The car as the star

Škoda: The Czechs’ most popular car

The history of the Škoda car company dates back as far as 1895. Visit Mladá Boleslav in Central Bohemia, the city that is now home to the country’s biggest car-maker, to see the fascinating Škoda Museum. The museum’s exhibitions chart the development of the brand from its very first models to the cars we know today. Guided tours are also available, but they need to be booked in advance online↗. The same goes for tours of the production plant.

Tatra: The first President, inspiration for Porsche and wins in the Paris-Dakar rally

Tatra is a Czech legend. See for yourself on a visit to the Tatra Technical Museum and Tatra Truck Museum. They feature some rare models, such as the Präsident - the first car in Austria-Hungary - as well as race specials, which have been hugely successful in the famous Paris–Dakar Rally.  Not many people know that the modest Tatra designer Hans Ledwinka also inspired Ferdinand Porsche, who was far more famous both during his era and later.  Or that the Tatra workshops also produced trains and aircraft as well as motor vehicles.

A tip for you:
Not far from Kopřivnice you’ll find the charming historical little town of Štramberk, made famous by Neanderthals, gingerbread ears and the Štramberk ‘Tube’ tower.

Gnom: A car from a hat

Gnom cars came from Nový Jičín. They were similar to the German Opel and only a few of them were manufactured every year. The history of this mini car-maker is linked to the world-famous Hückel family of milliners, commemorated in the local Town of Hats Visitor Centre.

Porsche: A genius with Czech roots 

Not far from Liberec in North Bohemia you’ll find the birthplace of the legendary car designer Ferdinand Porsche. It contains a state-of-the-art interactive exhibition that immerses you in the world of the technology, rich history and the future of motoring. There are plenty of great places to visit around Liberec, too. You can take a trip to Ještěd or simply chill out at the Centrum Babylon.

Walter Gotschke: Obsessed with cars

Porsche wasn’t the only Czech-born German speaker who succeeded in the fiercely competitive automotive industry. Another was designer Walter Gotschke, born in the Jeseníky Mountains. He was literally obsessed with cars from an early age. He created posters and technical drawings for leading global car-manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ford, Maybach, Fiat and Nissan.

Avia: Aviation dreams on four wheels inspired by Renault

Another legendary Czech brand, Avia, went from being an aircraft factory to a truck manufacturer during the course of the last century. Its cars, modelled after the French Renaults, became the immortal symbol of the Czechoslovak road transport industry. Explore the fascinating history of this brand at the museum in Panenské Břežany ↗ near Prague.

Karosa: From carriages to buses

Karosa buses ran in pretty much every Czech town and city back during the Czechoslovak era. They are still made in Vysoké Mýto in East Bohemia. The company's history began back in 1896, when a carriage-making factory was built. It later produced parts for the car-makers Praga, Tatra and Aero, and after World War II the company specialised solely in buses. If you want to find out more, visit the local Museum of Czech Car Bodywork↗!

Hyundai: A unique tour of a production plant

In Nošovice near Ostrava you’ll find one of the most state-of-the-art car factories in Europe – Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech. This factory offers unique twice-weekly tours, giving you the chance to see how the individual parts are assembled to become a finished car! Tours are usually held in the morning and must be booked in advance through the official Hyundai website↗. If you’re planning a look around the factory, be sure to wear comfortable shoes; although the tour involves plenty of walking, the experience is well worth it!