My Travel Adventures

Two days after our visit to Průhonice, I was needed for some more logistical assistance, so we combined the drudgery with a few excursions. My dad and I drove to Konopiště Chateau, one of the most famous castles in Central Bohemia and noteworthy for a number of important residents. Konopiště was built in the late thirteenth century and has since gone through a number of renovations in various architectural styles. Its most famous residents included the Šternberks, Albrecht of Valdštějn, the Lobkovitces, and Franz Ferdinand. Frederick V of the Palatinate (the Winter King) briefly stayed at the castle during the Bohemian Revolt of 1618-20, the event that started the Thirty Years’ War.

My parents decided to buy new cars, the retrieval of which became a complex, multi-day logistical operation involving a disproportionate number of people. Since I was tasked with bringing one of the cars home, my dad took the opportunity to show me Průhonice Chateau, which I had never visited despite its proximity to Prague.

The weather remained very pretty for the rest of the weekend, so I convinced my dad and my sister to go on a trip in the direction of Plzeň. I did not bother to convince my dog, of course, but took her anyway. The first place we visited were the castles Točník and Žebrák, which my sister and I made a brief excursion to last year in much worse weather (it was so foggy that it was impossible to see either of the castles from many of the places where I took pictures today). Unlike last time, the goats who live under Točník ventured out of their pens and showed their interest in visitors, which indicates that they are often given snacks. Despite the beautiful weather, we didn’t meet too many people.

It was very cold and snowy this past week, but the sun came out on Friday and the promise of getting to take pictures of snowy landscapes under blue skies became irresistible. I climbed up to the lookout above Svatý Jan only to find it still in the shade of the surrounding hills as late as 10 AM. I decided to continue all the way to Karl štejn via Hostím and Srbsko.

I was visiting an old friend near Vinohrady, which is a neighbourhood I seldom visit because it is quite removed from the historic centre of Prague and because the walk up the hill is not very pleasant. However, it is a place worth seeing for the beautiful facades of many residential buildings.

This Sunday we explored the north of Central Bohemia, namely the Mělník and Mladá Boleslav regions. We started in the city Mělník, where we viewed the city’s chateau, as well as the chateau in the nearby town of Hořín. One interesting fact about the city is that while it was still a castle, Mělník chateau served as the residence of kings’ widows.

I wrote about my visit to Křivoklát Castle in October, but what I neglected to mention is that the castle is at the heart of an eponymous protected landscape area nestled between the D5 and the D6 highways, which lead from Prague to Pilsen and Karlovy Vary, respectively.