European city perfect for Christmas breaks and cosy spa days | World | News

A stunning Czech city is the perfect destination for a festive market break, as well as a base for visiting a gorgeous spa town compared to Bath.

Prague is a well-established favourite among holidaymakers keen on a particularly Christmassy winter getaway, with its famous markets opening on December 2 in the Czech capital’s stunning Old Town.

All around you’ll find iconic architecture including the Old Town Hall and Astronomical clock and the gothic granduer of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn.

The Times named the city’s yuletide offering as among the most affordable in Europe, pointing to the low of accomodation and flights.

The outlet gushed over the “scent of cinnamon” in the air as people walk through the “brightly decorated food and craft stalls”, and recommended the chunky sausages and svarak, the Czechs‘ answer to mulled wine.

According to The Independent, the city is also a great base from which to visit Karlovy Vary in western Czechia, with spa resorts beloved by celebrities.

The city is around an hour and half drive away – or nearly four hours on the train – and has become one of Czechia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Karlovy Vary is known for its grand colonnades, long sequences of columns joined by their entablature, or central structures in the middle.

And its fair to say the West Bohemian resort has a wealth of options for any lover of great architecture and top notch spas and springs.

Stand-out spots include the Market Colonnade, a 19th-century Swiss chalet-style wooden building and the Mill Colonnade, designed by architect Josef Ztek in 1881 which is the largest in the city and and houses five mineral springs.

Meanwhile, Friedrich Ohmann’s Art Nouveau creation, the Castle Colonnade, is both a public space and the Castle Spa, with The Park Colonnade in Dvoák’s Park showcases the Hadí pramen or Snake Spring.

At The Hot Spring Colonnade, designed by Jaroslav Otruba in 1975, in the spa centre, you’ll find the city’s Hot Spring with a water temperature of 72C.

The town is also known for its rich cultural scene, including the annual Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

And if you’re looking for stunning views, the Diana Lookout Tower allows you to take in the beauty of the city’s skyline at the top-rated attraction on TripAdvisor.

There you’ll find a 100-year-old old restaurant, a forest terrace, butterfly house and even a mini-zoo, according to the travel review website.

Though Karlovy Vary has an international airport, KLV, it’s international links are limited, meaning a visit to Prague makes for a great destination from which to visit this stunning spa city.