Praha: cafés with atmosphere
In
Prague, there are many places where you can find shelter in bad weather. We definitely recommend the famous
Prague cafés. When you get too cold during your strolls through Prague, you can visit the
Slavia Café, located on the right bank of the Vltava, opposite the
National Theatre, where you can look at
Prague Castle, the Vltava River and
Lesser Town from the café’s large windows. However, a true café gem can be found inside the Czech
cubist house:
Dům U Černé Matky Boží (House of the Black Madonna), where the restored
Grand Café Orient, the only cubist café in the world, is open. You can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the beginning of the 20th century in
Café Louvre at Národní třída. Winter is a great season for visiting museums and galleries as well. You won’t be disappointed when you visit The
Kampa Museum, the
National Gallery or the
Franz Kafka Museum.
Brno: gems of functionalism
The cafés in
Brno are also inviting in winter. Try the
Savoy Café on the corner of Jacob Square and Běhounská Street. Right beside the
Cabbage Market is one of the best cafés in Brno –
Cosmopolis Cafe. If you would like to experience a functionalistic café and restaurant, then you should go to
Cafe Era. From there, you can continue the tour of functionalist gems by visiting
Villa Tugendhat, and you should definitely make time for a tour of
Villa Stiassni, where Fidel Castro stayed. The
Mahen Theatre and
Janáček Theatre also offer interesting programmes.
Olomouc: the tallest Czech sculpture
Olomouc,
the second largest conservation area in the Czech Republic, offers many attractive places. You can enjoy numerous
tours of monasteries, temples or museums. You should definitely see the
Holy Trinity Column in the centre. The column is 35 metres high and it is the tallest sculpture in the Czech Republic, with a small chapel inside. The dominant feature of Olomouc is the
St. Wenceslas Cathedral, which has the second tallest church tower in the Czech Republic (100.65 m) and the largest bell in Moravia. You can warm up in the
Art Museum or in the legendary Olomouc pub Ponorka. If you like science, you should visit
Fort Science, the first interactive museum of science in Central
Moravia.
Plzeň: Great beer and the largest synagogue
Plzeň is famous for its beer all over the world. And you can also learn about the history of beer in winter, either in the
Brewery Museum or the
Plzeň Historical Underground. You can warm up while enjoying some of the cultural events in
Měšťanská beseda or while touring the interiors designed by one of the most prominent Central European architects of the first third of the 20th century,
Adolf Loos. Plzeň also has the
Great Synagogue in the city centre. It is the largest synagogue in the Czech Republic, the second largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. If you like to tease your brain cells, then you have a great opportunity in this city – visit the science centre at
Techmania. In the city centre, you can climb up the
tower of St. Bartholomew Cathedral. The tower is 102.26 metres high and, in addition to a great view of the city, you will be pleased to learn that you have just visited
the highest church tower in the country.
