Do you know what Jihlava, Jáchymov and Kutná Hora have in common? They are all mining towns that were founded close to mines producing precious metal. And because mining was a major source of income for Czech Kings, they were made royal towns which enjoyed special privileges and were of course very wealthy. This is reflected in the way they look in the present day. Discover royal treasures from the time of Charles IV and other Kings!
 
The treasures of Kutná Hora
Once the state’s economic centre thanks to its silver mines and mint for producing Prague groschen, Kutná Hora used to be nicknamed the silver treasure chest of the Bohemian Kingdom. The pride, ambitions and wealth of its citizens gave rise to a number of architectural monuments, and today the town is one of the twelve places in the Czech Republic featured on the UNESCO world heritage list. Among the many sights worth seeing here are the Gothic Church of St. Barbara, the crooked medieval streets, the Jesuit College which now hosts the Gallery of Central Bohemia and the Czech Museum of Silver. Here you can admire a real numismatic treasure - samples of coins that used to be produced in Kutná Hora, you can also visit a medieval silver mine. With a lamp, helmet and miner’s tunic, you can walk through the underground area of the famous silver town and see replicas of original horse-powered mining machinery.

Secrets of the Jihlava underground
Jihlava was also once a symbolic treasure trove full of precious metals. You can liven up your trip to this town by visiting the Museum of the Vysocina Region, installed in a medieval house whose cellar resembles a medieval mine and includes an exposition on mining and minting in the Vysocina region. A real gem and tourist magnet is the second largest underground labyrinth in the Czech Republic, whose 25 kilometre long corridors spread out beneath the town’s centre. Eleven meters underground is a unique shining mineshaft. When the guide turns off all the lights, a strange twilight emerges to hold back the darkness. It is for you to discover whether this is caused by a paranormal phenomenon or the special paint on the walls.

Guided tours through the underground with apparitions and beer
The Czech Republic’s largest underground labyrinth can be found in Znojmo. The Znojmo Catacombs, constructed in the 13th to 17th century, are a historical site of European importance. You can venture out on a route of about 1000 meters out of a total of thirty kilometres of exceptionally complex and confusing catacombs that were constructed in up to four layers. The route includes features from popular fairytales and horror stories.

The South-Bohemian town of Tábor offers visits to interconnected medieval cellars around Zizka’s square. Another town with historical catacombs open to the public is Pilsen. Here you can take a walk along an 800-meter long route out of the total of 18 km of corridors. With its many archaeological finds, the route will introduce you to the history of the town and the everyday life of its citizens in medieval times. You will also stop at the foundations of the water tower constructed in the mid-16th century. And what is more - every visitor aged 18 or over will receive a voucher that can be exchanged for a glass of Pilsner Urquell lager in one of the local pubs.

Ostrava: unique industrial heritage sites and scientific centres
The last stop on the journey is the city of Ostrava, famous for its 19th century industrial heritage which it is attempting to have included in the UNESCO list. During the visit to the former Vítkovice iron works you will see coking plants and furnaces used to produce metal, and also the former coal mine called Hlubina (The Deep). The premises are open every day with a variety of guided tours that can be combined if you so wish. Among the sites which must not be missed are the Gong multifunction assembly hall designed by Czech architect Josef Pleskot, and the Bolt Tower, once a furnace and now boasting a lookout point at a height of 71 meters. The Bolt Tower won the Building of the Year award in 2015 and its patron is Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter on Earth.

To make your visit to Ostrava even more fun, visit the interactive Science and Technology Centre with hundreds of exciting exhibits and interactive games. Those who like the atmosphere of science-fiction books by Jules Verne should not miss the section called U6 Science and Technology Centre presenting the most significant inventions that have contributed to industrial and technological development in the Czech Republic and throughout the world.