Summary of Central Bohemian Region and Mladá Boleslav

## Introduction The Central Bohemian Region surrounds the capital city of Prague but does not include it. It is the most populous region in the Czech Republic, with an area of about 11 000 km² and a population around 1.4 million inhabitants. The administrative centre is in Prague, and the largest city is **Kladno**. This guide covers municipalities and tourism highlights, with practical examples and useful travel-oriented facts for independent study. > **Definition:** The Central Bohemian Region is a territorial and administrative unit of the Czech Republic that encircles Prague but excludes the city itself. ## Geography: landforms and rivers The region mixes lowlands, highlands and protected natural areas. ### Major landforms - **Lowlands (Polabí)**: fertile plains along the Elbe (Labe) river; prime agricultural area. - **Highlands and forested areas**: examples include **Křivoklátsko** and **Brdy**. > **Definition:** Polabí refers to the area along the Elbe river, noted for fertile soil and intensive agriculture. ### Important rivers - **Vltava** — flows toward Prague and south; major watercourse in the Czech Republic. - **Elbe (Labe)** — forms part of northern lowlands in the region. - **Berounka** — joins the Vltava near Prague. - **Sázava** — popular for recreational rafting and picturesque valleys. Fun fact: The Sázava river valley is popular for canoe trips and has inspired Czech writers and painters. ## Economy: industry, agriculture, and tourism The Central Bohemian Region has a diversified economy. ### Industry - Strong manufacturing base: **automotive** (Škoda Auto is the region's largest employer), machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, glass-making, and building materials. - Industrial cities such as **Mladá Boleslav** and **Kladno** are key employers and technology centres. > **Definition:** Škoda Auto is a major Czech automotive company with historical roots in the region; its factories drive local employment and supplier networks. ### Agriculture - Crops: cereals, sugar **beet**, hops, fruit, and vegetables. - Livestock: pigs and cattle are common. ### Tourism as an economic sector - Tourism benefits from castles, chateaux, historical towns, and natural areas. - Sites such as **Kutná Hora** (UNESCO), **Karlštejn**, and **Křivoklát** attract both domestic and international visitors. Did you know that Kutná Hora is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historical silver-mining town layout and the Gothic St. Barbara's Church? ## Transport and connectivity - Dense road and rail network linking towns to Prague. - Public transport and highways make day trips from Prague easy. Practical example: A visitor can take a regional train from Prague to Karlštejn in under an hour for a half-day castle visit. ## Municipal spotlight: Mladá Boleslav Mladá Boleslav sits on the left bank of the Jizera river about 50 km northeast of Prague. It blends historical sites with a strong automotive industry. ### Historical and cultural sights - Old Town Square with a renaissance town hall, Marian column, and Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. - Renaissance castle with a regional museum. - Gothic Templ city palace with an archaeological exhibition. - One of the best-preserved Jewish cemeteries in the country, on a hill near the castle. - Baroque and renaissance churches, art nouveau city theatre, and notable functionalist buildings. ### Škoda Museum - The Škoda Museum is the prime tourist attraction, presenting the history of Laurin & Klement and Škoda. It displays historical cars, sports models and prototypes. ### Recreation and services - Sports: stadium, swimming pool, aquaparks. - Parks: Štěpánka and Radouč. - Culture: cinema and theatre. - Shopping: Olympia and Bondy malls. - Education: 9 elementary schools, grammar schools, agricultural, technical (industry) and medical schools. - Events: regular markets and local festivals. Fun fact: The Škoda Museum hosts rare vehicles and prototypes that show the technologic