Beroun, Czech Republic. Beroun, Czech Republic Prague and Pilsen Gates

Beroun is a small, cozy provincial town with Czech flavor and typical modern buildings. However, the historical part remained untouched. It was granted city status by Charles IV in the 13th century. A notable attraction is the brewery “Berounskiy Medved”.

In the Central Bohemian Region (Středočeský kraj), between Prague and Pilsen, at the confluence of the Berounka and Litavka rivers stands the city of Beroun. 30 km - and you are in Prague, 75 km - in Pilsen. Now many people prefer to work in a big city and live outside it. Therefore, Beroun is becoming a popular place of residence among Prague residents.

Beroun is located among the hills, on the border of the Křivoklátsko and Český kras nature reserves. It is believed that Beroun received his name in honor of the Italian Verona.

City `s history

The settlement on the banks of the Berounka River existed until the 13th century. The first documentary mention of Beroun dates back to 1265. During the reign of Charles IV, Beroun reached its peak. It was famous at that time for its artisans. Far beyond the city limits, Berounian potters and textile workers, winemakers and brewers were famous. Rich townspeople lived here, most families were of German origin. The pottery made by Berounian craftsmen is known to this day - ceramics fairs are held in the city every year.

Under Wenceslas II, the city, which by that time was surrounded by fortress walls, was fortified.

In the 19th century, limestone mining began in Beroun, and the steel and textile industries began to develop. During the communist regime, factories appeared: iron rolling, metallurgical, cement. The Berounsky station and panel microdistricts were built. But, unfortunately, as a result of this, many monuments were demolished.

Sights of Beroun

Pilsen Gate

Prague Gate

Church of St. Jacob

Medvedarium

observation tower

Brewer Berounsky Bear

Jan Hus Square

Today, the old part of the city is surrounded by the ruins of the fortress wall. The historical core of Beroun is formed by Husovo náměstí, several streets and two ancient twin towers. The towers were part of the city wall. They were called the Prague Gate (Pražská brána) and the Pilsen Gate (Plzeňská brána), the road from Prague to Pilsen passed through them. The beauty of the Prague Gate is in its simplicity. The Pilsen Gate, on the contrary, looks majestic, it is higher, it has an observation deck and a clock.

Town Hall

On Husova Square there is the Town Hall (Radnice v Berouně). After reconstruction in 1903, this building was included in the register of monuments of Czech culture. In 1998, the building was restored. During the work, the stucco decorations of the facade and sculptures by William Amorth were recreated, and a modern wing was added. The Town Hall had to be repaired again - after 2002. Then the flood damaged many buildings of the old center.

Church of St. Jacob

The dominant feature of Husova Square is the Renaissance Church of St. Jacob (Kostel sv. Jakuba) (XIII century). Some of the paintings in the church are the work of students of the Dutch artist Anton van Dyck. Beroun's sister city, Rijswijk, donated an organ to the temple.

Renaissance and Baroque houses

Museum of the Czech Republic (photo by Daniil Kotofeev)

There are still several Renaissance and Baroque houses preserved on the square. Jenstein's house houses the Museum of the Czech Republic (Muzeum Českého krasu), which displays rock samples from the area around Beroun.

Medvedarium

Medvedarium, photo by Bart de Bruijn

Today's favorite tourist attraction in Beroun is the Medvědárium. It is located on the slope of Grandfather Hill, not far from the observation tower. Three bears live in the Medvedarium. They were brought from Cesky Krumlov. The animals lived in the Krumlov Zoo and starred in a series of television programs as cubs. Now the bears Kuba, Vojta and Matej are nine years old. They are a city symbol and serve as a living emblem of the Berounsky Bears hockey club.

observation tower

The tower was built in 1939. Its height is 15 m. Given the height of the hill, observers rise almost 300 m to look at Beroun and its surroundings.

Brewer “Berounsky Bear”

Beroun, photo by Edvard Kožušník

Beroun is surrounded by picturesque forests and hills. The surrounding area of ​​the city attracts water sports enthusiasts, bikers, and rock climbers. Several important hiking trails start from here.

Křivoklát Hotels with discounts here

For another. Then you will be able to discover completely different facets of this country, understanding more deeply the life, foundations, and mentality of those people who live here. In your itinerary around the Czech Republic, be sure to include the city of Beroun, which will captivate you with its comfort and special atmosphere.

Features of the town

Beroun is primarily known for the fact that in 2009 it won the “Historic City of the Year” award. This was facilitated by the good preservation of the architectural heritage and restoration work on antiquities.

The city is located 30 km from, at the confluence of the Litavka and Berounka rivers, and is often a transit point on the way to such attractions as the fortresses, Tochnik, Zhebrak,. The population here does not exceed 19 thousand, and the total area of ​​the urban area is 31.3 square meters. km.

Attractions

Beroun does not lose ground compared to other cities in the Czech Republic: among its attractions there are truly interesting and entertaining places where both a noisy group and a married couple can go. So, what should a tourist visit first:

1. Gusovaya Square. This is the historical part of the city, which has preserved medieval architecture in the Baroque and Renaissance styles. Here you can also see the ruins of the former fortress wall and the restored twin towers, also known as the Pilsen Gate, which were once part of it.
2. The building underwent a large-scale restoration in 1903. The building is included in the list of monuments of Czech culture. The stucco molding on the façade and the statues decorating it are the work of sculptor William Amorth.
3. Church of St. Jacob. This building is built in the Renaissance architectural style of the 13th century. Here you can look at the original paintings of the Dutch artist Anton van Dyck and listen to the sound of the organ.
4. Medvedarium. One of the most favorite places among tourists. This is a spacious enclosure inhabited by three bears. They are also an unspoken symbol of the city.
5. Brewery "Berounsky Bear". Like any self-respecting town in the Czech Republic, Beroun has its own beer producer. The place is very colorful, and the delicious drink here is brewed according to ancient traditions - over wood.

Hotels

Despite its modest size, tourists will not be left without a roof over their heads in Beroun. Here you can find various options: from a cheap single room for the night to a comfortable room with a pretense of chic. The following have good reviews: Hotel Grand Litava Beroun, Hotel Alex, Family hotel Maxim.

Restaurants

In Beroun, not a single tourist will go hungry. In addition to the same “Berounsky Bear”, where you can enjoy the taste of the culinary delights of the Czech Republic, you can enjoy hearty food in such establishments as Blackdog Bar & Grill, Istra Restaurant, Koza Roza Restaurant, Restaurant & Pizzeria Carino.

How to get to Beroun?

From Beroun there are regular trains from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi and Praha-Smichov stations. In addition, bus services depart from Zličin and Nové Butovíce stations.

Why go

The town of Beroun can serve not only as a transfer point from Prague or Karlštejn to Křivoklát or Rakovník. It is interesting, for example, because in 2009 it received the Czech “Historic City of the Year” award for the good preservation and restoration of ancient monuments.There is a well-preserved historical center with a large rectangular medieval square and a Gothic church, and the outstanding Museum of the Czech Karst. Particularly valuable are the medieval defense system of the city, its walls and gates. The city suffered greatly from the 2002 flood, but after that it was remarkably restored.Beroun is famous for several festivals, two of which are very popular: the autumn ceramics fair and the Beroun Taliha classical music festival.

Beroun is a popular tourist town. From here it is convenient to travel to the famous royal fortresses of Karlstejn, Křivoklát, Točnik, Žebrak. It is very interesting to visit neighboring Tetin: there are the ruins of the fortress of the first Czech princess Lyudmila, a baroque castle, and the remains of a Slavic settlement. Near Beroun are the remains of the most famous Celtic settlement, and at Nizbor Castle you can get information about Celtic culture. Very close to the city are the baroque castles of Hořovice and Karlów Dvur. Above the Lodenice River in the village of Sveti Jan pod Skalou there is a Benedictine monastery with the Church of St. John the Baptist. The first hiking trail in the Czech Republic (one of those created in the 19th century by the Czech Hiking Club) also runs there.

The nature of Central Bohemia is also unique. This is a picturesque hilly area with river valleys and shallow canyons, and sometimes high cliffs, marked by hailstones standing on them. Near Beroun there are the Bohemian Karst and Křivoklátsko nature conservation areas. From Beroun it is convenient to visit the Koneprus Caves - the largest cave complex in the Czech Republic.Lovers of outdoor recreation will be attracted by the campsites located along Berounka. The river is used for rafting throughout the year. Several cycling routes start from Beroun: to Tetin, Karlštejn, Jan pod Skalou, Nizbor, Karluv Dvur and other places.

Safety

Like all Czech cities, Beroun is quite safe.

Money and currency exchange

In the city center on Gusovaya Square there are several ATMs that operate 24 hours a day. Currency exchange - V Pražské bráně 74/2, 266 01 Beroun-Centrum (see map) http://www.firmy.cz/detail/2214327-n-59-beroun-centrum.html

Internet

The Internet can be used at the Tourist Information Center, in hotels, restaurants, and cafes.

Urban transport

Beroun's urban transport consists of three bus lines that connect two cities: Beroun and Králův Dvůr. On the city website in the section Autobusova doprava you will find three links, and on them - the route of each bus line in PDF format: http://www.mesto-beroun.cz/obcan/doprava/

Cars

Bicycles

Bicycles for rent:

http://www.cyklopujcovna.cz/?q=cs/taxonomy/term/7

How to get to and from Beroun

Beroun is an important transport hub. Several railway lines intersect here (Prague - Pilsen - Cheb and further to Germany, Prague - Beroun - Rakovnik, Prague - Beroun - Pribram). Central Bohemia has a dense network of roads. The D5 motorway provides easy access to Vaclav Havel Airport (Ruzine). It also connects Prague with Germany through Pilsen. The city is crossed by the highway 605 Prague - Beroun - Žebrak - Pilsen; 118 Slany - Kladno - Beroun - Zdice - Pribram; 116 Lany - Beroun - Rzewnice - Mniszek pod Brody - Nowy Klin.

Air

Nearest airport Prague-Vaclav Havel: http://www.prg.aero/ru/

Trains

There are two railway stations in Beroun: Beroun and Beroun-Závodí. The main line Prague - Pilsen - Cheb, Beroun - Pribram, Prague - Ceske Budejovice passes through the Beroun station. Trains to Rakovnik go through the Beroun and Beroun-Závodí stations.

Buses

The bus service from and to Beroun is very busy. There are many small towns and villages in the area that can be reached by bus. The most important thing is the Prague direction. In Prague, buses arrive at the Zličin and Nové Butovíce bus stations. Buses run very often, travel time is about 30 minutes.

Beroun Train Station ( Vlaková stanice Beroun) is a simple reinforced concrete building, quite spacious, where there is everything necessary for passengers: a spacious waiting room, ticket offices, information stands, lockers, grocery stores and toilets.

The Infocentrum is located in the central square of the city, to the right of the town hall. At the information center you can get free information about the history of the city, tourist attractions, cultural events and accommodation in Beroun.

A small town with a population of about 18 thousand people is located at the confluence of the Berounka and Litavka rivers, 30 km southwest of Prague. It is curious that the city, which was an important trading point in the Middle Ages, received its name in honor of the Italian Verona.

Nowadays, Beroun has turned into a provincial town with typical modern buildings, but the historical core of the city has remained untouched. Since Beroun is an important railway junction on the way to the castles of Karlštejn and Křivoklát, you can plan more time between transfers to explore the medieval buildings near the main square, located on an area of ​​1 sq. m. km. Don't miss the chance to admire Beroun's pride - the Medvedarium, where three clumsy bears permanently reside.

For those who decide to stay longer in Beroun, we recommend taking a one-and-a-half-hour walk to the 492-meter-high Grandfather Hill, which offers a fabulous view of the natural beauty of the Central Bohemian region.

All city attractions - the Baroque town hall, the main church and the city gates - are located near the central Gusovaya Square. In the center of the rectangular square there is a small square, along the perimeter of which there are benches. Here you can relax pleasantly, enjoying the murmur of the fountain and admiring the leisurely flow of city life.

It is located in the western part of Husova Square near the Pilsen Gate and has been a national architectural monument since 1958.

The original Gothic-style building was erected in the 13th century, at the same time as the first town houses, and was surrounded by the town cemetery until the 16th century.

Today the church appears to visitors in Baroque splendor; its interior dates back to the 18th century. Some paintings were made by students of the outstanding Dutch painter Anton van Dyck. In addition, already in the 20th century, the Dutch sister city of Beroun, Rijswijk, donated an organ to the church.

In front of the church in 1680, a column was erected in memory of 341 city residents exterminated during the plague epidemic. It is noteworthy that at that time this was half the population of Beroun.

A bell tower was attached to the church, on which in 2000 the personal bells were placed: Vaclav, Wojtek, Anezka and Ludmila.

Prague and Pilsen Gates

On opposite sides of Gusovaya Square, 300 meters from each other, there are twin towers that border the city's historical center. Once upon a time, the road from Prague to Pilsen passed through Beroun, and the towers served as the city gate. Today, the arched passage at both gates serves as a pedestrian path. On the inside, the gate is decorated with paintings and an impressive clock with gilded hands.

At the top of the western Pilsen Gate (Plzeňská brána) until 1972 there was a caretaker's apartment, which now houses an exhibition about the history of the city. A photo gallery is located in the premises of the eastern Prague Gate (Pražská brána).

Gate opening hours:

• March-November
• Wednesday and Saturday: 9:00-12:00

The observation tower, about 14 meters high, is located in a wooded park on a 290-meter hill. The structure with an open observation deck was built in 1939 and reconstructed in 1999. Since then, it has been a favorite place for family vacations for city residents.

Those who climb the tower are treated to a unique panorama of Beroun and the surrounding settlements. Behind the small historical part of the city surrounding Gusova Square, you can see multi-storey blocks of industrial areas and cottage buildings of bedrooms, and then plains and hills stretch to the horizon.

Don't forget that 5 km from the main station of Beroun there is an observation tower on Ded Hill, which is reached by a picturesque walking route. The 12-meter tower was built in 1893 as an observatory and today is a tourist destination. Unfortunately, the view is somewhat difficult due to the trees, however, if you go a little further, you can reach a second, unobstructed observation point.

Near the observation tower, a 10-minute walk from Husova Square and 15 minutes from the main station, is the main attraction of Beroun - the enclosure of the three bears (Medvědárium).

Jakub, Vojta and Matej were born in January 2000 at the Cesky Krumlov Zoo and have starred in children's programs since childhood. After a dizzying television career, the cubs moved to Beroun and became the living embodiment of the symbol of the city, because the bear is depicted on the Beroun flag.

Similar to Berne, Switzerland, which is also home to the famous Bear Pit, the Beroun enclosure features two swimming pools, a climbing slide and spacious private sleeping quarters for each resident.

Residents of Beroun are happy to bring their children to the Medvedarium, as there is a children's playground and a tent with sweets.

Ticket price to Medvedarium: free

Medvedarium opening hours

• Monday-Sunday: 10:00-17:00

Transport in the city

Bus

Four city bus lines A, B, C and H are operated by PROBO BUS. A single transport network covers Beroun and the neighboring town of Kraluv Dvur. Route A goes in the direction “Kralów Dvur, Popovice – Beroun, hospital”, B – “Kralów Dvur – Beroun – Hiskov – Nizbor – Zlukoviche”, C – “Beroun, Jarov – Beroun, main station – Zdejcina village”, H – “ Bus station Beroun – Beroun, Hostim.” The price of one trip is 9 CZK. You can also use a card with a chip.

In addition, suburban buses of category C (C11-C27) depart from the bus station.

Railway

There are 2 railway stations in the city - the main station and Beroun-Zavody. The first station is located on the line connecting Prague and Pilsen; numerous tourists travel along it to Pribram and Rakovnik. International trains to the German cities of Regensburg, Nuremberg and Munich also stop at Beroun. Regional trains on line S6 to Prague and Rakovník stop at the second station. It can be used by those who want to get to Karlštejn Castle.

conclusions

Small Beroun, which has retained the charm of its historical medieval center, is perfect for a Sunday outing from Prague. And although it is unlikely that you will be able to stay there for more than one day, Beroun can be an interesting addition to the impressions of a trip to Karlštejn Castle. If the weather is favorable, be sure to visit one of the observation towers described above - the mesmerizing, discreet beauty of the Central Bohemian region is especially close to the Russian soul.

Koněprusske Caves is the largest cave complex in the Czech Republic. It is located in Central Bohemia, near the castles of Křivoklát and Karlštejn. This place was discovered by scientists in 1950, and opened to the public in 1959.

The Koneprus caves were formed by limestone rocks of the Devonian period about 400 million years ago. The caves are located on three levels, and the height between levels is about 70 meters. The length of the cave complex is 2 kilometers.

A route of about 600 m long is available for tourist inspection. Here you can see unusual stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the famous “Koneprussian roses” - beautiful growths on the ceiling, reminiscent of these flowers. The remains of ancient people and animals were found in the cave, as well as a secret counterfeiting laboratory located on the upper level in the 15th century.

Dobříš Castle

Dobříš Castle is located in the central part of the Czech Republic, 35 kilometers from Prague. Dobříš is an excellent example of French architecture, made in the Rococo style.

The first mention of Dobříš Castle dates back to the middle of the 13th century, but at that time it was a royal village associated with the name of Wenceslas I. The fully formed castle was built under Charles IV and Wenceslas IV - descendants of Wenceslas I. During numerous reconstructions, the castle changed its design style from Gothic to Renaissance. History has not been kind to the castle, and it has experienced several unpleasant moments - such as the act of plunder during the Hussite wars.

Now Dobříš is open to tourists - excursions are held here, during which visitors admire various luxurious collections. An interesting fact is that the castle was used for filming such films as “Shanghai Knights” with Jackie Chan and “From Hell” with Johnny Depp.

The most popular attractions in Beroun with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Beroun on our website.