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Mšeno is a picturesque little town, often described as a gateway to Kokořínsko, a protected landscape area just north of Prague. It also boasts one of the Czech Republic’s most charming swimming pools, an Art Deco bath house built in the 1930s.

A miniature Dead Sea – that’s what they call Kamencové jezero or Alum Lake in Chomutov. It is said to have healing powers. The alum prevents the growth of algae and the clean water contains sulphate, chloride and iron which are said to have a beneficial effect on respiratory diseases, infections, and even acne.

Around 24 kilometres east of Brno lies the village of Luleč. This typical Moravian village hides a picturesque natural pool, U Libuše, which is surrounded by rocky cliffs and natural greenery.

In the second edition of our summer mini-series, Radio Prague pays a visit to U Veselíků, one of Prague’s oldest outdoor pools. The family-owned swimming pool located in the Divoká Šárka valley opened back in the 1930s and offers an ideal refuge from the scorching heat of the summer city.

One of the most convenient spots for bathing and catching some rays in Prague is Žluté lázně, which is a tram ride down the Vltava to the Podolí neighbourhood. As well as enjoying places to eat and sports facilities, visitors can also take a dip in the Vltava itself.

Despite the spell of unseasonably warm weather, most of the country’s skiing resorts are still in operation, thanks to heavy snowfall earlier this year. And even in Prague, where the first signs of spring can already be spotted, the skiing season is not quite over.

They may not feature sharp alpine peaks, but the Jeseníky Mountains are beautiful in their own right. The Silesian mountain range offers an enjoyable pastime to both skiers and mountain hikers, who can also view the largest Czech and Slovak mountain peaks from Praděd TV tower, the highest point in the Czech Republic.

It used to be a common form of transport and fun in winter months centuries ago, but its popularity receded with the introduction of motor vehicles and skis. Now luge riding is making a comeback, with several specially designed luge natural-tracks sprouting across the country. One of them is located in Smržovka, a winter sports centre in the Jizera Mountains that also hosts an annual luge racing competition.

The skiing season is in full swing here in the Czech Republic and ski resorts all around the country are reporting excellent conditions following heavy snowfall in early January. Radio Prague paid a visit to Boží Dar, one of the most popular ski resorts located in Krušné Hory in the northwest of the country.

Cross-country skiing is becoming the thing "to do" in the Czech Republic. In the past two or three decades, more Czechs preferred downhill skiing either at home or in one of Europe’s Alpine countries, such as neighbouring Austria. Nowadays, the number of cross-country skiing enthusiasts matches those who prefer to head for the slopes and lifts. Radio Prague’s Vít Pohanka visited one of the country’s popular ski resorts - Vysočina Arena in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.