CZECH IN TO A BREWERY HOTEL

Czech In to a Brewery Hotel

Friday, May 21, 2010, 12:14 PM | Subscribe to the magazine

Source Article: The Czech Republic's New Brewery Hotels

In the Czech Republic, the hilltop town of Stříbro is located a scenic two-and-a-half-hour train ride north from Prague. It's a great place to find authentic beer. (Evan Rail)
Stříbro's labyrinthine lanes and alleys will eventually lead you to the black-capped tower of the photogenic town hall. (Evan Rail)
This Bohemian town of 8,000 residents features an intact medieval bašta, or fort, near still-standing 600-year-old city walls. Farther on, cross a Gothic-era stone bridge that spans the Mže River. (Evan Rail)
Opening the 3-year-old U Rybiček (ooh-rib-ee-check) entailed the renovation of a stone house dating from the 13th century. (Evan Rail)
At the hotel's pub, grab a table next to gleaming copper brewing kettles or sit alfresco in the beer garden. The lagers are made from fresh Czech hops and are made on-site. (Courtesy U Rybiček)
There's a wine bar, too. For dinner, try halušky, a type of house-made noodles served with piles of tangy sauerkraut and chunks of juicy ham. (Courtesy U Rybiček)
The hotel's nine guest rooms are furnished in a minimalist style. The living area for one of its suites has plain pine furniture, bright-blue bathroom tiles, and silence-preserving wall-to-wall carpets. (Evan Rail)
A standard guest room at U Rybiček starts at about $50 per night. (Evan Rail)
The great brewing town of Plzeň is the birthplace of pilsner. It's also home to Purkmistr, a brewery hotel. (Courtesy Purkmistr)
The Purkmistr hosts one of the country's best craft-beer festivals one Saturday in mid-September each year. (Courtesy Purkmistr)
The 32-room Purkmistr was completely restored in 2007. It originally dates from 1603. (Courtesy Purkmistr)
The hotel Zámek Zábřeh is located in the northeastern Moravian city of Ostrava. In 2007, owners converted 16th-century Zábřeh château into this hotel and brewpub. (Courtesy Zámek Zábřeh)
What could be more relaxing than bathing in…beer? (Courtesy Zámek Zábřeh)
Zámek Zábřeh's restaurant is decorated with period antiques and exposed beams dating back centuries. (Courtesy Zámek Zábřeh)