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If there were a capital city of legendry in the Czech Republic, the town of Nepomuk would be a hot contestant for the honour. There are said to be graves that glow when someone’s about to die, a landscape littered with the petrified cattle of a greedy pagan and the ghost of an evil musketeer who walks the earth with the still-ferocious spectre of his dog. The official population of Nepomuk may be 3,700, but that’s only if you count the living.

Zbiroh Chateau has stood on its hill between the Křivoklátské and Brdy Forests since the 12th century, a beautiful thing, wistfully recalled in the famous melody by Václav Vačkář, “A Memory of Zbiroh”. Until recently, memories of Zbiroh were just about all anyone had, because the chateau and its many treasures and mysteries were strictly sealed off for most of the 20th century. The memory of its illustrious history is only resurfacing today.

What are the origins of the Czechs? Where did they start out? The cultural anthropologist would tell you there is no clear answer. The patriot however would tell you the answer is as clear as day, or in this case, as clear as a mountain: a famous one outside of Prague that has played a special role in the history of Czechs, and it’s called Říp.

One of the best kept secrets among Czech castles and historic sites is the gorgeous Kozel Chateau founded in the late 18th century in western Bohemia. Founded by nobleman Jan Vojtěch Černín, a member of Emperor Joseph II’s court, the stone residence served an as exquisite hunting chateau and today is one of the best examples of Classicist architecture in Bohemia. The site is surrounded by fine lawns, a beautiful park and forests perfect for visits in the spring and summer. What’s more, Kozel is only an hour or so away from Prague and just minutes

It is often noted that the Czech Republic lies in the heart of Europe; what then lies at the heart of the Czech Republic? Well, there are pastures, woods and hills, a history of war and conquest, a strong musical heritage, excellent lager and a small town called Polička, where all of the above can be experienced.

Last weekend was a special one in the Czech capital for lovers of good food, as thousands of people attended the third Prague Food Festival. For a special discounted price, this annual event offers visitors a chance to sample many of the culinary delights offered by Prague’s restaurant industry, which still seems to be thriving despite the challenged posed by the current economic crisis.

The historic Moravian town of Třebíč, some 140 km south east of Prague, is known for having perhaps the best preserved Jewish quarter in the country. In 2003, the town’s Jewish heritage sites, together with the Catholic basilica of St Procopius, were added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage.

The Czech Republic has so far escaped the worst of the global recession, but it is beginning to bite now – worrying news at a time when the country’s government has collapsed. Small manufacturing companies that depend heavily on exports are really feeling the pinch – especially those that make goods for a very specialised market. Rob Cameron has been to the Petrof piano factory in Hradec Kralove to see how they’re coping with the crisis.

A Tuesday night in Brussels and a crowd of well-dressed concertgoers await a recital of Dvořák and Martinů. The concert, staged in the city’s splendid Theatre du Vaudeville, is a joint English and Czech venture. One of the people behind the event is Lucie Čadilová, from the Brussels Prague House:

This week’s spotlight focuses on one of the main centres of forestry in the Czech Republic and an oft overlooked pearl of Bohemian cultural heritage. Christian Falvey gives us his impressions of the town of Kostelec nad Černými lesy.