There is no better time to visit Prague than in the springtime when the city is waking up to blooming flowers and sunshine and the hordes of tourists are just beginning to arrive. The city becomes alive with outdoor restaurants, cafes and bars where you can sit and watch the world go by. The rain is tapering off and the unruly level of tourists (that most likely make summertime in Prague unbearable) is still at a manageable level.
We thoroughly enjoyed our four days in Prague, spending hours on foot exploring this spectacular city awash in history, culture and charm. I was mesmerized by the beauty of Prague with her immaculate architecture that has made this city one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe. Little did I know, the Prague countryside is equally as lovely and magical as the crown jewel herself.
On a Saturday morning, we decided to hire a driver for the day and headed out to explore the glorious Prague countryside and see what the locals do in their spare time. It was a stunning May day with brilliant blue skies, a gentle breeze and not a sign of rain. We were grateful to have it after spending our first few days in Prague in the drizzling rain.
Leaving Prague
Our driver was an amiable young man who filled us in on the history of Prague. He had an encyclopedia of knowledge and a wonderful car with a front to back sunroof that gave us a bird’s-eye view of the passing countryside.
After leaving the city, it wasn’t long until we reached the lush fertile countryside. We immediately came across brilliant yellow fields of flowering rapeseed which emitted a delicious, heavenly fragrance that filled the car. We learned that rapeseed is the main crop allowed by the EU in the Czech countryside and accounts for about 75% of cultivated fields. It is used to produce canola oil.
Rapeseed
I noticed the rapeseed immediately when we were landing into Prague as its brilliant yellow fields interspersed with the green grass looked like a giant quilt.
Many locals were out riding their bikes along the rapeseed fields and enjoying the fantastic Saturday day. It would have been a lovely day for a picnic among the flowering fields.
In about an hour, we reached our destination for the afternoon, the tiny village of Karlstejn located about twenty kilometers southwest of Prague. We had planned to spend the day visiting the Karlštejn castle (Hrad Karlštejn), one of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic.
The Karlstejn Castle was built by the Czech king and Roman emperor Charles IV between 1348 and 1355 as a place to store the royal treasures, collections of holy relics and the crown jewels. It was impressively built on top of the hills overlooking the town below near left bank of river Berounka. To reach the castle, you must go on foot up the steep hillside blanketed in forest.
It is about a ten minute walk through the forest or else you can follow the long way up through the medieval village below the castle.
The views from the bell tower of the countryside below were astounding.
The castle itself did not disappoint. I will be dedicating an entire post to Hrad Karlštejn which Charles IV visited only six times! We were also there on a special day, Charles IV birthday.
As we headed back to Prague, our friendly driver made one more stop for us to see where the locals go on their weekends to enjoy the great outdoors. Malá a Velká America (Small and Big America) are two man-made lakes that were made from mining. Now it is a popular weekend destination for locals to escape the city to picnic, camp, hike and swim.
So this is what the locals do in their spare time! I can’t think of a better place to relax and be outdoors. If only we had more time.
Getting there:
Karlštejn castle (Hrad Karlštejn castle) is about 20 km outside of Prague. There are several tour companies that will take you there via bus. We hired our own driver from the hotel for $65 (4 hours). You can only see the castle via organized group tours which can be purchased at the window or online in advance (highly recommended to avoid the long lines). Visit the official website here for more details.
Malá a Velká America (Small and Big America) is only a short distance away from the castle.
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Stunning pictures! I went to Prague a year or two after it was opened up to the West and it was a beautiful city (however it rained there) and it was summer. What gorgeous weather and a beautiful time of year to visit!
Thanks so much! I went for my first time in 1993 and hadn’t been back since then. It was so cool to see it again over 20 years later!
The countryside around Prague looks gorgeous. Spring is definitely the best time to travel.
Yes it was a little rainy but I just can’t imagine what it would be like there in the summer. There were already so many tourists at points you could hardly get through the streets!
Magical and so colorful. Wow! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ruth! 😌
Excellent pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed! 😊
Thanks for the tour…marvelous.
You’re welcome Sally! Glad you enjoyed!
Lovely travelogue Nicole. We loved Prague and the countryside nearby but the rapeseed wasn’t in bloom while we were there. It’s one of my favorite things to shoot!
Thanks Tina! I was blown away by the rapeseed as I have never seen it before. Lovely!!!
Amazing photos, love the colours, very vivid. Looks like a beautiful place to visit.
Thanks Sue! It sure was lovely!
So beautiful, Nicole.
janet
Thanks Janet!
What a beautiful place – all of it. Lovely photographs Nicole.
Alison
Thanks Alison!
Absolutely breathtaking!
Thanks Tammi!
The fields are beautiful! That yellow just screams ‘Europe in summer’ to me; there’s something about the light and the crops that doesn’t exist outside of that part of the world.
Thanks Lexi! They were amazing and smelled so incredible! Yes I don’t believe I have ever seen anything like it here.
A sea of golden yellow – truly magnificent!
Thank you so much!!
Looks absolutely gorgeous. Every time I look at your photos Nicole I get an urge to travel there. 🙂
Oh thank you Miriam! Hope you are doing well! 😊
Thanks Nicole, I am! Could just use a holiday in a nice warm climate, that’s all! Hope you are too. 🙂
Yes our summer has finally arrived Miriam after months of cold.
How lovely … enjoy.
A visual delight Nicole! On ‘the bucket list’
Great! Where are you now Lisa? 😊 looking forward to an update!
Ahoy from the Whitsundays Nicole. We arrived here safely in spite of a few engine problems. All sorted now. Going to do a bit of island hopping here for a few days while waiting for spare parts, and then heading out for more snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. Life is good!
Wonderful Lisa! Just read your post. I just love following you so much. Your photography has truly blossomed by the way. It is amazing. I am envious about the GBR! I loved it so much. Yes life is very good. Enjoy!!!
Thank you so much for your very kind words about my photography Nicole. I feel like I’ve been struggling a bit with the nature shots, so your feedback is especially encouraging now. We’ve secured our spare parts and new underwater camera and are headed back to the GBR tomorrow. I hear that there has been extensive coral bleaching north of there which is very sad.
You have extraordinary photos Lisa!
The setting for the castle is wonderful, isn’t it? 🙂 The rapeseed fields are all too familiar, as we have lots here too.
Oh that is wonderful Jo! I had never seen the rapeseed fields before! This was the first time. They smell so nice!
Prague in the spring, I couldn’t agree more. Great post!
Thank you! 🙂
All of these pictures are beautiful! It looks like an amazing place to visit!
Thank you! I love Prague. It is really quite spectacular.