Charlotta Mineral Spring

The detailed event is part of a promotional ride by Polish fans of military history. In nearby Kamienna Gora, an underground factory from the period of World War II called Project Arado – Hitler’s Lost Laboratory is opening for tourists today. In the ruins of Kreppelhof Castle, a big night battle will take place from 8:30 p.m. with the participation of 130 soldiers. This will be preceded by an open day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. All without admission and right in the immediate vicinity of the city center.

“It is an underground factory that the Germans built at the end of the war, in 1944 and 1945. According to available indications, they produced components of aircraft engines and allegedly parts for a special combat aircraft, the monowing, which had the code name Arado. It was supposed to be one of Hitler’s miracle weapons, but it did not significantly affect the course of the war. This visit is part of a promotional tour of military and historical monuments in Lower Silesia. 
Source: https://krkonossky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/arado-novy-cil-pro-priznivce-vojenske-historie-20120505.html

When the idea of building a tunnel under the airport in Sarajevo was born to connect Sarajevo with the rest of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, many became strange. However, there were times when everything was more than strange. At the end of the 20th century, the city itself was found in a classic medieval siege. In military theory, it is precisely in this period, Namely, the early Middle Ages, which connects the tunnel as fortifications. During this period, it was often the tunnel that was considered a decisive factor in achieving war goals. In recent war history, we encounter tunnels that were dug for various purposes. Tunnels were used in the First and Second World Wars. Today, on the British island of Jersey, there is an entire underground complex known as Jersey War Tunnels, and a similar complex can be visited in Gibraltar.

Tunnels were also used by the Vietnamese, and a similar model of underground communications used by some armed groups in the Middle East. Tunnels played a particularly important role in Beirut. The Palestinians have their own gas tunnels that connect them to Egypt. Of particular interest were the tunnels that were flooded during the Cold War in Berlin. It is believed that today, in Berlin, there are about 30 tunnels that were used to escape from the east to West Berlin, and a dozen served this purpose. Next to ordinary people, tunnels and spies was in Berlin, and the most famous tunnel of this kind was an American-British project worth about $ 30 million, which was supposed to connect the American radar with Soviet telephone lines. At the very end of the work, it was discovered by the Soviets.

Unlike all the others, the Sarajevo Tunnel, from idea to realization, and above all for function, was by far the most unique property of its kind in the world. This perpendicular hole in the ground, about 800 m long, with an average height of 1.6 m and a width of 1 m, resembled everything else except the tunnel, but it would be important for Sarajevo and Bosnia to become larger than the English Channel. The dough of freedom passed through the tunnel into the city that was squeezed, and was enough to give the people new strength to survive in the years of war that followed. Due to the military, political, psychological and supply significance the city had, it was the most secretly guarded secret – “the tunnel it does not have”.

The Dolňácko Festival of Songs and Dances held in Hluk once every three years (for almost seven decades) takes place in parallel with the annual Slovácko Festival of Brass Bands and is inextricably linked to national costumes and  the Ride of the Kings. During the Festivities, the whole of Hluk is alive with a several-day program composed for a wide range of lovers of singing, dancing, brass bands, good food, drink and folklore. The surrounding vineyards and orchards are a reservoir for refreshments and amusement not only during the Festivities, but also throughout the rest of the year. Hluk is known mainly for the production of wine, slivovitz and as a hatchery for young musicians. Not only Hluk itself, but its wide surroundings are a rich folklore area, where perhaps every village has its own distinctive costume, its customs and its dialect, according to which they can be accurately distinguished with a little attention, even if they are only a few kilometers apart . Although Hluk is the youngest town in the Slovácko region, its history is richer and dates back to at least the 13th century, as evidenced by the medieval fortress, which is one of the town’s landmarks.

Today’s troop of riders must get acquainted with horseback riding , because it is no longer the same as in the past that they ride their own horses. The boys must choose someone who will be their king and also whom they will entrust with what function in the retinue. The pages usually and the king generally ride white horses and are disguised in festive women’s costumes with ribbons on their heads. Other riders are dressed in men’s costumes. In the right boots of high boots, the riders have poles with red or orange “Turkish” scarves. In the morning, the riders , accompanied by brass music (so far without shouting), arrive at the house of the king’s parents, where they ask for their consent. A similar ceremony follows in front of the town hall, during which they ask the mayor of the town for permission to hold the Ride of the Kings. Only then can they go around the city through the main streets with a massive shout. The king has his face covered with ribbons and holds a rose in his mouth as a sign of silence. The pages ride with their sabers naked and guard the king. If the king was robbed of the retinue by boys from a nearby village, it would be a great shame and a ransom in the form of wine or beer would have to come . However, it was more likely, but it used to be the other way around, that is , the people of Hluč themselves kidnapped the king somewhere in the vicinity and demanded a reward for his release. The “beggars” are equipped with wicker baskets to store gifts for summoning. Goods in liquid form, such as wine or plum brandy, are not stored anywhere, but consumed directly on the spot. A typical element of horse decoration in the Heart Noise is on the horse’s chest, which is further decorated with paper roses and ribbons woven into the mane.

After the lunch break, there is a festive and massive costumed procession, in which the Ride of the Kings is again included and everyone comes and comes together to the stadium, where the festivities culminate in an extensive program. The festivities have always been a manifestation of the activities of ethnographic enthusiasts, who organized not only the Ride of the Kings, but also costume parades and other events as an interesting and effective contribution to the treasury of national culture and to strengthen patriotic feelings and regional awareness. Thousands of satisfied visitors not only from far and wide, but from many parts of the world (including natives living overseas ) always experience unique moments during the Festivities, which are not immediately forgotten.

Helfenburk u Úštěka is a ruined castle from the 14th century, about 3 km from the town of Úštěk in the Litoměřice district. Since 1964, it has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. It was built on the top of a sandstone promontory, which runs into the wooded valley of the Hrádecký důl mine at an altitude of 310 meters with an elevation of 70 meters above the bottom

Malenovice Castle was founded in the 2nd half of the 14th century by the Moravian margrave Jan Jindřich. In the following centuries, it underwent several reconstructions, which turned the original Gothic medieval castle into a Renaissance chateau-type residence, later modified in the Baroque style. Until the middle of the 20th century, the castle retained its residential and administrative function. Part of the castle is open to the public. Visitors can see, for example, a painted hall with a late Gothic vault and preserved inscriptions from the 1st half of the 16th century. A home chapel with paintings from the middle of the 18th century, and the castle tower is also accessible. In recent years, the service for visitors at the castle has improved significantly – the castle has a newly renovated bailey with modern sanitary facilities and drink and snack vending machines. 

Kunovice is located on the Olšava River, in the immediate vicinity of Uherské Hradiště and near the popular tourist destination – the Bata Canal. The city is mainly known for the production of aircraft – the famous L 410, whose production has been restored in Kunovice, flies literally all over the world. The local rich aviation history is also commemorated by a unique open-air aviation museum. You will find machines that were produced directly in the Kunovice factory, but also civilian and military aircraft from abroad – MiGs, Sukhoi, Ilyushins or the Mi-4 helicopter. You can also see some of the local exhibits from the inside – such as the legendary Tupolev TU-154M government aircraft, which brought gold hockey players from the Olympics in Nagano.

However, Kunovice is not just about planes. People here live a rich cultural life, of which you can also taste a piece – for example, at the feast (at the end of September), the international children’s folklore festival Kunovské léto (in the second half of June) or the famous Ride of the Kings, which is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List and takes place in Kunovice every even year at the end of May. You can also visit the Ride of the Kings area, where you can see information panels dedicated to this tradition or rent various sports equipment and spend the day actively.

The Church of St. Peter and Paul, whose image is immortalized on a commemorative coin, is one of the most important monuments in the town. Its history probably goes deeper than 1517, when Jan of Kunovice was forced to keep his promise and build a church in the village. Another reconstruction took place in the years 1759–1761, when it was enlarged and a tower with a sacristy was added. The church has preserved this form to this day. There are two bells in the tower – Mary (620 kg) and St. Joseph (340 kg).

Other monuments in Kunovice include the Panský dvůr, which houses a business incubator and restaurant, and a monument house.

In short, you will never be bored in Kunovice.

Bratislava Castle is a set of buildings in a historical area that occupies the top of a hill on the southwestern promontory of the ridge on the left bank of the Danube  River in Bratislava. The castle is dominated by the monumental building of the  former royal palace , forming an inseparable panorama of the capital of the Slovak Republic. 

Bratislava Castle was declared a National Cultural Monument in 1961