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September 7th, 2008
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Cruising the Czech Republic

The perfect honeymoon spot is closer than you think

September 12th, 2007 issue

Photos courtesy of CzechTourism
The Šumava National Park in south Bohemia is a good place for camping.
Photos courtesy of CzechTourism
Bouzov in central Moravia is among many castles peppering the Czech countryside.
Photos courtesy of CzechTourism
Plzeň, west Bohemia, is a great place to start your honeymoon.
Photos courtesy of CzechTourism
Left to right: The Šumava National Park in south Bohemia is a good place for camping; Bouzov in central Moravia is among many castles peppering the Czech countryside; Plzeň, west Bohemia, is a great place to start your honeymoon and Valtice in
The champagne’s all gone. The DJ’s packed up. And the dance floor is empty. Your wedding’s over. Now it’s time for the real fun — the honeymoon.  
While Tuscany, Bora Bora and Tahiti may all sound like seductive choices, you really don’t have to leave the Czech Republic to have a fantastic — not to mention cheaper — time canoodling with the love of your life.
The countryside is full of cute pensions, rolling hillsides and fanciful little hamlets that provide just the type of cozy, secluded oasis craved by so many starry-eyed newlyweds.
So grab a map, hop in your car and check out some of the hidden beauties this country has on tap.
Máchův kraj
Máchův kraj, named after Czech poet Karel Hynek Mácha, lies just north of Prague and is considered one of the country’s most romantic areas. Doksy, a small town right in the heart of the region, is a great starting point for many hiking, biking and other outdoor sport activities and excursions.
Check into one of the many cozy hotels or pensions surrounding Máchovo Lake before enjoying a peaceful boat ride or a stroll around one of the area’s sandy shores.
A trip to the Gothic 13th-century castle of Bezděz, one of the oldest fortresses in the country, is an easy 7-kilometer (4.4-mile) hike from Doksy.
Also nearby is the much-toured Peklo national nature preserve. Don’t let its literal translation — hell — scare you off: This area offers beautiful hikes through a dazzling 40-kilometer-high canyon, where the meandering Robečský stream flows.
For the more adventurous, rent a bike and take a ride through the lovely Kokořínsko country side where you can stop and see two other fairy-tale castles, Houska and Kokořín.
Plzeň district
If you’re looking for a rollicking social scene, consider Plzeň, a west Bohemian university town known for its delicious brews and hopping nightlife circuit and cultural venues. This may seem very unromantic, but the area’s jamming personality could be just the sort of thing to shake off all the pre-wedding stress. For some extra flare, time your getaway to coincide with one of Plzeň’s annual music, theater or films festivals. Otherwise, grab a pint and check out the program sets offered at the Jezz Bar or Irish Zach’s pub. Equally as popular are J.K. Tyl Theater’s opera and jazz troupes.     
Don’t leave without feasting on such local delicacies as Pilsner Urquell goulash or juška, an old Bohemian soup specialty that is mixed with smoked meat and sauerkraut, which can be found at the Gothic-style restaurant Jíkalka.
A visit to Plzeň’s zoo and botanical gardens should also be high on your list as well as a whimsical spin down the Czech Republic’s longest go-kart tracks, built on a former military base.
Just outside Plzeň are plenty of breathtaking historical sites worth taking a look at, too, such as the famed Švihov “water castle” and Zbiroh Chateau, where Alfons Mucha lived for 18 years. Stop in at the nearby restaurant, U Rudolfa kratochvíle, where stylishly dressed waiters serve up typical Czech cuisine.
Jeseníky
Boasting the highest peaks in Moravia and a plethora of outdoor sporting activities, the awe-inspiring Jeseníky mountain range makes a fabulous year-round honeymoon spot. In addition to hiking, cycling and skiing, there is also an 800-meter (2,625-foot) bobsled trail in Petříkov that should not be missed. For those who simply can’t wait for the first snowfall, the Hynšice sports area organizes downhill “grass” skiing with specially modified skis or “grass” boards.
After a day of outdoor fun, hop into one of the many spas scattered in the towns around the base of Jeseníky — Velké Losiny and Jeseník are two popular ones — for a relaxing treatment.
Before leaving the area, stop by the Renaissance Chateau in Velké Losiny for a firsthand look at the torture devices used by witch hunters during the 17th century. Also here is the Museum of Paper, where you can purchase handmade sheets to start writing thank-you notes for all those wedding gifts.
South Bohemia
Believe it or not, there is more to south Bohemia than Český Krumlov.
The area was the center of the Hussite movement back in the 15th century, which was when religious rebels founded picturesque towns such as Tábor, known for its stunning landscape and architecture. Check out the local collections and exhibitions at the Hussite war craft museum here or enroll in a weekend swordplay course.
In Písek, take your sweetie for a moonlit jaunt across the oldest stone bridge in the Czech Republic. Built in the 13th century, this beautiful 111-meter expanse is not to be missed.  
Some call south Bohemia the epic center of the carp farming industry. You can stroll or bike alongside hundreds of centuries-old fish ponds or, if you are slightly more daring, jump in for a swim. It takes three hours to circle the largest pond here — Svět, or “the world” — by foot. And what could be more romantic than sleeping under the stars at a campsite close to Blanko Pond? Comfortable rooms and, for the adventurous, tee-pees are also available. Hela Balínová


Other articles in Weddings (12/09/2007):

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