Pilsen, Czech Republic is not only a popular tourist city, but also the country’s brewing center, which gave its name to the world famous Pilsner beer. A huge number of beer establishments, a beer museum and heady aromas of malt will not let you forget that you are in one of the most beer cities in Europe. However, this is not all the attractions that this place boasts of. Want to know the details? Read the article!
General information
The history of Pilsen in the Czech Republic began in 1295, when the ruling monarch ordered the construction of a fortress at the mouth of the Beronuka river. True, even then, in the thoughts of Wenceslas II, a plan for the construction of a large city capable of competing with Prague and Kutna Hora was matured. According to the project, which was created by the king himself, the center of the new settlement was to become a huge square, from which numerous streets diverged in all directions. And since they were located at an angle of 90 ° and parallel to each other, all the quarters of Pilsen received a clear rectangular shape.
Having extensive experience in the construction industry, Vaclav II did everything to ensure that living in the city was as comfortable as possible. And given the fact that Pilsen was located 85 km from the Czech capital and stood at the intersection of important trade routes, it developed actively and soon became an important industrial, commercial and cultural center of Western Bohemia. Actually, this is how you see this city now.
sights
Despite the fact that most of the architectural monuments of Pilsen were destroyed during the Second World War, there is something to see. Ancient buildings decorated with frescoes and art paintings, unusual fountains decorating parks and city streets, magnificent sculptures towering in the middle of numerous squares … In Pilsen it is beautiful, clean, fresh and cozy. And to make sure of this, let’s go for a walk in the most important places.
Exploring the main sights of Pilsen in the Czech Republic should start with Republic Square, a large medieval square located in the heart of the Old Town. Appearing in the 13th century on the site of a former cemetery, it very quickly became the largest shopping center. Here and now they sell beer, gingerbread, cheeses, punch and other products. In addition, traditional Czech holidays, fairs and festivals are held annually on it.
The closest surroundings of Republic Square, represented by the city hall, beautiful burgher houses and a museum of monsters and puppets, deserve no less attention. The composition is completed by unusual golden fountains with the image of the main symbols of the city and the famous Plague pillar, established in honor of the victory over a terrible disease.
In the photo of Pilsen in the Czech Republic, another important historical attraction is often found – St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the construction of which lasted from 1295 to 1476. The main decoration of this architectural object is a huge spire, which received the title of the highest dome of the country.
And there is also a viewing platform, arranged at a height of 62 m. In order to climb to it, you will have to overcome more than 300 steps.
In addition, in the deepening of the central altar of St Bartholomew’s Cathedral, you can see the statue of the Virgin Mary, made by a blind sculptor and possessing miraculous power. The figures of angels decorating the latticed fence of the cathedral deserve no less attention. They say that everyone who touches these sculptures will have great luck. Tourists willingly believe in this, so there is always a long queue to the lattice with angels.
Those who don’t know what to see in Pilsen in 1 day are advised to visit a brewery located on the right bank of the river. Rainbow. Access to the territory is allowed only accompanied by a guide. The program lasts 1.5 hours and includes an introduction to several factory facilities.
Inspection of Pilsner Urquell begins with a tourist center, built in 1868. In addition to information boards telling the history of the Pilsen Holiday, you can find the remains of an ancient beer shop, as well as listen to a lot of fascinating stories.
Next you will find a visit to several cooking shops, decorated in different styles. In the current Hall of Fame, you will most likely be presented with all diplomas and awards, as well as a film dedicated to Pilsner Urquell.
The next item in the program is the bottling department. Here you can watch the work of devices that produce more than 100 thousand bottles in about 1 hour. Well, in the end – the cellars, which store barrels of beer of various varieties. At the end of the walk – tasting a drink. After it is worth a look in the gift shop.
- The Pilsner Urquell factory is located at U Prazdroje 64/7, Pilsen 301 00, Czech Republic.
- The duration of the walk is 100 minutes.
- Admission is 8 €.
Work mode:
- April-June: daily from 08:00 to 18:00;
- July-August: daily from 08:00 to 19:00;
- September: daily from 08:00 to 18:00;
- October-March: daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Among the most famous sights of the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic are ancient catacombs located directly beneath the Old Town and dug back in the 14-17th century. Despite the fact that the total length of these labyrinths is 24 km, only the first 700 m are open for visitors.
However, you can get there only with an organized tourist group of up to 20 people.
The medieval historical dungeon has hundreds of galleys, crypts and caves, which at one time served as warehouses and served as a refuge for local residents. In addition, there were plumbing and sewer systems that ensure the life of the whole city. Today, the Plzen Historical Underground is a popular tourist destination, revealing the main secrets of ancient Pilsen.
- City catacombs are located at: Veleslavinova 58/6, Pilsen 301 00, Czech Republic.
- The tour lasts 50 minutes and is conducted in 5 languages (including Russian). The dungeon is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00.
Admission Price:
- As part of the group – 4.66 €;
- Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) – 10.90 €;
- School groups – 1.95 €;
- The cost of an audio guide is 1.16 €;
- Out-of-hours tour – 1.95 €.
On a note! The route runs at a depth of 10-12 m. The temperature here is about 6 ° C, so do not forget to bring warm clothes with you.
Looking at the photos of the city of Pilsen, you can see the following attraction. We are talking about the Techmania Science Center, opened in 2005 by the joint efforts of scientists from the University of Western Bohemia and representatives of the Škoda automobile concern. On the territory of the center, which occupied 3 thousand square meters. m, works up to 10 expositions devoted to important scientific and technological discoveries. Here are just a few of them:
- “Edutorium” – has about 60 interactive devices that explain the essence of some physical processes. There is an aggregate that makes real snow, a device that demonstrates the nature of optical illusions, and other unique machines;
- “TopSecret” – created for young fans of Sherlock Holmes, is devoted to various espionage features, encryption secrets and forensic methods;
- Škoda – tells the story of the automotive company.
Despite the scientific background, all information is very accessible, so in Techmania it will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children. In addition, you can visit the 3D planetarium and play interactive games.
Techmania Science Center is located at: U Planetaria 2969/1, Pilsen 301 00, Czech Republic.
Schedule:
- Mon-Fri: from 08:30 to 17:00;
- Sat-Sun: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost of visit:
- Main (films and exhibitions) – 9.30 €;
- Family (4 people, one of whom must be less than 15 years old) – 34 €;
- Group (10 people) – 8.55 €.
Plzen sights include many architectural structures, the most famous of which is the Great Synagogue. Built back in 1892, it became one of the three largest religious buildings of Judaism. According to local guides, it accommodates up to 2 thousand people at a time.
The architecture of the old Jewish temple, located near the Opera House, combines elements of various styles – Romanesque, Gothic and Moorish.
Over the years of its existence, Great Synagogue has successfully survived many historical events, including the Second World War. Now in her building not only services are held, but also festive events. In addition, there is a permanent exhibition “Jewish customs and traditions.”
- The Great Synagogue, located at Sady Pětatřicátníků 35/11, Pilsen 301 24, Czech Republic.
- Open from Sunday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Free admission.
Tourists who are interested in what to see in Pilsen are advised to visit another interesting attraction – the Brewery Museum, founded in 1959. Located in one of the houses of the Old City, he changed his appearance more than a dozen times. However, if you take a closer look at the interior, the malt house and two-level cellars, you will surely notice that the modern museum building is on the facade of an ancient historical building.
The excursion program includes an examination of the rooms in which beer was previously brewed, an acquaintance with the exhibition of ancient instruments, devices and utensils used in the production of a hop-drink, as well as a trip to a cafe, the setting of which resembles a pub of the late 19th century.
- The Brewery Museum in Pilsen can be found at: Veleslavinova 58/6, Pilsen 301 00, Czech Republic.
- The facility is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Entrance fee – 3,5 €.
Having decided to explore the sights of Pilsen in one day, do not forget to look into the city zoo, founded in 1926. At present, it contains more than 6 thousand animals living in the open space and separated from visitors by only large reservoirs.
A few more objects are adjacent to the zoo – an old farm, a dinopark, where you can see life-sized dinosaur figures, and a botanical garden with 9 thousand different plants.
Zoo Plzen is located at: Pod Vinicemi 928/9, Pilsen 301 00, Czech Republic. Opening hours:
- April-October: 08: 00-19: 00;
- November-March: 09: 00-17: 00.
Ticket price:
- April-October: adult – 5,80 €, children, pension – 4,30 €;
- November-March: adult – 3,90 €, children, pension – 2,70 €.
Accommodation
Being one of the largest cities in western Bohemia, Pilsen offers a huge selection of accommodation – from hostels and guest houses to apartments, villas and premium hotels. At the same time, prices for accommodation here are several times cheaper than in the neighboring capital. For example, a double room in a three-star hotel will cost 50-115 € per day, but if you wish, you can also find more budget options – 25-30 € each.
Food
Another characteristic feature of the city of Pilsen in the Czech Republic is a large selection of cafes, bars and snack bars where you can taste traditional Czech dishes and taste real Czech beer. Prices in them are quite affordable. So:
- lunch or dinner for one in an inexpensive restaurant will cost 12 €,
- middle class institutions – 23 €,
- combo set at McDonald’s – at 8-10 €.
In addition, here you can easily find restaurants with Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, as well as vegetarian and organic menus.
On a note! If you want to save on food, avoid popular tourist destinations. Better go a little deeper into the city – there are family cafes that offer even more favorable conditions.
How to get to the city from Prague?
If you do not know how to get from Prague to Pilsen on your own, use one of the following methods.
Trains from Prague to Pilsen run daily from 05:20 to 23:40. Among them, there are direct flights as well as transfers in Antipine, Ceske Budejovice or Beroun. The journey takes from 1.15 to 4.5 hours. Tickets cost between 4 and 7 €.
If you are interested in how to get from Prague to Pilsen by public transport, look for buses belonging to the following carriers.
| Title | Place of landing in Prague | Place of Arrival in Plzen | Travel time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flixbus – makes several direct flights per day (from 08:30 to 00:05).
The buses have Wi-Fi, a toilet, sockets. You can buy drinks and light snacks from the driver. |
The main bus station “Florenc”, the central railway station, bus station “Zlichin”. | Central bus station, theater “Alpha” (near the railway station). | 1-1.5 hours | 2,5-9,5 € |
| SAD Zvolen – runs on Mondays and Fridays, starting from 06:00 | Florentz | Central Bus Station | 1,5 hour | 4.8 € |
| RegioJet- performs 23 direct flights per day with an interval of 30-120 minutes. The first of them – at 06:30, the last – at 23:00. Some buses of this carrier serve stewardesses. They provide passengers with a press, individual touchscreens, sockets, free hot and paid cold drinks, and wireless Internet. Non-service buses offer mineral water and headphones. You can exchange or return a ticket no later than 15 minutes before departure. | Florentz, Zlichin | Central Bus Station | About an hour | 3,6-4 € |
Eurolines (French branch) – daily runs on the route Prague – Pilsen, but with different frequencies:
|
Florentz | Central Bus Station | 1.15-1.5 hours | 3,8-5 € |
| ČSAD autobusy Plzeň – makes 1 daily flight (at 18:45 – Sun., at 16:45 – on other days) | “Florenc”, “Zlichin”, metro station “Hradchanska” | Central Bus Station, Alpha | 1-1.5 hours | 3 € |
| Arriva Střední Čechy – walks only on Sundays. | Florentz, Zlichin | Central Bus Station, Alpha | 1,5 hour | 3 € |
Schedule and prices on the page are for May 2019.
On a note! Detailed information can be obtained on the website www.omio.ru.
Interesting Facts
Finally, here is a list of interesting facts that make it possible to know this city even better:
- There are vending machines with can beer at every step in the city of Pilsen, but you can buy it only with a passport or any other identification document of the buyer. To do this, special scanners are installed in the machines, which, in fact, read the information provided;
- Riding in municipal transport without a ticket or composting it again is not worth it – most of the controllers go accompanied by police officers, and it is almost impossible to calculate them by form;
- Purchasing products in Pilsen should be done until 9 pm – at this time almost all existing stores in the city close. The only exception is the Tesco Mall – it runs until midnight;
- Despite the fact that Pilsen is one of the most visited cities in the Czech Republic, the tourism industry flourishes only in the summer. But with the advent of winter, everything here simply dies out – the streets become deserted, and the main attractions of the city are closed “until better times”;
- All sorts of fairs are regularly held on the main city square – Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc .;
- Another interesting feature of this settlement is the colorful houses painted in calm pastel shades.
Pilsen, Czech Republic is a beautiful interesting town with a very bright color. To enjoy the unique atmosphere, you should spend at least 1-2 days here. Pack your bags – have a nice trip!
Video tour of the city of Pilsen.
