Pilsen

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Center of Pilsen with the St. Bartholomew Cathedral
Center of Pilsen with the St. Bartholomew Cathedral

Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) [1] is in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic in Central Europe. It is home to the beer sort of Pilsener (or pilsner).

It is the 4th largest city in the country and the largest city in West Bohemia, being a convenient base for exploring this region of the Czech Republic.

[edit] Get in

From Prague, bus and train are the easy options of getting there. Trains leave from Prague's main train station (Praha - Hlavní nádraží ČD) on an hourly basis during daytime. Buses leave frequently from Prague's main bus station at Florenc or from the bus station at Zličín (Prague's Metro B end station). The trip takes approximately an hour and 40 minutes by both train and bus (about an hour from Zličín).

From Germany, Pilsen is easily accessible by train, being located on the Prague - Munich track.

The Pilsen's main train station (Plzeň - Hlavní nádraží ČD) as well as the main bus station (Plzeň - Centrální autobusové nádraží) are both located within walking distance of the very center of the city.

For information on schedules and rates, visit the official transport website [2].

[edit] Get around

To get around the compact city center, it is best to walk. To get around the whole city, the services of the public transport operator PMDP are recommened. The PMDP operate trams, buses and trolley-buses in Pilsen.

For information on lines, schedules and rates, visit the PMDP's official website [3].

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Sights

  • St. Bartholomew's Cathedral - the Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral was founded in the late 13th century, its tower (102.26 m / 335 ft) being the highest in the Czech Republic.
  • The Town Hall - this Renaissance masterwork was built in 1554-1559, based on the designs of an Italian architect, Giovanni de Statia.
  • Historical underground network - a sophisticated system of cellars and tunnels of up to three levels under the whole Old Town area. It is accessible from the house in the street Perlová 4.
  • The Great Synagogue - the second largest synagogue in Europe and third largest in the world (after synagogues in Jerusalem and Budapest).
  • The Pilsner Urquell brewery - founded in 1842, home to the Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsener.
  • Pilsen Zoo - home to over one thousand species of animals in natural conditions without bars.

[edit] Museums

  • West Bohemian Museum (Kopeckeho sady 2) - regular exhibitions
  • Ethnography Museum of the Pilsen Region (nam. Republiky 13) - regular exhibitions
  • Brewery Museum (Veleslavinova 6) - history of brewing in Pilsen

[edit] Galleries

  • Pilsen City Art Gallery (Dominikánská 2)
  • West Bohemian Art Gallery "Masné krámy" (Pražská 18)
  • Jiří Trnka Art Gallery (nám. Republiky 40)

[edit] Events

There are several events during the year that are even more suitable for visiting the city than others.

  • The Liberation Festival [4] - around May 6th, when the city of Pilsen was liberated from Nazi Germany by the George Patton's 3rd Army in 1945. The city is full of music and other culture.
  • The In The Streets Festival - generally in the first half of August. Small stages around the city center, a big stage on the Square of Republic. Music, theater and street performances.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Walk in the city parks, circumfusing the historical city center from two sides
  • Enjoy the view of the city and its surrounding from the church tower of the St. Bartholomew's Cathedral
  • Enjoy a drink of the Pilsner Urquell in the city that gave name to all the Pilseners of the world

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Potrefená Husa (Martinská 1) - a big restaurant, good selection of meals and drinks
  • Plzeňská bašta (Riegrova 5) - a stylish Czech restaurant, good meals
  • U Salzmannů (Pražská 8) - the oldest beer restaurant in Pilsen serving Czech traditional cuisine
  • Jadran (Bezručova 9) - both Czech and international (especially Mediterranean) cuisine
  • Slunečnice (Jungmannova 4) - healthy bio cuisine including vegetarian and vegan cuisine
  • Vegetka (Americká 13) – vegetarian dishes, vegetable salads and soups
  • Anděl Vegetarian Restaurant (Bezručova 5) - a creative and stylish vegetarian :)restaurant
  • La Tartelette (nám. Republiky 18) - French fast food (soups, salads, quiche ...)
  • Stará sladovna (Malá 3) - Middle-Age-style restaurant

A detailed list of places to eat and drink in Pilsen is available on the Pilsen's website [5].

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Cafés

  • Měšťanská beseda (Kopeckého sady 13) - a luxurious Art Noveau style café
  • CrossCafe (Jungmannova 5) - good coffee and some small stuff to eat (sandwiches, salads, yogurts ...)
  • Sky Bar Café (Anglické nábřeží 1) - coffee and something to eat as well
  • Kajetánka (Sedláčkova 2) - a winehouse
  • Anděl Café (Bezručova 7) - coffee and chocolate house with music
  • Kačaba (Prokopova 17) - café and teahouse employing people with disabilities as part of a therapy
  • Nebeská čajovna (Sady Pětatřicátníků 2) - a stylish New Age-like teahouse

[edit] Clubs

  • Zach’s Pub (Palackého nám. 2) - Irish pub with music club, regular music production
  • House of Blues (Černická 10) - regular live concerts, nice millieu
  • Buena Vista Club (Kollárova 20) - regular live music, movie projections, theater performances
  • Jazz Rock Café (Sedláčkova 18) - a place to chill, live music, groovy-jazzy-funky
  • Anděl Music Bar (Bezručova 7) - good music, projections

A detailed list of places to eat and drink in Pilsen is available on the Pilsen's website [6].

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

  • Ubytovna Zahradní, Zahradní 21 (Slovany neighborhood, southeast of city center), ☎ +420 377 443 262, [7]. budget.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

  • City, Sady 5. Května 52 (city center), ☎ +420 377 326 069. mid-range.  edit
  • Morrison, Thámova 9 (outer city center), ☎ +420 377 370 952, [9]. mid-range.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Parkhotel Plzeň, U Borského parku 31 (Bory neighborhood, south of city center), ☎ +420 378 772 977, [11]. splurge.  edit
  • Marriot, Sady 5. kvetna 57, ☎ +420 373 370 100, [14]. splurge.  edit

A detailed list of accommodation in Pilsen is available on the Pilsen's website [15].

[edit] Tourist information

There are two official tourist information offices in Pilsen. Start your visit of Pilsen by visiting them (choose the main one on the náměstí Republiky, if possible), finding out about the current events and collecting a free map of the city. Both offices are open daily from 9.00 to 18.00 (until 19.00 between April and September).

  • Informační centrum města Plzně (the main city tourist office), náměstí Republiky 41, 301 16 Plzeň (to the left of the Rennaisance city hall), ☎ +420 378 035 330 ().  edit
  • Informační centrum města Plzně Hlavní nádraží ČD (the smaller city tourist office), Nádražní 102, 301 10 Plzeň (at the main train station).  edit

[edit] Contact

You may find Internet connection in many hotels, so better ask at the reception first. In case of needing an Internet cafe, there are several options in Pilsen.

  • Aréna - Internet Cafe - Františkánská 10
  • Nico - Internet Cafe - Koperníkova 25

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
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