John the Baptist.

• • The Hungarian center of Europe can be found in the village of Tállya within the renowned Tokaj wine region, while in Poland, it’s located in Suchowola, and in Ukraine, it’s in the former Trebusany, south of Rachov.

• • Despite the numerous claims for such titles, determining the actual center of Europe or the Czech Republic is quite challenging. However, what matters is that all the mentioned locations are intriguing and merit a visit—if for no other reason than the creativity and efforts of the locals.