Plzeňsko – příroda, historie, život – Dudák Vladislav (2008)

We will set off to a region with a rich history dating back to the beginnings of Czech statehood. We will admire Gothic castles, Baroque temples, and monasteries. We will get acquainted with the rich folk culture, as well as the extraordinary tradition of crafts and exceptional industry. We will enter deep and dramatic river valleys or vast pine forests, and visit significant natural monuments. Many who live elsewhere still do not know what is obvious to the locals: the Plzeň region, with its vibrant and culturally rich metropolis of Plzeň, is no longer an area that is mainly just passed through, and its towns and villages are no longer gray and crumbling settlements. For forty years, Plzeňsko suffered from its location in western Bohemia, but now it is leveraging its geographical conditions to its advantage. What is characteristic of the present is the significant increase in the activity of the residents—both enthusiasts and professionals—thanks to which a number of new museums have been established, and new monuments have been restored and made accessible. Overall beautification and improvement of living conditions are creating a place where it is pleasant to live. It is almost unbelievable how Plzeň, so close to the powerful gravity of Prague, has managed to maintain its original uniqueness over the centuries. It draws from a deep historical tradition,…