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    Day Itinerary

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    Day 3

    175 mi2 mi

    A Devil’s Pond, a Museum of Rarities and the Great Kutná Hora

    Today is the last day of the route and you'll make the most of it by seeing more fantastic and unmissable places. The first place you will visit is the town of Třeboň, a beautiful and quaint town next to a huge pond that hides a pact with the devil. Then you will pass through Pelhřimov, which has all the charm of an old walled town but in mini size. There, inside one of the city gates, there is a museum with the most extraordinary objects you can imagine.
    Then you will reach the magnificent town of Kutná Hora. This beautiful city will enchant you. Cradle of silver mining in the Middle Ages, it's full of treasures to be discovered. Its cathedral will take your breath away, you'll be able to visit the Sedlec ossuary, an experience you will never forget. You'll have the opportunity to walk through an old silver mine and even mint your own coin or get to know the beautiful Italian Court. Its narrow streets will captivate you with their particular charm and the sights from the Barborská promenade will give you the most magical moment.
    28.2 mi
    50 min
    Parkoviště
    09:501 min

    Parkoviště

    Parking
    Open Details
    Good morning! You are going to start your day in one of the most beautiful and picturesque squares in South Bohemia. At least the way I see it.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Třeboňská kašna
    10:0015 min

    Třeboňská kašna

    Landmark
    Open Details
    This is one of my favourite squares. I don't have a specific reason to explain why, there are several factors I believe: its picturesque facades and their colours, it's wide yet secluded. Its fountain and Mary's column beauty, the clock tower of the former town hall... The whole ensemble is beautiful.
    But circumstances also play an important part in the impression one is left with. I got to know this square on a rainy day, I took refuge in a café to wait for the rain to stop and when I was finally able to go out and walk around it, it was freshly bathed and all shiny. The pastel colours of the facades seemed more vivid and illuminated. And that's when... I fell in love!
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    State Chateau Trebon
    10:2045 min

    State Chateau Trebon

    Landmark
    Open Details
    I was pleasantly surprised to visit this castle because I did not have high expectations and it turned out to be very beautiful and huge inside. Some of the rooms are extremely majestic and the decorations are exquisite. But what really caught my attention was the alchemist's workshop where John Dee worked!
    I only went on the Tour of the Rosenberg renaissance interiors (the tours are in Czech, for other languages they are only for large groups). Anyway, the information brochures are in several languages.
    You'll see a beautiful fountain at the entrance with water lilies and fishes where people throw coins... Lucky fish, they literally swim in money!
    For opening times, to book your ticket and more information, click here
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Novohradská brána
    11:105 min

    Novohradská brána

    Landmark
    Open Details
    This is one of the four gates that provided access to the old walled city and are still standing. You will see them as you walk through the streets of the city.
    Each gate has its own name: Novohradská, Svinenská, Hradecká and Budějovická. I can only pronounce "gate" out of all that... hahahaha!
    0.1 mi
    5 min
    Přístaviště Třeboň
    11:2010 min

    Přístaviště Třeboň

    Open Details
    This beautiful pond is part of a titanic engineering feat that involved the construction of several fish ponds in this region that centuries ago was an inhospitable and lifeless wilderness.
    I read this shortly before arriving to the city by car, just as you did, and I thought I was mistaken or misunderstood, that this lake and the other one I had seen from the road must be natural and that, surely, the text referred to a small pond that was located elsewhere in Třeboň.
    So, standing in this very harbour, I was amazed that such a pond was created by man's hand 500 years ago.
    But apparently this was not easy to believe even for the people who inhabited these lands at that time. The man who built the Svět (World) pond was known as "the Regent" and his achievement was so incredible that it was rumoured that he had dealings with the devil. Another legend says that some ponds are actually gates to hell and that devilish creatures can be seen around these ponds.
    0.1 mi
    5 min
    Jakub Krčín z Jelčan
    11:4010 min

    Jakub Krčín z Jelčan

    Landmark
    Open Details
    And here is the statue of the "Regent" looking at his great work, the World.
    Fun fact: so important is this figure that the local brewery chose to name itself Bohemia Regent in his honour.
    0.4 mi
    10 min
    Parkoviště
    12:005 min

    Parkoviště

    Parking
    Open Details
    Time to continue on the road.
    43 mi
    1 hr
    parkoviště - Pelhřimov centrum
    13:105 min

    parkoviště - Pelhřimov centrum

    Parking
    Open Details
    I invite you to visit the small town of Pelhřimov. It is one of those places that you come to by chance, as a simple stop along the way, but I found it to be a place with a very particular charm: small, picturesque, quiet and with a very peculiar museum.
    Oh... by the way, this is a good car park with plenty of space.
    0.1 mi
    5 min
    Restaurace Na Čtyrce
    13:2045 min

    Restaurace Na Čtyrce

    Restaurant
    Open Details
    To eat and not stop eating. Here I tried some delicious homemade noodles, the sauces are supreme. On top of that, they have their own small brewery. For me, a beer lover, it was a surprise to find a mini-brewery in this place. A real luxury to eat here.
    We didn't make a reservation, we had come to this city by chance and simply went in to eat here because I liked the building (... yes, I judged by the outside appearance .... Shame on me!!..... But it turned out that I made the right choice!)
    For more information and reservations, in case you want to make them, see here. Even though it's not a website designed for tourism, as it's all in Czech, at the restaurant we were attended in English.
    Opening hours: From Monday to Friday: 10:00 - 22:00 h. Saturday: 10:00 - 23:00 h. Sunday: closed.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Jihlavská gate
    14:1030 min

    Jihlavská gate

    Landmark
    Open Details
    From the central square you can see 2 gates of the old walled city. This one, which is called "The lower gate", has a very peculiar museum inside, full of curiosities, things never seen before and records. It's a funny nonsense that we also discovered by chance.
    There's a three meter long toothbrush, paintings on seeds, the smallest book, the smallest teddy bear or motorbike, the largest pyjamas... and many more crazy things. It has two exhibitions inside and one in the garden with the giant objects. It's not very big and you can walk through it quickly, but it's a lot of fun.
    It is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 h. For more information here you have the page
    0.3 mi
    5 min
    Rynárecká gate
    14:455 min

    Rynárecká gate

    Landmark
    Open Details
    This gate is more quaint than the other one, in my opinion, and cannot be visited inside. It is a pity.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    parkoviště - Pelhřimov centrum
    14:555 min

    parkoviště - Pelhřimov centrum

    Parking
    Open Details
    It´s time to continue the journey!
    47 mi
    1 hr 20 min
    St Barbara's Cathedral
    16:2045 min

    St Barbara's Cathedral

    Church
    Open Details
    I will confess that I am not a very religious person, but both on the outside and the inside of this cathedral moved me in an impressive way. I was partly overwhelmed by its magnificence and partly transported by the atmosphere inside. It is sublime.
    Its construction began in the 13th century and it is a reflection of the city's heyday thanks to the great exploitation of its silver mines. It is dedicated to the Virgin Barbara, patron saint of dangerous trades such as mining.
    Here you have more information and advance ticket sales.
    The cathedral is open daily at these times: January and February from 10:00 - 16:00 h. March from 10:00 - 17:00 h. April - September from 9:00 - 18:00 h. October from 10:00 - 17:00 h. November and December 10:00 - 16:00 h. (closed on 24th of December)
    Parking is available on the road in front of the entrance.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Czech Museum of Silver
    17:1010 min

    Czech Museum of Silver

    Museum
    Open Details
    There are three places I would like to suggest but time will not be enough for all of them. Today you will be able to choose one but, since you are staying in Prague and Kutná Hora is only an hour away, I dare to give you the 3 options knowing that you can visit another day the other two places you don't get to see today.
    You will see that each option has a very short estimated visiting time, this is because I have divided the normal time of a visit by three in turn. All these sites have similar opening hours and close at about the same time. Also for this reason, you should not be guided by the visiting hours listed.

    So this visit to the Silver Museum is Option 1: There are two possible tours to do here, the first one "The silver city" and the second one "The way of silver". I recommend you to do the second one which includes the descent to a section of the mines, this is the one I did as well.
    Important: This visit cannot be done by children under 6 years old (going down into the mines, I mean) and there are other limitations that are important for you to consider. It is all detailed on the official website where it is also advisable to book your tickets in advance.
    The visit is very interesting, the moment of going down into the mines made me very anxious, I don't enjoy closed places very much but, to be honest, I found it very enjoyable. There weren't many of us in my group (I think about 7 people) but there was enough of space and we were walking at a distance from each other.
    I read all the explanations in the brochure because the guide spoke in Czech. Anyway I found it a very fun and interesting experience. I had never been in a silver mine before, let alone in the centre of a city. I loved that they have recreated an old mining settlement perfectly equipped as it was in medieval times. Even with a kind of crane that worked with the traction of horses. I liked it a lot.

    The museum is closed from December to March inclusive. The rest of the year the opening hours are: April & May & October: 9:00 - 17:00 h. June & September: 9:00 - 18:00 h. July & August: 10:00 - 18:00 h. November: 10:00 - 16:00 h.
    Open every day from Tuesday to Sunday (Mondays closed).
    For more information and tickets click here
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Italian Court
    17:2510 min

    Italian Court

    Landmark
    Open Details
    Option 2 visiting The Italian Court: Thanks to the wealth that the silver mine provided, this city came to have great political importance and economic power. For this reason, they thought of building a palace that would also serve as the central mint of the kingdom, given that this was where the silver was obtained. This central mint was to have an important function: to mint a new coin that would unify the other coins produced up to that moment.
    The building is named after the two Italians that were responsible for the creation of the mint.
    There are several tours that you can do separately, I took the Italian Court tour which groups them all and I also minted my own coin! This last one is paid for separately, it is not included in any tour.
    Timetable JANUARY - FEBRUARY: Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 - 16:00 h. MARCH: Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 - 17:00 h. APRIL - SEPTEMBER: Monday - Sunday from 9:00 - 18:00 h. OCTOBER: Monday - Sunday from 10:00 - 17:00 h. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER: Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 - 16:00 h.
    Tours outside the regular opening hours can be booked at least one week in advance (at a different price).
    Tickets must be booked in advance. Here is the official site to see tour times and book your ticket. Parking is available in front of the entrance.
    1.6 mi
    10 min
    Sedlec Ossuary
    17:451 hr

    Sedlec Ossuary

    Landmark
    Open Details
    Third option: Sedlec Ossuary This is not a site to be visited by just anyone, it is quite impressive. Seeing a photograph does not compare to seeing it in person. For that reason I have left it as the third option in this time slot (although the ossuary has guided tours at night too... designed for those who don't find it creepy enough during the day...).
    If I'm going to tell you my personal impression I'll tell you that for me it was very very shocking, too much in fact. I always try to keep an open mind, of course there is also an important cultural gap to bridge with this subject. Seeing death turned into art may be admissible or even honourable in some cultures, while for other cultures it may be an unforgivable sacrilege. However, it is something I never imagined I would ever see. It is certainly something that will never fade from memory.
    Opening hours: March to October: 9:00 - 18.00 h Nobember to February: 10:00 - 16:00 h. (Closed on December 24th)
    By the way, you can park either in Zámecká, Čechova or Starosedlecká street. Parking is free. Always remember to book your visit in advance. To buy your tickets and see more information click here.
    1.9 mi
    10 min
    Parking on the Ramparts
    19:105 min

    Parking on the Ramparts

    Parking
    Open Details
    After whichever option you choose to visit, in order to explore the rest of the old city at your leisure, I suggest you consider leaving your car parked here.
    0.3 mi
    5 min
    Gothic Stone Fountain
    19:205 min

    Gothic Stone Fountain

    Landmark
    Open Details
    Undoubtedly an emblem of the city, this beautiful fountain, built in the 15th century, was used to distribute drinking water to the city's inhabitants.
    0.3 mi
    5 min
    Barborská ride
    19:3015 min

    Barborská ride

    Historic Site
    Open Details
    This beautiful cobbled promenade has a magnificent view of the cathedral and the city of Kutná Hora. It is lined with magnificent statues that give it a special charm.
    This is one of my favourite places in this city! Take your time to stroll around it and delight in its beauty.
    0.3 mi
    10 min
    Plague column
    20:0010 min

    Plague column

    Landmark
    Open Details
    I have seen many monuments commemorating the end of the plague throughout the Czech Republic, I'm not sure why but this particular column caught my eye with the little clouds with little angels' heads peeking out... I took a lot of close-ups.
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Restaurace Dačický
    20:151 hr 30 min

    Restaurace Dačický

    Restaurant
    Open Details
    Well... A great end to such a fantastic route! Eating here is like stepping into a middle age inn. The room is amazing with a fantastic setting.
    I was looking around for a while and my partner was asking me to please look at the menu to order the food and I couldn't take my eyes off everything around me. Just imagine that only the painting on the wall itself ( the one depicting a fantastic and disparate medieval scene) kept me entertained for a long time, analysing the details.
    Here I suggest you settle in and give yourself all the time in the world to enjoy the delicacies this place has to offer. They also serve a beer tasting which, if you're a beer fanatic like me, you'll love to try. Once you've tried it you can then order the beer you liked the most (well it's just an idea, that's what I did and I recommend it).
    You should try the apple strudel that they serve here for dessert.... It's finger-licking good!! Then you'll have to walk for a while to digest it all.... How about a stroll along the Barborská Street promenade? At night it has a spectacular charm with the cathedral lit up... It's another dessert that I recommend!
    For reservations and more information click here.
    Opening Hours Monday - Thursday: 11:00 - 23:00 Friday - Saturday: 11:00 - 24:00 Sunday 11:00 - 23:00
    0.2 mi
    5 min
    Parking on the Ramparts
    22:005 min

    Parking on the Ramparts

    Parking
    Open Details
    Here is the location where I have suggested to leave the car.
    Thank you for choosing this route!
    I hope you have enjoyed it very much and I hope it makes you want to share it as I've done with you.
    Keep on travelling and enjoying! See you in the next route!
    53 mi
    1 hr 10 min
    23:30

    Prague

    Day 2
    Map preview
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