Pilsen, Czech Republic

Pilsen or Pilsen is a town in western Bohemia in the Czech Republic, the center of the Pilsen Region, located at the confluence of the four rivers Radbuza, Mže, Ihlava and Islava. Pilsen is the center of academic, economic and cultural life in western Bohemia and is world famous for its Pilsener beer brand.

Pilsen Castle was originally erected on this land in 976. The moment coincides with its becoming the arena of the battle between the Czech prince Boleslav II the Pious and Emperor Otto II. The honor of being called the town of Pilsen was gained in 1295 thanks to King Wenceslaus II, who founded a new part of the town, which today is known as the town of Old Pilsen.

The pace of Pilsen's development was rapid and it soon became an important settlement on the trade route to Nuremberg and Regensburg, and by the 14th century it was already the third largest city in Bohemia after Prague and Kutná Hora. Over the years, the city experienced the rule of various rulers who fought for its territory. May 6, 1945 was a fateful date for Pilsen, because on it it won its liberation from Nazi Germany thanks to its allies. It has become a tradition since 1990 to organize an annual Liberation Festival every year in gratitude.

At the end of the 17th century, Baroque became the architectural style of Pilsen. Today, the historic center of the city has been declared an architectural reserve.

Since the second half of the 1990s, foreign investment has increased strongly in Pilsen, and many foreign companies have opened their own production plants - e.g. Daikin and Panasonic. The Skoda company was founded in Pilsen in 1859 and was important for the economies of Austria-Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

Among Pilsen's most famous landmarks is the Gothic St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, built at the end of the 13th century. After it, popular sites include the town hall building and Pilsen's second largest synagogue in Europe.

Pilsen is famous for its many beer halls. Because of the great interest in beers, tours of the city's breweries are organized especially for tourists, through which one learns a lot about the history of beer. The world-famous Pilsener beer brand was established in Pilsen in the 19th century.