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West-Bohemian Baroque Living History

www.zapadoceskebaroko.cz Klatovy Accessibility: 131 km from Prague

by train from Prague 2 h 18 min by bus from Prague 2 h 25 min by car from Prague 1 h 30 min

Target group: Pleasure seekers: families with children

Chateaux, monasteries and churches – the West-

Bohemian Region is brimming with splendid Baroque landmarks, which are very much alive. These unique local Baroque places are united every year in the Summer Baroque Festival, consisting of eight Baroque festivals and more than sixty accompanying events dedicated to the Baroque thinking and lifestyles. A Baroque Landscape at Every Step The typical Czech cultural landscape, said to be like a garden, has its origins in the Baroque. And it seems as if West Bohemia has preserved a light and jubilant Baroque spirit to this day. It is brought to life not only by carefully reconstructed monuments, but above all by events and festivals which try to contribute to understanding the Baroque view of the world. The Summer Baroque Festival is a never-ending chain of tours, concerts, exhibitions, tastings, fairs, theatres, equestrian exhibitions, dance performances, lectures, fire shows, masses, falconry and hunting demonstrations and, of course, baroque fireworks. The events are held in all major Baroque places and are designed to offer something to both children and adults. Festival-goers therefore discover landmarks not only as passive visitors, but also experience these Baroque buildings with authentic feeling. The central point of the entire festival is the pilgrimage site in Mariánská Týnice. The church, provostry and cloister are the work of probably the greatest Czech Baroque genius Jan Blažej Santini. It houses the Centre of Baroque, which connects all events and initiatives, and also offers a fascinating exhibition on Santini and his Creative World and other interesting permanent exhibitions – the History of Mariánská Týnice and the Marian Devotions, which also capture the story of the construction of the complex, an ethnography exhibition or the exhibit Life in the Town, where you will find yourself in a period shop, craft workshops, a household and a pub.

A Monastery on Water, a Pharmacy and Catacombs In this region, Santini also met Kilián Dientzenhofer, so that they could – individually – contribute to the construction of a monastery in Kladruby. Santini designed the stunning Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, St. Wolfgang and

Klatovy, Baroque pharmacy “At the White Unicorn”

St. Benedict crowned with a richly decorated central dome with a breath-taking interior and an ingeniously built altar space. Dientzenhofer designed the unique Convent. Another magnificent baroque jewel is the Manětín Chateau with the Church of St. John the Baptist, an extensive gallery of statues and a Chateau garden, where the popular Baroque Day is regularly held. In Klatovy, you can also enjoy the unique Baroque pharmacy “At the White Unicorn” with a special tour and a pharmacy exhibition with numerous curiosities and rarities, as well as a mysterious tour of the catacombs with mummified monks and the exhibition “Baroque Jesuit Klatovy”. Klášter Plasy is further proof of Santini’s genius. The monastery convent is built on five thousand oak poles driven into marshland in such a manner that it is still standing today. And the list of Baroque sights goes on – there is Nebílovy Chateau with a collection of the oldest CentralEuropean Baroque still life art, Přeštice with Dientzenhofer’s Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Nepomuk and the pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk designed by the same architect, etc. Baroque is everywhere you look.

City nearby: Plzeň – City of Beer The regional centre of the Baroque region is Plzeň. Its name is synonymous with the highest-quality and best-known Czech beer in the world. Don’t miss a tour of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery where the famed beer is born, or other beer attractions – the Brewery Museums and taprooms and restaurants. There is much more to Plzeň. You can visit four apartments with interiors designed by modernist architect Adolf Loos.

www.zapadoceskebaroko.cz Kladruby Monastery: www.klaster-kladruby.cz Manětín Chateau: www.zamek-manetin.cz Plasy Monastery: www.klaster-plasy.eu Baroque pharmacy “At the White Unicorn” in Klatovy: www.klatovy.cz/ klatovy/fr.asp?tab=snet&id=2155&burl= Plzeň: www.visitplzen.eu Plzeň region: www.turisturaj.cz