The Czech Republic is not the biggest in the world – its population is only 10 million, and you can drive across it in 5 to 6 hours. But it is an amazing treasure-chest of architectural, natural and historical gems. This makes it great for visitors - there are so many things you can easily see and do from your base in Prague.

Within half an hour you can reach Karlstejn Castle, at one time the seat of the Czech Kings, now open to the public as a museum. This huge medieval castle, shrouded in woods, is perched on a hill and can only be seen from one point. It was the inspiration for Kafka’s Castle.

An hour’s journey will take you to the medieval town of Kutna Hora, founded in the 13th century, and now on the UNESCO list of Heritage Sites. Among its many attractions are the St. Barbora Cathedral (said to rival St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague), the unique Bone Church (the only church in the world where the entire interior is made from human skeletal remains), the medieval silver mines, the Royal Mint and the King’s Palace.

Karlovy Vary, the world famous spa town, is a mere ninety minutes away. It is well worth a day trip to marvel at its unique gorge location, see its numerous hotels and palaces in Renaissance and Art Nouveau styles, wander along the Colonnade sampling the mineral springs or shop for cut glass in its many boutiques.

It takes 2 hours to get from Prague to Moravsky Kras, famed for its underground caves with stalactites, stalagmites and rivers, and its mountain slopes.

Within two-and-a-half hours you could be in Cesky Krumlov. This town is a gem of Gothic architecture, with its ancient streets and houses and its Royal Castle. For many years now, Cesky Krumlov has been used as the location for fantasy films. In its medieval beauty, the town somehow manages to look unreal even in real life!

The baroque castle of Lednice is just three hours away. It boasts a huge English and French style park, the only Minaret in the country and collections of palms and wild animals.

You could spend a year or more exploring this small country and still find something new. However long you stay in the Czech Republic, you will not run out of things to see and do!