In co-operation with Czech Tourism
Now we have visited the beer city of Zatec in the Czech Republic, where we have, among other things, gone on a tour of the city's brewery. Getting a tour of the brewery was not easy, but shame on those who give up!
Table of contents
From Terezin to Zatec in the Czech Republic
After the difficult visit to Terezin concentration camp, we continued to the slightly more easy-going destination Zatec, or Žatec as the city is spelled in Czech. For those of you who haven't joined us from the beginning, we can tell you that this is destination number 10 on our programme. two-month campervan trip, through seven countries in Europe.
Oil City Zatec
Zatec is located in the north-west of the Czech Republic, about seven kilometres west of Prague. The town is perhaps best known for its hops and for its brewery, but there are also several nice buildings such as churches and Trinity columns. In general, we can say that we liked this nice city! It might not have been easy to find a parking spot for the motorhome, but we managed to find a spot just outside the city centre.
The brewery in Zatec
Hops were grown in Zatec in the Czech Republic for the first time in 1004! The Zatec brewery was built in 1801, and still stands today within the city walls. The brewery struggled during the communist era until 2001, when Rolf Munding bought it and started investing. If we understand everything correctly, one of the brewery's beers, the gluten-free Lagern Celia, is now available at Systembolaget in Sweden.
Guided tour of the brewery
Anything goes if you are stubborn! There was no open entrance, but we slipped in through the gate of the Zatec brewery as someone else slipped out. The older man behind the counter didn't speak a word of English, but a young man passing by was kind enough to translate.
No, it was not possible to see the brewery just like that. Or for that matter, they would show it to a group of ten people at 16:00. Do we want to come along? Yes, but of course we did (even though the tour was in Czech)!
The tour started on the top level, among very modern technology and equipment. The further down in the domains we got, the more we realised that the brewery has old ancestry. But there is nothing wrong with the beer, on the contrary! The guide generously served Zatec beer from the containers in the cellar, and it certainly tastes good!
What can you do in Zatec?
So, what can you do in Zatec? It is obviously possible to take a guided tour of the brewery, but you have to make an effort. If you want, you can settle for buying the brewery's beer, which is sold in a shop just outside.
If you walk past the tourist office, you can also get a small brochure to take a tour of the city's most famous buildings - the short, medium or long tour. Or you can simply sit down in a restaurant for a beer and a bite to eat.
Camping
We did not find a campsite in Zatec so we continued to Camping Pirana at the lake (or water reservoir?) Nechranice. To be honest, this was not a very nice campsite (rather messy), but we still stood well overnight and quite nicely by the water. The next day it was time to roll on towards perhaps the Czech Republic's most famous health resort!
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This post is written in co-operation with Czech Tourism. The texts, images and opinions are, as usual, our own.
Conny says:
Such beautiful places. I must travel there,
12 July 2018 - 7:01
Helena says:
There are really many nice cities in the Czech Republic! 🙂
12 July 2018 - 10:29
Kenneth Risberg says:
I am so fascinated by all the beautiful, colourful and well-preserved buildings.
May check if they have Zatec beer on the system.
12 July 2018 - 8:15
Helena says:
Right? Almost every town we go to is full of nice houses! Look for that Celia then! I think it's supposed to be ...
12 July 2018 - 10:31
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:
Peter in the candy store...great picture! Pasta with chicken and spinach...mmm..so good! Today's lunch tip! 😉
12 July 2018 - 10:14
Helena says:
Haha, how nice that we could contribute with lunch tips! 😉
12 July 2018 - 10:31
Mr Steve says:
So many beautiful buildings.
Light Czech beer is my personal favourite.
As always a high quality film by Peter. Great fun to follow along irl (almost).
12 July 2018 - 12:57
Helena says:
Many Czech cities are full of nice houses 🙂 Glad you liked Peter's film! 🙂
12 July 2018 - 16:53
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
Czech beer is probably the best in Europe, and we prefer to enjoy it on the spot!
12 July 2018 - 12:58
Helena says:
Czech beer is also one of my favourites! 🙂
12 July 2018 - 16:54
Emma Engström says:
I think it's so cool with the buildings and that they have so much colour! 😀
12 July 2018 - 18:41
Helena says:
There are many nice colourful houses in the Czech Republic 🙂 .
12 July 2018 - 20:24
Role o Carina says:
Lovely, beer is good and I usually buy Staropramen! God worse 🙂
Enjoy your journey there....
12 July 2018 - 19:51
Helena says:
I also like Staropramen! The Czechs are good at beer 🙂
12 July 2018 - 20:25
BP says:
How nice Zatec is. A cosy and especially colourful little town. I really like it! The roundabout with the beer barrel is perfect Great that you managed to get in on a guided tour. Just wait, soon you will be fluent in Czech. Had a good laugh at the picture of the restaurant. Then you'll be in the Czech Republic drinking Stella Artois, Belgium's pride of beer :-))))))))
12 July 2018 - 21:09
Helena says:
There are many nice cities in the Czech Republic, indeed! Haha, we would have had to zoom out the name on the glass... 😉 (Although the Belgians are also good at beer ;))
13 July 2018 - 7:33
Eva - People in the Street says:
Fun with the Czech Republic, seems to be super nice 🙂 I still have the Czech Republic on my to-do list but I have visited several beer breweries ... Even though I am not a fan of beer. Have a good time!
12 July 2018 - 21:10
Helena says:
The Czech Republic is a country we really like! Affordable and a lot to see!
13 July 2018 - 7:34
Ditte says:
Nice with a smaller town and perfect that you could come along on the tour of the brewery. Also giggled that it was at least Belgian beer that the glasses advertised.
12 July 2018 - 23:41
Helena says:
Small towns can be cosy 🙂 And yes, great that we managed to sneak into a viewing!
13 July 2018 - 7:35