Daybreak in Braunau am Inn was wonderfully peaceful and the night was restful, if a little short. Wistfully, we set off for the last point of this year’s adventure trip. We crossed the Inn directly into Germany – it all seemed far too familiar. We drove east between many trucks and through several construction sites; in the Czech Republic, a visit to the Pilsen underworld awaited us.

The appointment was booked for 2 p.m., actually with enough of a buffer. However, an extended breakfast meant that time was running out. Nothing could be allowed to get in the way now – and friendly police officers promptly stopped the traffic at the next traffic circle after an accident. Fortunately, there was only fender bender and hardly any delay for us.

We headed for a parking garage near the brewery museum, put on warm jackets and set off full of anticipation. A young woman picked us up on time and introduced us to the history of the Pilsen cellars.

The first corridors were created as early as the 14th century. Over the centuries, a labyrinth of around 20 kilometers in length grew underneath, running through almost the entire city. The cellars were used to store beer, food and ice, as well as fountains – and in times of war also as hiding places and escape routes. The constantly cool, damp climate was ideal for beer barrels and became a building block of the brewing tradition that gave rise to the first Pilsner in 1842. Today, around 800 meters of the network are accessible as part of a one-hour guided tour; some of the upper levels still contain private cellars that are still in use today.

After a good hour, we emerged into daylight again – with lots of impressions and four vouchers for Pilsner Urquell 🍺 (a friendly couple from the group had passed theirs on to us). There was a large selection of different beers in the store next door; we stocked up, of course. Afterwards, we quickly took the loot to the car and took off our jackets – it was easily 27 °C in Pilsen with a bright blue sky ☀️.

We redeemed the first two vouchers in a restaurant with a little refreshment. Afterwards, we – at first only Marco, but in the end both of us – were drawn to the top once again: up to the bell tower of St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. 299 steps later, we stood on the viewing level, panting but satisfied, and enjoyed the unobstructed view over the whole of Pilsen – a worthy finale.

A very successful end to the day and, with a heavy heart, to our vacation. Tomorrow we start our journey home. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading along, sharing in the excitement and for all the positive comments and messages we have received 💛. A summary of this trip will follow in a while. Until then: stay curious and keep following us until it’s time for another adventure!

Conclusion: Pilsen bid us farewell at the end with history underground, a world-famous beer and a sweeping view over the city. A well-rounded conclusion – which makes us want to explore new paths.