tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40840847438664910342024-02-24T23:30:02.595-08:00Off the Beaten Path in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: A Travel GuideA travel guide to all aspects of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, focusing on sights and destinations still considered to be off the main tourist trail in these two superb Slavic nationsGoulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-25424471851597667032015-10-18T22:56:00.001-07:002015-10-18T22:56:42.863-07:00Wooden Churches # 25 - Hrabová Roztoka, Slovakia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaqHrJCOX7LmD1JsHjSDH87gkpNLhxx6e04c9MiG8HtxyaONpZc3T8B_lqWrwocSNlPQJaU40YkZP52hk3IchQ2VdtURHCLgtxZPLluZonqPZBahIrw6pN69Tnq9-hzWGvI_hgrH9VaF6/s1600/Spring+2009+Geoff+328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaqHrJCOX7LmD1JsHjSDH87gkpNLhxx6e04c9MiG8HtxyaONpZc3T8B_lqWrwocSNlPQJaU40YkZP52hk3IchQ2VdtURHCLgtxZPLluZonqPZBahIrw6pN69Tnq9-hzWGvI_hgrH9VaF6/s640/Spring+2009+Geoff+328.jpg" /></a></div>
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This small Greek Catholic church lies on a hill above the village of Hrabová Roztoka in eastern Slovakia, just a few kilometres from the border with Ukraine. The church was built in the middle of the 18th century and dedicated to Saint Basil the Great. A sign on the rear wall of the church declares it to be a 'national cultural monument' of Slovakia (this type of metal sign is affixed to most of Slovakia's wooden churches), but interestingly a second sign declares it to be 'Ukrainian national architecture' written in the Ukrainian Cyrillic alphabet.
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The church has a simple, rustic design which is similar to the nearby church in the village of Ruská Bystrá. It follows a three-room plan with a nave, sanctuary and 'babinec' or entrance room, while above there are two towers with onion domes topped by three-barred iron crosses. In the front tower there are three bells which date from 1796. The roof and exterior walls underwent repairs and replacement of wooden tiles in the year 2000.
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The impressive iconostasis in the interior dates from 1794 and is almost as old as the church itself. A rare feature of this church among those in Slovakia is the Czar door, in place of the usual 'Tree of Jesse' doors. In the second row of the iconostasis the image of the Last Supper is in the central position, instead of the more common image of Christ. Five icons were stolen from the church in 2003; they were later recovered, but were damaged and required restoration.
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Kalná Roztoka can be reached by infrequent buses from the towns of Snina and Stakčín to the north, while the neighbouring village of Ruská Bystrá has bus services connecting it to the town of Sobrance to the south. Therefore it is possible to see both Ruská Bystrá and Kalná Roztoka in a day by walking along the forest trail between them and arriving and departing from each by bus. The church key keeper lives down the hill in the centre of the village, but they weren't at home when I visited.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OXjwydHz8B0WHJIMo1h8yw3qdpz0P7ma6aKrgRCzf_9cGn006BoCBthg3hwZpj_bkexMWstN4F2JlKAwHlUWKyGMNCjDAjE2K9PXnEJw_Ba9R9ZP-ATPdxaSUVu4eVfOv_7ZWDdvlQuM/s1600/Spring+2009+Geoff+336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OXjwydHz8B0WHJIMo1h8yw3qdpz0P7ma6aKrgRCzf_9cGn006BoCBthg3hwZpj_bkexMWstN4F2JlKAwHlUWKyGMNCjDAjE2K9PXnEJw_Ba9R9ZP-ATPdxaSUVu4eVfOv_7ZWDdvlQuM/s640/Spring+2009+Geoff+336.jpg" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-8202818998156575692015-10-13T06:33:00.000-07:002015-10-13T06:33:54.365-07:00Wooden Churches # 24 - Slavoňov, Czech Republic
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This Roman Catholic wooden church sits on a small hill at the edge of the village of Slavoňov in the East Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. The church was built in 1553 on the site of a much older structure. It was originally founded by Utraquists (a moderate branch of the Hussite movement) and dedicated to Saint Martin, but the church became Roman Catholic in 1683.
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The large bell tower within the church yard dates from the same era as the church, probably built in 1555. The lower half of the tower is made of brick and its height suggests it was also intended to have a defensive military function in the event of the village coming under attack. Three bells cast in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries hang in the tower.
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The beams of the church are made of oak, spruce and fir logs. The joints between the logs were filled in with mortar and then the exterior of the building was covered in whitewash. The interior walls and ceiling are painted with murals of plants and flowers which date from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The murals were restored twice in the twentieth century.
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Getting to Slavoňov is possible by public transport since there are several buses daily from the nearby town of Nové Město nad Metují which has train and bus links to most major cities across the country. The village is just 4 kilometres east of Nové Město nad Metují so it is also possible to walk there along a forest trail. The church is open for religious services four times per week, and at other times the door into the front entrance room is left open where it is possible to get an obstructed view of the church interior.
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This Greek Catholic church is found on a small hill above the village of Bodružal among the forest covered mountains in the north-eastern corner of Slovakia. The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas and was built in 1658, making it one of the oldest churches with a Lemko design in the Carpathian region. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008 together with seven other wooden churches in present-day Slovakia.
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The three-part Lemko design (narthex, nave and sanctuary) are intended to represent the holy trinity. An onion dome projects above each of the three room sections with the highest dome placed above the narthex (entrance room) which is a typical feature of the Lemko style. The tower above the entrance contains three bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1759. The iconostasis wall in the interior is entirely original, dating from the 17th century, and is one of the finest examples of icon painting in this region of the Carpathians. The church grounds are surrounded by a low wooden fence with a main wooden entrance gate with a small shingled roof.
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The church is in use at least weekly with regular services held on Sunday morning. The key keeper lives 50 metres down the road from the church and since this is a popular church with tourist visitors it's usually not a problem to find someone willing to come and open the door. They will expect an entrance fee of about two Euros per person to be paid, and donations can be left in front of the icons.
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There is no direct transportation to Bodružal, but it is an easy 15 minute walk from the village of Krajná Poľana which is on the main road between Svidník and the Polish border and there are frequent buses throughout the day from Svidník. A walking trail through the forests connects four villages with wooden churches (Bodružal, Príkra, Miroľa and Krajné Čierno) which makes a perfect day hike to experience both the villages and the surrounding countryside.
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Pustevny is a hilltop ensemble of gingerbread-style folk buildings in the Valašsko region of the Czech Republic close to the border with Slovakia. The surrounding Beskyd mountains are popular with hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter, and there is a chairlift in operation to carry visitors up the mountain to the village.
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The buildings were designed by Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič and constructed together with local Moravian master builder Michal Urbánek in the 1890's, drawing upon traditional Slavic folk art and building styles of the Valašsko region and the Carpathian Mountains. The final appearance of the buidlings also incorporates elements of the Art Nouveau style which was prominent at that time. Construction began in 1897 and was completed in 1899. Jurkovič also designed several other wooden buildings with a classical Slavic folk style in the present-day Czech Republic, such as the spa buildings in Luhačovice or the covered bridge in the castle gardens in Nové Město nad Metují.
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The two most famous buildings in Pustevny are named Libušín and Maměnka, and they sit side by side together on top of the hill. Maměnka houses accommodation and has a wooden interior decorated in a similar style to the exterior, with traditional expressions and sayings painted on the walls.
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Libušín is a restaurant serving traditional Wallachian and Moravian dishes. The name of Libušín comes from the legendary Czech princess Libuše. The interior of Libušín is decorated with beautiful frescoes designed by Mikoláš Aleš based on Wallach and Slovak folk legends. Art Nouveau-style chandeliers add a further touch of elegance to the dining room.
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Another famous feature of the architectural collection at Pustevny is a small bell tower which stands near the trail head for the climb to the top of Radhošť mountain. The tower was designed by Jurkovič in the same distinctive Wallachian style as the other buildings and is a valuable example of Slavic folk art.
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Further up the hill towards the summit of Radhošť there is a stone statue of the Slavic pagan god Radegast, while at the highest point there is a wooden chapel dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the patron saints of Moravia. Several festivals and special events take place in Pustevny each year, with the Snow Sculpture competition held in January among the most popular.
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On 3 March 2014 a large fire in Pustevny caused extensive damage to the folk cottage called Libušín. The open air museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm declared that it was committed to rebuilding Libušín as faithfully as possible according to the original design. This project was expected to cost tens of millions of Czech Crowns and a fund for public donations was established. Benefit concerts were also held to get the funding campaign started.
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There are several ways to get to Pustevny depending on the direction you approach it from. A road up the mountain from the southern side ends with a parking area just below Pustevny, and several buses per day run to the village from the nearby town and regional tourist hub of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. Hiking trails also lead from the eastern end of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm to the summit of Radhošť mountain and onwards to Pustevny. For those who prefer a relaxed trip to the top there is a chairlift in operation in both winter and summer which connects Pustevny with the village of Trojanovice at the base of the mountain on the north side.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-23308724185962822872014-01-29T03:01:00.000-08:002014-01-29T03:01:34.323-08:00Wooden Churches # 22 - Ruský Potok, Slovakia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This small Orthodox church stands on a raised patch of ground in the centre of the village of Ruský Potok in the far northeast corner of Slovakia. The forested hills of the Poloniny National Park surround the village on three sides, and sections of the UNESCO-listed Beech Forests of the Carpathians site are also nearby.
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The church was built in 1740 and dedicated to Michael the Archangel as a Greek Catholic church. Since the year 2000 it has been used by the local Orthodox church community, though services are only held on religious holidays and special occasions.
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The church contains a three-section floor plan (narthex, nave and sanctuary) on an east-west axis which is typical of Greek Catholic churches found in this region. The church was built on a low stone foundation to enhance its durability.
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Next to the church is a small bell tower which contains three bells. The bell tower is not part of the original church plan and was built only in 1956. The three bells it contains were originally housed in the belfry in the tower above the narthex of the church. The tower features a series of small windows, which is a unique feature among the churches found in this region.
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The iconostasis in the church likely dates from the eighteenth century. Due to the narrow space available in the small nave, the icons on the far left and right are placed on the side walls at a ninety degree angle to the rest of the iconostasis. This is another very unusual feature which does not appear in any of the other churches in this region.
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The church was originally surrounded by a stone wall with two entrance gates, though at present there is a wooden fence with one entrance gate leading down towards the village square. A modern church has been built within the same grounds as the original wooden church.
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Ruský Potok is very difficult to reach by public transport, since no buses run to the village and just a few buses per day pass along the Snina - Ulič road four kilometres to the south. The road into the village from the Snina - Ulič main road is paved and fine for access by car or bicycle. There is a blue-marked hiking trail over the hills connecting the villages of Topoľa, Ruský Potok and Uličské Krivé, and since all three villages contain wooden churches this route makes a nice one day trek.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-90625688448291542402012-11-21T14:37:00.000-08:002012-11-21T14:37:24.345-08:00Wooden Churches # 21 - Hunkovce, Slovakia <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This photogenic Greek-Catholic church stands on a small hill next to the road in the village of Hunkovce in north-east Slovakia. There are Rusyn wooden churches in nearly every village between the town of Svidník and the Polish border, but Hunkovce's church is the only one which can be easily seen from the main road while driving past. The church was built at the very end of the 18th century, probably in 1799, and was dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
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The church has a perfect Lemko design plan, with the tallest of three towers above the narthex (entrance area), the middle one above the nave and the lowest above the sanctuary. Each of the towers features intricately detailed onion domes with large ornamented metal crosses in Baroque style placed above. The wooden structure of the building sits on a low stone foundation layer to protect it from water seepage from the ground.
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There is a small Greek-Catholic cemetery on the hill surrounding the church, with several cast-iron cross markers that date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The small shingle-roofed entrance gate beside the road is all that remains of the traditional wooden fence which once surrounded both the church and cemetery.
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The village of Hunkovce saw heavy fighting in the battle for the nearby Dukla Pass in 1944; most of the houses in the settlement were destroyed, and the church suffered extensive damage to the roof and walls. It was later repaired and named a National Heritage Landmark building in 1968. At the southern end of the village there is a large World War Two German military cemetery with the graves of more than 2000 German soldiers who fought in the battle.
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In 2010 the exterior of the church was fully reconstructed with new wooden siding and roof shingles (these photos were taken a few months before the restoration). The church is empty and has no interior fittings because the iconostasis and icons were removed and placed in museums in Bardejov and Svidník. No religious services are held here, since there is a modern Greek-Catholic church across the road which serves this purpose for the local villagers. If you'd still like to see the inside of the wooden church, try to find the local priest who is often in the modern church across the road.
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Hunkovce is one of the easiest churches to visit in Svidník region because it is directly on the main road to the Polish border and many buses travel along this route daily. The bus from Svidník takes about 20 minutes to reach the village, and it is another 25 minutes from there to the border. After crossing the border on foot, Polish buses run from the border to the towns of Dukla and Krosno. Svidník isn't very aesthetically pleasing, but it is the most convenient place to use as a base when visiting the wooden churches in this region, and the town also has a superb outdoor folk museum and the Ukrainian-Rusyn Cultural Museum.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-7948628546964906962012-11-19T13:59:00.001-08:002012-11-19T13:59:12.958-08:00Wooden Churches # 20 - Tročany, Slovakia <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This newly restored church stands in the centre of the small village of Tročany, located south of Bardejov in eastern Slovakia. Research conducted during the past few years has confirmed that the church is much older than had been previously thought; samples taken from its wooden beams were tested and the date of its construction was found to be the end of the 15th century or the first years of the 16th century. This puts it into the same age bracket as the Roman Catholic church in Hervartov, previously believed to be the oldest surviving wooden church in Slovakia. It is among the oldest Greek-Catholic wooden churches in the entire Carpathian mountain region.
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Dedicated to Luke the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, the church has a standard Greek-Catholic floor plan with a sanctuary, nave and narthex (entrance area). Above the entrance porch there is a bell tower topped with a very unusually shaped cap which looks like a candle extinguisher. A similarly shaped cap sits above the central nave, while the sanctuary has no cap or steeple attached. The bell tower contains two bells which are still in regular use during religious services. At the top of the cap of the bell tower is a simple double-barred cross, while the cap above the nave has a more decorative single-barred cross.
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The interior contains a restored iconostasis from the 17th century, though it is missing some of its original features. Instead of the typical Last Supper scene placed above the middle Czar door there is the Mandilion, a picture of the face of Christ on a cloth without a crown of thorns. In the sanctuary the altar is decorated with an 18th century icon depicting the Descent from the Cross, while the preparatory table in the corner has an icon of Saint Michael the Archangel. There are small windows on the right-hand side of both the nave and the sanctuary which allow some natural light to enter.
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Today the church is used by both Greek Catholics and Roman Catholics, so the interior contains some modern Roman Catholic fittings which thankfully do not detract from the beauty of the older Greek Catholic artifacts. The church has undergone several renovations throughout its history, with major work carried out in 1897, 1933 and 1968. In 2010 and 2011 the church was completely restored both inside and out with funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund as part of a cross-border project to promote economic growth and cooperation between south-eastern Poland and north-eastern Slovakia.
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The key for the church is kept by a family which lives at the opposite end of the village; if you are standing at the church go left along the road, pass the turning point for the road out to the main highway, continue up the slight incline of the hill and the house is on the right, the second house past the village office. You need to open their front gate and walk up and knock on the door on the right side of the house. The family are used to opening the church every day for visitors and are very friendly (they even speak a word or two of English) and they have pamphlets and books for sale about the Greek-Catholic churches in the region.
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Tročany is not serviced by regular bus transport, but it is a two kilometre walk from the village out to the main road running between Bardejov and Prešov, and there is a bus stop at the turnoff to the village where buses pass by every hour or two. Prešov is a major transport hub with train and bus connections throughout the country, while Bardejov is the best place to base yourself for a tour of the wooden churches found in its vicinity.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-75756533752743694132012-11-18T12:51:00.000-08:002012-11-18T16:35:31.776-08:00Wooden Churches # 19 - Brežany, Slovakia <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This distinctive church sits on a grassy hillside above the small village of Brežany, fifteen kilometres south-west of the city of Prešov. Although it is a Greek-Catholic church, it is located far to the south and west of the region where the majority of these churches can be found in Slovakia along the Polish and Ukrainian borders.
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The church was built in 1727 and is dedicated to Saint Lucas the Evangelist. The structure of the building has little in common with other Greek-Catholic churches in north-east Slovakia, since it appears to have features usually associated with Gothic Roman Catholic architectural design (such as the church in Hervartov, Slovakia). It can be assumed that because the Brežany church was built relatively far away from other Rusyn Greek-Catholic churches the construction techniques of the Roman Catholics in the neighbouring villages formed a more significant source of inspiration for the builders.
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The floor plan for the church follows the basic three-part system of Greek-Catholic design, with a small sanctuary, the nave as the central room and the narthex (entrance room) represented by a stand-alone bell tower with space for seating beneath it. The bell tower bears a strong resemblance to one exhibited in the outdoor museum in the town of Martin in central Slovakia, while the overall building design is similar to a wooden church in Trnové, a village just outside of Žilina.
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The interior contains an iconostasis from 1733, as well as a number of impressive baroque icons. The most important of these icons depicts the coronation of the Mother of God. On the western side of the nave above the door several decorative paintings of biblical scenes can be seen. The front door of the church is also original and dates from the middle of the 18th century. The bell tower contains two large bells which are still in regular use during services.
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The jointing system used to connect the ends of the log beams together is very simple (see the photo above), with a small groove cut into the underside of each beam and the ends extended slightly beyond the corners of the building. The gaps between the logs are filled with clay and then whitewashed, creating a striped black and white appearance which is very uncommon among churches in Slovakia, being more commonly seen in northern parts of Moravia and Bohemia.
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Beneath the bell tower is a traditional folk object which is very rare now in this part of the Carpathian mountains (see the photo below). This device is used to make a loud repeated sound which would call the villagers to church services. When the handle on the right-hand side is turned it raises a series of wooden slats with wooden hammers attached to the ends of them, causing the hammers to strike the hollow wooden shaft below which then emits a high-pitched sound. These noise makers are similar to the wooden "clappers" traditionally used in the mining towns of central Slovakia (such as Banská Štiavnica) to wake the miners for the morning shift. Similar objects can also be seen in the wooden churches in the Maramures region of north-eastern Romania, further to the east along the Carpathian range.
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The key for the church is kept by a family who live down below in the village, near the turning point for the laneway that leads up the hill to the church. Far fewer visitors come to see this church than some of the more well-known Greek-Catholic churches to the north-east, so the family are not used to opening the church for visitors unless an appointment is arranged in advance. Offering them a donation for the church could help in convincing them to come and open it for you.
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Brežany village is serviced by a couple of buses per day (fewer on Saturdays and Sundays) which connect it with the central bus station in Prešov. Buses more frequently pass through the village of Rokycany which is a two kilometre walk to the south-east of Brežany. Prešov has frequent train and bus connections with Košice, Bratislava and other major cities throughout Slovakia.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-39558278861965483092012-11-16T10:30:00.000-08:002012-11-16T10:30:09.146-08:00Wooden Churches # 18 - Maršíkov, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This large timber church stands in the small village of Maršíkov in the Jeseníky region of North Moravia in the Czech Republic. It was built in 1609 using wooden beams taken from an older wooden church which had been dismantled in the nearby town of Velké Losiny. The wooden church in the village of Žárová, a few kilometres north of Velké Losiny, was constructed in 1610 with wood taken from the same dismantled church.
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The church in Maršíkov was originally Lutheran, and was dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of late-period Renaissance folk architecture in the Czech Republic. Up until the early 1900's a low stone wall surrounded the church and the village cemetery which was located directly behind it. The cemetery was moved to a location on higher ground further away from the road.
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The interior contains unique Rococo-style decorations from the late 18th century. The main altar includes a painting of the Archangel Michael, while the side altars depict the Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk. The walls of the nave are covered with timber boards with overlapping joints and are painted in dark red and grey. In the choir above the entrance area there is an organ from the 18th century.
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The wooden steeple at the centre of the roof line is topped with a large onion dome which is grander in scale than those usually seen on the 17th and 18th century wooden churches found in this region. The dovetail joint interlocking system used to connect the ends of the wooden beams is typical for wooden churches in Silesia and northern parts of Moravia and East Bohemia.
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The key for the church is kept by the family which lives in the house directly in front of the church entrance. They are used to opening it a few times per week for Czech and German bus tour groups, but they may be a little hesitant to do so for individual tourists who come unannounced, especially if they are busy with other activities. Offering them a donation for the church (50 to 100 crowns) might provide the right encouragement.
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The village of Maršíkov isn't serviced by buses very frequently, but it is an easy two-kilometre walk from the town of Velké Losiny, which has frequent train and bus connections with Šumperk and Zábřeh, both of which have regular connections with Olomouc, Prague and other parts of the country. There are several restaurants and accommodation options available in Velké Losiny because tourists come to visit the spa, chateau and hand-made paper museum in the town and use it as a base for hiking in the Jeseníky mountains.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-34293453876678527602012-11-03T17:55:00.000-07:002012-11-03T17:55:38.403-07:00Wooden Churches # 17 - Nová Polianka, Slovakia (now in Svidník Outdoor Museum)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On a hill above the town of Svidník in north-eastern Slovakia lies the Ukrainian and Rusyn Village Museum, a collection of farm buildings, windmills and other historical wooden structures gathered from the surrounding region. The highlight of the museum is the Greek-Catholic wooden church originally from the small village of Nová Polianka, a few kilometres south of Svidník.
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The church was built in Nová Polianka by local craftsmen around 1766 (some sources suggest as early as 1763) and was dedicated to Saint Paraskeva. During World War II the church and the village were badly damaged, and a newer brick church built in the 1930's became the main place of worship for the villagers.
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The wooden church continued to be used for services until 1960, but in 1961 its condition had deteriorated enough that it was torn down. In the 1980's plans were made to found the Ukrainian and Rusyn Village Museum in Svidník, and it was decided that the church from Nová Polianka should be fully reconstructed for the museum based on the original architectural plans.
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Eighteenth-century icons and interior fittings were collected from several different Greek-Catholic churches in the region and used to decorate the interior of the rebuilt structure. The church was opened as a part of the Village Museum in 1986, and since 1993 occasional Greek-Catholic masses and other religious services have been held there.
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Built from pine wood, the church has a three-section floor plan in the typical Lemko style, with three accompanying steeples and beautifully decorative wrought-iron crosses above. The steeples and crosses are arranged in height with the highest above the entrance room, the middle one above the nave, and the lowest one above the sanctuary.
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The wooden walls of the interior of the original church in Nová Polianka were covered in paintings of scenes from the Bible, but these were not recreated for the church in the museum. The iconostasis dates from the early 18th century and came from a church in a nearby village. There is a royal door at the centre of the iconostasis but the deacon doors for the two side entrances into the sanctuary are missing.
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Standing next to the church is a wooden bell tower with a pyramidal shingled roof and an onion-shaped steeple topped with a cross. Two bells have been installed in the tower and are rung on special occasions. surrounding the church and bell tower is a low wooden fence with a shingled top in the Rusyn style which is typical of this region of the Carpathians.
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The Village Museum in Svidník is open daily except Mondays from the beginning of May until the end of October. A Rusyn-Ukrainian folk festival is held in the village museum every year in June, attracting thousands of visitors to the event. Svidník is not connected to the railway network, so the most convenient way to get there by public transport is by bus from Prešov, Košice or Bardejov. Regular buses also run north from Svidník to the border with Poland at the Dukla Pass, where it is possible to catch a bus on the Polish side to the town of Krosno.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-64708149335901336872012-10-30T13:17:00.000-07:002012-10-30T13:17:56.714-07:00Wooden Churches # 16 - Kožany, Slovakia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The small village of Kožany lies in rolling countryside surrounded by fields and forests in a remote region of north-eastern Slovakia, between the towns of Bardejov and Svidník. This small Greek-Catholic church sits on a low hill at the western end of the village, with views across the surrounding farmland.
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Dedicated to the Lord's Meeting with Simeon, the church was constructed in the second half of the 18th century by local builders. The three-roomed structure sits on a low stone foundation and features a bell tower above the entrance area. Three bells are kept in the tower and the oldest was cast in 1406, making it one of the oldest church bells to be found in Slovakia.
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The inerior of the nave contains colourful paintings on the wooden walls, a unique feature among the timber churches in this region. The paintings were created between 1793 and 1797 and depict many scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. A Last Judgement icon on canvas, painted in the the late 18th century, is one of the most precious works found in the church.
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The iconostasis dates from the beginning of the 18th century, and here again is a unique feature, since instead of a Czar door and two Deacon doors at the sides, there is a main Czar door and only one side Deacon door, likely because of the narrow width of the nave. The bars placed over the windows on the exterior of the church are another unique feature, since they are made of hand-crafted wrought iron and are as old as the church itself.
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The key for the church is kept by a family which lives in a house several doors down from the church on the same side of the road. They charge a small entrance fee and have some books and pamphlets about the wooden churches in the region available for sale.
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Getting to Kožany by public transport is possible, since there are several buses per day on weekdays which go to the village from Bardejov's main bus station (fewer on Saturdays and Sundays). Getting to Bardejov is easiest by bus from Prešov, Poprad or Košice, all of which have transport connections throughout the country.
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-67335880444153409582012-08-22T13:16:00.001-07:002012-08-22T13:21:41.680-07:00Day Trips from Košice, Slovakia - The Top 25 Destinations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJS6lj1mRh5jRRux2K7ma3SPQbDa0YYH7abtKWs95O28ErUsumT4Ay2jWL18Z_s5WWvtHkoLUaRRjmORYf3S2dHhnWUht46OZeUgkZp4MVgpCSICwWupYVCnoUZ8QWAFaDiyEHY05u9xh/s1600/Geoff%2527s+Autumn+2009+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJS6lj1mRh5jRRux2K7ma3SPQbDa0YYH7abtKWs95O28ErUsumT4Ay2jWL18Z_s5WWvtHkoLUaRRjmORYf3S2dHhnWUht46OZeUgkZp4MVgpCSICwWupYVCnoUZ8QWAFaDiyEHY05u9xh/s400/Geoff%2527s+Autumn+2009+040.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Eastern Slovakia has an astonishing number of attractions packed into a very small geographical area, with towering mountains, rustic red-roofed towns, castles, caves and wooden churches all waiting to be explored. Košice is by far the largest city in the eastern half of Slovakia and it has a range of impressive sights to see in and around its well-preserved central square and the Cathedral of Saint Elisabeth. For those visitors who would like to base themselves in the city for a few days to use it as a base for day trips into the surrounding countryside, I have put together a list of the best places that can be visited in a single day. I have given each destination a star rating out of five to provide an idea of how worthwhile they are to visit, and the destinations are organized by distance into three categories - within one hour of travel from Košice by public transport, within two hours, and within three hours. The pictures in this article show, from top to bottom, The High Tatra Mountains, Betliar Chateau, Bardejov old town square, Markušovce Chateau, and Spiš Castle.<br />
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Destinations Within One Hour of Travel from Košice:<br />
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** Jasov Monastery and cave - (40 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the town of Jasov; the cave is at the base of the hillside near the southern end of the town<br />
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** Herľany Geyser - (45 minutes) By bus from Košice to the village of Herľany<br />
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** Prešov - (35 minutes) By train from Košice main station<br />
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** Veľký Šariš castle and Šariš brewery - (50 minutes to 1 hour) By train or bus from Košice main station, sometimes changing to another bus or train in Prešov is required<br />
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* Slanec Castle - (35 minutes) By bus or train from Košice main station<br />
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Destinations Within Two Hours of Travel from Košice:<br />
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***** Spiš Castle - (1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a second bus to the town of Spišské Podhradie. You can't miss the castle on the hill, it dominates the landscape for miles around<br />
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***** The High Tatra Mountains - (1 hour 50 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Poprad, then change to the mountain railway to reach Starý Smokovec. From there you can take the funicular up to Hrebienok which is the starting point for many possible day hikes in the Tatras. Start early if you are going to travel to and from Košice in a day <br />
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**** Levoča - (1 hour 45 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a second bus to reach Levoča<br />
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**** Bardejov - (1 hour 50 minutes) By bus from Košice main station<br />
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**** Krásna Hôrka Castle - (1 hour 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Krásnohorské Podhradie, the castle is clearly visible on the hill above the town<br />
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**** Slovak Paradise National Park - (1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Spišská Nová Ves, then by bus to the village of Čingov which is the starting point for many hikes into the park <br />
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*** Kežmarok - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Košice main station to Poprad, then change to a bus or train to reach Kežmarok. The bus and train stations are next to each other in Poprad<br />
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*** Gombasek Cave in the Slovak Karst National Park - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By bus from Košice main station to Rožňava, then change to a second bus to the village of Slavec and get out at the stop along the highway after the village at the turning point for the road to Silica village. From the bus stop take the trail to Gombasecka cave, it's about 1 kilometre<br />
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*** Betliar Chateau - (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to Rožňava, then change to a second bus to reach Betliar village<br />
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*** Spišská Sobota - (1 hour 15 minutes) By train from Košice main station to Poprad; Spišská Sobota is a historic village on the edge of Poprad, about a 20-minute walk east from the train station<br />
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** Markušovce Chateau - (1 hour 15 minutes) By regional train from Košice main station to the village of Markušovce<br />
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** Tročany wooden church (1 hour 20 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Janovce, then it's a 1.5 kilometre walk along the local road to reach Tročany village<br />
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** Brežany wooden church - (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By bus or train from Košice main station to Prešov, then change to a bus to reach Brežany<br />
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Destinations Within Three Hours of Travel from Košice:<br />
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**** Dobšinská Ice Cave - (2 hours 30 minutes) By train from Košice main station, changing to a second train in Margecany<br />
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*** Bardejovské Kúpele spa and outdoor folk architecture museum - (2 hours 5 minutes) By bus from Košice main station<br />
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*** Stará Ľubovňa Castle and outdoor architecture museum - (2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station; the castle and outdoor museum are 1.5 kilometres north of the bus station in Stará Ľubovňa<br />
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*** Domica Cave in the Slovak Karst National Park - (2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes) - By bus from Košice main station to the village of Plešivec, then change to a second bus to the village of Kečovo and get out at the stop next to the cave (before the village) called Kečovo Domica. From the Domica cave it's a 2 kilometre walk across the border into Hungary to Aggtelek village and the Aggtelek Karst caves, which are equally impressive<br />
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*** Ochtinská Argonite Cave - (2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes) By bus from Košice main station to the village of Gočaltovo and get off past the village at the stop called Gočaltovo Hradok. From there it's a two-kilometre walk up into the hills to the cave entrance<br />
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** Svidník folk architecture museum - (2 hours 10 minutes) By bus from Košice main station<br />
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** Humenné folk architecture museum - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Košice main station<br />
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Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-32018683471821904052012-08-11T18:55:00.003-07:002012-08-11T19:34:32.475-07:00The Top 25 Day Trips From Brno, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-9VIqa1x5D8dGU9AujomY3s84bXyEH9RMN9YjmkAN0LhqIPGqQiTVRjYl4c1e3205Qh8pCOoYYXd37GbR6u_JU1sr0s02q2Rw39Z6lvHnx7gpyVJHWqYTtf5nKQQ1arzT_ihRtqvJCTp/s1600/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-9VIqa1x5D8dGU9AujomY3s84bXyEH9RMN9YjmkAN0LhqIPGqQiTVRjYl4c1e3205Qh8pCOoYYXd37GbR6u_JU1sr0s02q2Rw39Z6lvHnx7gpyVJHWqYTtf5nKQQ1arzT_ihRtqvJCTp/s400/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+138.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Brno is an increasingly popular city break destination and starting point for travel in Central Europe due to the budget airlines which now frequent its airport. While it lacks the world-class sights and attractions of the Czech capital Prague, Brno has enough to amuse the average visitor for a day or two, and the surrounding region of South Moravia contains a veritable smorgasbord of tasty attractions to sample. Gothic castles, folk architecture, limestone caves and UNESCO heritage sites are all within reach and still receive far fewer international visitors than they deserve. I have listed some of the best of these destinations here and given them a star rating out of five to suggest how worthwhile they are to visit. The destinations are also organized into three categories - destinations which are less than one hour by public transport from Brno, less than two hours, and less than three hours. Three hours is quite a long distance for a day trip, but if time is short, it can be worth making a longer excursion to see one of the region's best attractions such as Telč. It is also possible to visit destinations across the border in Slovakia and Austria, including the capitals Bratislava and Vienna. The photos included in this article show, from top to bottom, Telč, Mikulov, Kromeříž, Lednice, and Pernštejn castle. <br />
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<b>Destinations Within One Hour of Travel from Brno:</b><br />
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<b>**** Moravian Karst</b> - (45 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Blansko, then change to a bus from Blansko main bus station to the stop called Skalní Mlyn which is the access point for the caves and hikes in the surrounding region<br />
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<b>**** Lednice</b> - (50 minutes to 1 hour) By train from Brno main station to Břeclav, than change to a bus from Břeclav main bus station to reach Lednice<br />
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<b>*** Pernštejn Castle</b> - (1 hour) By train from Brno main station to Tišnov, change to a local train to reach Nedvědice, then follow the yellow-marked trail through the forest for 2 kilomtres to reach the castle <br />
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<b>*** Moravský Krumlov</b> - (50 minutes) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>** Boskovice</b> - (40 minutes to 50 minutes) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>** Veveří Castle</b> - (40 to 50 minutes) Take tram #1 from outside Brno main train station to the stop called Přístaviště, then change to a bus to reach the castle <br />
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<b>** Slavkov u Brna</b> (Battle of Austerlitz site) - (25 minutes) By train from Brno main station, or by bus from Brno Zvonařka station<br />
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<b>* Dolní Kounice</b> - (40 minutes to 55 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station, change to a second bus in Modřice to reach Dolní Kounice<br />
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<b>Destinations Within Two Hours of Travel from Brno:</b><br />
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<b>***** Vienna, Austria</b> - (2 hours) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>**** Bratislava, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 30 minutes) By EC train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>**** Olomouc</b> - (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>**** Mikulov</b> - (1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) By direct bus from Zvonařka station, or by train from Brno main station to Břeclav and then change to a local train to Mikulov<br />
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<b>*** Litomyšl</b> - (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station<br />
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<b>*** Kromeříž</b> - (1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Kojetín, then change to a local train to Kromeříž<br />
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<b>*** Valtice</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train to Břeclav, then change to a local train to reach Valtice<br />
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<b>*** Znojmo</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes) By bus from Zvonařka station<br />
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<b>** Ždar nad Sazavou</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>** Stražnice</b> - (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours) By train from Brno main station, change trains in Hodonín or Veselí nad Moravou to reach Stražnice<br />
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<b>** Třebič</b> - (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes) By train from Brno main station<br />
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<b>Destinations Within Three Hours of Travel from Brno:</b><br />
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<b>**** Telč</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 25 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station<br />
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<b>*** Vranov nad Dyjí Castle</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station to Znojmo, then change to another bus to reach Vranov nad Dyjí village<br />
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<b>** Velké Losiny</b> - (2 hours 45 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Šumperk, then change to a local train to reach Velké Losiny<br />
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<b>** Skalica, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 10 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Skalica<br />
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<b>** Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou</b> - (2 hours 20 minutes) By train from Brno main station to Okříšky, then change to a local train to reach Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou<br />
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<b>* Zlin</b> - (2 hours 5 minutes) By bus from Brno Zvonařka station<br />
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Located just one kilometre from the Austrian border and surrounded by rolling green hills, Slavonice is one of the most captivating small towns in the Czech Republic. Since it is still off the radar for most international tourists, the town retains a relaxed provincial feel fused with a dose of artistic and cultural flair due to the many Czech artists who have taken up residence and opened studios and galleries in the historic buildings. Found at the point where the historical regions of Moravia, Bohemia and Austria meet, the town has traditionally been considered part of Moravia but today it is included in the region of South Bohemia.<br />
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With two squares jam-packed with ornate buildings smothered in sgraffito facades and nary a concrete building in sight, it's easy to see why Slavonice is a cut above the average Czech border town. The facades are the most impressive and extensive to be found on Czech soil, and they are among the finest anywhere in the former lands of the Austro-Hungarian empire. <br />
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The town went through a prolonged period of riches and prosperity lasting from the 14th to 16th centuries with its place on the main trading route between Prague and Vienna guaranteeing a steady stream of commerce to fund the construction of grand renaissance buildings. However, the main trade route was eventually moved to the east passing through the Czech frontier town of Znojmo, and the boom times came to a close in Slavonice. <br />
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The town's population was predominantly German-speaking before World War II, but the end of the war brought the mass expulsion of the German population from the Czech lands and the population of Slavonice dropped to a fraction of its former size. During the Communist period from 1948 to 1989 Czechs were not encouraged to resettle in the houses left vacant by the former German inhabitants, so the town became a ghostly shell of its former self.<br />
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Under the Communists the frontier with Austria was a highly restricted military zone as part of the iron curtain, and as a result Slavonice was essentially cocooned and prevented from growing or developing. Today this can be considered a blessing, since it effectively protected the town from having any ugly and tasteless concrete buildings constructed in its midst by Communist planners. <br />
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Nowadays, Slavonice has developed a strong reputation as a haven for Czech artists and writers who wish to escape to a beautiful corner of the countryside for creative inspiration far from the capital. There are several studios and workshops which have set up shop, and international artists, especially from Austria, have taken notice and begun to frequent the town as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRW3BXSUhp0txVxUPdNhxuPJbPzFTlfL7WqPTv5QAj8ncRYCDdiH1zCmhx1ccBTROISr3kIg9u-lY27Nrsl6-arUTJYZbQmugfscPiKxJbUX33jUv2IcADK6Kw-DZWApofQ9pOZohjzCm/s1600/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRW3BXSUhp0txVxUPdNhxuPJbPzFTlfL7WqPTv5QAj8ncRYCDdiH1zCmhx1ccBTROISr3kIg9u-lY27Nrsl6-arUTJYZbQmugfscPiKxJbUX33jUv2IcADK6Kw-DZWApofQ9pOZohjzCm/s400/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+039.JPG" /></a></div><br />
In the early 1990's both Slavonice and the nearby town of Telč were promoting themselves as potential UNESCO heritage site candidates, but at the last minute the town council in Slavonice decided to withdraw its bid, so only Telč was placed on the UNESCO list in 1992. I expect that the townsfolk and artists in Slavonice simply decided that they preferred to keep their town low-key and liveable, and to let Telč handle the tour buses and mainstream international attention. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b2AyltQYceQNlO2fOq9WLJfJSU3KqE03_ClcZJ7ekZIOJz-eGgNZXBfC4TymQnlJLMVT8O4zrt88TFbjsdV91HsvEXhNhnygwENBf1HT4XirrdnomE8fTgquT6uOMpAXFpCPOup2OfQn/s1600/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b2AyltQYceQNlO2fOq9WLJfJSU3KqE03_ClcZJ7ekZIOJz-eGgNZXBfC4TymQnlJLMVT8O4zrt88TFbjsdV91HsvEXhNhnygwENBf1HT4XirrdnomE8fTgquT6uOMpAXFpCPOup2OfQn/s400/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Slavonice is becoming increasingly popular with cyclists, and it features prominently in organized cycling trips across the country. It is possible to walk, cycle or drive the one kilometre south to the border, and from there the Austrian village of Fratres is less than one kilometre further on. Getting to Slavonice by public transport is easiest by train coming from Jihlava (passing through Telč on the way), though buses also connect the town to Jindřichův Hradec, Jihlava and Prague. While taking the two-carriage regional train south from Jihlava it feels like you're approaching the ends of the earth, and when the train pulls into the station in Slavonice it is truly the end of the line, with the Austrian frontier within sight.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBNvbfvFT85t_i3JqrPb2OKqAAvmX6Q8BNm9H5U_JMTzAIZd5DTzVuFlw2RPX0dZOlcRfvSqEDd3EbB-m4VtmV59VdHMrv4XNs6jMTlN393KRlG2RSy6iG-vMdnF3FUlLtUx3YY15TtiI/s1600/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBNvbfvFT85t_i3JqrPb2OKqAAvmX6Q8BNm9H5U_JMTzAIZd5DTzVuFlw2RPX0dZOlcRfvSqEDd3EbB-m4VtmV59VdHMrv4XNs6jMTlN393KRlG2RSy6iG-vMdnF3FUlLtUx3YY15TtiI/s400/Slavonice+and+Tel%25C4%258D+043.JPG" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-36967766296025783902012-07-07T21:26:00.002-07:002012-07-07T21:26:46.945-07:00Classic Castles # 4 - Červená Lhota, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOI-B0yXqCuklf1oitcizx5NhmZzkmYwmzFODWh_bz1vnwfhQHcjTSBsFK8zVBTRY3FIxk41bvxWsh4gHxuMQPA1RPBc6rYhlCeoX-8zSLrJNQ-3jtraD3A8bsV6ygm0Ghyphenhyphenft8SQbcoK7/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOI-B0yXqCuklf1oitcizx5NhmZzkmYwmzFODWh_bz1vnwfhQHcjTSBsFK8zVBTRY3FIxk41bvxWsh4gHxuMQPA1RPBc6rYhlCeoX-8zSLrJNQ-3jtraD3A8bsV6ygm0Ghyphenhyphenft8SQbcoK7/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+014.JPG" /></a></div>This picturesque Renaissance chateau stands on a rocky outcrop in the middle of a small lake in South Bohemia, about 100 kilometres south of Prague. The bright red colour of its exterior is directly reflected in the name of the castle, since the word 'červená' means 'red'. A small garden is found in front of the chateau on the island, and the lake is surrounded by a park with walking trails which provide excellent views of the castle from every angle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJ9BE0C3YyxC8fMnNLQbwrBs-UUQuIj0cyjytjUx7x_feGSmdCeAbd4Nf2dpGff7kPcoesgaLVNEJhFlULFzCNqjeFzlNDQnxQPWuyNxCk7BrSFP477onoaXE-qzZikp6VO2pC_n9kwL/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJ9BE0C3YyxC8fMnNLQbwrBs-UUQuIj0cyjytjUx7x_feGSmdCeAbd4Nf2dpGff7kPcoesgaLVNEJhFlULFzCNqjeFzlNDQnxQPWuyNxCk7BrSFP477onoaXE-qzZikp6VO2pC_n9kwL/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+057.JPG" /></a></div>The castle was first constructed in the Gothic style in the 14th century, and at that time there was no lake surrounding it, merely a river. In the 16th century a dam was constructed in the river which created the lake and left the castle perched on its island outcrop, increasing its defensive capabilities and romantic appeal.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_wBXzHEBhI7icJKHqbVj8gviQ26K4AY44AsK0enTwmgidzkXVJgk0H7gqpfRn0hd6vtvbWNVYRfd_l2GnyEOIHZ9GFaQtHSa2GJI_B8M-tcq8tDzBUFMTwPQhFSoFC-5P6Jt21y70mMu/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_wBXzHEBhI7icJKHqbVj8gviQ26K4AY44AsK0enTwmgidzkXVJgk0H7gqpfRn0hd6vtvbWNVYRfd_l2GnyEOIHZ9GFaQtHSa2GJI_B8M-tcq8tDzBUFMTwPQhFSoFC-5P6Jt21y70mMu/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+048.JPG" /></a></div>The castle became known as Červena Lhota in the 17th century, when the facade was painted bright red and red tiles were placed on the roof. The stone bridge which connects the castle to the mainland was built in 1622, replacing the drawbridge which had been in use up to that point. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKC8lG6Ei6I5TC_gtmGC7-uTKgHQA9UEaonFzDiGBXERwiowalJrL72vYignmkjo_0q16LnEYB50gMNNH_IZN2IzHenGjr5Bm_I1N9-DIIsGkFkdbP45xVQNfpVCEjwE9kusfE7jDOnc5/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKC8lG6Ei6I5TC_gtmGC7-uTKgHQA9UEaonFzDiGBXERwiowalJrL72vYignmkjo_0q16LnEYB50gMNNH_IZN2IzHenGjr5Bm_I1N9-DIIsGkFkdbP45xVQNfpVCEjwE9kusfE7jDOnc5/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+018.JPG" /></a></div>Towards the end of the 18th century the German composer Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf (a close friend of Mozart) lived in the castle and died there in 1799. A major renovation in the early 1900's changed the appearance of the castle to its present Neo-Renaissance style. At the end of World War II, the castle's Austrian owners were expelled and the property was confiscated by the Czechoslovak government. In 1949 the castle was opened to the public as a cultural monument.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgQ-9BV_VwHnilPK3ShMtjxbGlvtoGindT6TasBJYqKE8l1fU_WFdG1WI8bGlIo4oNxva9F1p0EJzYdIwIZVqS4WriIor13JCaOTfyaPRY3F5tSuqznl3l7RvBispC5c86aIYoCioXlpI/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgQ-9BV_VwHnilPK3ShMtjxbGlvtoGindT6TasBJYqKE8l1fU_WFdG1WI8bGlIo4oNxva9F1p0EJzYdIwIZVqS4WriIor13JCaOTfyaPRY3F5tSuqznl3l7RvBispC5c86aIYoCioXlpI/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+042.JPG" /></a></div>The castle is quite difficult to reach by public transport, with limited bus connections making it possible to visit only on weekdays. Buses from Soběslav take about 30 minutes and will drop you 100 metres from the lake and the castle. Soběslav is on the main rail line between Prague and České Budějovice, with frequent train connections to both cities. The historic town of Jindřichův Hradec is found to the south-east of the castle, but there are no regular public transport connections from there to Červená Lhota. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOmGhKnorBDV_n6lEce5V5FTTYU5rHi0MzsWryAqHN2n-r-0VFHtfGNttP3TA7TvUvLqe_4nHfr4oJFSCxCjnYU-Fvii6lMU_I3J2BOdvR81QtDiKMuKlFuaHaqtIywaux6ZMuERL7eQz/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOmGhKnorBDV_n6lEce5V5FTTYU5rHi0MzsWryAqHN2n-r-0VFHtfGNttP3TA7TvUvLqe_4nHfr4oJFSCxCjnYU-Fvii6lMU_I3J2BOdvR81QtDiKMuKlFuaHaqtIywaux6ZMuERL7eQz/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+016.JPG" /></a></div>Like most attractions outside major cities in the Czech Republic, the castle is closed from November to March and is only open on weekends in April and October. From May to September it is open daily except Mondays. Tours of the castle interior last 50 minutes and take in rooms which are brightly decorated in historical styles. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzI0_DnkesACzibnu8HF3xji2tbjoWqqluNyVX6YjX5lVjHjewtlTf1s9qGKaqxQRZJL6roOPF2w2iXbFaMrL10sszZRff_U-g41VMA0x1Q-bCfilWWeN_AHZzXvZyP9-Jt8K_oVSNhha/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzI0_DnkesACzibnu8HF3xji2tbjoWqqluNyVX6YjX5lVjHjewtlTf1s9qGKaqxQRZJL6roOPF2w2iXbFaMrL10sszZRff_U-g41VMA0x1Q-bCfilWWeN_AHZzXvZyP9-Jt8K_oVSNhha/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+028.JPG" /></a></div>A large restaurant is located directly across the stone bridge from the castle, offering all the typical Czech traditional dishes. During the summer months renting a rowboat and going out on the lake is a relaxing way to spend an hour or two. Horse and carriage rides are also a popular attraction in the park and castle grounds. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgegxgVNc8CLqkzrKCLfxgzzf7Fwp2wy_twt-XRHcTleAX209RgLZMteFSr_K1A4R8vbMpyr18mM-M6KvgAGFU1jtI4f1bzZPHA2FmKPccZ07FigyTn8XP1-3Rc2-RtMlPBdKDKUAvGMp/s1600/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgegxgVNc8CLqkzrKCLfxgzzf7Fwp2wy_twt-XRHcTleAX209RgLZMteFSr_K1A4R8vbMpyr18mM-M6KvgAGFU1jtI4f1bzZPHA2FmKPccZ07FigyTn8XP1-3Rc2-RtMlPBdKDKUAvGMp/s400/Cervena+Lhota+%2526+Sobeslav+050.JPG" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-76829272751752471632012-07-06T20:39:00.000-07:002012-07-06T20:39:04.956-07:00Wooden Churches # 15 - Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciTy4X9zhG6I8386hs7xaU-sDanENnZiUinT4f42LCbVYCqIYcCuPpQg0nzNumgsBcIiCpo9ndy-ry-6Ssx35TvyZI6IB98CJ9MohGL4mMQUcRooX_Su5y5q-_dxQp638vmlTUaM582Rl/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciTy4X9zhG6I8386hs7xaU-sDanENnZiUinT4f42LCbVYCqIYcCuPpQg0nzNumgsBcIiCpo9ndy-ry-6Ssx35TvyZI6IB98CJ9MohGL4mMQUcRooX_Su5y5q-_dxQp638vmlTUaM582Rl/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+008.JPG" /></a></div>This beautiful church now stands on a small hill in the village of Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem in the Beskydy region of northern Moravia. The story of its history begins far to the east in present-day Ukraine in the region of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, a territory which was part of Czechoslovakia between the two world wars in the early 20th century. It was constructed in the small Rusyn village of Hlinance at the end of the 17th century or the first years of the 18th century, and was consecrated as a Greek Catholic church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. By the early 20th century the church was in very poor condition and was replaced by a modern church in the village. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ2p8CqDSbcv8Y4YvaIv0YNzHgyJwP2SzQsw28wvgYjMeuWPsLWQ-BJjlw-FZ8nIdkBW0uI43La_EoLrG1fVwG6mZhMcZc26AB_Ii1-QdmFvXWFFt79tZpkbN-OZMp40vysUy8NsBdBR-/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ2p8CqDSbcv8Y4YvaIv0YNzHgyJwP2SzQsw28wvgYjMeuWPsLWQ-BJjlw-FZ8nIdkBW0uI43La_EoLrG1fVwG6mZhMcZc26AB_Ii1-QdmFvXWFFt79tZpkbN-OZMp40vysUy8NsBdBR-/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+006.JPG" /></a></div>At this time the wealthy owner of a mining company in Ostrava, Eduard Šebela, approached the villagers of Hlinance and offered to buy the church and have it moved to Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem where he had his summer retreat near the Beskydy mountains. Records show that Šebela paid 24000 Czech crowns for the church, but this was likely the cost of having it dismantled and transported by rail to the site in Kunčice rather than a payment to the villagers. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMabaeQBxB3-nNQuKNN3dv0LDa2qDvm2Gz_uoa9v5V7Bg6ITqtHh_GqtDv8XRMqvxRuX_5qxylQMhO3GiUfIBh4dJpcMs9DZDYpaAZknbdgjZ5O3cBf07Auo85yznLlVwB2fWZlMx9Oie/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMabaeQBxB3-nNQuKNN3dv0LDa2qDvm2Gz_uoa9v5V7Bg6ITqtHh_GqtDv8XRMqvxRuX_5qxylQMhO3GiUfIBh4dJpcMs9DZDYpaAZknbdgjZ5O3cBf07Auo85yznLlVwB2fWZlMx9Oie/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+017.JPG" /></a></div>Following its reconstruction in the new location in northern Moravia, the church was reconsecrated and dedicated to St. Prokop and St. Barbara, the patron saints of miners, reflecting the business interests of the new owner. The church was then used as the location for the wedding of Šebela's daughter. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXy1gruQcGGaqPf-Zv7epTwzeo-aZPUjmbH6KvlVmTsi41ipPODF_sCwmUq2fiH4SfCbyKZuYVAx5-f0SzQM_DZjzQ9iq3tWdRGEN7C97-ZD-F53foa6xy_ejQECcRdT2EeZhMo4AolQO/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXy1gruQcGGaqPf-Zv7epTwzeo-aZPUjmbH6KvlVmTsi41ipPODF_sCwmUq2fiH4SfCbyKZuYVAx5-f0SzQM_DZjzQ9iq3tWdRGEN7C97-ZD-F53foa6xy_ejQECcRdT2EeZhMo4AolQO/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+022.JPG" /></a></div>By the 1980's the church was again in poor condition, but it underwent extensive renovation in the early 1990's. The interior of the church contains the original iconostasis, which was carefully restored by specialists in 1992. The church was broken into by thieves in 1994 and again in 1995, with the loss of several icons, paintings and a tabernacle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblb2-A7cAZVPm0MN8evPfzJTquOmuNF04CBOgbm-2-KnEMz5s90E2PjiSDrdqrE4cJekTfJa1FyJnzdRCPxMWg5tU6d83qP6yPnf0C14rire0YEzEGO2vzEDnn69iVqRitHA0vfXuBjqQ/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblb2-A7cAZVPm0MN8evPfzJTquOmuNF04CBOgbm-2-KnEMz5s90E2PjiSDrdqrE4cJekTfJa1FyJnzdRCPxMWg5tU6d83qP6yPnf0C14rire0YEzEGO2vzEDnn69iVqRitHA0vfXuBjqQ/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+005.JPG" /></a></div>The interior of the church can only be seen during services and other special events, but a visit to the church and its surrounding cemetery is still very worthwhile at other times. The village of Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem is reachable by train directly from Ostrava or the nearby town of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, which has onward train connections to many parts of the Czech Republic. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNoigpHePX_zz_cDjGZHrueeI2QgQQZSVBZzqoupaUJszaWklqp0Ll5atDuXy9EcoKn6M4vMrYYuilUju_FVMlO9I3KctpJGZ2lmJnRO94CExp845eiodDA9739Nzej9cR7naWUfR0Z-i/s1600/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNoigpHePX_zz_cDjGZHrueeI2QgQQZSVBZzqoupaUJszaWklqp0Ll5atDuXy9EcoKn6M4vMrYYuilUju_FVMlO9I3KctpJGZ2lmJnRO94CExp845eiodDA9739Nzej9cR7naWUfR0Z-i/s400/Pustevny+Radhost+and+Kuncince+pod+Ondrejnikem+016.JPG" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-65861655275406974292012-04-28T17:26:00.000-07:002012-04-28T17:26:42.798-07:00Beautiful Towns # 5 - Čicmany, SlovakiaThe village of Čičmany is located in hilly, forested countryside in Žilina region in western Slovakia. It lies in a forested valley among the Strážov mountains, close to the source of the Rajčianka river, and today has less than 400 inhabitants. The settlement is renowned for the local tradition of painting white geometric patterns on its dark wooden cottages. These folk patterns are based on the local lacework designs used on fabric and clothing. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlB_0CqkybVMNOUv-ae9uRovR77VNFlo507WKqxEax_qTjnWqhMhks6nBokN3DKek0eyBqnLsWBG3I8fbM3RMrOsxF97kOLpiNdjM4w7J6vxWjxr2KQmJ1vzu8FNTBzZFn6kMezCuEOByp/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlB_0CqkybVMNOUv-ae9uRovR77VNFlo507WKqxEax_qTjnWqhMhks6nBokN3DKek0eyBqnLsWBG3I8fbM3RMrOsxF97kOLpiNdjM4w7J6vxWjxr2KQmJ1vzu8FNTBzZFn6kMezCuEOByp/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+053.jpg" /></a></div>The village also has unique folk costumes, songs and dances which have all been carefully preserved and are still practiced today. A local folklore group performs music and dances at special events throughout the year, and there and a number of cultural events organized in the summer months. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3MWw508Ha7z49n8v_ATV_VkJa6Gn2ukncTCxgPniEtOjqgGrRzHKZvjEhbN5azicUekdASe16LmzSG370ZJ596yaJwHECqj6k7q59dDSk_j4XFmZSaZYZ7y2dgCtnMZiKqx11yJJmBk5/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3MWw508Ha7z49n8v_ATV_VkJa6Gn2ukncTCxgPniEtOjqgGrRzHKZvjEhbN5azicUekdASe16LmzSG370ZJ596yaJwHECqj6k7q59dDSk_j4XFmZSaZYZ7y2dgCtnMZiKqx11yJJmBk5/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+121.jpg" /></a></div>Fires which occurred in 1907, 1921 and 1945 destroyed many of the folk cottages but most of them were repeatedly rebuilt in the traditional manner. The fire in 1921 was especially serious, burning down more than half of the cottages in the village. Special funding was provided by the Czechoslovak government to rebuild most of the houses. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVBQtQG7UO3y-chiJ1F0ydExHSElA2XoLpjkkwPtTh0LAjiIE3OjrNFzh1R___SaDA0CWpz_k-JLkW6L3ZqCISNVCjzf0UD2DY7ww7cpMSd07dedbkQCMlnYoGqkTiBupVz-CuU7zU3n7/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVBQtQG7UO3y-chiJ1F0ydExHSElA2XoLpjkkwPtTh0LAjiIE3OjrNFzh1R___SaDA0CWpz_k-JLkW6L3ZqCISNVCjzf0UD2DY7ww7cpMSd07dedbkQCMlnYoGqkTiBupVz-CuU7zU3n7/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+075.jpg" /></a></div>The history of the village begins in 1272, when it was recorded as a settlement with a newly-built road. There are several competing theories about the founding of the village, the main ones being that the original inhabitants were German settlers, or that they were Bulgarian immigrants fleeing from the Turks who came north and settled in the region. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxpHyHe4itxI9C-OIulD92SlIN5TZm_5Ij7wmHSdl8k6A5TdPeP4OmO4XOghAN4nYo6ZUw7L_Ajvs36VpXWlDXO3i40093dOTlm-gLPykqtM3Wb3gJTvUk2DEuGR7l88NV3KJCP438JyZ/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxpHyHe4itxI9C-OIulD92SlIN5TZm_5Ij7wmHSdl8k6A5TdPeP4OmO4XOghAN4nYo6ZUw7L_Ajvs36VpXWlDXO3i40093dOTlm-gLPykqtM3Wb3gJTvUk2DEuGR7l88NV3KJCP438JyZ/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+105.jpg" /></a></div>The traditional occupations of Čičmany residents were farming and sheep herding, and sheep's cheese was produced and sold throughout the region. The origin of the name "Čičmany", meaning 'homestead in the hills', probably comes from an ancient Indo-European word which was incorporated into the Old Slavonic language. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhjA4y1VqVKPfxdheDGJtoJbRhDYO0EowIspVr9iu9-SjjcQgbAm1G-lmUJsSEM_MSbAZI-4OCkJ4X12gJHacixRQkqKt82vznSNHmH5Y9txmFF20-gcqE_284x0MTCaal_faEDdKWiGd/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhjA4y1VqVKPfxdheDGJtoJbRhDYO0EowIspVr9iu9-SjjcQgbAm1G-lmUJsSEM_MSbAZI-4OCkJ4X12gJHacixRQkqKt82vznSNHmH5Y9txmFF20-gcqE_284x0MTCaal_faEDdKWiGd/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+052.jpg" /></a></div>Through the centuries the village had many different feudal landlords, but by the start of the 20th century most of the land was owned by two Hungarian families. It was difficult for the peasant farmers to make a living in this region, and emigration, especially to North America, became a common choice for many. Other local families moved to France, Belgium and Austria in search of greater prosperity. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN4PDVtdW4UQdxZL22lwY0UdLbZZsC12NMy8oir6b1jCYtTw68OWkUhRxkv2WujXFGKRlWfKkF7JdZZ7iFfwQYTBoGEyi3wJlMbBHsdXMTL95HxJNVpgcHWqMPswltlS1O8eYarz5Yn9g/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN4PDVtdW4UQdxZL22lwY0UdLbZZsC12NMy8oir6b1jCYtTw68OWkUhRxkv2WujXFGKRlWfKkF7JdZZ7iFfwQYTBoGEyi3wJlMbBHsdXMTL95HxJNVpgcHWqMPswltlS1O8eYarz5Yn9g/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+071.jpg" /></a></div>Living in the pretty cottages of the village was not always comfortable in the past - before the 20th century it was quite common to have three or even four generations of a family living together under one roof, sometimes up to 20 people in one building. Only one main room would have been heated by a stove in the winter, and the younger members of the family would have their beds in the upper attic while the oldest generation slept nearest to the wood stove for extra warmth. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSICXbbmRJeCNfrV_N2ICduk3gbKstSixNh839lbSN1ua9amLpXjPpcjGD6M_l0nzAUGIxMLZ4MNc9wLL0cHeLKx8uWevhUy42DIR0Ml_kGrSJIOkkvWfVEzUNep_CRgZh8ukBY8cjZ1nO/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSICXbbmRJeCNfrV_N2ICduk3gbKstSixNh839lbSN1ua9amLpXjPpcjGD6M_l0nzAUGIxMLZ4MNc9wLL0cHeLKx8uWevhUy42DIR0Ml_kGrSJIOkkvWfVEzUNep_CRgZh8ukBY8cjZ1nO/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+131.jpg" /></a></div>The gingerbread-style decorations which cover the wooden beams of the cottages were painted with a mixture composed of white lime. The painting process was intended to conserve and protect the wooden beams in addition to its attractive appearance. The custom is thought to have begun more than 200 years ago, and their are several explanations for where the idea came from, including Bulgarian folk customs. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HPNo19Lvz2o4fLB2dejzy1rvJOrV80Cro-N4c1MTMUi6NLco55qVXYART9TV0E_5FeYPTV5GkwHV5DSoYj49FcF1bUQCswrFxpx_IKYoTEBgQXP8HTgbyH_78DS8o2tPh5_KmvK_DksK/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HPNo19Lvz2o4fLB2dejzy1rvJOrV80Cro-N4c1MTMUi6NLco55qVXYART9TV0E_5FeYPTV5GkwHV5DSoYj49FcF1bUQCswrFxpx_IKYoTEBgQXP8HTgbyH_78DS8o2tPh5_KmvK_DksK/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+046.jpg" /></a></div>Another theory about the founding of the village and the origin of the cottage decorations says that during the time of the Tatar raids from the east in the 13th century local Slavic peasants sought safety up in this remote mountain region. Well-protected and isolated from the outside world, the peasants established a community in the valley and kept sheep and cattle. The women of the village created embroidery designs for their clothing with folk symbols that represented their way of life. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1jz0SNs0kR1lnWcNBqGB7UhRUxtzOas3tGnYWLX6Kf076OZJ3SWzM6gFVPQifnVpEhb2jLAOW8UvOr9OrCodYrD4kc8X6yVm5PeE7aMrIAqsxBYP6EtalWHsEr9Dc4xGZjLAEjAdjhdY/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1jz0SNs0kR1lnWcNBqGB7UhRUxtzOas3tGnYWLX6Kf076OZJ3SWzM6gFVPQifnVpEhb2jLAOW8UvOr9OrCodYrD4kc8X6yVm5PeE7aMrIAqsxBYP6EtalWHsEr9Dc4xGZjLAEjAdjhdY/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+128.jpg" /></a></div>These embroidery symbols were then added to the cottages, perhaps in the hope that the symbols would bring good fortune to the cottage occupants. The symbols seen on the cottages today include arrows, clovers, hearts, crosses and several different kinds of animals. Until the devastating fire of 1921, most of the cottages in the village had two floors, but today only one example of this type of structure still exists in the settlement. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIJ_3yVwGXt41sYjIflU0VWmum6f6GUXbnLT4-gWo9c-vaXtSw8YFyIgjmS3KXDNIgWwHLOhI9NBynExjN-6ScCIiJHB-BPQriX5nK_mnsQGw-mVuRn93yjauHxiMd_3WEPM2cRa4O7MQ/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIJ_3yVwGXt41sYjIflU0VWmum6f6GUXbnLT4-gWo9c-vaXtSw8YFyIgjmS3KXDNIgWwHLOhI9NBynExjN-6ScCIiJHB-BPQriX5nK_mnsQGw-mVuRn93yjauHxiMd_3WEPM2cRa4O7MQ/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+192.jpg" /></a></div>Many painted cottages were again destroyed during World War Two, when German soldiers set part of the village on fire. Another large rebuilding project began afterwards, including repainting the decorative white patterns on the logs of the buildings. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hdz_tsGdatGAfhLgIL7sI7at7xmaJVhdRfMjzALTc6_10lHm-qtGsEYfd8kaBDPvQuHCIjd65XNm5xZGwf3w5W8wDGNCJc0zGy0HTXT12guAeatZjypx7DiTsjj2cWEcqc4K6G04xNZ_/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hdz_tsGdatGAfhLgIL7sI7at7xmaJVhdRfMjzALTc6_10lHm-qtGsEYfd8kaBDPvQuHCIjd65XNm5xZGwf3w5W8wDGNCJc0zGy0HTXT12guAeatZjypx7DiTsjj2cWEcqc4K6G04xNZ_/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+093.jpg" /></a></div>One of my favourite experiences in Čičmany is walking the streets of the lower part of the village at night when the lantern shrines are lit; two Catholic shrines on street corners are lit by candles which can be seen far off down the lane as a yellow glow to guide you past the painted cottages whose white patterns are dimly visible in the dark. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMJMHnCD28XI-3XgdoEs1PfO3CvisrJUx3SyHp17tPfppu19HRaojLU1cwkmkFlCpKKd4EomkAqQEV_j5UR18Div0D50U2sbI0DWhdqSbomFQxU-fYQ9qMtWP5ytFDE63qH1Fkc9hFjUX/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMJMHnCD28XI-3XgdoEs1PfO3CvisrJUx3SyHp17tPfppu19HRaojLU1cwkmkFlCpKKd4EomkAqQEV_j5UR18Div0D50U2sbI0DWhdqSbomFQxU-fYQ9qMtWP5ytFDE63qH1Fkc9hFjUX/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+012.jpg" /></a></div>Another worthwhile experience is to climb the hill to the east of the village at dusk to get a view of the pattern made by the jumble of rooftops with the white church standing out above them. You can also look for a unique Catholic cross which is along one of the hiking trails a short distance to the east; it is surrounded by four large trees which must have been intentionally planted around it more than a century ago. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6QYmZ6Tx5YP40n4uSfWSl3xOzWKBDCplShh_sy-edRwFAUtW8SJiHOwCQgYjBg4-3F3nYINYIEUgJmKAUbJ6u8nNdXAVIHhRDIp47F2FrcSBy97PbflwFry6hEXikUukZMK66ZtqyTCw/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6QYmZ6Tx5YP40n4uSfWSl3xOzWKBDCplShh_sy-edRwFAUtW8SJiHOwCQgYjBg4-3F3nYINYIEUgJmKAUbJ6u8nNdXAVIHhRDIp47F2FrcSBy97PbflwFry6hEXikUukZMK66ZtqyTCw/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+155.jpg" /></a></div>In the winter the snow can be knee-deep, and the local ski resort of Javorinka on a nearby hill becomes a popular destination with locals. In the summer months the slopes of Javorinka are used by cyclists and as a launching area for paragliding and hang gliding. Mushroom picking in the surrounding forests is another favourite local activity. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzE25FmcnrVK0vBiayU270IWvEJieZZY2xfgy63KCcUkmAGDmmnc56BfgHu6zNv0d4KSZ6R3VodJJ5zoNNmUPWjXex6zga1faEXkxKF3N7WuXJuGLXb0Nbt6olTswWDTKOKZnl_D5I2wT/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzE25FmcnrVK0vBiayU270IWvEJieZZY2xfgy63KCcUkmAGDmmnc56BfgHu6zNv0d4KSZ6R3VodJJ5zoNNmUPWjXex6zga1faEXkxKF3N7WuXJuGLXb0Nbt6olTswWDTKOKZnl_D5I2wT/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+064.jpg" /></a></div>Nowadays all of the lower part of the village is a protected folk architecture reserve, with 110 listed heritage buildings including 36 which have the status of national monuments. Plans were created to establish the reserve in 1974, and it became the world's first such protected village three years later. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YxMbP-A9wTliCVimUrAlFUPo4gM47nrXF1fV2aQJjIbPoLiHSs05Q0Nh9WZZNdNhmNI-xhKxjkWkQ6Jwq7L86W5Y8DD7BOgLVf4tGxbsKPFDAX4n0RpkrsQFUDqf7xxdpEmlbObt5H1x/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YxMbP-A9wTliCVimUrAlFUPo4gM47nrXF1fV2aQJjIbPoLiHSs05Q0Nh9WZZNdNhmNI-xhKxjkWkQ6Jwq7L86W5Y8DD7BOgLVf4tGxbsKPFDAX4n0RpkrsQFUDqf7xxdpEmlbObt5H1x/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+115.jpg" /></a></div>Two of the cottages are open to the public as a museum of traditional life, with exhibits on the history and culture of the village. Tickets are available in Radenov house, the large cottage with two floors, and the second cottage with indoor displays is the one directly across the street. There is also a small craft shop selling locally produced products such as embroidery and a few souvenirs. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHz4T87Imix0YDiS_11aMzFEPZaUjMNHd_BpV8xSwa4sxDHwqC499-Q0zHvIE338E5efn4XpRgDKqSUVQVzkbZ1qwZRqpfrvKIWfoiaVb7aPvRDMLxaiV-HwxTGH2Pew5byYrFs_w90Ck/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHz4T87Imix0YDiS_11aMzFEPZaUjMNHd_BpV8xSwa4sxDHwqC499-Q0zHvIE338E5efn4XpRgDKqSUVQVzkbZ1qwZRqpfrvKIWfoiaVb7aPvRDMLxaiV-HwxTGH2Pew5byYrFs_w90Ck/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+005.jpg" /></a></div>There are several different accommodation options in the village, and staying for the night is highly recommended so that you can experience the village fully. The Penzion Javorina offers comfortable rooms in the middle of the village and has its own restaurant serving all the traditional Slovak dishes. There are several other cottages which are available for rent, though these are usually intended for larger groups of people staying for at least a weekend or longer. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPySS1zBwoBtxxOPenRMZN-EKepB059VjZOF6AzosXBYnNUEnHvO-LhZfewAUI7wiuwM69aLsZa3twWPr24vE0JYBSBab9y4zpIYWuPs04WV9VFP9wGtsk4BtkQuXiLYPt9_cmhyILrn3/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPySS1zBwoBtxxOPenRMZN-EKepB059VjZOF6AzosXBYnNUEnHvO-LhZfewAUI7wiuwM69aLsZa3twWPr24vE0JYBSBab9y4zpIYWuPs04WV9VFP9wGtsk4BtkQuXiLYPt9_cmhyILrn3/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+039.jpg" /></a></div>There are hiking trails leading off into the hills in every direction from Čičmany, leading to valleys with other remote villages. Some of these villages have decorated cottages, but none have designs as unique or impressive as those found in Čicmany. A good day hike from Čičmany can be made heading west on the red-marked trail to the village of Zliechov, stopping for the views from the peak called Strážov on the way. From Zliechov it's possible to take a green-marked trail north and then a yellow-marked trail east to return to Čičmany in a loop. This circle route takes about 5.5 hours in total, so bring a lunch for a picnic somewhere along the trail. Zliechov has a small local pub where it is possible to get beer, water and light snacks. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXiM0_9gbAMdE0aEGvFdULiT3Oe4De3MGO9d9UECFj7PQalYWiayifXPsoD8C9DFZSIj00AMYSuohNyUJG1A7l6N3tFoR-4CUSqBGojl_j3_L0SN_CRAdMMbjF05bTRlEP6-LUrz1wK98/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXiM0_9gbAMdE0aEGvFdULiT3Oe4De3MGO9d9UECFj7PQalYWiayifXPsoD8C9DFZSIj00AMYSuohNyUJG1A7l6N3tFoR-4CUSqBGojl_j3_L0SN_CRAdMMbjF05bTRlEP6-LUrz1wK98/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+094.jpg" /></a></div>Getting to Čičmany by public transport is easiest by bus from the city of Žilina, which is on the main train line across Slovakia with direct connections to Bratislava and Prague. Buses go directly to the village from Žilina several times per day from Monday to Friday (50 minutes), though less frequently on Saturdays and Sundays. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqxTNjHIaxtnAcbRIF7r6hzw-gQwa1MBtmFEN5bjEsmmDDmGtY0IX2Odb7m4ZRus8ojuTZBhA86LaWE29moDwci1D_kkn_WbyPkYHVh_XYU0d3_B80zm4rf07Ld15KPZLrr9-HCCN9kC/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxqxTNjHIaxtnAcbRIF7r6hzw-gQwa1MBtmFEN5bjEsmmDDmGtY0IX2Odb7m4ZRus8ojuTZBhA86LaWE29moDwci1D_kkn_WbyPkYHVh_XYU0d3_B80zm4rf07Ld15KPZLrr9-HCCN9kC/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+091.jpg" /></a></div>Many more buses travel along the main road from Žilina to Prievidza which can drop you off at the turning point for the small local road up into the hills to Čičmany. If you take the bus and ask to get off at this turn off point, it's about a seven kilometre walk in along the road to the village, or you can try to hitchhike with locals to cover this distance. Another good option is to get off one stop further along the main road where a scenic hiking trail (follow the red markers) leads over the hills to Čičmany, taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOdg1hH9FYrQal56jjAIhu1Efv6GHvcvWX_Ha5_VbO8leJFhsfE4aIu1JLeWmxZkOKFNum211fn5Y1_c530iLS9U47zno8RZayLzELLMiElcUkROF2w0IFwBrmQkOBqAYHrOi85fYZwA7/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOdg1hH9FYrQal56jjAIhu1Efv6GHvcvWX_Ha5_VbO8leJFhsfE4aIu1JLeWmxZkOKFNum211fn5Y1_c530iLS9U47zno8RZayLzELLMiElcUkROF2w0IFwBrmQkOBqAYHrOi85fYZwA7/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany+066.jpg" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-7349333883371583022012-04-06T15:42:00.000-07:002012-04-06T15:42:10.762-07:00Natural Wonders # 3 - Czech Paradise Rock Towns, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e9sJJiMKPJJhPJFgOwbxCGQ0XrpudD2LTLr5OT8Q089Ddbp6G4c7uThOKSx6jnAviWPmQqt1D-DqCZS43PecsRMNwycFqtnbG5mGe0TUBDYfWnLxvqmxkNsFnbckfVYjDUfzzCKz9BnK/s1600/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e9sJJiMKPJJhPJFgOwbxCGQ0XrpudD2LTLr5OT8Q089Ddbp6G4c7uThOKSx6jnAviWPmQqt1D-DqCZS43PecsRMNwycFqtnbG5mGe0TUBDYfWnLxvqmxkNsFnbckfVYjDUfzzCKz9BnK/s400/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+018.JPG" /></a></div>The Czech Paradise (Český Raj) is a region to the north-east of Prague which features unusual sandstone rock formations among its dense forests. Many castles are scattered among these 'rock towns', as well as small villages full of traditional wooden folk architecture. There are at least five different interesting routes for hiking in the Czech Paradise that can be made as day trips from Prague with public transport. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3pEl01scOKLp_Y1psmsJwXp-prH6gfIShWgDBXrgYqAqDBogF-3CNt6g6G-zdBZYEDkA2O7dkWMNZOroFIhy9IhYXc7eI19zFwkSBUOU2rxHHhYcg4McEVvkP95CtBMkrxm3_QYTrx1Y/s1600/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3pEl01scOKLp_Y1psmsJwXp-prH6gfIShWgDBXrgYqAqDBogF-3CNt6g6G-zdBZYEDkA2O7dkWMNZOroFIhy9IhYXc7eI19zFwkSBUOU2rxHHhYcg4McEVvkP95CtBMkrxm3_QYTrx1Y/s400/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+047.JPG" /></a></div>One of the best choices is a hike that includes the ruin of Trosky castle, Hrubá Skála rock town and Valdštejn castle. From Prague's central station take the train to Turnov and then change to a local train which goes east to the village of Ktová (the total travel time from Prague is about 2 hours and 20 minutes). A green-marked trail starts from the train station in Ktová which leads straight up to Trosky castle. After visiting the castle you can follow the red-marked trail north to Hrubá Skála chateau and then into the rock city area on the yellow trail until you reach the ruins of Valdštejn castle. This is a nice place to take a rest, since there is a small restaurant with drinks and food available in front of the castle entrance. From there it's an easy downhill walk into the town of Turnov on the red trail, where you can take a train back to Prague.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZNqzDU7WhJbjcX2PlwhjP9cr-oBGgyugMqMYt1Fot0GFOJ7B0-4APkFLMZ9_O25LnwRswwnaWdAQgwMmczb4rZFtUu0UzHxYXT-oJhzp6S6cXgZWRlKvFe5KDPoQFfCaONSAX-MuCr1o/s1600/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZNqzDU7WhJbjcX2PlwhjP9cr-oBGgyugMqMYt1Fot0GFOJ7B0-4APkFLMZ9_O25LnwRswwnaWdAQgwMmczb4rZFtUu0UzHxYXT-oJhzp6S6cXgZWRlKvFe5KDPoQFfCaONSAX-MuCr1o/s400/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+005.JPG" /></a></div>The most impressive castle in the Český Raj region is Kost castle, to the south of the Hrubá Skála area. It's possible to include a visit to this castle in a nice day hike starting from the small town of Sobotka, which has an interesting chateau called Humprecht on a nearby hill and some examples of traditional wooden folk architecture. The most convenient way to get to Sobotka is by bus from outside Prague's Černý Most metro station, it takes about one hour and ten minutes. A red-marked trail from Sobotka leads to Kost castle along a picturesque river valley. It's also worth making a detour to the nearby village of Vesec u Sobotky which has some beautiful wooden folk cottages.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1x-Gg6wWGqkbSm_1NrPVJtX1SdM4NNnlcXvo25YdoVUxymvtDpeH4emuZfz72Dz6YPXllyIw7esj1yMDXckko01AkHIe6YVSiPokwfAOC6ssKI76zT8wiHgn1w1jtTNntOwsxzIukR9Q/s1600/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1x-Gg6wWGqkbSm_1NrPVJtX1SdM4NNnlcXvo25YdoVUxymvtDpeH4emuZfz72Dz6YPXllyIw7esj1yMDXckko01AkHIe6YVSiPokwfAOC6ssKI76zT8wiHgn1w1jtTNntOwsxzIukR9Q/s400/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+071.JPG" /></a></div>One of the highlights of the Czech Paradise is Prachovské Skály rock town, near the town of Jičín (which is a much more interesting and historical town than Turnov). To get there take the bus to Jičín from outside Prague Černý Most metro station, then get a local bus from the bus station in Jičín to the bus stop called Holín Skalní Město which is at the edge of the rock city. The main valley where the rock city is located is small, but a web of trails go over, under and through the rock formations and it's worth spending a full afternoon exploring them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r-g1YHj8GESEUdLp0-aAKlIGW2TaC93Rbw2HDamTbI_tFpgeotmv7yq7t_7Oa-VtNyPsZaO_BgmUeYnKowG6Nh7CwV7uefRMqKR-TDTqhUu9iz2PvThbG_NZMbnPJ8GvyGcQROjRGi5B/s1600/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r-g1YHj8GESEUdLp0-aAKlIGW2TaC93Rbw2HDamTbI_tFpgeotmv7yq7t_7Oa-VtNyPsZaO_BgmUeYnKowG6Nh7CwV7uefRMqKR-TDTqhUu9iz2PvThbG_NZMbnPJ8GvyGcQROjRGi5B/s400/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+039.JPG" /></a></div>Suché Skály rock town is found near the pretty little town of Malá Skála, which makes a nice destination together with the nearby Frýdštejn castle ruin. To get there take the train from Prague's main station to the town of Turnov, then change to a local train to get to Malá Skála. A red-marked path leads up the hill to the Suché Skály formations. On the opposite side of the river from Malá Skála the castle of Frýdštejn sits on top of a rocky pillar. The red-marked path leads along the river to the south from there, offering great views back towards the castle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf09VOWPplm6hKpvUI7vxp6KJnwzEa-16l5JgmcezgAZWCKDYS7dMOUwWYIF_Yv_kfdtcfWlC65CWlSefAeNRwYebIbt4snPkEofLmXA2CgNqXIGUL4PY_uAu69ZgL0H7jvDqFmReV2ijQ/s1600/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf09VOWPplm6hKpvUI7vxp6KJnwzEa-16l5JgmcezgAZWCKDYS7dMOUwWYIF_Yv_kfdtcfWlC65CWlSefAeNRwYebIbt4snPkEofLmXA2CgNqXIGUL4PY_uAu69ZgL0H7jvDqFmReV2ijQ/s400/Cesky+Raj+-+Hruba+Skala+046.JPG" /></a></div>Another option to try is the Přihrazké Skály rock town with its impressive Valečov castle ruin. To get there take the train from Prague's main station to the town of Mnichovo Hradiště and then walk east along the red trail to reach the rock town. There are two other smaller castle ruins among the rocks to the north of Valečov along the red-marked trail, while the finest formations in the rock town are further east along the blue trail.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXh6QJw3aiv189ttPQJOyvVyT0IaFpLabrGnFccAD132LzE9XA_OtWurD_W9xl1ZzW0XWg86rlKetowFn4az-5lF3rCOdfIocy1I3cXkMsIDE5SXR0AfTLyJjPK7wyv2RvJRlWoTbXgdk/s1600/Ji%25C4%258Din+and+Prachovske+Skaly+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXh6QJw3aiv189ttPQJOyvVyT0IaFpLabrGnFccAD132LzE9XA_OtWurD_W9xl1ZzW0XWg86rlKetowFn4az-5lF3rCOdfIocy1I3cXkMsIDE5SXR0AfTLyJjPK7wyv2RvJRlWoTbXgdk/s400/Ji%25C4%258Din+and+Prachovske+Skaly+028.JPG" /></a></div>These are a few interesting options, but there are many more worthwhile hikes to make in the Czech Paradise and public transport connections from Prague are generally good, at least to the towns in the region. Many shops in Prague sell hiking maps of the Czech Paradise region which show the trail routes and distances. If you want to check any bus or train times in the Czech Republic or Slovakia, use the website www.vlak-bus.cz (you can change the language to English in the lower-right corner of the page).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXsT_1sM3MLN6U9TIaeliOEh2tjivmtPHfYaX4_UpjrH1IwLgBchshfs-OPYnIQhvrvIVLsrStWW6TAGmSZiTcu5aAOJCJws0VeMNPy5PMEW61rR02C4zBbsoeQJiAZAsr4LiGNtOBNsU/s1600/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXsT_1sM3MLN6U9TIaeliOEh2tjivmtPHfYaX4_UpjrH1IwLgBchshfs-OPYnIQhvrvIVLsrStWW6TAGmSZiTcu5aAOJCJws0VeMNPy5PMEW61rR02C4zBbsoeQJiAZAsr4LiGNtOBNsU/s400/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+038.JPG" /></a></div>The photos displayed in this post show, from top to bottom: Rock climbers in Hrubá Skála rock town; a view from the top of a rock outcrop in Hrubá Skála rock town; Rock pillars in Hrubá Skála rock town; Kost castle; Humprecht chateau on a hill near Sobotka; Views over Hrubá Skála; Part of the main valley of Prachovské Skály rock town; A traditional folk cottage near Sobotka; The main entrance to Humprecht chateau. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISSFcXUpzFB9XT-F2pS9k-rtWDOg_i7tUq748_rIqsa3ljFx1n_aM2rdVTQdeiMPVddpHPfIiD0i9vvDJOjZ72eKK8FjD3bRfPBc9ZWT8RqetXkBEZwggWNDxfbLt4AgrkLZnThraWYcs/s1600/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+002+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISSFcXUpzFB9XT-F2pS9k-rtWDOg_i7tUq748_rIqsa3ljFx1n_aM2rdVTQdeiMPVddpHPfIiD0i9vvDJOjZ72eKK8FjD3bRfPBc9ZWT8RqetXkBEZwggWNDxfbLt4AgrkLZnThraWYcs/s400/Cesky+Raj+Sobotka+002+-+Copy.JPG" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-33509357714034378452012-03-30T15:21:00.003-07:002012-03-31T02:41:02.537-07:00Day Trips From Bratislava, Slovakia - The Top 40 Destinations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lo_QoO0YYDmPfRX48ipCa03qB6nsuj1ZZEIfv4XJussqoD0u9qt4MCTjFTY8GFInwma0UxzyLvfPmDPs4jCIcjVNzYiBPoV5ng2QZXMszjxYIP3XkfxJZayb8mjwruTlR3cuYqlnXsOT/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany2+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lo_QoO0YYDmPfRX48ipCa03qB6nsuj1ZZEIfv4XJussqoD0u9qt4MCTjFTY8GFInwma0UxzyLvfPmDPs4jCIcjVNzYiBPoV5ng2QZXMszjxYIP3XkfxJZayb8mjwruTlR3cuYqlnXsOT/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany2+149.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Bratislava is located near the point where the borders of several different countries meet, which means that it is possible to make day trips not only in Slovakia but also in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Many of Slovakia's most interesting destinations are in the central and eastern parts of the country and are too far away to reach in a day, but I've included the best places to see in southwestern Slovakia along with a good mix of attractions in each of the three neighbouring countries. Vienna is an obvious day trip in Austria, and Budapest is also reachable in a day from Bratislava but I haven't included it in this list since it doesn't make much sense to travel so far to visit a city with as many attractions as Budapest has just for the day. For the purposes of this list I've included destinations that are reachable within three hours of travel by public transport, and given each place a star rating out of five to give you an idea of how worthwhile it is to make the effort to travel there. Instructions are also included for how to get there by public transport starting from the train and bus stations in Bratislava. I've organised the destinations into three categories, those which are within one hour of travel by public transport, within two hours, and within three hours. For more information about the destinations in Slovakia see this post about the <a href="http://thegoulashtrain.blogspot.com/2010/02/slovakias-100-best-destinations-from.html">Top 100 Destinations in Slovakia</a> and for those in the Czech Republic see this post about <a href="http://thegoulashtrain.blogspot.com/2011/02/czech-republics-top-100-destinations.html">The Czech Republic's Top 100 Destinations</a>. The photos included in this post show, from top to bottom, Mikulov (CZ), Esztergom (HUN), Plavecký Castle (SK), Smolenice Castle (SK), and Kopčany Romanesque Church (SK). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfZ3ob43S4XCWUX1BiGMF9ddiyDOW5qUCg9iaRngPyxRkmCkhX7k-UVXHGRr8__jOcUupfSw0s78IPoV1Tv4eq5nfaGM2aYp-Hr4s9JES-B5E1FgmJkGtdTZ2ggNy9PIGF3Z1mtTsj5hL/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfZ3ob43S4XCWUX1BiGMF9ddiyDOW5qUCg9iaRngPyxRkmCkhX7k-UVXHGRr8__jOcUupfSw0s78IPoV1Tv4eq5nfaGM2aYp-Hr4s9JES-B5E1FgmJkGtdTZ2ggNy9PIGF3Z1mtTsj5hL/s400/IMG_2289.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<b>Destinations Less Than One Hour Away From Bratislava:<br />
</b><br />
<b>***** Vienna, Austria</b> - (55 minutes to 1 hour) Train from Bratislava main station or from Bratislava-Petržalka station<br />
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<b>*** Devín Castle, Slovakia</b> - (20 minutes to 25 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #28 or #29 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) to Devín village<br />
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<b>** Gyor, Hungary</b> - (1 hour) Take the bus with the company called Student Agency from Bratislava main bus station (daily at 11:15am)<br />
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<b>** Trnava, Slovakia</b> - (30 minuntes) Train from Bratislava main station<br />
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<b>** Hainburg, Austria</b> - (20 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) which goes across the border to Hainburg<br />
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<b>** Piešťany, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour) Train from Bratislava main station<br />
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<b>** Čunovo Art Gallery, Slovakia</b> - (25 minutes) Bus from Bratislava main bus station to the bus stop 'Čunovo Muzeum'<br />
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<b>** Modra, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour) Bus from Bratislava main bus station<br />
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<b>* Pottenburg Castle, Austria</b> (15 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most (New Bridge) to the Austrian border village of Wolfsthal, then hike up the red-marked trail to reach the castle ruin<br />
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<b>Destinations Less Than Two Hours Away From Bratislava:<br />
</b><br />
<b>**** Mikulov, Czech Republic</b> - (1 hour 50 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Czech border town of Břeclav, then change to another local train to reach Mikulov <br />
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<b>**** Esztergom, Hungary</b> - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Slovak border town of Štúrovo, then walk across the bridge over the Danube river to reach Esztergom. The huge dome of the basilica in Esztergom is visible when you get off the train in Štúrovo, so you can use it as a landmark to follow to reach the bridge over the river<br />
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<b>*** Trenčín, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station<br />
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<b>*** Čachtice Castle, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then change to a local train to reach the village of Višňové which is directly beneath the castle<br />
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<b>*** Brno, Czech Republic</b> - (1 hour 30 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station<br />
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<b>*** Beckov Castle, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 40 minutes) Train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then take a bus from outside the train station to the village of Beckov <br />
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<b>*** Lednice, Czech Republic</b> - (1 hour 20 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to the Czech border town of Břeclav, then take a bus from outside the train station to reach Lednice<br />
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<b>*** Valtice, Czech Republic</b> - (1 hour 35 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to reach the Czech border town of Břeclav, then change to another local train to reach Valtice <br />
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<b>** Červený Kameň Castle, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to the village of Častá, then walk up the hill along the road to reach the castle<br />
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<b>** Nitra, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 15 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station<br />
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<b>** Plavecký Castle, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 20 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station to the village of Plavecké Podhradie, then hike up the hill to the castle ruins <br />
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<b>** Smolenice Castle, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 15 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus station<br />
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<b>** Skalica, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Skalica<br />
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<b>** Eisenstadt, Austria</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava-Petržalka station to Parndorf, then change to another train to reach Eisenstadt<br />
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<b>** Trenčianske Teplice, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Trenčín, then take a bus from outside the train station to reach Trenčianske Teplice<br />
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<b>* Štefánik Hilltop Monument in Brezová pod Bradlom, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to reach Brezová pod Bradlom, then hike up the red-marked trail to reach the monument<br />
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<b>* Tematín Castle, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, then take a bus from outside the train station to the village of Lúka and walk up the blue-marked trail to reach the castle ruins <br />
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<b>* Kopčany Romanesque Church, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Kúty, then change to a local train to reach Kopčany village. Walk from the village across the fields towards the Morava river to reach the church <br />
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<b>* Dražovce Romanesque Church, Slovakia</b> - (1 hour 45 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main station to Nitra, then change to another bus to reach Dražovce village. The church is on the hill above the village <br />
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<b>Destinations Less Than Three Hours Away From Bratislava:</b><br />
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<b>**** Olomouc, Czech Republic</b> - (2 hours 40 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change trains to reach Olomouc<br />
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<b>**** Visegrád, Hungary</b> - (2 hours 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Szob in Hungary, then change to a local train to reach Nagymaros-Visegrad station. From there walk down to the Danube river and take the passenger ferry across the river to Visegrád on the opposite bank<br />
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<b>*** Kroměříž, Czech Republic</b> - (2 hours 25 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change to a second train to Hulín, then change to a third train to reach Kroměříž<br />
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<b>*** Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic</b> - (2 hours 30 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Brno, then change to a local train to reach Moravský Krumlov<br />
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<b>*** Znojmo, Czech Republic</b> - (2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Břeclav, then change to a local train to reach Znojmo <br />
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<b>*** Carnuntum Roman Archaeological Site, Austria</b> - (2 hours 15 minutes) Take Bratislava city bus #901 from under Nový Most to Hainburg, then walk southwest along the red-marked trail to reach the town of Petronell-Carnuntum where the Roman site is located<br />
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<b>** Gýmeš Castle, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes) Take a bus from Bratislava main bus terminal to Nitra, then change to another bus to the village of Kostoľany pod Tribečom. In the village there is a Romanesque church to see, then hike up the yellow and then green-marked trails to reach the castle on the nearby hilltop <br />
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<b>** Sopron, Hungary</b> - (2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes) Take a bus with the company Student Agency from Bratislava main station to Gyor (daily at 11:15am), then take a train from there to Sopron<br />
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<b>** Rust, Austria</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava-Petržalka station to Parndorf, change to a second train to reach Eisenstadt, then take a local bus from there to Rust<br />
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<b>** Dobrá Voda Castle, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station to Trnava, then walk out to the bus station outside the train station and take a bus from there to the village of Dobrá Voda. From there hike up the red-marked trail to reach the castle ruins<br />
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<b>** Tata, Hungary</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes) Take a bus with the company Student Agency from Bratislava main station to Gyor (daily at 11:15am), then take a train from Gyor to reach Tata <br />
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<b>** Komárno, Slovakia</b> - (2 hours 5 minutes) Take a train from Bratislava main station<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fv5_UcGIJ2wBJcpvDkX70vP90a3c0kyMFTMQdRVKXJB6oXZa2tEXOGg0PnYNt0eXV4MC_TuKTLIydqiKnNf66xTc-dFs5qxm3EowpyNKCw1NBXxu_levPr32o2hRNN7MlCb2FPYvNbNH/s1600/Geoff+Spring+2010+Dresden+Kopcany+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Fv5_UcGIJ2wBJcpvDkX70vP90a3c0kyMFTMQdRVKXJB6oXZa2tEXOGg0PnYNt0eXV4MC_TuKTLIydqiKnNf66xTc-dFs5qxm3EowpyNKCw1NBXxu_levPr32o2hRNN7MlCb2FPYvNbNH/s400/Geoff+Spring+2010+Dresden+Kopcany+030.jpg" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-72408536816371737632012-03-19T12:53:00.003-07:002012-03-30T15:47:21.293-07:00Top Day Trips from Český Krumlov, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3R5D7yQgdUfoSrfeg739ITWSKhiSu8pzKQCE3TpvCi9dW8_nn_ufTTDdsf28KqPYNUP2rJoZsJ2c1j9DltMTok9ETXswfzxXL0JmkQBN379X85KJ20BTUBeaHgbJvMRRpbJ4M1ESCQgo/s1600/Polska+372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3R5D7yQgdUfoSrfeg739ITWSKhiSu8pzKQCE3TpvCi9dW8_nn_ufTTDdsf28KqPYNUP2rJoZsJ2c1j9DltMTok9ETXswfzxXL0JmkQBN379X85KJ20BTUBeaHgbJvMRRpbJ4M1ESCQgo/s400/Polska+372.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Český Krumlov is an essential stop on anyone's tour of the Czech Republic, and settling in for a few days to fully experience the town's charms and surrounding countryside is highly recommended. There are a number of worthwhile day trips that can be made from Český Krumlov to see more of South Bohemia, such as a hiking trip in the Šumava National Park or a visit to nearby Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle. Here are ten possible destinations that can be reached using public transport, including a star rating out of 5 for each place. All of these options begin from the main train station or bus station in Český Krumlov. For more details on each of these destinations, see the post <a href="http://thegoulashtrain.blogspot.com/2011/02/czech-republics-top-100-destinations.html">Top 100 destinations in the Czech Republic.</a> The photos included in this post show, from top to bottom, Tábor, Třeboň and Prachatice.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfySMAwOpT7kDYc0dHRp8Kxzt00R-75sBIo-3lD85L31FH0-am9VuReOVcsuwEIWZDGbrqa3sFKSfcqZKp1fOG6Q_zRWA5UeanWN8kmOqYcbOXoodnI-mTD3d-0xS22Vee3W2CcKCwiP/s1600/Trebon+and+Jindrichuv+Hradec+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfySMAwOpT7kDYc0dHRp8Kxzt00R-75sBIo-3lD85L31FH0-am9VuReOVcsuwEIWZDGbrqa3sFKSfcqZKp1fOG6Q_zRWA5UeanWN8kmOqYcbOXoodnI-mTD3d-0xS22Vee3W2CcKCwiP/s400/Trebon+and+Jindrichuv+Hradec+026.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<b>**** Hluboká nad Vltavou castle</b> - (1hour 15 min to 1 hour 45 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to another bus to Hluboká nad Vltavou village<br />
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<b>**** Šumava National Park</b> - (1 hour 30 min) For a great one day hike, take the train to Černý Kříž and hike along the yellow-marked trail (five to six hours) past some of the park's finest scenery until finishing at the train depot Ovesná to get the returning train to Český Krumlov <br />
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<b>*** Rožmberk nad Vltavou castle</b> - (35 min to 40 min) Bus to Rožmberk nad Vltavou village<br />
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<b>*** České Budějovice</b> - (55 min) Take the train for the very scenic journey <br />
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<b>*** Jindřichův Hradec</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 30 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus<br />
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<b>*** Tábor</b> - (2 hours 25 min) It's easier to reach as a day trip from Prague, but if you're in Český Krumlov you can get there by train with a change of trains in České Budějovice<br />
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<b>** Prachatice</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 30 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus<br />
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<b>** Třeboň</b> - (1 hour 25 min to 2 hours) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus<br />
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<b>** Holašovice folk village</b> - (1 hour 25 min to 1 hour 50 min) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus<br />
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<b>** Kratochvíle chateau</b> - (1 hour 40 min to 2 hours) Bus to České Budějovice, then change to a second bus<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkE4WZi-ux__gYnJ8w0Jc8wAm-j8bJs_Eh101lEef-_aEERgrdxPdRnEIJb1_gy9tteqHXc_W1tLQhj_zbl1MapecgNGwXr4ZWijk2s2bYL6cg7dDVwZ9hpJxdg7Gqri15DdkdPSCy9SW/s1600/Prachatice+and+Ceske+Budejovice+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkE4WZi-ux__gYnJ8w0Jc8wAm-j8bJs_Eh101lEef-_aEERgrdxPdRnEIJb1_gy9tteqHXc_W1tLQhj_zbl1MapecgNGwXr4ZWijk2s2bYL6cg7dDVwZ9hpJxdg7Gqri15DdkdPSCy9SW/s400/Prachatice+and+Ceske+Budejovice+001.JPG" /></a></div>Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-4636860298019497302012-03-18T09:54:00.006-07:002012-03-30T15:49:41.661-07:00Day Trips from Prague, Czech Republic - The Top 50 Destinations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HcSX_Uf5eSz1Qjwr4e_w2MdtnDEs6jmi6HuHK4CrBZMA5wG22Z4YIyoy64pyKezmS6BIbQMLDO6KT7vKrdEMJQubhA9ORD4Q6vGle76AdmPVf_-aVfeyWeMutf0RvZ06iw6VIafTTAvt/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HcSX_Uf5eSz1Qjwr4e_w2MdtnDEs6jmi6HuHK4CrBZMA5wG22Z4YIyoy64pyKezmS6BIbQMLDO6KT7vKrdEMJQubhA9ORD4Q6vGle76AdmPVf_-aVfeyWeMutf0RvZ06iw6VIafTTAvt/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Prague's central location in the Czech Republic and role as the capital means that all transport connections lead to and from the city, making it possible to reach many destinations around the country as a day trip and even a few across the border in Germany. For the purposes of a day trip I've limited the options to places that can be reached in less than 3 hours of travel by public transport; many travellers prefer short day trips of around one hour of travel and I've included many in that category, but for those who are short on time in the Czech Republic and staying in Prague it can be worth the effort of making longer day trips to see top attractions like Český Krumlov or the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. I've given each destination a star rating out of 5 and grouped them into destinations of one hour of travel or less, two hours or less, and three hours or less. I've included details on how to reach each place using public transport and where the buses/trains depart from in Prague. For more details about things to see in each of these destinations, see the post <a href="http://thegoulashtrain.blogspot.com/2011/02/czech-republics-top-100-destinations.html">Top 100 Destinations in the Czech Republic.</a> The photos included in this post show, from top to bottom, Loket, Kolín, Jičín, Jindřichův Hradec and Nelahozeves.<br />
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<b>Destinations Within One Hour of Prague:</b> <br />
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<b>***** Karlštejn castle</b> - (40 minutes) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Karlštejn village<br />
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<b>**** Konopiště castle</b> - (45 minutes) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Benešov, then walk 1.5 km west through Konopiště park to reach the castle<br />
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<b>**** Kutná Hora</b> - (50 min to 1 hour) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station <br />
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<b>*** Terezín</b> - (50 min to 1 hour) Bus from outside Prague Holešovice train station<br />
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<b>** Mělník</b> - (35 min to 45 min) Bus from outside Prague Holešovice train station<br />
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<b>** Nelahozeves</b> - (50 min) Train from Prague Masarykovo nádraží station<br />
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<b>** Veltrusy</b> - (35 min) Bus from outside Prague Holešovice train station<br />
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<b>** Litoměřice</b> - (1 hour) Bus from outside Prague Holešovice train station<br />
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<b>** Pardubice</b> - (1 hour) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>** Lidice</b> - (20 min) Bus from outside Prague Dejvická metro station <br />
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<b>** Lány</b> - (50 min to 1 hour) Bus from outside Prague Hradčanská metro station<br />
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<b>* Kolín</b> - (40 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>Destinations Within Two Hours of Prague:<br />
</b><br />
<b>**** Křivoklát Castle</b> - (1 hour 20 min to 2 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station, change to a second train in Beroun<br />
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<b>*** Tábor</b> - (1 hour 35 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>*** Plzeň</b> - (1 hour 40 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>*** Hradec Králové</b> - (1 hour 40 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>*** Kokořín Castle</b> - (1 hour 10 min to 1 hour 30 min) Bus from outside Prague Holešovice train station, change to a second bus in Melník<br />
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<b>*** Sobotka & Kost Castle</b> - (1 hour 10 min) Bus from outside Prague Černý Most metro station to Sobotka, a hiking trail leads from there through the forest to Kost castle<br />
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<b>** Liberec & the Ještěd Tower</b> - (1 hour 15 min) Bus with the company Student Agency which departs from outside Prague Černý Most metro station, take a local tram from outside Liberec train station to reach the Ještěd Tower <br />
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<b>** Český Šternberk Castle</b> - (1 hour 45 min to 2 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station, change to a second train in Čerčany<br />
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<b>** Jičín</b> - (1 hour 25 min) Bus from outside Prague Černý Most metro station <br />
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<b>* Říp Hill</b> - (1 hour 20 min) Train from Prague Masarykovo Nádraží station, change to a second train in Vraňany, then get out in Ctiněves village and walk 1 km along a hiking trail to reach the hill<br />
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<b>* Sázava</b> - (1 hour 20 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží, change to a second train in Čerčany<br />
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<b>* Blatná Castle</b> - (1 hour 45 min) Bus from outside Prague Anděl metro station<br />
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<b>* Jihlava</b> - (1 hour 45 min) Bus from Prague Florenc bus station<br />
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<b>* Žatec</b> - (1 hour 20 min) bus from outside Prague Zličín metro station<br />
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<b>Destinations Within Three Hours of Prague:<br />
</b><br />
<b>***** Český Krumlov</b> - (2 hours 55 min) Bus with the company Student Agency which departs outside Prague Anděl metro station. Buy tickets in advance for this bus, especially in summer<br />
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<b>**** Karlovy Vary</b> - (2 hours to 2 hours 15 min) Bus from Prague Florenc bus station<br />
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<b>**** Dresden (Germany)</b> - (2 hours 15 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
<br />
<b>**** Saxon Switzerland National Park & Bastei Bridge (Germany)</b> - (2 hours 20 min to 2 hours 30 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Bad Schandau, then change to a second train to reach Kurort Rathen. Take the local ferry across the river to beneath the Bastei Bridge, where many hiking trails lead into the park<br />
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<b>**** Brno</b> - (2 hours 40 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>**** Olomouc</b> - (2 hours 20 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>**** Telč</b> - (3 hours) Bus from Prague Florenc bus station to Jihlava, change to a second bus to Telč<br />
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<b>**** Loket</b> - (3 hours) Bus from Prague Florenc bus station to Karlovy Vary, change to a second bus to Loket<br />
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<b>**** Nové Město nad Metují</b> - (2 hours 30 min) Bus from Prague Florenc bus station<br />
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<b>**** Litomyšl</b> - (2 hours 20 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží to Česká Třebová, change to a local bus outside the train station to reach Litomyšl<br />
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<b>**** Jindřichův Hradec</b> - (3 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Veselí nad Lužnicí, then change to a second train to reach Jindřichův Hradec<br />
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<b>**** Bohemian Switzerland National Park</b> - (2 hours 50 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Děčín, then outside the train station take a local bus to Mezní Louka, where hiking trails begin in the park <br />
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<b>**** Czech Paradise National Park</b> - (2 hours 20 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station to Turnov, then change to a second train to reach Hrubá Skála, where hiking trails lead into the park<br />
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<b>**** Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle</b> - (2 hours 45 min to 3 hours) Bus from outside Prague Anděl metro station to Strakonice or Tábor, then change to a second bus to reach Hluboká nad Vltavou<br />
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<b>**** Mariánské Lázně</b> - (3 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží station<br />
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<b>*** Kuks</b> - (2 hours 25 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží to Jaroměř, then change to a second train to reach Kuks<br />
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<b>*** Třeboň</b> - (2 hours 50 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží to Veselí nad Lužnicí, then change to a second train to Třeboň<br />
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<b>*** Orlík Castle</b> - (2 hours 30 min to 3 hours) Bus from outside Prague Anděl metro station to Písek or Mirovice, then change to a second bus to reach the village of Orlík nad Vltavou where the castle is<br />
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<b>*** Zvíkov Castle</b> - (2 hours to 3 hours) Bus from outside Prague Anděl metro station to Písek, then change to a local bus to reach the village of Zvíkovské Podhradí where the castle is <br />
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<b>*** Červená Lhota Castle</b> - (2 hours 45 min to 3 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží to Soběslav, then outside the station take a local bus to Červená Lhota (this local bus only operates from Monday to Friday, not on Saturday or Sunday)<br />
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<b>** Bezděz Castle</b> - (2 hours 50 min to 3 hours) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží to Bakov nad Jizerou, then change to a second train to reach Bezděz village<br />
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<b>** Prachatice</b> - (2 hours 45 min) Bus from outside Prague Anděl metro station<br />
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<b>* Pelhřimov</b> - (2 hours 10 min) Bus from outside Prague Roztyly metro station<br />
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<b>* Písek</b> - (2 hours 20 min) Train from Prague Hlavní Nádraží<br />
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This beautiful church is located in the village of Hronsek, halfway between the cities of Zvolen and Banská Bystrica in the central region of Slovakia. The most unique feature in the building's design is the clear influence of Scandinavian architectural styles, making it the only church in the country to exhibit such characteristics.<br />
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As a protestant church built in the pro-Catholic Austro-Hungarian empire in the early 18th century, it had to be built according to very specific guidelines. In 1681 the Assembly of Sopron had declared that protestant churches had to be constructed according to these strict criteria: <br />
1. The church had to be built in less than one year's time <br />
2. The entire church had to be constructed only of wood, without a single iron nail<br />
3. The church could not have a bell tower (to ensure Catholic churches were more prominent) <br />
4. Entrances to the church could not be made directly from a street <br />
5. The church must be built outside of town and village boundaries. <br />
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At this time the Habsburg authorities were doing everything they could to reduce the durability and permanence of Protestant churches, and local officials often tightened the Sopron regulations even further. Hronsek was chosen as the site of a church for the protestant congregations in the northern part of the city of Zvolen and in the surrounding villages. Since just two protestant churches could be built in each region, the churches had to be very large to accommodate many worshippers who would travel long distances to attend services. <br />
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Construction of the Hronsek church began in October 1725 on an island in the middle of the river Hron, and the project was completed the following autumn. The architect who created the design is unknown, hence there is much speculation about how the Norwegian and Swedish design elements came to be incorporated into the structure. The connection technique for joining the wooden beams and the arrangement of the interior columns are regarded as examples of this northern style influence. <br />
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The church was built to seat 1100 worshippers, both on ground floor pews and on four upper balconies. The seats are angled so that every person in attendance can see the altar clearly. Five different doors allow the building to be filled and emptied more quickly. The interior contains six altar pieces from 1771 which are changed according to the feasts of the ecclesiastical year. The ornate organ was built in 1764 by a local master tradesman from Banská Bystrica. <br />
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A 19th-century wooden chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the centre, and the main altar uses wood to recreate the look of marble stone. The interior is illuminated by 30 blown-glass windows in the shape of hexagons which provide plenty of natural light. The central dome of the ceiling has the appearance of the keel of an old sailing ship. The walls were built of red spruce and oak wood with beeswax coating added for durability, and the same wood has survived without replacement until modern times. <br />
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The church is also surrounded by huge Linden trees which were planted at the same as its construction. The separate bell tower which stands in front of the church was also constructed at the same time as the church in 1725-1726. The church was inscribed on UNSESCO's World Heritage List in 2008 along with seven other Slovak wooden churches.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8MtyeP7nVWrD2cM1sA2xP3CCMn4O5DqEGrZu8etGElXpf0sjbzOwmduiu5oK9xyzCOL3pup9Ak4OwZD-lWFs1fNcCCAU5SgHKwmigkRVm18BYNRRx-7OMkYsQcS1wO2t2LQTgDRS4ek/s1600/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8MtyeP7nVWrD2cM1sA2xP3CCMn4O5DqEGrZu8etGElXpf0sjbzOwmduiu5oK9xyzCOL3pup9Ak4OwZD-lWFs1fNcCCAU5SgHKwmigkRVm18BYNRRx-7OMkYsQcS1wO2t2LQTgDRS4ek/s400/Geoff%2527s+pictures+cicmany2+001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The church is used for occasional services, concerts and weddings, but if you arrive and find that it is locked the key is available from the family who live in the house next door. The village of Hronsek is on the local train line between Zvolen and Banská Bystrica, and is also connected by bus with both cities.Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-76854390681116670972012-02-10T13:02:00.001-08:002012-02-10T13:02:53.058-08:00Wooden Churches # 13 - Hradec Králové, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN_YnV8FVbd2esCaxuND-Lpg_iaosge2yjGWTq3j3c4mgJjhr0SU5rGQivg19TpRbVmwncBp0TdtGxB4axAX2nB31XHtnhUhhUoXh3F4tqKOz_3T7PTxWPkuFlLCaQLnntPZoIrmSm8Q/s1600/Polska+472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN_YnV8FVbd2esCaxuND-Lpg_iaosge2yjGWTq3j3c4mgJjhr0SU5rGQivg19TpRbVmwncBp0TdtGxB4axAX2nB31XHtnhUhhUoXh3F4tqKOz_3T7PTxWPkuFlLCaQLnntPZoIrmSm8Q/s400/Polska+472.JPG" /></a></div>This church is found among the trees in Jirásek park in the centre of the city of Hradec Králové, though it has only been located there for a short part of its eventful history. Originally constructed around 1510 in the small village of Habura in north-eastern Slovakia, the structure was first dedicated to Saint Michael the Archanagel as an Orthodox church. In the year 1740 it was dismantled and moved to the neighbouring village of Malá Poľana where it was rebuilt and dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Miracle-worker. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RJTu3jnLyA290c_YPNWPn9kUbdNUXJVBd9pbdwbJqxbX4kj2oavdWNZZ9Loom93Cn9sV99zWmJIPsecbsc1bpGtjtZx2jtCv6v-Svfinr8xxF-wR95mpWSbuY1OOb8oXa_N2PD-GyDA/s1600/Polska+477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RJTu3jnLyA290c_YPNWPn9kUbdNUXJVBd9pbdwbJqxbX4kj2oavdWNZZ9Loom93Cn9sV99zWmJIPsecbsc1bpGtjtZx2jtCv6v-Svfinr8xxF-wR95mpWSbuY1OOb8oXa_N2PD-GyDA/s400/Polska+477.JPG" /></a></div>The village was predominantly Greek-Catholic, and the church served the local parish until the early 20th century. During the First World War the region surrounding Malá Poľana was heavily fought over and the church was severely damaged in the fighting. It was fully reconstructed by 1920, but by 1930 the church had been abandoned and was again in poor condition since it had been replaced by a new church in the village which was built of stone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsk2AzIyxjbYPn40isLkI2Chj0gD-M3oryXo8bdu4jdJ8hFZBi3yTvlUJPj2Z0HQccdAL86ZtDdSvUUz1hK0VzVVn_A5_ijVZ6lk5C3RaUOQUXBgeNkiV7HBq_4xMXrCxIT9jbyo20kg/s1600/Polska+471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsk2AzIyxjbYPn40isLkI2Chj0gD-M3oryXo8bdu4jdJ8hFZBi3yTvlUJPj2Z0HQccdAL86ZtDdSvUUz1hK0VzVVn_A5_ijVZ6lk5C3RaUOQUXBgeNkiV7HBq_4xMXrCxIT9jbyo20kg/s400/Polska+471.JPG" /></a></div>In 1934 the villagers were preparing to knock the church down and use its timber for other purposes, but an unexpected offer was made to save the structure. The Czech city of Hradec Králové offered to buy the church for 12000 Czechoslovak crowns, an enormous sum for the villagers at that time. During the summer of 1935 the church was again dismantled and packed onto railway cars for its journey to Hradec Králové. Following reconstruction and extensive renovations in its new location in Jirásek park, the church was inaugurated in the autumn of 1935 as a memorial to Czechoslovak soldiers who had died fighting in World War One. The temple has remained in the park ever since, and today it serves the local Orthodox parish with occasional masses still being held there. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyrUXAr43FkFXxUK-ev9_h2klJYzfiFzUePgch7J7jZojVKuoL7lZMQunaqrYcH3crB-gK-6qlHBIErEQgW057MGwJ8ajYr7_8udxqOF1AoQ3IJC-RtauJPkZoGfhp6zMF6DupkdJros/s1600/Polska+473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyrUXAr43FkFXxUK-ev9_h2klJYzfiFzUePgch7J7jZojVKuoL7lZMQunaqrYcH3crB-gK-6qlHBIErEQgW057MGwJ8ajYr7_8udxqOF1AoQ3IJC-RtauJPkZoGfhp6zMF6DupkdJros/s400/Polska+473.JPG" /></a></div>The design of the church is in the typical Greek-Catholic Lemko style, with the tallest of the three onion-dome towers rising above the entrance area. The interior decorations have been carefully preserved, and the original iconostasis can still be seen. The church is also surrounded by a small wooden fence as it was in its former location in Malá Poľana.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG8vlSw3BjUwpNLalySElIV9gXxYzFrteqGZuAy9Pc0yALpXjl6XNFhXWHQ_jm7ij0EkuOYZ8K60Xblk2xbOfmGI8znIh3BnZ9andDhuU0Il6LjMEtSDJO9MvWL_eiplFvRreg_bcjA4/s1600/Polska+478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjG8vlSw3BjUwpNLalySElIV9gXxYzFrteqGZuAy9Pc0yALpXjl6XNFhXWHQ_jm7ij0EkuOYZ8K60Xblk2xbOfmGI8znIh3BnZ9andDhuU0Il6LjMEtSDJO9MvWL_eiplFvRreg_bcjA4/s400/Polska+478.JPG" /></a></div>Jirásek park is just a few hundred metres from the old town square in Hradec Králové, and the city is well-connected by fast train and bus links to Prague and all other cities of the Czech Republic.Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-57452605911683861262012-02-05T14:47:00.000-08:002012-02-05T14:47:11.454-08:00Wooden Churches # 12 - Nižný Komárnik, Slovakia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweoQX1A9odvlazoXxf-WS9pLMCX1hiTjF7wsn5p2CJI2TB-ljlPON3MYp5JJyFXJGmYZ0XoyTVXRVMnZbDwf2oRMD4773uY-TtEz25eDpjSzGorXXOK98mrgmaLGVpn1SdmI5xCl3uak/s1600/Spring+2009+Geoff+912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweoQX1A9odvlazoXxf-WS9pLMCX1hiTjF7wsn5p2CJI2TB-ljlPON3MYp5JJyFXJGmYZ0XoyTVXRVMnZbDwf2oRMD4773uY-TtEz25eDpjSzGorXXOK98mrgmaLGVpn1SdmI5xCl3uak/s400/Spring+2009+Geoff+912.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This beautiful church stands at the top of a tall hill overlooking the village of Nižný Komárnik, just a few kilometres from the Polish border in north-east Slovakia. Dedicated to the Protection of the Mother of God, the structure has a unique design among churches in Slovakia, since it is the only one in the country which is of the 'Boyko' style of design, more commonly seen further east in Ukrainian Galicia. The Boyko style typically has three domed towers with the highest tower placed in the centre above the nave, distinguishing it from the 'Lemko' style commonly seen in this region where the highest tower is placed above the entrance area. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJTQg7VDNP-nodWbiS3P2sduh2BMOBMqbhmaRtDzUmfvMlsmQIcAsS68azv2-ynNfm1swJKADS-gMs7kOB9YxaxBdqDIDudhJTP4TY55m_jo4YKMDlogbpop3-3LJpQScAAzZ8R4-_wo/s1600/Spring+2009+Geoff+909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJTQg7VDNP-nodWbiS3P2sduh2BMOBMqbhmaRtDzUmfvMlsmQIcAsS68azv2-ynNfm1swJKADS-gMs7kOB9YxaxBdqDIDudhJTP4TY55m_jo4YKMDlogbpop3-3LJpQScAAzZ8R4-_wo/s400/Spring+2009+Geoff+909.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Another unique aspect to this church is that its designer is well-known, the Ukrainian architect and explorer Vladimír Sičynský. All other wooden churches in Slovakia were constructed by local builders whose names have been lost to history due to the lack of official records. Sičynský oversaw the construction of the church in 1938, meaning the temple is much younger than most others in the surrounding region. The new church replaced an older baroque wooden church which was pulled down after the modern one was completed. <br />
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Another interesting feature of this temple is that it has two entrances, one on the south side leading into the sanctuary and one of the western side. The interior of the church is lit by high windows in both the sanctuary and the nave.<br />
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The iconostasis dates from the early 19th century, and it is thought that some of the icons come from the original iconostasis of the first wooden church in the village from the start of the 18th century. The iconostasis has an unusual three-row style since it was not designed for this church and had to be modified by placing the apostles and prophets higher up in the dome. To the north of the church is a large wooden bell tower with a domed roof. The bell tower was partially restored in 2003.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P_6rJG3IhGt5bC-qBCnnsuWW9dMFZ37YhdzOLKefZ4L6ZbVRGA6nIKBr1o5N6xXEDEPyqbygequqoCGVwZCAKMrgvx6oalUsxvon7bX5Kf_Jy-Z1uxxwJE7C6wax5Q7iMU1qHfhtXcc/s1600/Spring+2009+Geoff+907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_P_6rJG3IhGt5bC-qBCnnsuWW9dMFZ37YhdzOLKefZ4L6ZbVRGA6nIKBr1o5N6xXEDEPyqbygequqoCGVwZCAKMrgvx6oalUsxvon7bX5Kf_Jy-Z1uxxwJE7C6wax5Q7iMU1qHfhtXcc/s400/Spring+2009+Geoff+907.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This is one of the most atmospheric churches in the region due to its magnificent hilltop setting above the village. Looking across the valley from the hill you can see a Russian Red Army World War Two aircraft, preserved as a monument to the intense battle for the Dukla pass which took place just north of here. The village is on the main road from Svidník to the Polish border, so buses run to the village quite frequently from Svidník. The key for the church is kept by the family who live in the house directly below the church at the beginning of the path that climbs the hill.Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084084743866491034.post-4458810224803495162011-11-26T14:49:00.001-08:002011-11-26T14:49:56.969-08:00Wooden Churches # 11 - Broumov, Czech Republic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebqCC2Emsj76fhKgMFPTt7vFtVe5sPZgHrvbX24WQTKzZcBljL-kaGmepzfP8XDxesb_-UD-mnq3ctLScP_e4MxATur0x8mMtU7_lHAQf6q0vduhFY_hcgIa9f1ICnbyDKOKltz4Vlz4/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebqCC2Emsj76fhKgMFPTt7vFtVe5sPZgHrvbX24WQTKzZcBljL-kaGmepzfP8XDxesb_-UD-mnq3ctLScP_e4MxATur0x8mMtU7_lHAQf6q0vduhFY_hcgIa9f1ICnbyDKOKltz4Vlz4/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+021.JPG" /></a></div>This church is found at the edge of the town of Broumov in Eastern Bohemia, just a few kilometres from the Polish border. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is the oldest wooden church still standing in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest wooden buildings in Bohemia. The settlement of Broumov was originally founded in 1171 and the first church was constructed on this site a few years later in 1177. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy5tdX17xmpFTzpFIIyvXKEEsIImehlx15WeGjmhkylWTB5UirNPFQf_apnKo523JmZ4xHh0HBSngTYgl0lEHEXFl7BTyNvvXX20IQ9RGXOWXVinkk2jFGFhulHoo4X1xjJ502zw6wMQ/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy5tdX17xmpFTzpFIIyvXKEEsIImehlx15WeGjmhkylWTB5UirNPFQf_apnKo523JmZ4xHh0HBSngTYgl0lEHEXFl7BTyNvvXX20IQ9RGXOWXVinkk2jFGFhulHoo4X1xjJ502zw6wMQ/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+002.JPG" /></a></div>An invasion of the town by Hussite troops in 1421 caused severe damage to the church, and in 1449 it was struck by lightning and burned almost to the ground. The church was completely rebuilt in 1450-1451 in the form that we can see today. A windstorm damaged the tower of the church in 1550, which required extensive repairs. Further alterations to the tower and roof were made in 1811. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmhpCWMVE-SkbU_R2IQ0pX_sHCkw9OUbO18UVDw7wRAXASoNdPNC-LNBDy_2qO0VSFVirSv-ujKKNOokNCCWMQj-o4NskIj4xDR_250r4Whh1TmXo2DwlBhzl7T96GGVsqoFgUK4ihuE/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmhpCWMVE-SkbU_R2IQ0pX_sHCkw9OUbO18UVDw7wRAXASoNdPNC-LNBDy_2qO0VSFVirSv-ujKKNOokNCCWMQj-o4NskIj4xDR_250r4Whh1TmXo2DwlBhzl7T96GGVsqoFgUK4ihuE/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+004.JPG" /></a></div>The church stands on a stone foundation and follows the plan of an elongated octagon in the Gothic style. Originally there were two entrances, one on the northern side and another on the western side. The roof is dominated by its slender tower which is one of the most striking features of the building's design. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHjqndny27UPzHPEcE5I3O2O4AL-pl-5hwWHOmwx7b4moeZVWrQ4JMvJvX5qwBmVsgwRds0fWxoPaTK23rSfdidaLX0JaO969iz2CYPWm2Xh2oWuKOhMNBvo2hsnc_oo80vnvwmbrBWU/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHjqndny27UPzHPEcE5I3O2O4AL-pl-5hwWHOmwx7b4moeZVWrQ4JMvJvX5qwBmVsgwRds0fWxoPaTK23rSfdidaLX0JaO969iz2CYPWm2Xh2oWuKOhMNBvo2hsnc_oo80vnvwmbrBWU/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+007.JPG" /></a></div>The roofed porch gallery which surrounds the church was originally enclosed with wooden siding, but this was removed in 1779. Wooden planks attached to the walls of the gallery are covered with inscriptions which provide a chronicle of the town's history, recording the years of disasters such as fires, floods, invasions and the plague.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_9ymKirNnqosygZlv1gQz1oGXeF6eqqkgSWBlc2OriflWdBcp3lsNDJVXDzGvkZU5t-M15Lxmh5nnNQgz7rJNiO-CeQGRDphJLx77F9PYJ-0ZKgtKNIRp5DHZk3A3yg6zBUukdMNt4c/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_9ymKirNnqosygZlv1gQz1oGXeF6eqqkgSWBlc2OriflWdBcp3lsNDJVXDzGvkZU5t-M15Lxmh5nnNQgz7rJNiO-CeQGRDphJLx77F9PYJ-0ZKgtKNIRp5DHZk3A3yg6zBUukdMNt4c/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+008.JPG" /></a></div>The wooden beams of the ceiling are decorated with stencil decorations of plant and animal themes. These decorations likely date from the time of the reconstruction in 1450, and they have a strong resemblance to those found in wooden churches across the border in Polish Silesia. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40bwAQfGratTaschDlLrJSOpXhff3RiogX7O26ynmEd5wB56vo7zn3wSRLVqR56MV03CIONg_sFY5rd1-qqPkDhkXGRb1rI6SvAicUrVpLPlfsQofL466tzUXqo8K70V76rri3i_4rjA/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40bwAQfGratTaschDlLrJSOpXhff3RiogX7O26ynmEd5wB56vo7zn3wSRLVqR56MV03CIONg_sFY5rd1-qqPkDhkXGRb1rI6SvAicUrVpLPlfsQofL466tzUXqo8K70V76rri3i_4rjA/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+022.JPG" /></a></div>The main altar is designed in the rococo style and also features a late-Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary. In 2008 the church was declared a Czech national cultural monument.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59AJdWxa79zulRv6UPxelZx7Vgx7GBFb-Catv2_EfKUVHKa6VgjKNh0WYNAGjnKnN4yASmD3WbWpDy_imp3VHh9HXGxhsUiAYAAO9U6HM9cH_vdOlby047e9hemq8WVab-_VxAr4M_A0/s1600/Broumov+and+Kuks+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59AJdWxa79zulRv6UPxelZx7Vgx7GBFb-Catv2_EfKUVHKa6VgjKNh0WYNAGjnKnN4yASmD3WbWpDy_imp3VHh9HXGxhsUiAYAAO9U6HM9cH_vdOlby047e9hemq8WVab-_VxAr4M_A0/s320/Broumov+and+Kuks+005.JPG" /></a></div>The church is open daily for visitors in the summer months, but is kept locked for the rest of the year apart from occasional services and events. Broumov is at the end of a branch railway line with regular local trains running to Starkoč, a station on the main Trutnov - Prague line.Goulash Trainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07469376520091036889noreply@blogger.com0