Plzen

Plzen is Bohemia's second largest city and the Czech Republic's fourth. About halfway between Prague and Munich in West Bohemia, Plzen was founded on the old trade route from Passau to Prague and retains its old gothic street plan even to the present day.

There are five rivers in Plzen, but on a short visit the three names to rememebr are Radbuza, Mze and Berounka. The Radbuza flows from the Sumava mountains in the south through Plzen to the north, with the historic old town on the left bank and the train station and Pilsener Urquell brewery on the right (east) bank. The Mze flows from west to east and joins the Radbuza just north of the city centre. From there the combined waters are named Berounka and flow north past Beroun and Karlstejn castle towards Prague.