During Christmas 2015 I started to plan my 2016 Himalayas trek. I have already visited the Annapurna area and this time I wanted to visit a different place. My first idea was the Langtang trek, but I was recommended to visit Everest area because of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal (which left the Langtang area completely destroyed).
The Moravian Karst, located in the north of South Moravia, is one of the most beautiful and famous karst regions in Czech Republic. With beautiful nature, numerous archaeological and paleontological findings and various cultural monuments, it was declared a protected landscape area in 1956. It has the widest range of karst phenomena in our country and over 1000 caves here, five of which them are open to public.
On the right bank of Thaya river, few kilometres East from the beautiful Mikulov city, you can find a stunning example of architecture, nature and history weaving together to impress the present: Lednice–Valtice Area.
Bratislava, the city above the Danube river, has more than one thousand years of history and a majestic castle. The picturesque city center invites everyone to discover its secrets and enjoy all the little adventures it has to offer. Quick pace of the modern world is just a few streets away replaced by a nostalgic calm and quiet, reminder of all the history that happened in the narrow and crooked streets of the “Old City”.
In the middle on Haná region, on the confluence of Morava and Bystřička rivers lies the city of Olomouc, where rich history and modern ambition goes hand in hand. Situated in the middle of Moravia, Olomouc became one of the centres of the region, with its culture, art and history fascinating thousands of tourists each year. Its beautiful baroque architecture was awarded a place in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The city of Pilsen (Plzeň) with its 170 thousand inhabitants is the fourth biggest city in Czech Republic. Mentioned in the written records for the first time at the end of 10th century, it a place where great gastronomy, quality high education and culture meet. In 2015 Pilsen became the European capital of culture.
Since 2001, the city of Vienna has proudly held the distinction of having its historic center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Austria's capital, with a total population exceeding 1.8 million, is one of the most visited metropolises in the world. In 2016, it ranked 18th on the global list of most visited cities. For the eighth consecutive year, it has also dominated the top position in the list of the best cities according to quality of life.
Český Krumlov, a picturesque town in the south of Bohemia, stands out thanks to its architecture and stunning natural surroundings. It is one of the most visited places in Czech Republic and its beauty is recognized also internationally. In 2008 the survey of the prestigious National Geographic magazine it ranked 16th among the most beautiful places in the world. The center of Český Krumlov has been included in UNESCO World Heritage list since 1992.
Karlovy Vary (or Carlsbad) a unique city on the confluence of the Ohře and Teplá rivers is famous for its International Film Festival and long-time spa tradition. Visitors come to Karlovy vary to enjoy relaxing spa treatments, admire opulent architecture and taste traditional and modern gastronomy. In a city of less than 50 thousand inhabitants, almost every second property belongs to the inhabitants of Russia or former USSR countries.
With its location about 18 km from the Austrian border, Mikulov is the perfect city to start if you want to explore South Moravia and Lower Austria regions. Surrounding hills give you and the city’s over 7 thousand inhabitants many great opportunities for hiking and other recreational activities in the nature.
