| Western Bohemia | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Czech Republic |
|---|---|
Western Bohemia is a historical region of the Czech Republic.
To know
Background
Due to its geographic location, bordering Franconia, Saxony and Bavaria, the region has suffered from the influence and the Czech Republic has had a lot of German and Austro-Hungarian influence. After the Second World War, most of the German-speaking inhabitants were expelled and the "Iron Curtain" made cross-border connections difficult, although formally Czechoslovakia and the GDR ("East Germany") were called "socialist brother countries." ".
With the end of the Cold War and the entry of the Czech Republic into the European Union in 2004, this region has become much more accessible from the west and tourism has benefited.
Among the most important cities are those that form the West Bohemian Spa Triangle: Františkovy Lázně, Karlovy Vary is Mariánské Lázně. These cities represented important spas for aristocrats and wealthy people in the 19th century and during the "Belle Epoque". At the end of the First World War, with the decline of a large part of the European aristocracy, the newborn state of Czechoslovakia tried in vain to avoid the decline of spa tourism. Even worse was the effect of the Second World War, during which the region was annexed by the Germany Nazi with the infamous Munich Agreement of 1938 and bombed by American air raids.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Cheb (Eger) - Historic city of West Bohemia of about 35,000 inhabitants near the border line with Germany, originally a Slavic settlement but has a long Germanic history. Includes an old castle.
- Domažlice
- Františkovy Lázně ((DE) Franzensbad) - A historic resort used as a wellness center. Its German name means 'Bagno di Francesco'; in fact the city was officially founded in the year 1793 and so named in the name of the emperor Francesco II of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) - A historic resort used as a thermal wellness center in fact also owes its tourist fortunes to the numerous thermal springs in the surroundings.
- Klatovy
- Loket
- Mariánské Lázně ((DE) Marienbad) - A historic spa used as a wellness center between green hills and remarkable buildings from the second half of the 19th century. Its German name means 'Baths of Mary'.
- Plzeň ((DE) Pilsen) - Fourth city of the Czech Republic by number of inhabitants, Plzeň it is famous for its gothic cathedral dedicated to San Bartolomeo. It is also a famous industrial city and where beer originates Pilsner.
How to get
By plane
The airport of Karlovy Vary has mainly seasonal charter connections from Russia; for scheduled connections it is advisable to consider the airport of Prague. For the westernmost part of the region, bordering the Germany, you can also consider the airport of Nuremberg.
On the train
Important railway junctions are Karlovy Vary is Plzeň.
