Itinerary: The town of glass Železný Brod - lunch at Kovárna restaurant, Frýdštejn, traditional Czech cuisine - Sychrov chateau - Příhrazské skály (rocks) - Drábské světničky (mediaeval castle)

We will pick you up from your hotel and a comfortable car will take you to the town of glass, Železný Brod. The journey will take one to one and a half hours. We will visit the local glass workshops in Železný Brod, and will see how wound beads, glass jewellery, glass stones, figurines and flowers are made by hand. We will visit a firm that makes traditional Czech decorative, gift and technical glass. Under the guidance of an expert assistant we will use a burner to try hand-crafting wound glass beads or the technique of blowing glass. In the oldest Czech glassmaking school we will take a look into the foundry to see the work of the master glassmakers. We will learn about the history and worldwide aspects of the art of glassmaking in the glass museum and gallery. In the workshops and the museum you can also purchase a wide range of glass products for very reasonable prices.

We then drive up past the ruins of Frýdštejn castle with beautiful views of Ještěd. The unusual building on the mountaintop is more reminiscent of a spaceship than a television transmitter and hotel. We will then enjoy some traditional Czech cuisine in the Kovárna designer restaurant at Frýdštejn.

We will visit Sychrov chateau, which is a national cultural monument and, thanks to its lavish chateau interior, is one of the most popular sights in the Czech Republic for visitors. Besides the period interior, we will see the largest collection of French portraits in Central Europe. We will walk through the extensive English park with its orangery, which surrounds the romantic chateau.

Rock towns are an inseparable part of the Bohemian Paradise. Due to its exceptional diversity the Bohemian Paradise was listed as a UNESCO European and world geopark in 2005. We will take a short walk together to Příhrazské skály. The forest trails will take us between the rocks, through the “Cold Passage” gorge as far as the remains of the mediaeval castle of Drábské světničky. Footbridges, steps and little bridges connect the individual chambers and rock blocks on which the castle used to stand. From here we will enjoy wonderful afternoon views of the countryside.

Departure time: Depart from Prague in the early morning (approx. 7:30, to be arranged)

Return time: Late afternoon (approx. 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.)

Duration of trip: 11 – 12 hours

Further information: You will be driven from your hotel in a modern eight-seater car. The journey to the region takes approx. 1 – 1.5 hours. 3 – 5 km terrain walks along the forest trails. The length of the walks can be adapted to suit you. All day you will be accompanied by a local English-speaking guide.