Last Updated on April 23, 2023
Whenever we explore more of the Czech Republic, I berate myself for not doing it more often.
Take, for example, our recent day trip to Pίsek – a handsome town in Southern Bohemia. By venturing around an hour and twenty minutes from our home in Prague, we not only found a place brimming with colourful, Baroque buildings, but also a town which contained the oldest stone bridge in the Czech Republic (step aside Charles Bridge), and a staggeringly wonderful children’s museum.
It seemed ridiculous we hadn’t visited before. And even more surprising that no-one we knew had either. Pίsek, it would seem, is something of a well-kept secret.
The Children’s Museum
Housed across three floors of an old malthouse, there is plenty to entertain tots through to primary-aged children.
Along with playing in storybook worlds, there is the chance to get creative in a large arts and crafts studio. Then, in the basement, there is a huge anthill-themed play area; my two children adored clambering around here, rolling giants eggs through tunnels and down slides.
The temporary exhibition, about the life of bees, is also a hands-on delight – with a honeycomb maze filled with activities.
To give you a real glimpse of what a surprising and magical place it is – here’s a short video of our highlights:
Need to know:
· For details of opening times and admission prices, visit sladovna.cz
· It would be easy to spend most of the day at the museum. It is possible to leave – for lunch and a walk around the town – and then re-enter later with a valid ticket.
· On Wednesday, Fridays and weekends there are additional workshops running throughout the day. These can be reserved (rezervace@sladovna.cz or +420 387 999 997) or you can see if there are any available slots on arrival at reception. The day we visited, the workshops weren’t running. It may be a good idea to email in advance if you plan to bring along non-Czech speakers, to check if this is possible.
· Within the Malthouse, there is also the RODAS Candle and Soap Manufacture workshop. Here you can design and make candles, soaps and crayons. Entry is free, payment is for materials. With so many other distractions we ran out of time to visit – much to my children’s disappointment.
Exploring Pίsek
For a medium-sized Czech town, Pίsek has a lot to offer. Not only is there the famed stone bridge to potter across, but Town Island (Městský ostrov) features a playground and small minigolf course. On top of this, Palacký Gardens is a pretty green space in town which has a small play area and is home to cultural events in the summer.
For a comprehensive guide to Pίsek’s attractions and other museums, have a look at www.visitpisek.cz
Hunger Pangs?
Coffee at Kavárnička Hella in Pisek
For lunch, we opted for a short stroll across the stone bridge to Kozlovna u Plechandy – a Czech restaurant with good food, friendly service and a kid’s menu. If you fancy something with a bit more spice, Indická Restaurace Tandoor also comes recommended. Alternatively, on a good weather day, Restaurace Ostrov is close to Town Island’s playground.
Opposite Sladovna Children’s Museum, there is also a choice of cafes. For our post-museum snack, we went for a drink and yummy slice of cake at Kavárnička Hella. Kaférna, around the corner, also gets rave reviews. Whereas, Soho Café has a small children’s corner.
The original branch of the classic Czech bakery – Emil Gaigher – is also in Pίsek. If you have a craving for one of their cream cakes, be sure to check its limited opening hours.
Getting there
Pίsek is around 1 hour and twenty minutes’ drive from Prague. There are lots of affordable parking spots around town. We parked here.
If you are travelling by public transport, Flixbus and RegioJet both offer regular bus services between Prague to Pίsek, which take around an hour and a half. In this case, the bus seems to be much faster than the train.
Pίsek is also a good stop off point on the way from Prague to the historic town of Česky Krumlov or to the resorts on Lake Lipno. We haven’t been yet, but Lipno Lake Resort – with its self-catering apartments and heated children’s pool – always sounds like a tempting getaway.
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