Today the second largest town of Bohemia, Pilsen (in Czech Plzeň) was founded in the 13th century on the orders of King Wenceslas at the strategic hub of four rivers and three trading routes. The town hall in the city centre, which is a protected monument, is surrounded by an ensemble of renaissance and baroque architecture. Outside the old town centre however, broad boulevards and Wilhelmian style buildings are a testimonial to the economic growth that the city experienced at the end of the 19th century. One of the significant cornerstones of this development, in addition to the foundation of the Skoda machine factory, was the establishment of the brewery. During a visit to the traditional Plzen Brewery you will be introduced to the history and intricacies of beer brewing. For over 160 years the brewery has produced a unique beer called Pilsner Urquell. This beer became the symbol of the Czech art of how to brew fine beer. Included in the tour of the brewery is of course a sample of this golden water from Plzen.

Pilsen private excursion price list (see also shared/guided option)

Travel time from Prague Hotel to the Pilsen is 1hr.

Tickets for the brewery are not included in this excursion and must be purchased separately. There are 4 types of tickets ranging from 250 CZK to 100 CZK depending what you wish to see. Pilsner Brewery Website.

Tip: Grand Circuit - This will combine visits to the spa city Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and then the Plzen Brewery. This will be a whole day trip. Please contact us for a price quote.

Pilsen History

Pilsen was first mentioned as a castle in 976, as the scene of a battle between Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia and Emperor Otto II. It became a town in 1295 when King Wenceslaus II granted Pilsen its civic charter and established a new town site, located some 10 km away from the original settlement, which is the current town of Starý Plzenec. It quickly became an important town on trade routes leading to Nuremberg and Regensburg; in the 14th century, it was the third-largest town in Bohemia after Prague and Kutná Hora. During the Hussite Wars, it was the centre of Catholic resistance to the Hussites: Prokop the Great unsuccessfully besieged it three times, and it joined the league of Romanist nobles against King George of Podebrady. In 1468, the town acquired a printing press; the Troyan Chronicle, the first book published in Bohemia, was printed on it. Emperor Rudolf II made Pilsen his seat from 1599-1600. During the Thirty Years' War the town was taken by Mansfeld in 1618 after the Siege of Plzen and it was not recaptured by the Imperialists until 1621. Wallenstein made it his winter-quarters in 1633. The town was unsuccessfully besieged by the Swedes in 1637 and 1648. At the end of the 17th century, the architecture of Pilsen began to be influenced by the Baroque style. The historic city centre has been under historic preservation since 1989.