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The Sazava Monastery, which shares its name with the town and river Sazava, was declared a national cultural monument in 1962 by the Czechoslovak state. It is one of the oldest and best preserved monasteries in all of Bohemia. It is also important as an early cultural bridge between the eastern and western branches of the church and because of its use of the Old Slavonic, the first written Slavic language.

Southern Bohemia is home to some of the most beautiful and idyllic destinations in the Czech Republic - from the historic town of Tabor to the jewel that is Cesky Krumlov. One destination in the area, somewhat lesser-known but also attractive that you might consider visiting, is Bechyne, located around forty kilometres from Tabor. Found on a dramatic promontory, the town of just 6,000 features an historic monastery, a fantastic fifty-metre high bridge that spans the nearby Luznice River, and the oldest ceramics school in the country. It may not

In this week's edition of Spotlight, join Dita Asiedu as she is given a tour of the Mendel Museum in the Moravian capital of Brno. The Museum is located in the Augustinian Monastery, where Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884) conducted his famous inheritance experiments thanks to which he is now known as the Father of Genetics.

In this edition of Spotlight,we visit the south-east Moravian town of Zlin, a city famous for its footwear and film industries as well as for its rich heritage of folk culture and traditional music.

Anyone longing to escape the Czech capital in the stifling summer months would do well to visit the nearby Kokorin region - only around 40 kilometres or so northeast of Prague. Kokorin - with deep forests, valleys, as well as characteristic sandstone cliffs and unique architecture, is remarkable. You'll feel you've travelled more than one short train or bus ride away. It's an escape back to nature, with numerous spots for swimming and excellent trails for hiking, all in quiet and peace.

For this edition of Spotlight I have come to the Narodni hrebcin, or National Stud, at Kladruby in central Bohemia. Here, by the banks of the River Elbe, unique Old Kladruber horses have been bred for over 400 years.

The countryside you'll see on a drive down to Cesky Krumlov makes the trip worth the gas money. Roll over the hillsides along the E-55 highway - some are bright green with grass, others are golden canola fields that stretch for miles. The views make the three hour trip pass quickly, and give you high expectations when you pull into the old South Bohemian town. Expectations that the town exceeds.

The small, picturesque town of Ceska Kamenice is situated in northern Bohemia, about 105 km away from Prague. It is a late gothic town on the river Kamenice, where three protected landscapes - the Lusatian Mountains, Czech Switzerland and the Bohemian Central Highlands - meet. Despite its modest population of 5,500, the town has 34 monuments, the care of which earned it the title "Historic Town of the Year" for 2005.

The North Bohemian town of Litomerice has long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the Czech Republic's most beautiful sites. Founded roughly 1,000 years ago, Litomerice lies in one of the Czech Republic's hilliest ranges on the confluence of the Elbe and Ohre Rivers. The town's beginnings were originally a Slavonic fort overseeing a number of small municipalities, later replaced by a castle and emerging town in the 11th century.

With the arrival of spring in the Czech Republic the tourist season is beginning to slowly re-awaken and with it a favourite Czech pastime - visiting the country's many castles and chateaux with family and friends. In that spirit today we visit the royal castle of Krivoklat - a most remarkable site with a history that stretches back to the 12th century. Found on a promontory of rolling hills overlooking deep woodlands, Krivoklat was a favourite of King Wenceslas IV. He used it primarily for leisure and sport, preferring it to his father's more