Pilsen invites visitors to its Liberation Festival, an outdoor Olympiad in the Czech Republic
Come to Pilsen in West Bohemia, Czech Republic. Just a 90-minute train journey from the capital, Pilsen is the realm of Pilsner Urquell beer, and boasts a wonderful historical centre, unique in the Czech Republic for lying at the confluence of four rivers. In addition to its historical sites and beer, this year Pilsen is putting on a particularly interesting programme of cultural events.
From 5. – 8. 5. join the citizens of Pilsen and visitors from around the world at the Liberation Festival (www.pilsen2005.com) to mark the US army’s liberation of the town in 1945. As it is the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, this year’s festival will be attended by American war veterans, their families and military clubs from across Europe. On Thursday the „Patton Memorial“ a monument to the US army will open its doors with an exhibition which traces the fighting and the time the American forces spent in the south—west of the country in 1945. On Friday commemorate the events of the end of World War II at the „Diky Ameriko!“ Memorial, along with numerous well known personalities from the world of politics and entertainment in the Czech Republic and from abroad, lead by Czech president Vaclav Klaus. Saturday will witness a historical military display with over 250 vehicles taking part. Events end on Sunday with a reconstruction of the street fighting which took place in Pilsen in 1945.
Not long after the Liberation Festival from 28. – 31. 7. Pilsen (www.plzen-city.cz) will host an outdoor event called the 9th IVV Olympiad (www.ivvolympiad.cz). This takes place every two years in a different country and attracts outdoor enthusiasts from the whole world to spend several days full of hiking, cycling and swimming. However, participants can also look forward to experiences other than the outdoor kind. They will be able to take a nostalgic steam train journey to Karlstejn, enjoy a party at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery and a Caribbean night at the Bolevecke lakes. The event is organised under the auspices of the international Sport for All organization IVV (IVV – Internationaler Volkssportverband) and will take place in the Czech Republic for the first time.
Pilsen’s historical centre is the ideal backdrop to the wide range of cultural events set to take place. The Cathedral of St Bartholomew dating from the mid 14th century and sporting the tallest church spire in the country at 103 m, should not be missed. Inside you will find an altar decorated with a one of the gems of European Gothic sculpture, the Pilsen Madonna, one of the most valuable examples of the purely Czech style of so—called „beautiful Madonnas“. Visitors should also not overlook the neo—Renaissance building housing the Museum of West Bohemia which possesses the largest collection of municipal firearms in Europe, still kept in the Municipal Arsenal. Another remarkable building in Pilsen is the Great Synagogue, the third largest in the world. It was built at the turn of the 20th century in the Moor—Romanesque style. Other important buildings such as the Art Nouveau Mestanská beseda and the neo—Renaissance Tyl Theatre come from the same period.
However, many tourists are drawn to Pilsen thanks to the reputation of its world famous beer and the town’s brewing tradition. The Brewery Museum (www.beerworld.cz) tells the unique story of beer brewing in the surroundings of the original malt house, where beer was brewed from medieval times. Last year the museum opened an exhibition of beer drinking vessels and beer related curiosities as well as the „parkan“ – the space between the medieval town walls and also the name of a traditional pub serving unfiltered beer. Don’t forget to visit the Pilsner Urquell Brewery (www.prazdroj.cz). The famous brewery gates are the entrance to a large complex where you will find the largest beer brewing kettle in the Czech Republic, and where you can inspect the coopers’ workshops, taste real unfiltered beer straight from oak barrels, or have a traditional Czech meal in the largest Czech pub called Na Spilce, part of the brewery complex. Visitors to the brewery can choose from 3 guided tours. The brewery also serves as a culture centre, and every year it holds a series of events from regular dances at Na Spilce and live sports screenings to the very successful Summer with Urquell, which features popular concerts. The top annual event is without doubt the Pilsner Fest (www.pilsnerfest.cz), a traditional celebration of the first batch of Pilsner Urquell beer. During the three days of the festival 60,000 people visit the brewery and almost 350 hectolitres of beer are consumed. This year the Czech Republic’s number one beer event, the 163rd Pilsner Fest, will take place 30. 9. – 2. 10.
If it is rest and relaxation in the country you are after, Pilsen and the surrounding area have many places for you to visit. The pleasant Pilsen Zoo and Botanical Gardens are unique in the Czech Republic in combining the animal kingdom with the mysterious world of exotic plant species. Part of the gardens is made up of an original Japanese garden created by Japanese master gardeners and containing objects brought mainly from Japan itself. A traditional place of contemplation is the Memorial to the Victims of Evil, the so—called Garden of Meditation. Other great ideas for day trips are the Bolevecke Lakes set in woodland to the north of the town and the examples of high baroque architecture in the region such as the monumental Kladruby monastery (www.klasterkladruby.cz), the monastery in Plasy (http://cestujme.cz/plasy/) and the Chotesov monastery (www.pruvodce.com/chotesov/). The castles Kozel (www.zamek-kozel.cz), NebÃlovy (www.pruvodce.com/nebilovy/) and Radyne are also popular with day trippers. Come and discover Pilsen and the Pilsen region. It will be an experience you will never forget.
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April 15, 2005
Posted in: Czech Republic