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- Destinations
- Europe
- Czech Republic
- Pilsen
Pilsen
In Tokyo you drink sake and in Moscow you drink vodka, but in
Pilsen (known locally as Plzen) you drink beer. This small town in
Bohemia claims to be the birthplace of beer, with a tradition going
back centuries. The town was founded in 1295 and granted coveted
brewing rights, spawning more than 200 microbreweries that
developed the famous Pilsner brewing methods that create some of
the best beer in the world even today. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery
offers tours, and is still Pilsen's main attraction.
Aside from its beer, Pilsen tends to be overlooked as a travel
destination, but visitors will enjoy exploring a variety of museums
dedicated to everything from ethnography and history to ghosts and
puppets. The town itself is pleasant to walk through and has some
beautiful buildings to see, including the 16th-century Town Hall,
the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, and the Great Synagogue.
Just as you'd expect in a town famous for its beer, Pilsen has a
lot to offer in restaurants and pubs. There are many places to try
local Czech cuisine, and bars serve coveted unfiltered beers, which
are considered far superior to the filtered exports.
Information & Facts
Language
Czech is the official language but English and German are
also widely spoken.
Money
The official currency is the Czech crown, locally known as the
Koruna (CZK), which is divided into 100 haler. Most credit cards
including American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are
accepted, but it is best to have cash handy when travelling away
from Prague and the main tourist centres. Travellers cheques and
foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
some hotels; commission is highest in hotels. Banks are closed on
weekends. ATMs (known as 'bankomats') are becoming more common in
Prague and are probably the best way to obtain local currency at a
good rate and without commission. The Czech Republic is still cheap
compared to the rest of Europe, though the gap is closing.
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last
Sunday in October).