The theme of souvenirs is always relevant, because it is so nice to give them to relatives and friends. From a trip, many try to bring something traditional, reminiscent of their stay in a particular country or city. The Czech Republic attracts with its magical architectural monuments, sparsely populated streets, colorful landscapes and incredibly colorful local cuisine. But what to bring from the Czech Republic to proudly show to friends, put on a shelf by the fireplace or wear as decoration? There is everything in this country, besides, the trip will turn out to be rich in impressions and vivid emotions. It is not necessary to include fantasy, just go to one of the stalls, where everything is already on the shelves. Today, the Czech Republic has become famous not only for its beautiful castles, but also for its amazing shops that can satisfy even the most sophisticated shopaholic.

Karlovy Vary waffles

Delicious and light Oplatky waffles are a nice souvenir for a sweet tooth. This is a national flour product made in the form of a large coin. They consist of two or more halves, and inside they are smeared with a delicious filling. Although the composition is indicated on each package, no one is going to disclose the proportions and other tricks. Rumor has it that it is the curative Karlovy Vary mineral water that gives these sweets their unique taste. The recipe itself was wanted to be taken to Germany, but after lengthy proceedings, the court recognized that only the Czech Republic has the right to produce this product.

The latest Payments are sold at low prices in the center of Karlovy Vary. It is here that even medical waffles are baked according to a special recipe. The multilayer design resembles a waffle cake, and is cut according to the same principle. Payments have more than 15 different fillings: banana, coffee, chocolate and even liquor and others. On top of them there is a stamp of a confectionery. Interestingly, there is still no true recipe for payments on the Internet, so you can try a real culinary creation only here.

Забронировать индивидуальный трансфер от аэропорта до вашего отеля за 2 012 RUB

Pardubice gingerbread

In Pardubice, gingerbread and gingerbread houses have been made according to a secret recipe for over a hundred years. This sweet and tasty product is made from dough with the addition of syrup, sugar and honey. Thanks to such spices as coriander, anise and pepper, Pardubice gingerbread has an appetizing taste and unusual aroma. They are covered with chocolate or icing and painted by hand using confectionery pencils. The decoration is decorative ornaments and inscriptions made in the language of the Czech people.

Often, honey sweets are created in the form of a heart, flowers and animals in factories or confectioneries. They are sold in fair shops everywhere. They are so skillfully painted with colored glaze that one cannot even believe that this beauty was produced by a human hand. Gingerbread houses are especially popular with tourists and locals. They are so bright and beautiful that it is simply impossible to pass by these multi-colored designs.

Trdelnik

The word “trdelnik” means “fool”, and implies that the customer was fooled into buying pastries without filling. But there are no disappointments in this delicacy. Trdelnik is a delicious yeast dough shaped like a tube spring. They are cooked on specific charcoal skewers and sold empty or with mouth-watering fillings. The filling is different: from cream, ice cream, fruit jam, Nutella chocolate paste. Top dough is decorated with nuts, powder or vanilla.

Local sweets, like most Czech dishes, are very tasty. They are sold in the central squares, in pastry shops and are the main attribute of all holidays. According to an old tradition, these sweet buns decorate the Christmas table, and are also baked on Christmas Eve and on the Day of St. George the Victorious. During folk festivals, they are given to small children and women in childbirth. Entire trays of steaming muffins are put out on the streets, which can be eaten right hot.

Germelin cheese

In traditional Czech cuisine, cheeses are almost in the first place. They are added to almost all dishes, marinated with spices or onions with a large abundance of oil, and they are also eaten with dry wine and beer. When you want to please your loved ones with a delicious present, you can buy hermelin. This soft, fat white variety with a moldy surface is very reminiscent of Camembert. It is characterized by the fact that during aging deep furrows are obtained inside the head.

If you translate “Hermelin”, it will sound like an ermine, and this is not accidental. This gastronomic delicacy was considered truly royal, and it got its name in honor of the mantle of the rulers, sewn from snow-white expensive fur. In the old days, only rich Czechs could afford it, but now it is sold in many supermarkets and specialized stores.

This cheese product deserves to be taken home. In addition, well-known chefs and gourmets claim that you can feel all the aromatic and gustatory properties of Germelin only by betraying it with heat treatment. The smell and taste appear when baking, frying or grilling it.

Beer

Rumors about delicious Czech beer spread all over the world. More than 120 breweries have been built in the country, the products of which have passed a strict audit and have a special distinction – Ceske pivo. This mark applies to products only within the republic, but it is prohibited by law to use it in industries outside of it.

Authentic Czech beer is characterized by an intense taste with little bitterness. It is brewed exclusively from high-quality raw materials, so it does not contain third-party flavors. Popular brands: Pilsner Urquell, Velkopopovicky Kozel, Staropramen, Gambrinus, Radegast, Starobrno. During tours of the Krusovice brewery, tourists are offered not only a tasting of all varieties of the famous beer, but also original mugs for it.

Some breweries have colorful kits that consist of small containers and other accessories. In gift options, among other things, there is a small booklet and an opener. It is worth recalling that each type of beer has a different shelf life, so not all bottles with intoxicating contents are suitable for a souvenir.

Becherovka

No less popular drink is Becherovka liqueur. In the Czech Republic there is a Becherovka Museum, where you can learn the whole history of this drink. Initially, these were drops for the stomach, invented in 1807 by the pharmacist Josef Becher. A little later, Becher's son Jan turned the drops into a popular liquor. Today it is traded in 35 countries of the world. It has a bittersweet taste and is sold not only in stores, but also in bars and restaurants. The tincture is prepared for about 2-3 months and has a strength of 38%. Infused with 20 medicinal herbs, it is considered the best remedy for digestion.

The Czechs themselves call the Becherovka plant the thirteenth source of Karlovy Vary. For many years, the original recipe was carefully kept by the Becher family, and now in the Czech Republic it is the No. 1 alcoholic drink, like vodka in Russia. Herbal tincture is drunk in its pure form as an aperitif or added to tea or coffee. Cocktails are made from it, the recipe of which is truly impressive. There are currently 4 varieties of this masterpiece on sale.

Slivovitsa

Czech Slivovice is a real queen in the realm of alcoholic beverages. It expresses the traditions of the local population and is liked by visiting tourists. The strength of slivovitz varies between 45-72%, and it tastes like moonshine or brandy. The drink is made on the basis of plum juice. Mature unpeeled plums are placed in the container and water is added. Fermentation lasts about 2 months, then the mixture is distilled in two stages. Some manufacturers make pitted slivovitz, but in this case it turns out not so fragrant.

The most prominent brands under which this aperitif is made are: Zufanek, Bozkov, R.Jelinek. You can buy it to sample at any grocery store. In souvenir shops there is a collection version with an exposure of 5-7 years in a beautiful gift box. The liquid itself can be both transparent and golden in color. A darker color is achieved when it is aged in oak barrels. The aperitif has a pleasant soft aftertaste, in which notes of fragrant ripe plums are traced – a hangover after it is tolerated quite easily.

Medications

Prices in Czech pharmacies are lower than the EU average, and no one has ever complained about the quality of medicines. When entering the republic, some insurances can partially cover the cost of medicines if you have a prescription. In hospitals, except in rare cases, you will not have to pay. A doctor can order medicines on demand personally at any pharmacy in the city by phone. In addition, there is an online delivery of medicines. There are no advertisements for medicines on television, and there are no advertisements in pharmacies either. This is prohibited by law.

Everything is hidden out of sight, which means it is better to know the names in advance. You can speak with sellers in English, although Czech is very similar to Russian. When buying medicines, a doctor's prescription is almost always required, and it is also not accepted here to ask the pharmacist for advice about one's illnesses. There are not many 24-hour pharmacies in the country. Almost every Saturday and Sunday they have a day off, and on Friday they work for a short time.

Cosmetics

The production of cosmetic products on a national scale began to be engaged in 1740 at the behest of Queen Maria Theresa of Bohemia. Then, on her orders, a cosmetic manufactory was opened in Karlovy Vary. Today, all Europeans actively use these funds, only in the CIS they know little about it. Scrubs, creams, shampoos, gels and perfumes will be a wonderful gift for lovely ladies. Inexpensive prices for cosmetics are due to the fact that this land has everything for its own production: raw materials, mineral waters and salts, as well as a favorable geographical position.

To create high-quality natural cosmetics, ingredients traditional for this region are used here. For example, taking wine or grapes as a basis, they produce all kinds of gels and creams that perfectly moisturize the skin, help reduce stretch marks and cellulite. Beer-based products are good for hair, so you should seriously consider buying a shampoo and conditioner based on malt and hops. Hemp series – helps with eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

Clothing and footwear

If you want to indulge in shopping for the whole day, then many recommend visiting mega-malls: Palladium, Novy Smichov, Palac Flora and Kotva. As for footwear, it has been known since the days of the Soviet Union. Tourists who have seen the views have already acquired a couple of high-quality Czech “cherevichki”, and some of them manage to carry them in almost wholesale lots. But first of all, the Czechs themselves wear their own shoes. The most famous factory is CEBO, followed by Bata. It is with these names that Russians associate beauty, quality, and convenience for centuries.

Tonak hats

The Tonak company is one of the largest headwear manufacturers in the world. Today, a third of the produced assortment is exported to the main European countries. And it all started in 1799 with a hat shop that Johan Hückel deigned to open in the old town of Neu-Titschein. Since that time, the words “quality” and “original design” have gone hand in hand with the Tonak name.

At all times, Tonak hats were worn by the upper strata of society. Products are made from natural raw materials: goat wool, rabbit down, and other materials. These signature headwear have become a stylish accessory for men and women of all generations and nationalities. The factory produces not only hats, but also caps, berets, various kinds of fezzes, as well as hat blanks. Wenceslas Square in Prague is a real “hat paradise” with a huge variety of shapes, sizes and shades.

Puppets

At the turn of the 18th century, puppets were made by hand for popular street performances at the time. Two centuries later, plaster and wooden toys themselves turned into objects of art. Czech masters pride themselves on their ability to make toy caricatures, and for many this business has now grown into a family business. The characters of historical events and fairy tales, “famous” in the Czech Republic, come to life, one has only to pull the strings.

Any puppet will be an interesting gift for a child, and also suitable for home decor. The price of such a toy depends on its size. Good quality dolls can cost more than 100 euros. Hand toys come across everywhere, in every corner of squares and streets. Clowns, witches, princesses and dwarfs are dressed in colorful costumes and ready for home puppet shows.

Mole

Who would have thought that a mole from a cartoon from the times of the USSR is a favorite character of the Czechs and one of the main symbols of the Czech Republic! On this cartoon, more than one generation of children has grown up, who have long become adults. Big-eyed Krtek settled on every street in the Czech Republic, more than enough. Soft toys in colorful knitted hats will please the child and become a real surprise for any holiday.

The muzzle of Krotek is so popular that it is available on all souvenir products: caps, T-shirts, satchels, mugs, postcards, magnets and key rings. The fat mole, created by cartoonist Miller, is made of wood or plastic. It can easily cause a storm of positive emotions for both the giver and the recipient of the present. The price of such a toy is quite small, but the pleasure from such a purchase will be really great.

Wooden Toys

From a trip, you can bring educational games made of wood that develop imagination and fine motor skills in children. Maybe for someone it will be a surprise, but the country is famous for the production of wooden toys. They are very popular among tourists, which is why Chinese fakes have appeared on sale. They are much cheaper, so you need to look at both during the purchase.

Today, the company Detoa is engaged in the production and sale of traditional wooden toys. Multi-colored wood products are environmentally friendly and completely harmless. These simple items can shape the imagination and encourage kids to explore the world around them and make new discoveries. Toy heroes, cubes, little animals will give the child joy and a whole sea of pleasure. And for adults, fascinating puzzles are well suited.

Koh-i-Noor pencils

This gift can be given to children and relatives involved in creativity. At home, he certainly does not stay with anyone. We are talking about the Koh-i-Noor trademark, which has gained fame in more than 80 countries around the world. The stationery of this company first appeared in Austria, and now the main branch has moved to the Czech Republic. It all started with a nondescript simple pencil, and today Kohinoor stationery has more than 5 thousand items. All things are of the highest quality, and, to top it all, are convenient and practical to use.

During Soviet times, Koh-i-Noor was in short supply in Russia, but occasionally appeared in shop windows. Every student dreamed of having in his arsenal a box of pencils of varying degrees of hardness. There was always a snow-white pencil in the package, which no one found use for. In fact, it was intended for drawing on black paper. Pencils draw incomparably to this day, and the stylus does not crack or break when sharpened. By the way, you can buy them at a nice price.

Czech pomegranate

Tourists often stop their eyes on luxurious pomegranate jewelry. This is no accident! It's all about the energy of the stone – it's an ornament, a symbol and at the same time a talisman. He will gladly do good service to certain signs of the zodiac. When buying this stone, some experts recommend avoiding antique shops so as not to pick up the energy of the former owner. In no case should you steal it, otherwise everything will end badly for the thief.

The stone itself, in terms of color and parameters, resembles a pomegranate seed. An expensive stone has more than 50 facets, at the same time, a cheap one does not manage even 12. The garnet is ranked among the Bohemian jewelry stones and conquered the whole world with its beauty and grace. In Turnov, where garnet is mined, there is a small museum and a jewelry store where tourists can buy a real stone, confirmed by a certificate. A network of branded stores called “Cesky granat” also guarantees authenticity.

Vltavin

Very little is known about this mineral. This is a bottle green volcanic glass stone. It doesn't look cheap at all. Indigenous craftsmen often exploit this semi-precious stone to create unique creations, enclosing it in a silver frame. It is mined only in the south of the country, on the territory of the Vltava. It is most profitable to buy certified masterpieces from Vltavin in highly specialized stores in the Czech Republic.

The stone itself is quite rare and green. These properties of it are very popular with many psychics and fortune-tellers. It is somewhat reminiscent of jade. Natural emerald color accumulates vitality and is suitable for meditation. Many legends and restrictions are associated with the stone. For example, he treats migraines, but you can't swim in a Vltavin pendant so as not to drown. According to legend, these are the smallest fragments of a meteorite that once fell to the ground. Tellingly, air bubbles inside the stone could only form under conditions corresponding to a height of 25 km above the earth's surface. So the story is quite realistic.

Crystal and glass

Bohemian glass can be called one of the hallmarks of this ancient region. For the first time they started talking about it in 1162, and in the Middle Ages, the so-called blown Bohemian glass was already sold in full swing in France, Flanders, Saxony. The ancient technology is used to this day and pleases everyone with its unsurpassed quality. Czech craftsmen create smooth cast, polished and even colored crystal.

This is a very painstaking work that requires some skill. The most beautiful are crystal objects with gilding and molding. Such works of art look simply royal and will make any holiday luxurious. In order not to bring a fake, the product should be checked for crystal clearness.

Real crystal is not cloudy, does not contain any inclusions or air bubbles. The crystal product is always heavy, and when tapped on it with a pen, the ringing lasts at least 4 seconds. It is the sound that is the main criterion when choosing a good glass. It is usually enough to run a wet finger along the edge of the product. If you hear a characteristic long ringing – this is nothing but crystal.

Porcelain

Like all creations of this wonderful region, Czech porcelain is known all over the world for its divine quality, unique beauty and style. This is a real souvenir that will last for decades and will bring joy to its owner. The products of the Karlovarsky Porcelan and Starorolsky Porzellan concerns deserve attention. Here they make amazing coffee pots, butter dishes, tureens and cutlery sets, which are not inferior in quality to goods from England and Japan.

Bohemian porcelain is distinguished from other manufacturers by its inimitable decor and onion-style patterns. It is made of environmentally friendly materials and painted with natural paints. Milky-white thin sets are decorated with bright blue designs, and under a thin layer of glaze, a barely noticeable brand of the manufacturer is usually visible. The ornament is made precisely, qualitatively, with equally symmetrical lines and curlicues. Even in the color palette you can feel the corporate identity — the patterns are always bright, clear, incredibly beautiful.

Mikov knives

In 1794, the first blades with the label Mikov were published. Rumors about this miraculous weapon quickly spread throughout Europe. Soon the masters had orders of international level. During the Second World War, during the occupation, the production of knives was reduced, and the enterprise was reorganized for the military needs of the Third Reich. It was not until 1955 that production revived and turned into a giant concern. Even today, with its Solingen weapons factory, Germany orders multi-purpose blades in the Czech Republic.

The automatic knives of this company have become especially famous. Even an ignorant person recognizes unusual multi-subject models. To create this edged weapon, decorative overlays made of precious woods, horns, and bones are used. A special flat spring makes it a throw-out, and if you remove it, it will turn into a regular type knife. Such a gift, and even in a leather case, will be an excellent alternative to some beer or brandy. In addition, the Mikov company has a considerable range of its original products.