I arrived at the Plzeň main train stationin the early morning. After I got offthe packedtrain, I walked through the beautiful main square and the picturesque Old Town. I was certain that I wanted to see a few recommended things in Plzeň (Pilsen), which were mainly the Pilsner Breweryand the ‘Thank You, America’ plaque, which is the plaquecommemorating the liberation of Plzeň on May 6, 1945 by the American Army. The rest of Czechoslovakia was liberated by the Soviet Army back then.
Plzeň is just another reminder that Czechia has been at the center of so much history. I was able to find the ‘Thank You, America’ plaque, which shows Plzeň’s appreciation for liberating them from the Nazis at the end of World War II. However, World War II is just a part of Plzeň’s history and this is evident in the náměstí Republiky, which is full of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. There was also a Plague column, marking the end of the Great Plague, a huge synagogue, and a 13th century cathedral.
After walking around for a few hours, it was time for a few famous ‘Pilsners’ (beer made in Plzeň / Pilsen) to relax. Pilsner is very famous in the U.S. and has been available there for a long time. But in Czechia, I found that it has a completely different taste. In Plzeň, it was the freshest, most delicious, crispest beer I had ever had. I had been looking forward to trying it since I arrived in Czechia.
Along with the beers I had some traditional beer food, or as the Czechs say ‘chuťovky k pivu’(goodies that go with beer). I had a long sausage (‘klobása’) with mustard, horseradish, and the tasty Czech bread.
This beer was so delicious and the food so good, it made me wonderif that was why the American Army liberated Plzeň rather than Prague. Maybe they had heard about the beer in Plzeň and decided that some awesome beer was the best way to celebrate the end of the war. That’s what I would do if it were up to me.
Zdroj LN
