Happy TravellerWelcome to Plzeň, a vibrant city located in western Bohemia, Czech Republic. With a population of around 181,000 people, Plzeň is the fourth most populous city in the country. The city is world-renowned for its Pilsner beer, which was created by a Bavarian brewer named Josef Groll in 1842. But there is so much more to Plzeň than just beer. Let’s explore what this fascinating city has to offer.
Administratively, Plzeň is divided into ten boroughs, which are further subdivided into 25 administrative parts. Each part of the city has its own unique character and attractions, from the historic city center to the tranquil parks and gardens.
Plzeň is situated at the confluences of four rivers: Mže, Úhlava, Úslava, and Radbuza. From the confluence of the Mže and Radbuza, the river is known as the Berounka. The city lies mostly in the Plasy Uplands, with a small part of the municipal territory in the east and south extending into the Švihov Highlands. The highest point is the hill Chlum at 416 meters above sea level. The climate in Plzeň is cool and temperate, with low rainfall evenly spread over the year.
Plzeň has a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages. In 976, it was first mentioned as a castle and then became a town in 1295 when King Wenceslaus II granted Plzeň its civic charter as a Royal City. During the 14th century, it was the third-largest town in Bohemia after Prague and Kutná Hora. Plzeň played an important role in the Hussite Wars and was the center of Catholic resistance to the Hussites. The Trojan Chronicle, the first book published in Bohemia, was printed in Plzeň in 1468.
In the second half of the 19th century, Plzeň began to industrialize rapidly. The Škoda Works, which became the most important and influential engineering company in the country and a crucial supplier of arms to the Austro-Hungarian Army, was founded in 1869. Plzeň became an important trade center for Bohemia, near the Bavarian/German border. The growth of the local Czech
