Ok, I know you'll hate me for this, but we really have to leave Prague.

To make the transition easier well go somewhere nearby - Karltejn Castle -, and with low budget. Karltejn is only 30 km away from Prague so all youll need is two liters of gas. Another way is by train (there's no bus service) - the one-way, second-class fare is 49Kc. It's a short, relaxing trip along the Berounka River. On the way you pass through Revnice, Martina Navrtilov's birthplace. Keep your eyes open for your first glimpse of the majestic castle. This Gothic castle is almost nine-hundred years old, and thoroughly well maintained; the perfect postcard image, in fact. The shorter Tour 1 costs 250Kc adults, 150Kc students, 20Kc children under 6. Tour 2 with the Holy Rood Chapel costs 300Kc adults, 200Kc students, free for children under 6. The castle is open Tuesday to Sunday: May, June, and September 9am to noon and 12:30 to 5pm; July and August 9am to noon and 12:30 to 6pm; April and October 9am to noon and 1 to 4pm; November, December, and March 9am to noon and 1 to 3pm; closed January and February. A Castle-Viewing Tip -- Karlstejn is probably best seen from a distance, so take time to browse in the stores, enjoy the fresh air, and sit out on one of the restaurant patios or down by the riverside. Buy a bottle of the locally grown Karlstejn wine, a vintage started by King Charles IV, and admire the view.

OK, now that we finally forgot Prague we can go to the next point of our expedition around the Czech Republic atec. atec is the centre of a fertile region, which is inherently linked with beer and hops. Beer has already been brewed in the town itself for hundreds of years and the highest quality hops is cultivated in the surrounding areas, this being exported to countries the world over. Being only 90 miles away - from Prague or Karlstejn - getting here will be quite easy. Once you arrived you will want to visit the Temple of Hops and Beer. During a tour of the Temple of Hops and Beer you will become familiarised in an entertaining manner with the whole of the hop-growing region. Uncover the secret of hop cultivation and brewing of great beer. Among other things, you will see with your own eyes a unique hop-growers astronomical clock and climb the temple tower in a special lift with 3D tour! The costs are 100 K for adults, 240 for families and 70 for seniors, students and disabled.

I know you have already sparked interest in Czech beer so the next 100 km to Pilsen will seem like an eternity to you. But once reached, you will be convinced that it all worthed. The Czechs created the worlds first pale lager and named it Pilsner. It was named after the city it comes from, and it is a great feeling to enjoy a Pilsner in Pilsen :-) Pilsner Urquell is one of the most popular exported Czech beers, and their brewery in Pilsen is a lot of fun to visit. Beer is not the only exciting thing about Pilsen. No other city in Europe can pride itself on: - The highest steeple in Central Europe (130m) on the Cathedral of Bartholomew - The second largest Synagogue in Europe, and the third largest in the world. - Their historical underground tunnels extending 20km under the city in several levels. They were once used as storage and a hideaway in times of danger, and can be visited by tourists.

Regarding the amount of cash that you will spend, I can tell you that a combined tour Pilsner Urquell Brewery + Brewery Museum will cost an adult 190 K and 110 for childrens over 6, students till age 26, seniors over 70 years. Ohh, you should also know that half-litre of Pilsner will cost you 50 K.

For our next stop, esk Krumlov, we will have to go 160-170 km - depends on where we leave Prague or Pilsen. esk Krumlov is built around a winding river and it has a quaint Old Town Square and a castle which is also worth a look around and a climb up the tower for some beautiful views on a sunny day. The State Castle of esk Krumlov, with its architectural standard, cultural tradition, and expanse, ranks among the most important historic sights in the central European region. Building development from the 14th to 19th centuries is well-preserved in the original groundplan layout, material structure, interior installation and architectural detail. For an Guided Tour in esk Krumlov Castle you will have to pay up to 600 Kc, if youll go for an Family tour with a foreign language commentary. For children and students the ticket is 160. The gypsy bar (Ciknsk Jzba) is NOT to be missed.

If you are staying in esk Krumlov for a few days, you should visit esk Budjovice (half an hour away) - home of the original Budweiser, this place is a small industrial city, but it has a pleasant centre and is well worth a daytrip. The Budvar Budweiser brewery is about 2km north of the historic centre of esk Budjovice along Prask ul, which was the old road to Prague. The tours begin in the visitors' centre which is the modern building of blue-tinted glass attached to the corner of the brewery complex. Tours can be arranged at any time for groups but for individual travellers 2pm is the only chance. The 50-60 minute guided tours of the brewery grounds and buildings are 50K in Czech and 100K in English, German, French or Russian. The brewery is open year round but closed on Sundays and Mondays in the low season.

Being aware of the high degree of hydration obtained after visiting the Budweiser Factory, we will make sure that the next stop is not that far away - an hour driving and get in Tel. Tel is one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic, and the facades of the houses that surround its main square must be some of the most photographed buildings in Moravia. The historic centre of Tel was added to the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage in 1992, thanks mainly to the chateau and beautifully preserved town square. Three large ponds surround the small historic centre and provide some beautiful reflections for photographers, as well as opportunities for boating or hiking along the shoreline paths. Only around 6000 people live in Tel, so it has a gentle pace and is a perfect place to relax and unwind. The Tel Chateau, at the northern end of the square, hides behind a tall stone wall but is accessible as part of a guided tour, with the 80 K tickets available in the gate tower. The tour begins in one of the graceful internal courtyards and continues through cellars, chapels, libraries and grand ballrooms with richly sculpted wooden ceilings. The most astounding room visited by the tour is the African Hall. Early twentieth century owners of the chateau, the LeichtensteinPodstatzk family were apparently avid hunters, as the hall contains dozens of wall-mounted trophy-busts. Crocodile, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, lion, leopard and buffalo hides all found their way to the hall between the years 1903 and 1914.

If you got this far is mandatory to see Chateau Vranov nad Dyj - The chateaus current appearance was imprinted on it by the imperial court architect Johann Bernhard Fischer from Erlach, the designer of Karlskirche in Vienna and the fountain on Zeln trh in Brno. During its heyday, the chateau was included in the ranks of other renowned aristocratic residences. Even the Austrian Emperor Charles VI rode here to visit the charming owner Maria Anna Marquis of Pignatelli, originally from Spain. We especially recommend that you

view the unique oval Hall of Ancestors of the Althann family with is wonderful Baroque fresco work. You can have a rest in the chateau gardens. After that, if you want to visit it, you have four kinds if circuits for whom youll pay from 20 to 80 Kc if youre an student.

Now, since we mentioned Brno earlier, this will be our next stop. The area above Brno is dominated by the magnificent Hrad Spilberk or Spielberg Castle, the history of which is fascinating. It is now also home to the Brno City Museum. You should also take the boat trip from Bystrc to the other end of Brno Lake and back. It's takes a couple of hours and if the weather is sunny you can get a decent tan in one day! Another not to be missed place is the Capuchins crypt. Capuchin monks have long been associated with Brno and they still have an impressive church here, as shown in the main picture. Interesting as it is, most visitors are probably more interested in the slightly ghoulish contents of the crypt beneath. Basically monks from the Order, along with others, were interred here and, because of a quirk of geology and airing, the bodies mummified rather than decomposing. Amongst the others mentioned was Baron Franz von der Trenck, an aristocratic prisoner from the nearby Spilberk Castle / prison, who endowed an alter there in his will.