"The golden times of the Czech history. "
The impressive high gothic style castle founded in 1348 as the royal treasury for the imperial crown jewels. ...

You can see the medieval residential rooms of the emperor Charles IV. The visit of the precious Chapel of the Holy Rood is necessary to book ahead (open only 1. 6. - 31. 10. 2008.). Walking down from the castle we can enjoy the local village full of galleries and shops. Would you prefer a short walk in the nature? Would you like to stop at the near by picturesque stone quarry called "America"?
It is also possible to create various trip combinations with the Karlštejn castle, Koněprusy caves, Křivoklát, local historical town Beroun or Glassworks. Let me know about your wish.

Sightseeing options:
Castle interior tour (60min, entrance fee 200 CZK)
Chapel of the Holly Rood (80 min, entrance fee 300 CZK, booking necessary)
Czech history wax work museum (30min, entrance fee 80 CZK)
Shopping in the village (60 min)
Walk in the nature (60 min)
America stone quarry (30 min)

Golf Resort Karlštejn
If you like you can enjoy a "golf tour", you can skip the castle and enjoy the golf course with a beautiful scenery of the majestic castle Karlštejn, forming a romantic backdrop. (minimum time 4,5 hrs, Rent cost: green fee + el. trolley + 1club = 2500CZK, 120US)

Local Market on We & Sa - Royal town Beroun
The old town of Beroun is attractive for its historical sights and the local "untouristy atmosphere". (Šárka`s current home town.) The dominant features are: neo-renaissance Town hall, medieval gates, rests of city walls, moat and bulwarks from the 14th century. The town is famous for its ceramics fairs (around 8 May and 18 October). (15 min, drive nearby Karlštejn)
The regular Local Market takes place on every We & Sa, from 7 am to noon. You can get there anything from a local vegetables, hand made products to the "flee market stuff" and cheap clothes from Vietnamese shops.

Karlštejn by train
This tour can be done by train very easily – highly recommended, see local people living, enjoy fun and adventure! The train goes through the beautiful countryside along the river Berounka (about 50 min.). Price: 2500 (85 EUR, 100 US)

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Nature Reserve

Karlštejn castle
Golf Resort
Royal town Beroun
Royal town Beroun - Virtual tour

Castle closed on Mondays and also from 7. 1. to 29. 2., and  from 10. 11. to 12. 12. 2008, and on 24+25.12.08. Golf resort Opening times - Reception, restaurant, ProShop: May - August 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., September 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., April, October 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

"Great architecture & Charming nature"
Nearby the Karlštejn castle are located 400 million years old lime stone caves. 70m under ground winds the 600m long cave system accessible for public.
The tour through takes 1 hour and shows the unique opal-bearing decorations and a 15th century secret workshop of money forgers. (Caves opened from 1.4. to 31.10., entrance fee 80 CZK)

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Nature Reserve
The caves

The caves - pictures

After seeing the famous castle Karlštejn get off the beaten track and enjoy the tranquil hidden village.
Svaty Jan pod Skalou (Saint John under the Cliff) is a picturesque village with the abundance of the natural scenery and historical landmarks located in the Český Kras natural protected area. In the 9th century the first Czech Christian hermit, Ivan, settled down in a local cave under a cliff. Later it become famous pilgrim place with the church of St. John the Baptist and the Benedictine monastery. Visit the small village, church, the legendary cave and try the healing powers of the local St. Ivan’s Spring.

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Saint John under the Cliff

Saint John under the Cliff

"Majestic medieval castles"

Gothic castle Křivoklát is located in the dense forests 20 minutes near by Karlštejn. It is one of the oldest and most important royal castles of Bohemia. It became also a greatly feared prison. Interior tour takes 60 minutes (entrance fee 160 CZK) and includes the magnificent castle chapel, the Royal Hall and the Hall of Knights, the library, the picture gallery, the prison and torture chamber with torture instruments.

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Křivoklát castle

Castles are closed on Mondays and from 1.12. to 31.3, Křivoklát is open only on weekends from 1.11. to 20.12.)

Visit the famous Bohemian Glassworks, the big factory in Nižbor town, and see the amazing process of glass making (40 min excursion, entry fee 100 CZK includes also a small glass gift!). This big factory in Nižbor is closed on Sa & Su.

If you prefer we can visit the smaller art glassworks - GLASSTAR Nenačovice, focused on the color glass. They made even a glass memorial for Indíra Ghándí in the the Prime Minister's Residence of India. (10 min drive nearby, 30 minutes excursion, entry free) Where you can even make your own piece of Glass. There is also extremely cheap factory shop. Open 7 days a week.
Than continue to visit the gothic castle Karlštejn. (15 min drive nearby) and the small village bellow.
Great combination tour showing you the important part of the Czech history, the traditional bohemian crafts and our beautiful countryside (where once even lived Celts). All the area is a protected Nature reserve.

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Museum - Celtic Europe
Bohemia Glassworks - Nižbor

Small Glassworks - Nenačovice

The Gothic castle houses large collections of hunting trophies, historical hunting weapons, paintings and porcelain. It dates back from 14th century, later reconstructed and refurbished in the Romantic style for Archduke Franz Ferdinand d´Este in 1890s. The chambers of this magnificent seat of the intending emperor were equipped with the famous large collections.

Sightseeing options:
1. interior route - representative and dining rooms, famous "hunting trophy corridor" (50 min, entry 150CZK )
2. route - the oldest part of the castle, armory (50 min, entry 150 CZK)
3. route - rooms of F. F. de Este (40 min, entry 250 CZK)
shooting range and St. George museum, rose garden and a bear pit

Related websites:
Konopiště chateau - overview
Konopiště chateau - virtual tour
Rose garden - virtual tour
Local Brewery - Ferdinand
Konopiště chateau - details

Closed on MONDAYS and from 1.11. to 31.3. Open only on Sundays - in November. Opened for some weekends in March

Visit the two most famous castles near by Prague. Karlštejn has a beautiful exterior image and Konopište boasts with the rich collections of art and hunting trophies.
Price includes one of the "Sightseeing options" for each castle - according to your choice!

Related websites:
Karlštejn castle
Konopiště chateau - overview
Konopiště chateau - details

Konopište is closed on MONDAYS and from 1.11. to 31.3. Open only on Sundays - in November. Opened for some weekends in March

Karlštejn is closed on MONDAYS and also from 7. 1. to 29. 2., and  from 10. 11. to 12. 12. 2008, and on 24+25.12.08.

Český Šternberk is a wonderful castle founded in 1240s in the Gothic style and rebuilt in the 18th century into a Baroque structure. Nowadays it is owned and partly inhabited by the Sternberk family. What is unique on this castle is its strength, the cylinder tower, the massive gable wall of the residential tower, which was the only construction of its kind in our country in the 13th century. The castle is very well situated and protected, it was almost impossible to conquer it in the past. The bipolar disposition of the castle is also very unusual. In the castle you can find interiors from 17-18 century containing family portraits, art collections and a collection of graphic art from the period of the Thirty Year´s War. You can admire the rich stucco decorations of the rooms (made by an Italian artist Carlo Brentano - 17th century) as well as the collections of ancient furniture and porcelain, engravings.

Sightseeing options:
Tour of the castle (50 minutes, entry fee 130 CZK)

Related websites:
Český Šternberk - pictures
Český Šternberk - pictures
Český Šternberk - virtual tour
Český Šternberk - info

Český Šternberk

Closed from 1.10. to 31.3 and on Mondays.

Renaissance Mělník chateau was a seat of the Czech queen widows. Under Emperor Charles IV Mělník became a royal town. In 1542 the Castle has been reconstructed in Renaissance Style and richly decorated with sgrafitto patterning. The present owner Jiří Lobkowicz is carefully renovating the Castle.
The wine growing district of Mělník has 160 hectares under vine making it is the largest vineyard area in Bohemia. It is situated on the south-facing slopes above the rivers Elbe, Vltava, with its particular micro-climate. Mělník forms part of the of the northern-most viticultural areas of Europe. The most famous Mělník wine is called Ludmila (after the first queen who lived here). Every end of September is celebrated the Wine harvesting festival.

Sightseeing options
Tour of the castle (40 minutes, entry fee 70 CZK)
Tour of the Castle's Cellar from 14th Century (20 minutes, entry fee 25 CZK)
Wine tasting in the Castle's Cellar and tour with the wine maker:
1) Small wine tasting (2 wines, 30 minutes, 70 CZK)
2) Big wine tasting (6 wines, 45 minutes, 120 CZK)
3) VIP wine tasting - a choice of the best wines of the Castle's Estate are tasted with the director or the owner of the Estate. After a short tour of the historic cellar the wines are tasted in St. George's Hall. (40 minutes, 350 CZK)

Related websites:
The chateau
Mělník town
Wine tasting
Czech wine info

Local rich silver mines let the Kutna Hora town grow into Bohemia's second most important city in medieval times. Walking along the old streets we can visit: the Italian Court - the former coin mint and temporary seat of Czech kings in the 15th century, the imposing gothic Cathedral of St Barbara. We can also see a museum with an alchemists laboratory. Do not miss the Ossuary in Sedlec - a church decorated with human bones.
The adventurers can enjoy the Czech silver museum that offers the challenging excursion of the real old mine pit (narrow, dark corridors, 20 min under ground, !necessary to book ahead

Sightseeing options
Italian Court - royal seat and mint museum (40 min, entry 100 CZK)
Visit of the mine pit - advance booking necessary! (original narrow corridors, 50 m underground) and the mining museum (70 min, entry 150 CZK, 1.11.-30.3. closed)
Museum of the alchemy (30 min, 30CZK)

Related websites:
Bone church - Ossuary
Bone church - virtual tour
Kutná Hora sights
Italian Court
Cathedral of St. Barbara
The Alchemy Museum
Museum of silver - the mine pit

Cathedral, Italian court and Bone church are open all year. But the Czech silver museum with the mine pit is closed from 1.11. to 31.3.

Charming museum of folk architecture and life was founded in Přerov nad Labem already in 1890s. There are more than 31 original cottages and artifacts on the area 2 ha. Rich interior expositions (folk kitchen, market, bread baking, ...) illustrate the life in 1850s. You can enter the old smithy, coppery, old school etc. and see the old wells, dove-cots, beehives, folk sculptures. There are many figures dressed in the old folk customs in the houses. To enhance the atmosphere they also grow the plants as in the "gardens of our grandmas" Visit takes about 60-90 minutes.

Related websites:
Open air folk museum

Open air folk museum

Opened from 15.3 to 31.10. , every day except Monday. In December opened on FRI,SAT,SUN.
Entrance fee: 50 CZK/ 2 EUR

Visit the Kutna Hora town and the bone church. On the way back see the Open air folk museum - Přerov nad Labem. (details explained above)

Related websites:
Kutná Hora
Open air folk museum

Bone church - Ossuary

Terezín is an 18th century military stronghold used by Nazis as the jail and the concentration camp for Jews from all Europe. Visit the former town of the Jewish ghetto with the Museum and the Lesser fortress that served as a prison for the Prague Gestapo (combined entrance fee 200 CZK). The Memorial to the victims of Nazism and the Holocaust has been established here as a memento of modern European history.

Sightseeing options:
Single ticket - Small Fortress or Ghetto Museum: 160,- CZK
Combined entrance - Small Fortress + Ghetto Museum + Magdeburg Barracks:200,- CZK
Family combined ticket (max. 2 adults + 3 children): 400,- CZK
Crematorium with the Jewish cemetery and the Russian cemetery (entry ffree)
Columbarium, Ceremonial Halls and Central Morgue (entry ffree)

Related websites:
Terezín
Terezín Initiative Institute
International research

Terezín and Lidice

Lidice village, became a symbol of Fascist despotism in World War II, lies 20 km west of Prague. The operation by Czechoslovak parachutists in which Heydrich was killed on May 27, 1942 brought shocking reprisals. The vague contents of one censored letter, roused the suspicions that there was some connection between the assassination and the one family in Lidice. The tragedy of this village and 503 inhabitants began on June 10, 1942 a few hours after midnight. At the orders of K. H. Frank all 173 Lidice men were shot, women and children were were poisoned by exhaust gas or sent to the concentration camp. Then Nazis leveled down the village.
Stop here and pay a silent tribute to the innocent Lidice victims, and visit the museum where facts and documents of the Lidice tragedy are collected, the rose garden, memorial site.

If you are interested in the WW2 history you can visit both places in one day. The tour would take about 7 hours and cost for 2 people 5500 (about 221 EUR), for 3-6 people 5900 (about 226 EUR).

Related websites: Lidice

The city of Pilsner Urquel beer, historical sites and damp underground. The Holy Roman Emperor, Czech king Rudolf II, resided in Pilsen twice between 1599-1600.   The City Brewery was founded in 1842 and the Škoda Works in 1859. With the population of 167, 000 inhabitants, Pilsen prides itself on being the seat of the University of West Bohemia and Bishopric.  Pilsen is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic. The historical heart of the City - almost identical with the original Gothic layout - was declared protected historic city reserve in 1989. You will certainly admire the architectonic dominant features of the city: Church of St. Bartholomew, Baroque Franciscan monastery, Gothic and Renaissance burgher houses.

Related websites:
Plzeň
Pilsner Urquel beer

Plzeň virtual tour of the underground
Plzeň region
General Patton Memorial Pilsen

Nelahozeves is one of the nicest Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic boasting the precious collections of art (pictures, treasury, musical displays, collection of furniture, sculpture, ceramics, porcelain, glass, metalwork, manuscripts, arms and armor). A series of twelve period rooms feature the dining room, bedrooms, a music room, the Prince`s smoking room, the family chapel, two rooms devoted to hunting and shooting.
The castle was built in 1550s by the counsellor to the Holy Roman Emperor by the finest Italian artisans whose stone masonry work and richly decorated sgraffito facades. Polyxena Lobkowicz (famous donator of the statue - Holy Infant of Prague) bought the castle for the Lobkowicz family.

The Nelahozeves village is the birthplace of the great Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák.

Sightseeing options:
Castle rout n.1 - (art collections, 60min, entry fee - 290 CZK)
Castle rout n.2 - (history of the castle and Lobkowic, entry fee - 150 CZK)
Dvorak museum (40 minutes, 30CZK)

Related websites:
Nelahozeves castle
Nelahozeves castle - virtual tour
Antonín Dvořák Memorial

Nelahozeves castle is open all year (even in the WINTER time).
Dvorak museum opened 1st and 3rd week of the month from WE to SU, but 2nd and 4th week only from We to FRI.

Small copy of the medieval Bohemian village built by company Botanicus in 1990s. You can wander around and watch the craftsmen of the middle ages (blacksmiths, candle-makers, stonemasons, potters, rope-makers, weavers, gold washing ...). The charming mediaeval atmosphere is supported by medieval music, food and drinks. You can relax in the organic gardens.
Children love the fun when trying the crafts on them own! The craftsmen will help them to make their own rope, candle, pottery, soap or even find some gold!
There are held many festivals all year around - Archery fest, Vikings, Tea and Flower festival, Alchemy, Jugglers, etc.

Related websites:
Botanicus village
Botanicus

Entry fee: 90 CZK adult, 50CZK child, for the festivals 195CZK adult, 60CZK child.

Closed on Mondays and from October to April.

The charming Renaissance Krumlov castle was an important social and cultural centre of the southern Bohemia since the 13th century. In the vicinity flourished one of the most beautiful historical towns of Europe. Local picturesque streets remain the medieval atmosphere. The town is full of small galleries, local restaurants, traditional shops with crystal and handicrafts. In 1992 the whole historic complex was included in the UNESCO list. During the drive you will see the quaint Czech countryside and Šumava forest. We can also visit the historical town of České Budějovice. Would you like to book an excursion of the Budweiser Brewery (60 min.) or just stop by and taste the original beer (15 min.)? Or do you prefer to see the romantic castle Hluboká?

Sightseeing options:
Český Krumlov castle (60min, entry 150 CZK, closed: November - March) České Budějovice historical town (30 min)
Budweiser brewery (stop by: 10 min, visit: 60 min)
Hluboká castle (stop by: 20 min, visit: 70 min, entry 220 CZK, closed: November - March)

Related websites:
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov - virtual tour
České Budějovice
Chateau Hluboká
Budweiser Brewery

Both castles are closed on mondays and from 1.11. to 31.3.

Hluboká is without a doubt one of the most beautiful castles in Bohemia. It was rebuilt in 1871 by aristocratic family of Schwarzenberg into the picturesque castle in style of Tudor Gothic. In 1939 the last owner of Hluboká, Prince Adolf Schwarzenberg, left for Italy to escape the Nazis and subsequently moved to the United States. You can see the paneled ceilings with precious carving decoration, paintings by European masters of the 16th - 18th centuries, beautiful chandeliers, late Renaissance window panes, Delft china, painted Chinese vases. (Castle closed on mo. and from 1.11. to 31.3.)
Nearby town of České Budějovice was founded as a royal town in 1265. It is an example of the peak of medieval urbanism in the Czech Lands. See the extensive square, Baroque city hall, Samson’s Fountain, Black Tower ...
Would you like to book an excursion of the Budweiser Brewery (60 min.) or just stop by and taste the original beer (15 min.)?

Sightseeing options:
The representative rooms (60 min., entry 220 CZK)
The private rooms (60 min., entry 230 CZK)
The castle kitchen (30 min., entry 170 CZK)
The castle tower (30 min., entry 40 CZK)
Budweiser brewery (stop by: 10 min, visit: 60 min)

Related websites:
České Budějovice
Chateau Hluboká
Chateau Hluboká - virtual tour
Budweiser Brewery

The oldest Bohemia spa town founded in 14 century, visited by many famous people (Peter the Great, a Russian czar, J. S. Bach, G. Casanova, L. v. Beethoven, H. Fonda, ...). Try the effect of natural thermal water healing digestive problems, obesity, melancholy. Visit the Glassworks Moser factory that provides glass for the famous people and royal families.
If you like we can do a detour and visit the Chateau Bečov and see The reliquary of St Maurus - relic of the European significance. The wooden reliquary case is covered with lavish goldsmith's adornments. It is the second most precious think you can see in the Czech Republic (after the Czech crown jewels). It was made in the first quarter of the 13th century in Belgium to contain the mortal remains of St John the Baptist, St Maurus and St Timothy.

Sightseeing options:
Glassworks Moser (60 min., entry 50CZK)
Visit a spa and sauna (60 min, 100 CZK)
Shopping in the town
Thermal pool (60 min, 30 CZK)
Walk in the nature (60min)
Chateau Bečov and The reliquary of St Maurus (60-80 min, entry 150 CZK)

Related websites:
Karlovy Vary
Spa procedures and their history
Zámecké lázně (Castle Spa)
Alžbětiny lázně (Elisabeth Spa)
MediRelaxCenter in the Spa Hotel Ambiente
Glassworks Moser
The reliquary of St Maurus

We will be happy to arrange for you the tailor made tour of the area where your ancestors lived. We can help you with the family reserch and prepare the tour of your ancestral town.

We can arrange for you these services:
- Do the basic amateur research (translate your family letters or other documents, search the Czech websites, send emails in Czech language to the local people of the same family name living in the area, make local telephone calls and ask about the family name).
- Find info about the current family members, friends ...
- Arrange the tailor made private Genealogy Tour.
- Arrange the visits of the regional archives (reserve the necessary books ahead), Town Halls (make sure they expect you), birth registers, Church registers.
- Arrange reunions with the local people who are related to you (or at least people who can tell stories about your ancestors).
- Translate letters written by you or your new Czech friends.
- Find the history of the town and area and send you the information and the web links.

However please notice that we are not "the professional genealogy research agency"!
We do not provide: the professional research report, charts to illustrate relationships, the full citation of all sources used, high resolution digital copies of the archive materials.
Our aim is: learn more about your ancestors and present relatives, introduce you their town and establish new friendships that can provide long term info source for you.
If you require the professional genealogy research - I can contact and employ them, they charge about 800 CZK (about 32EUR) per hour of their work.

We have arranged many of these Genealogy Tours even without employing  any other professionals. Sometimes are our family tours very successful (we meet some friends or members of the family, they get connected and the friendship goes on ... ), but sometimes we just visit the place, take a lot of pictures,  speak with some local people and learn more about the town and area. 

PRICES FOR THE RESEARCH WORK
Because our genealogy research is not "the high professional genealogist service" we charge only 300 CZK (13EUR) per hour of the research work (including emailing, telephone calls, basic archive research). Usually it takes about 2-5 hours of some research work before the tour. Let us how your budget is limited so will limit my research work into the time/ budget that you will set. 

Let us know what would you prefer:
1) employ the professional genealogy research agency services  - Price per hour: 800 CZK (32EUR)
2) help of Personal Prague Guide who is not a genealogist, but has some experience with this work - Price per hour:  300 CZK (12EUR) 

Once the research work will reach 3 hours (900 CZK, 35EUR) we will stop, let you know the results and ask for your permission to continue. So you will always have the final price under control.

PRICES FOR TAILOR MADE ANCESTRAL TOUR
5-6 hour tours
2people ..... 4100 CZK, 4-6people .... 4600 CZK
8-10 hour tours
2people ..... 6500 CZK, 4-6people .... 6900 CZK

LINK