Regions

Plzen region

 

Uniqueness of the region: The world-famous Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery. For over 160 years the town of Plzen (Pilsen) has been famous for the production of Pilsner Urquell, light bottom-fermented lager beer, which - thank to the high quality of raw materials, water, own culture of brewer's yeast, know-how passed on by several generations of Plzen brewers and its specific production procedure - acquires its unmistakable taste and quality, connected even with curative effects.

Significant historical event:

• Birth of John of Nepomuk around 1340.
• The first printed book in Bohemia is the Trojan Chronicle. It was issued in Plzen in 1468.
• Liberation of Plzen and Western Bohemia by the US Army on 6 May 1945.

Outstanding historical personality: Saint John of Nepomuk.

Significant cultural monument:

• Kozel chateau - the most frequented sight in Plzen Region.
• Rabí castle - the largest castle ruin in Bohemia.
• Great synagogue in Plzen - the second largest in Europe and the third in the world.

Significant natural locality: Sumava National Park - Sumava is the vastest wooded territory in Central Europe - it is a UNESCO International Biospheric Reserve.

Significant investment project: The most important project on the territory of the region is the construction of the Plzen - Borská pole Municipal Industrial Park, which started in 1996 on an area of some 120 hectares. At present, the territory of the industrial park is filled with approximately 30 businesses, the activity of which is mostly oriented at mechanical and electrical engineering branches. Dominating here are Japanese firms, the most widely known of which is the Matsushita firm. Other firms come from Germany, USA and Holland, and naturally from the Czech Republic. The Borská pole Industrial Zone is the largest and most comprehensively used zone in the CR, and in the years 2001 and 2002 it was declared the best industrial zone in the CR.

Outstanding contemporary personality: Karel Gott - Czech singer, native of Plzen, the most prominent personality of the history and present of the Czech show business. His renown crossed the borders of the Czech Republic a long time ago. He performed in almost all the European countries, USA, Canada and Japan. He was awarded a large quantity of distinctions, and a lot of gold and platinum records. In Bohemia he continuously holds the position of the most popular Czech singer.

Typical product: Pilsner Urquell, Bohemia sekt sparkling wine, Fernet Stock, Skoda mechanical engineering products.

Typical food:

• Chodské koláče (Chodsko cakes) - made from leavened dough, plum jam, poppy seeds, flavoured cottage cheese, dusted with almonds and raisins.
• Uhlířina - dumplings mixed with boiled potatoes and browned onions.
• Vosouch, kramflek, bác - in all these case it is a potato pancake prepared in different ways.
• Rozpeky, hnětýnky - pancakes made from leavened dough.

Folklore: Chodsko area - thank to conservative population, traditional folk culture continues to be very vivid in the Chodsko area. Noteworthy above all are annual and familiar ceremonies, the local dialect, musical and dance folklore, small crafts, popular costumes and gastronomy.

Tourist destination:

Sumava:
Thank to its natural attractions, it is one of the most frequented tourist recreation areas. The Sumava National Park was declared in 1991 in one of the best-preserved Czech mountain ranges. Sumava is the vastest wooded region in Central Europe (forests cover 80 % of its area). The Sumava National Park is a UNESCO International Biospheric Reserve. Owing to its position in the middle of densely populated Central Europe, a high degree of intactness of nature and its rich water resources, Sumava is often called "Green Roof of Europe".

Plzen area:
The region around Plzen is characterized by a moderately undulating wooded landscape interwoven with a network of rivers and ponds with almost intact nature, picturesque hamlets and respectable dominants of numerous castles and chateaux. The centre of the area is the town of Plzen, economic, cultural and social metropolis of the entire Western Bohemia, seat of two universities - Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and West Bohemian University.

Chodsko area:
A folklore area, see Folklore.

Cooperation with Japan:
Chodsko area - co-operation between folklore groups (Suzuki Katsuaki, SETA-GUN GUNMA-KEN)

Plzen - West Bohemian University established a contact with the Tokyo Association of Japanese Gardens, with the university in the town Kumamoto on Kyushu Island, and with Gifu University. A branch of the Czech-Japanese Society is active in Plzen. The town of Plzen has a partner town in Japan - Takasaki.

Contact:
Regional Authority of Plzen Region Krajský úřad Plzeňského kraje
Škroupova 18
306 13 Plzeň
Phone: +420 377 195 111
Fax: + 420 377 195 078
e-mail: posta@kr-plzensky.cz
www: www.kr-plzensky.cz