The Military Technical Museum of Lesany (or Vojenské technické muzeum Lešany) is a remarkable museum located near Prague The vehicles are displayed in a number of large open hangers; each vehicle nicely labeled in English and Czech The vehicles were built between 1890 and the present Special exhibitions focus on the military heritage of the Skoda brand There are also large halls where vehicles are displayed in historic context using dioramas with fake buildings and props One hall houses a recreation of a tank battle trenches for visitors through walk through The real eye-catcher of the museum is a huge Russian tank which has been painted pink and used to be displayed on Prague's Kinsky Square "The Monument to Soviet Tank Crews" originally commemorated the liberation of Prague by the Red Army from Nazi occupation towards the end of WW2; but for many Czechs it came to symbolize the more recent Soviet military intervention during the Prague Spring uprising of 1968. Tanks similar to the one on the monument were turned against the citizens of Prague during a mostly peaceful and reform minded protest After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Block nations the monument became an openly divisive icon In 1991 the young Czech artist and sculpter David Černý and a group of friends secretly painted the tank pink and mounted a giant middle finger on the turret as a final gesture to Soviet intervention Soldiers quickly painted it green again and the artists were jailed causing dissident members of parliament to paint it pink again in solidarity The tank was then re-painted green again and pink again numerous times until 2011 when the tank was floated down the Vltava river on a pink barge where it still greets all visitors at the entrance The museum is housed in former artillery barracks and entry is free of charge there is a tank which has been painted green and yellow and turned into a playground The museum shop also sells all kinds of fun military items The 2,000-year-old pieces of metal are an ancient soldier's military discharge papers The charming collection illustrates life in Lincolnshire in the 18th through 20th centuries This museum sits on the site of a decommissioned military communications base Military artifacts from the Salvadoran Civil War are displayed in this small but notable museum A bullet-scarred monastery chronicles Mexico's turbulent history of foreign invasions and gruesome specimens showcase the history of military medicine Thousands of artifacts tell Mongolia's military history In the hinterlands of Serbia's capital a giant reflective mushroom houses an aeronautical history of the former Yugoslav republic Jawa saw great success by the 1960s after it developed motorcycles for racing that won multiple motocross tournaments This led to licensing agreements with an Indian company called Ideal Jawa which brought the Jawa motorcycle to India The bikes were very popular with residents of India's urban hubs and maneuverability is of paramount importance it would be ranked as one of the most reliable Jawa motorcycles continue to be manufactured in India by Yezdi and in various parts of Europe by Jawa Moto which has its headquarters in Týnec nad Sázavou of the Czech Republic the same region František Janeček was born would be hard-pressed to purchase one of the brand's bikes other than from an auction a 1966 Jawa 250 Californian sold at auction for only $1,640 Jawa motorcycles are primarily sold in Europe and India and are rarely imported to the United States The few distributors who manage to get their hands on older Jawa models sell them for a premium. Cody Racing Products in Southern California has a few speedway models starting at $10,000. 4Jawa.com is a website that imports to America with more reasonably priced options since it's focused on selling cruisers rather than racing models Prices there range between $7,500 and $9,000 with prices bouncing between $6000 and $9000 It's safe to say that if you live in North America getting your hands on a new Jawa motorcycle is an expensive challenge This is an updated version of a 2015 article The area surrounding the 13th-century castle Křivoklát is located close to the Berounka River and boasts a number of places for organizing a rafting excursion. From Kemp Visnova opt to be driven upriver and raft back to the camp or start at the camp and arrange a pick-up The camp is a nice overnight option with bathrooms Getting there: Hlavní Nádraží-Beroun-Roztoky u Krivoklatu (Camp is 5km from station.)Rental fees: 440 CZK/day for a canoe and an inflatable boat.Tip: U Jelena a rustic pension and restaurant just below the Křivoklát Castle that specializes in game dishes Located around 175 km south of Prague, many say the city looks like a miniature version of the capital. There are several places to rent boats including Rafting Krumlov but exercise caution while rafting through the city center because there are dangerous waterfalls Getting there: Student Agency bus from Florenc (3 hrs) or direct train (3hrs) about 200 CZKRental fees: Approx 350-950 CZK/day (depending on the number of people and chosen route).Tips: The night-rafting option offers a stunning view of the city’s famed landmarks; check out the newly-opened Depo C.Krumlov for dinner or a beer Šternberk is famed for its mid-13th century Bohemian castle. It is a great spot to start a rafting trip along the scenic Sázava River. Samba rentals offer nine stops along the river including Šternberk In the glorious Sázava valley raft to or from: Týnec nad Sázavou Samba lists a variety of accommodations that vary in price Getting there: Hlavní Nádraží-Čerčany-Český Šternberk (2 hrs)Rental fees: 450 CZK-900 CZK/dayTip: Pub crawl along the cluster of pubs in the village of Pikovice This charming little town is located 60 km south of Pilsen. It offers an amazing rafting route on the Otava River. (See the Samba Rentals site for a list of “water camps” if you want to do an overnight.) The best spots to stop for beer and site-seeing on the way down the Otava are: Horažďovice Getting there: Hlavní Nádraží-Horazdovice predm-Sušice (3.5 hrs)Prices: 450 CZK-900 CZK/day).Tip: From Sušice drift downriver for a breathtaking view of Rábí Castle Another South Bohemian town with a population of less than 7,000, it’s actually an ‘island’ surrounded by rivers, north of the Trebon basin, that is famous for its ponds and forests. The main river for rafting is Lužnice. It’s a great area to explore before or during a rafting trip. There are numerous places to camp overnight Getting there: Direct from Hlavní Nádraží-Veselí n Lužnicí (2 hrs)Rental fees: See above.Tip: The man-made lakes to the south of the town are a highlight of the area Olomouc is quite far from Prague – South East near the border of Slovakia and it offers amazing routes on the Morava River The best spots to stop and rent boats are: Hanušovice Getting there: Hlavní Nádraží-Olomouc (2.5-3 hrs)Price: 350 CZK/day (2 people); 420 CZK/daily (up to 4).Tip: Plan a visit to the Holba or Litovel breweries along the way Getting there: Hlavní Nádraží-Ústí nad Labem (1 hr 10 min).Price: During the main season 1.6–15.9 the price for a is 300 CZK/day (2 people); 550 CZK/2 days.Tip: Czech Switzerland and Strěkov Castle are top attractions Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English. programencz202313/0419:30lectureKRUH: Ivan KroupaThe Týnec nad Sázavou ceremonial hall and the Technology Center of the Academy of Arts one of the most prominent Czech architects and educators of our time He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague and went on to practice in London He was awarded the Ministry of Culture Award for contributions to architecture in 2019 and has received nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Award he has also been involved in teaching: until 2008 he was the head of the design studio at the Faculty of Architecture he was the head of the Architecture II studio at the Academy of Arts Event will be in black hall during the event exhibition will be closed Explore CAMP's expert curated audio content on Bloomberg Connects This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Czech Republic is dotted with ruined castles the crumbling landmarks are a striking reminder of the passage of time as well as great subjects for pictures Here are five of the more interesting ruins to visit this fall when autumn ambiance is at an all time high Ronov Back home as a kid when I dreamed of visiting ancient ruins  tucked away in the forest on a small hill Because the 14th century ruin is somewhat secluded you will probably want to get close to get some of the better shots this ruin turns out well throughout the year though autumn would be when it’s at its most picturesque Visiting: Because the ruin is located in the beautiful Kokořinsko region you are spoiled for choice as a number of scenic trails lead to Ronov. Check this link and choose the one best for you GPS: 50°37′12.7″ N, 14°24′51.9″ E Rabí though only the exteriors can be photographed There is also a bus leaving from Na Knížecí in Prague 5 GPS: 49°16’43.2″N 13°37’05.8″E Okoř The castle was built in the 14th century on the site of an already existing fortifications Today Okoř is an incomplete jigsaw of external walls a partially collapsed tower and lower battlements This is one ruin in which it past to get up close Okoř reveals itself in the smaller details walls sprouting greenery and the textures of the crumbling stonework For hikers, you can either start in Roztoky and follow the blue or take the red path from Horoměřice. Longer hikes are possible, starting in Prague. Check this link for routes or grab map 36 (okolí Prahy – západ) from KČT GPS: 50°9’50.20″N, 14°15’18.083″E Svojšice The well-preserved remains in Svojšice are of a fortress The thick solid fortifications are probably one of the main reasons for its longevity so unlike some of the other ruins mentioned visitors can get a sense of the interior life of this period The fortress was built in the fourteenth century and destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War To hike, the most accessible starting point would be from Heřmanův Městec, which you can reach by train then follow the red path as in this link or according to KČT map 45 There is also a bus from Heřmanův Městec which stops at Svojšice GPS: 49°57’58.827″N, 15°36’9.261″E Trosky On the edge of Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) stands one of the country’s most iconic ruins Trosky Castle (trosky means ruins) was built in the fourteenth century and the 15m tall battlements running between them remain Because it looms so starkly against the landscape Trosky Castle is an attractive subject for photographs The imposing forms recall any number of gothic fantasies The castle served as the center of Catholic forces during the Hussite War During the Thirty Years’ War which ravaged Europe the castle was burned and left as the ruins we know today Trosky Castle makes a good hiking destination. Grab the Český ráj map (number 19) from Klub Českých Turistů (KČT) available at most bookstores and outdoor shops or check this line Otherwise you can get a bus from Prague to Turnov and then Turnov to the stop Troskovice GPS: 50°30’59.1″N 15°13’51.1″E Zbořený Kostelec Here is another ruin with an almost apt name Zbořený Kostelec is literally demolished little church though the ruin is in fact a castle again from the 14th century The ruin looks out from a small cliff onto a bend on the Sázava The ruin is in such a state of deterioration that from afar you would almost think they were rock formations The appeal in this ruin is simply its aged condition You get a sense of the centuries shed in the gaps and missing stones This ruin deserves both close up shots and from across the river in the village also called Hikers can take the red path from Čerčany. A shorter route is possible from Týnec nad Sázavou, along the blue and then turn east on to the red path and follow it about one kilometer. The KČT map is 40 or you can check this link Otherwise there is a bus leaving from Týnec nad Sázavou and going to the village Zbořený Kostelec which I will repeat is on the other side of the river GPS: 49°51’15.660″N, 14°35’29.320″E **Have we missed any ruins that are worth an autumn walk