Pilsen wants to become Capital of Culture

For 2015, the charming city of Pilsen has set itself ambitious goals and wants to be known internationally for more than its excellent brewing tradition. The metropolis of West Bohemia is bidding to become European Capital of Culture. Anyone who knows the city from holiday trips will know that Pilsen has a good chance of winning the title. After all, it is already a cultural center, with many sights and plenty of good reasons to visit.

Now the city also wants to show a wider audience that Pilsen is more than Škoda and beer. Tourism in the region has been thriving for some time. The people of Pilsen have no reason to complain about a lack of visitors. Many guests return regularly. Anyone who knows Pilsen and the surrounding area knows what it has to offer and is reluctant to give up the many ways to spend a holiday here. Most visitors come from Bavaria and the former East German states, seeking accommodation in Pilsen. But the catchment area is steadily expanding. The region offers excellent hotels and accommodation options, from campsites to holiday homes for family vacations. Visitors from Germany are particularly drawn to the historic hideaways. The travel season lasts all year round, in summer and winter alike.

Yet Pilsen’s ideal holiday conditions are far from the only reason for its bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2015. For many decades, Pilsen has provided a successful stage not only for Czech and Bohemian culture. The city’s theatres, too, are cosmopolitan and internationally minded. The Josef Kajetán Tyl Theatre, better known as the Great Theatre of Pilsen, the puppet theatre and the Alfa Theatre, along with many smaller performance venues, already offer a rich program of events worthy of a potential Capital of Culture. But even bigger plans are taking shape in tranquil Bohemia. A new stage is to be built specifically for the purpose: a large theatre designed for world-class performances. In the contest for the coveted title, Pilsen is also counting on support from Prague and its German partner city, Regensburg, which had itself previously bid for the title, though unsuccessfully.

Even without the title of European Capital of Culture, Pilsen is always worth a visit. The city has plenty to offer. Many historic sights cluster around the distinctive tower of St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. There is also an appealing range of activities for holidaymakers.