Melnik, home of Bohemian princes

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Melnik is located at the confluence of the Labe (Elbe), Vlata, and Pruplav rivers. This is where Vaclav (“Good King” Wenceslas) converted to Christianity. Charles IV introduced grapes from Burgundy, and wine production became the major industry.


The town square.


An ancient tower, part of the original city walls.


River traffic was once so congested that traffic lights were introduced.


Kat and James amongst the vines.


sv Petr and Pavel church has an ossuary ''filled with over 10,000 bones of medieval plague victims, fashioned into weird and wonderful shapes by students around a hundred years ago.'' So says our guidebook, unfortunately we did not see for ourselves because the old woman who lets people in was nowhere to be found on this early morning in the off season.


Inside the church.


James pointed out the Masonic eye in the pyramid.


Entering the castle. This Renaissance era zamek (chateau) is now back in the hands of its aristocratic owners and filled with artefacts and paintings returned to the family since 1989. The Lobokowicz family has turned the facility into a museum.


The courtyard. We were not allowed to take pictures inside.

South to Prague

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