The town of Plzeň (Pilsen), which holds the title of European Capital of Culture 2015, is definitely worth a visit. We came here for the historical sights, culture and entertainment. In the following lines, we will gladly introduce you to the most interesting attractions, which are located mainly around the Republic Square —so all you need is a pair of comfortable shoes and a good mood.

 

Saint Bartholomew's Cathedral

The Gothic cathedral and its slender tower are the main landmarks of the town. You can always easily orient yourself by it. At 102 meters, the cathedral's tower is the tallest church tower in the Czech Republic and attracts visitors with its viewing gallery at a height of 56 meters. Inside the cathedral, you can find the precious Gothic statue of the Pilsen Madonna, which some speculate may have been created by none other than Petr Parléř himself, the famous builder of Charles Bridge in Prague. Also worth mentioning is the Art Nouveau Czech Altar, originally created for the 1900 World's Fair in Paris.

The cathedral is open to the public daily, including access to the tower for a fee (except in unfavourable weather conditions).

Address: náměstí Republiky, Plzeň

In front of the cathedral, metallic hands mysteriously emerge from underground—as if trying to escape or perhaps grasp something. This unexpected sculpture, discovered beneath one of the stone blocks, remains an enigma: no one knows its author or true meaning. Architects can only speculate whether it is connected to the nearby little angel called Ošahánek (“frequently touched“), which dozens of people touch affectionately every day. (A friend gave me this amazing photo, and I’m so grateful to her for letting me share it with you.)

 

Republic Square

The spacious main square is one of the largest in the Czech Republic. To this day, you can visit traditional farmers' markets and Christmas markets here. In addition to the cathedral, there are other architectural gems to see here.

We visited the Renaissance Town Hall decorated with sgraffito, which is one of the most valuable buildings in the town. In its entrance hall, which is open to the public, there is a model of the historic centre of Plzeň, and occasional exhibitions are also held there.

Right next to the town hall stands another building that beautifies the square, the Emperor's House, which once served as the temporary residence of Emperor Rudolf II, who established his secondary residence in Plzeň. Today, it houses the Tourist Information Centre.

Address: náměstí Republiky 41, Plzeň

Opposite the Emperor's House stands a Baroque Plague Column with a gilded replica of the Madonna of Plzeň. The column represents an expression of gratitude for the town being spared from the plague in 1680.

 

Puppet Museum

At the other end of the square, you will find the Puppet Museum, which is connected not only to the work of famous puppet-making families but also to the creations of Jiří Trnka. Of course, the museum also features Spejbl and Hurvínek, the two most famous Czech puppets, which were born right here in Plzeň.

The second floor showcases the contemporary professional puppet Theatre Alfa. Here, we revisited our childhood years and tried out different puppet manipulation techniques. The very friendly staff demonstrated and explained everything to us.

Address: náměstí Republiky 23, Plzeň

 

Great Synagogue

This building in the Moorish-Romanesque style is the largest synagogue in the Czech Republic and the second largest in Europe (right after the one in Budapest). The synagogue survived World War II without major damage, likely because Germans lived in the surrounding apartment buildings at the time. During the war, it was also used as a tailor’s workshop for German military uniforms.

Today, this temple not only serves its original purpose but, thanks to its beautiful interior and excellent acoustics, also functions as an exhibition and concert hall. You can easily reach the synagogue from Republic Square via Prešovská Street.

Address: sady Pětatřicátníků 11, Plzeň

 

Garden Circuit

Right next to the Great Synagogue begins the Garden Circuit, which was created here after the demolition of the town walls. We enjoyed the sunny weather with a leisurely walk under tall trees, surrounded by flower beds and grand buildings.

Among other things, you can find here the J. K. Tyl Theatre (Smetana Gardens), the Měšťanská Beseda (Kopecký Gardens), the West Bohemian Museum (Kopecký Gardens), and even a statue of Spejbl and Hurvínek, a reminder that between the world wars, their creator Josef Skupa lived and worked here (Šafařík Gardens).

 

West Bohemian Museum

In the main building of the West Bohemian Museum you can explore the town armoury, which is one of the best-preserved armouries of European medieval towns, as well as three permanent exhibitions housed in stunning Art Nouveau interiors.

We liked the exhibition dedicated to applied arts the most, featuring works made of glass, ceramics, and various metals. A total of two and a half thousand exhibits are displayed in original historical display cases. There is also religious art and collections of old drawings and posters.

Address: Kopeckého sady 2, Plzeň

 

Museum of Religious Art

The museum is located a short distance from the main building of the West Bohemian Museum. This unique exhibition in the Franciscan monastery complex will enchant you with its cloister, paradise courtyard, and especially the chapter hall with the Chapel of Saint Barbara that features unique late Gothic paintings.

Address: Františkánská 11, Plzeň

 

Meat shops

The exhibition hall of the West Bohemian Gallery is now housed in a medieval meat market building constructed in the 14th century. It is one of the few surviving structures of its kind. We visited the fascinating exhibition titled "Golden Times", showcasing art from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the so-called “Belle Époque”. The display included unique works by Alphonse Mucha, Antonín Slavíček and Jan Preisler. We were also captivated by period photographs depicting urban life at the time.

Address: Pražská 353/18, Plzeň

 

Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell)

According to legend, a beer crisis struck Plzeň in 1838. Officials, finding the quality of the beer harmful, ordered 36 barrels to be poured out in the square in front of the town hall. In response, more than 250 burghers with brewing rights came together and agreed to build a new brewery called Měšťanský pivovar v Plzni (The Burghers’ Brewery in Plzeň).

In the brewery completed in 1842, brewer Josef Groll produced the first bottom-fermented pale lager. The new beer was an instant success, leading to numerous imitations. To protect the original, a new trademark was established in 1898: Plzeňský Prazdroj – Pilsner Urquell, which still designates the authentic beer brewed in the original brewery, today known as Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell).

Our tour of the brewery took us through historic cellars and modern facilities, complete with a tasting of delicious, freshly brewed beer. We entered the brewery grounds through the Neo-Renaissance Jubilee Gate that was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first batch of Plzeň’s bottom-fermented pale lager.

Address: U Prazdroje 64/7, 301 00 Plzeň

 

Parking:

We parked at Denisovo nábřeží (Denis Embankment), where parking is free on weekends. We reached náměstí Republiky on foot in just 5 minutes.

 

Something good to eat:

We enjoyed lunch on the terrace of the Italian restaurant Da Pietro, which serves excellent, high-quality food.

Address: Smetanovy sady 4, Plzeň

 
Just behind the restaurant, in Kopeckého sady (Kopecký Gardens), we had our favourite ice cream from Opočno. We were also pleased with the large portion for a great price.

 

Our tip:

The Museum Pass allows 8 entries of your choice to any permanent exhibition or temporary exhibition organized by the West Bohemian Museum (main building, Museum of Religious Art and Puppet Museum) at a discounted admission fee. The pass can be used by multiple people at once—for each entry, you simply receive a stamp on the back of the pass. It was worth it for us even during a one-day trip to Plzeň, but since it's valid for 1 year, you can also use it during any future visits to the town.