Cross the border and get past the 1st town of Zelezna Ruda - not recommended and not typical of the Czech Republic - and you are in Bohemia, the Western half of the Czech Republic.
Take the side roads (we recommend several different routes, or find your own) through the Bohemian Forest and find peaceful countryside, quiet forests, pretty villages and stunning views.
Czech Republic has the highest density of castles of any country in Europe. We recommend the nearest ones.
Klatovy and Domazlice are pretty towns within 1 hour's drive.
Cesky Krumlow is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and picture book pretty with narrow streets wrapped around by the river and dominated by a very unusual castle
Prachatice is a pretty medieval town, once an important place on the salt route from Bavaria to Bohemia, less well known to tourists
Visit the home of Pilsener beer - Plzen and do a tour of the brewery
Visit the old spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, where the aristocracy of Europe 'took the waters' in the 19th century
Visit the renovated synagogue at Hartmanice and the museum at Kdyne and learn about the history of the border area
And visit Prague, of course - 2 hours by car or take the coach trip (unfortunately the train trip takes 4 hours each way)
