I first went to the Czech Republic in 2008 to visit a friend who lived in the country. In Czech I visited my first European ‘countryside’, outside the UK, in Tuklaty. It reminded me of being at home, in Zimbabwe, with the background sounds of chickens clucking while dogs were barking and fields that extended as far as the eye could see. There was a real community feel, with the way people engaged in conversation from their homes, with neighbours passing along the roadside.  

One of the amazing things about the Czech Republic is that it is absolutely packed with things to do and places to see. There are a number of museums one can visit which will provide details about the history of the country, including its journey as part of the Austrian Empire, and Czechoslovakia. It was systematically occupied by Nazi Germany in 1938, and there are many museums and galleries that share what it was like to live through this period in history. The history makes for a very rich culture which is demonstrated through architecture, art, performance arts as well as food. If fairytales are of interest to you (or grand ancient architecture), this country has no shortage of castles, with over 2000 of them, the country with the most castles in Europe. The most famous are the Prague Castle, Hluboka Castle, Lednic Castle, and Orlik Castle but there are plenty of smaller, less-known gems that are definitely worth a visit. There are also a significant number of cathedrals and churches that were elevated by the pope to the status of ‘basilica’. The country is generally divided into three regions, with Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east and Czech Silesia in the south. 

The country has been set up for visitors to explore and enjoy this wonderful country for a very long time. Prague is actually the 5th most visited city in Europe. It is the centre for history buffs, party people and those who like to immerse themselves in the art scene. There are also lots of puppet shows that one can attend to see how this art has been grown within the country.

My pull towards Czech food is their cakes and pastries – afternoon tea is a whole meal to look forward to. The main ingredients are potatoes and breads, and as their food is quite hearty – this means lots of soups, stews and casseroles that make one feel like a hug from the inside. Traditional food is not spicy but the use of herbs and fresh ingredients in perfect combinations make this food so beautiful on the tongue. When I hear Europeans say ‘my grandmother’s cooking’ traditional Czech food is what first comes to mind, then I remember that Europe has so many different countries and flavours. The cuisine also shifts based on the region. 

Czech Republic is also a massive producer of beer, and I am told it is very good. I am pulled towards believing this because not only do the stats say that the country has the most beer consumption per capita, the number of people that gather in beer halls as well as attend the multiple beer festivals across the country over the summer support this, anecdotally. Also, one can be fed and watered well at a very inexpensive price compared to other European countries. 

Czech has mountain towns, lake towns and forests. One can immerse themselves in nature like never before, enjoying both the summer and winter seasons to the max. It really is a land that continues to give, give and give some more. Many places where one can escape or go skiing during the winter seasons. 

Other notable cities or towns to visit are Czesky Krumlov (for the Old Town’s cobblestone streets and artsy stores, also the Czesky Krumlov castle is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monument), Karlovy Vary (for the hot springs, which are said to have restorative properties. There are spas and wellness centres galore), Kutna Hora (home of the Sedlec Ossuary, a Baroque chapel decorated with the bones of over 40k people who perished during the Black Death and Hussite Wars in the 14th and 15th centuries, St Barbara’s Church – of gothic architecture and a UNESCO world heritage site, and general experience of how miners lived in the area, as well as the other dark side of the city) as well as Bohemian Switzerland National Park (sandstone mountains, rock mazes and deep valleys and ravines), amongst others.