Czech Musical Exploration

Czech Musical Exploration Overview

This new tour, running 3 - 14 Sep 2025, introduces the country which gave birth to Janáček, Smetana, Dvořák, Martinů - and Mahler! We visit birthplaces and walk in the countryside that inspired these great musicians. We end in Brno, the Republic’s second city, where our centrally based hotel is ideal for an exploration of this capital of Moravia.

After landing in Vienna, a brief drive will cross the formality-free border into the Czech Republic where we spend two nights in the heart of Liechtenstein architecture with chateaux, towering churches, follies, castles, a UNESCO heritage Riding Hall - and a minaret!

Next, we venture into the ‘other half’ of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, where we stay in the extensive square of Litomyšl, the birthplace of Bedřich Smetana, famous for the “Battered” Bride and the Kiss. His father was the local brewery master in a castle which showcases the art of Renaissance sgraffito decoration and features an arcaded internal courtyard.

We visit a museum dedicated to Bohuslav Martinů in Polička, founded in 1265 and surrounded by massive, fortified walls originally erected in the 14th century. Martinů, who produced almost 400 pieces, was born in the tower of St. Jakub church where his father, the local shoemaker and church sexton, was allowed to live.

Our next stop is Olomouc, the former co-capital of Moravia, the other half, with Bohemia, of our Czech Republic and Ostrava, the industrial heartland of the Austro-Hapsburg Empire where Dvořák has an opera house named after him and situated above a former coal mine.

The next stop is Janáček’s birthplace where a charming museum displays early pictures of this operatic composer before we spend one night in his favourite spa town where he indulged his obsession for one particular member of the fairer sex.