The Pilsen Region – the best place for life It spreads across the south-west part of the Czech Republic bordering the Federal Republic of Germany, Bavaria in the south-west. Its location is very favourable, as it is situated at the crossroads between the Czech capital, Prague, and Western European countries. The area of 7 561 km2 ranks the Region the third largest, while the population places the Region ninth in the CR. The Region comprises seven Districts: Domažlice, Klatovy, Plzeň-město, Plzeň-jih, Plzeň-sever, Rokycany, and Tachov. High-quality childcare, high-level education, low rate of unemployment or a great number of various social events are just a few reasons why the Pilsen Region has been declared the best place for life in the Czech Republic for a second time. The centre of the Region is the city of Pilsen, an economic, cultural and social metropolis of Western Bohemia. Pilsen is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic with a population of 167,000. It is the seat of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and the bishopric. The historical centre of Pilsen founded in 1295 by the Czech King Václav II (Wenceslas II) at a junction of four rivers was declared a city conservation reserve thanks to the large number of preserved landmarks. The city gained its worldwide fame primarily thanks to the production of the beer brand Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) and currently, it has become the European Capital of Culture 2015. A significant part of the territory of the Pilsen Region is covered by forested mountain ranges, the most important of which are the Šumava (Bohemian Forest) in the south, Český les in the south-west and Brdy in the east. The countryside is enriched by numerous water areas such as Hracholusky Dam, Bolevec Ponds and others. It offers ideal conditions for hiking, cycling, winter sports, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and golf.