Counting some 180,000 inhabitants, Pilsen, the Capitol of West Bohemia, is Czechia's fourth largest city. Its historical centre with a rectangular grid of streets encircles one of Europe's largest Gothic squares which of course is a Registered National Treasure. Pilsen's dominant is the St Bartholomew's Church with Czechia's tallest church spire (102 m.) Founded back in 1295, the settlement was established at the confluence of four rivers (Radbuza, Úhlava, Uslava, Mže) alongside an important merchant route to Germany. Even today, Pilsen is worth stopping on your way from Prague westwards. The historical core is not only spectacular on the surface, but some burgher houses in and around the square hide up to three storeys of underground cellars which have been interconnected to make up an amazing labyrinth. Architectural sights offer a chronicle of all architectonic styles Pilsen has seen, written in stone. The most exclusive sights' club includes the Renaissance Town Hall by the Italian architect Giovanno de Statia, the baroque archdeanery, the Franciscan Monastery with ambits and 40 houses with grafitti by Mikoláš Aleš on their fasades of which the Red Heart House next to the archdeaconry is most beautiful. The restored Great Synagogue is Europe's second largest. Pilsen has always been renowned for beer whose history is shown in the Brewing Museum. The break of the l9th and 20th centuries was an important milestone in Pilsen's history: the Škoda Engineering Works were established giving a strong impetus to private businesses, trade and buildup, as well as to social life, education and culture. Witnesses of that time are the Big Theatre, the West Bohemian Museum and the Jewish synagogue. The typical industrial city of last few decades is now resuming its old beauty through the restorations of historical buildings, thus becoming more attractive for Czech and foreign visitors.

The West-Bohemian Museum

The Gothic St Bartholomew's Church of Pilsen with Bohemia's highest church spire

Fridrich Smetana Street with St Ann's Church and the Scientist's Library

A view of the historical city centre with a system of perpendicular streets around the Large Square with the st Bartholomew's Church