Plzen Travel Guide, Czech Republic

Plzen Travel Guide – The Most Prosperous City

This Plzen travel guide will give you an insight of the fascinating Czech city which is known as the capital of West Bohemia. Plzen is the fourth largest city in the country, with a population of 165.000, and its historical centre is the perfect place to go sightseeing or enjoy a café on one of the many terraces. It is located just 90 kilometers away from the country’s capital Prague and 145 kilometers away from Salzburg, Austria. Recently the city has experienced high economic and cultural growth and it is one of the candidates for the 2015 Cultural Capital of Europe. Many foreign investments have been made and this is visible in the living standards and modern architecture which perfectly combine with the 700 years of history visible throughout the city. Plzen is considered the most prosperous city in the Czech Republic and it provides two thirds of the Plzen Region GDP.

Plzen Travel Guide – Economy and Transportation

Plzen is the centre of all academic and cultural life in West Bohemia, which is visible through its University of West Bohemia, famous for its law and medicine schools. Economically, the famous Skoda Company was established here in 1859 but in the present day, all production has been directed to the Eastern bloc, although discussions are held to reopen the factories located in Plzen. Out of the many foreign companies, which have manufacturing bases in the city, the most important are Panasonic and Daikin. The transportation system also places Plzen among the best developed cities in the country, as its tram and bus network covers the entire Metropolitan area and new prototypes of trams made by Skoda are constantly being tested. Plzen is also an important railway crossing, where five of the main railway tracks in the Czech Republic intersect.

Plzen Travel Guide – The City of Breweries

The development of the city perfectly combines modern and historical elements, and the people form Plzen are very proud of their heritage, as it shows two recent centuries of high prosperity. This is visible mostly in the historical centre, which is dominated by the impressive Gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, whose slim tower is the highest in all the Czech Republic. Another recommendation made by almost every Plzen travel guide is the Renaissance building of the City Hall and the Moorish Revival Great Synagogue, which is the second largest of its kind in Europe. The city has also opened part of its underground tunnel system for public visitation, so you’ll be able to see 750 meters of one of the largest cellar network in Central Europe. Another world renowned brands are its breweries, Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus.