Are you wondering where to go during the spring holidays? Well come to the Czech Republic! You can spend a fantastic spring here, experiencing traditional Easter celebrations, exploring castles and chateaux, museums and making trips into the countryside.

Reason 1: Celebrating the arrival of spring in Prague

Celebrations to mark the coming of spring and Easter have become an inherent part of the life of Prague’s squares. Coloured eggs, bright streamers, Easter birch whips, stalls selling traditional produce and folk music bring a celebratory mood to the decorated squares.

Our suggestion: The largest Easter markets take place on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square (www.prague-info.cz). They will run on both squares from 12. 3. until 3. 4. 2005. On the Old Town Square there will also be a stage set up, where various performances will take place, such as concerts by folklore ensembles from around the country. On Wenceslas Square coloured eggs painters from all corners of the Czech Republic will be giving demonstrations of their art and various traditional decoration techniques.

Reason 2: Easter with a special Czech tradition

A unique tradition you may see on the streets of Czech towns at Easter time is the ‘Easter whip’. The whip is made of braided willow twigs and decorated with ribbons. On Easter Monday it is traditional for boys to lightly whip girls so that they stay young and healthy the whole year. The aim is not to hurt the girls in any way, on the contrary. Come and try it for yourself!

Our suggestion: At open air museums around the country you can experience for yourself how a traditional Easter in Bohemia and Moravia used to be celebrated. The oldest and largest such museum in Central Europe, the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm will be putting on various shows and demonstrations from 26. – 28. 3. 2005 (www.vmp.cz), the newest open air museum in Zubrnice likewise from 19. - 20. 3. 2005 (www.zubrnice.cz), and at Veselý kopec u Hlinska the same will be happening from 22. 3. – 10. 4. 2005 (www.hlinsko.cz). Come and acquaint yourself with Czech Easter customs, buy something at the traditional fare and watch performances by folklore ensembles, egg decoration and the weaving of the famous Easter whips.

Reason 3: Easter at a castle or chateau

The Czech Republic is a fairytale land of castles and chateaux. The main tourist season at such places usually begins in March or April. Come and enjoy a pleasant springtime trip to a castle or chateau.

Our suggestion: The romantic neo-Gothic Sychrov Chateau (www.zamek-sychrov.cz) is putting on a traditional Czech Easter market and cultural events every day from 19. - 20. 3. 2005 from 9am. until 4pm. To mention just a few things going on, there will be attractive displays of falconry and demonstrations of old traditional crafts. Inside the chateau itself visitors will be able to see the largest collection of French portraits in Central Europe, the richly carved decoration and the English park with a birds of prey exhibition.

Reason 4: A musical and spiritual Easter

You can be reminded of the spiritual meaning of Easter by attending services in churches around the country and by concerts of spiritual music. Celebrated Czech music combined with the exquisite church interiors and concert halls create an extraordinary experience.

Our suggestion: A series of performances called ‘Easter Concerts’ (www.auditeorganum.cz) will be taking place in the Basilica of St James from 20. 3. – 10. 4. 2005. Fans of spiritual music can look forward to concerts of choir music (e.g. A. Dvořák: Stabat Mater) and organ music by talented musicians and choir singers. The same standard can be expected at the 14th Easter Festival of Spiritual Music (www.mhfb.cz) set to take place from 20. 3. - 3. 4. 2005 in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Brno, the largest city in Moravia. Six concerts will include music by Dvořák, Bach, Schubert and Rimski-Korsakov.

Reason 5: Springtime in a museum or gallery

This coming spring in anticipation of the tourist season, various Czech museums and galleries extend an invitation to visitors to come and see a range of interesting exhibitions. (www.citygalleryprague.cz, www.nm.cz, www.jewishmuzeum.cz, www.upm.cz, www.olmuart.cz, www.moravska-galerie.cz)

Our suggestion: At the national gallery in Prague (www.ngprague.cz) (Wallenstein Riding School) an exhibition dedicated to the work of one of the most interesting Czech painters of the early 20th century, Václav Špála (1885 – 1946), will take place from 27. 1. until 11. 9. 2005. 120 pieces will be shown at the exhibition which focuses primarily on the artists work up until the mid 1920s. Some of the pieces from private collections will be on show for the first time.

Reason 6: Easter with traditional goodies

Easter in the Czech Republic is a time of plenty and abundance. In Czech coffee houses and cafés you can try goodies, which neither you nor your children will be able to forget in a hurry. Aren’t you licking your lips already at the thought of Czech traditional sweets such as cakes in the shape of lambs and Easter gingerbread?

Our suggestion: Easter goodies taste better when eaten in a café in a historical Czech town. The picturesque town of Telč (www.telc-etc.cz), whose historical centre is protected by UNESCO, invites all visitors to a special Easter event. 27. 3. On the main square bearing the name náměstí Zachariáše z Hradce the Telč folklore ensemble will be performing and an Easter market will be held. On Monday 28. 3. an Easter procession will wind through the streets. You can find more information at www.fos.cz. Why don’t you also visit the historical towns of Český Krumlov (www.ckrumlov.cz), Třebíč (www.kviztrebic.cz), Jindřichův Hradec (www.jh.cz), Litomyšl (www.litomysl.cz) and Kutná Hora (www.kutnahora.info)?

Reason 7: Spring – a time of love

Spring is a time for being in love. The Czech Republic not only offers the possibility of going on romantic trips, but also of staying the night at a castle or chateau (here), or even getting married at one (here). Some of the most romantic and popular places for tying the knot are the chateaux of Hluboká nad Vltavou, Český Krumlov and Jindřichův Hradec.

Our suggestion: Experience romance in Prague, the capital! Perhaps the favourite place of those in love is the Petřín Tower (www.prague-info.cz) with its surrounding parks and gardens. From the top of this 51 metre high copy of the Eiffel Tower in Paris there is a unique view over Prague. You can also visit the Petřín maze (www.prague-info.cz) with its 31 mirrors, 14 of which distort your appearance in funny ways, or you can just relax in the parks around the tower, coming to life again after the long winter.

Reason 8: An untraditional Easter

In the Czech Republic you can celebrate Easter in original surroundings and in an untraditional way.

Our suggestion: The Příbram Museum of Mining (www.muzeum-pribram.cz) is putting on an event from 21. 3. until 27. 3. 2005 called Easter in a miner’s cottage. In a miner’s dwelling in the museum you can witness Easter traditions and traditional arts and crafts associated with Easter such as egg decoration, baking Easter gingerbread, lace making, Easter whip braiding and other interesting activities. The museum with its unique exhibition is the largest mining museum in the Czech Republic as far as area and number of exhibits is concerned.

Reason 9: Spring – an ideal time to relax

After the long winter the body needs some extra special care and attention. How about recharging your batteries and chasing away the winter blues at a Czech spa? Let yourself be pampered with special fitness & wellness programmes, which are most certainly not only for women.

Our suggestion: A week of relaxation or health and beauty at a three-star spa house in the largest of the Czech spas, Carlsbad (www.karlovyvary.cz) can be booked for up to €250 per person. The holiday includes accommodation in a double room, half board and relaxation or wellness procedures. For those who would like a bit of luxury, there are of course the four-star hotels costing in the region of €100 per person per day.

Reason 10: An Easter full of new experiences

You can feel the distinctive fragrant breeze as the countryside awakens in spring in many places around the Czech Republic. The so-called ‘rock towns’ of the Bohemian Paradise (www.bohemian-paradise.info), the Czech Switzerland region (www.ceskesvycarsko.cz) and the Adršpach and Teplice area (www.skalyadrspach.cz) are unique places in Europe.

Our suggestion: Welcome the spring in a sporting fashion! Take part in the 39th Hike through the Bohemian Paradise, in search of Rumcajs being organized 26. 3. 2005 by the Czech Hiking Club. The start will be between 6—10am on Valdštejnovo Square in Jičín and participants can choose between walking routes of between 5 and 50 km, and cycle routes of between 19 and 87 km. The walk will lead you out of Jičín and through the beautiful landscape of the Bohemian Paradise to the Trosky castle ruins.