Located in the Bohemia region of Czech Republic, Pilsen (Plzen in Czech) is one underrated European city that has plenty of delightful surprises up its sleeves. It is also the largest city in West Bohemia and is the 4th largest in the country. Pilsen may not enjoy the same popularity as the capital Prague, but it has proven to be a worthwhile destination. In fact, the city was declared as a capital of culture and is set to host more than 600 events in 2015.

If the name of Pilsen sounds familiar, that’s because you probably have heard it so many times before. One of the most famous types of beer in the world: Pilsener (pilsner), is named after the city where it was invented! The tradition of brewing beer in Pilsen goes all the way back to when it was founded in 1295. To say that the city has plenty of beer-related attractions is clearly an understatement. The Historical Underground should be definitely on the list of the top sites to check out! The site features a set of tunnels originally built in the 13th century to become storage for food and a production site for beer.

You should also consider visiting Pilsner Urquell Brewery, the largest of its kind in the country. Here, you can go for an exciting guided tour and witness how the city’s most famous lager brand is produced. If you are a big fan of beer, there is also the Brewery Museum worth exploring. The museum highlights not only the history of beer in the city but also the intricate process of brewing! Every middle of September, Pilsen becomes the host to the Slunce ve Skle Festival, which features the smaller boutique beer breweries that try to make it big in the country and internationally. And if you can’t make it to the brewery, drop by some traditional pubs like Senk Na Parkanu to try out the Pilsner Urquell’s unfiltered, unpasteurized version. They say it is quite the drink!

But beer is not the only thing that’s interesting about Pilsen. Aside from the famous alcohol, the city also has some notable attractions to offer to tourists. If you only have a few hours of exploring, then you can’t go wrong with wandering around the city’s historic square. This is the beating heart of Pilsen, and is home to stunning buildings. One of the must-see architecture in the square is the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, which dominates the city’s skyline. Completed in the early 16th century, this Gothic cathedral has been declared a national monument. One of its most prized possessions is the argillite sculpture called “Pilsen Madonna” situated on the main altar.

Other outstanding structures found in the historic square include the 17th century plague column, the Renaissance style Town Hall, the Imperial House, the Diocese building, the Great Theater, the Great Synagogue, the park ring and the Burgher’s Hall, all worthy of your time.

From Prague, you can conveniently take a train or a bus to reach Pilsen. To travel by rail, go to Prague’s main station, where trains to Pilsen leave on an hourly basis. Buses, on the other hand, leave from Prague’s metro station called Zlicín. The journey between cities takes about an hour and 40 minutes. Pilsen is also accessible by train from Munich and other parts of Germany.