1) Adolf Pascher's legacy - lowland bogs and cultural heritage of the Doksy region

Time and Date: 9:00-17:00 on Wednesday 15th August 2012
Price: 50 EUR

Adolf Pascher (1881-1945) was a prominent Central European phycologist of the 20th century and a professor of botany at the Charles University in Prague. He published many important papers on taxonomy of chrysophytes. The class Chrysophyceae was formally established by Pascher in 1914.

A lot of Pascher's samples originated from a few peat bog localities in the vicinity of a small town of Doksy (Hirschberg) in Northern Bohemia. During the trip, we will visit several of these habitats that represent type localities for numerous chrysophyte species. Field boots are recommended!

This excursion includes a lunch in Doksy and optional participation on the evening microscopic session in Prague.


2) Prague City Sightseeing Tour & Boat Trip

Time and Date: 9:00-16:00 on Wednesday 15th August 2012
Price: 60 EUR

The the coach will take us the Prague Castle. Next, the highlight of the trip: guided walk through the Prague Castle complex to discover the major sights within. Admire the grandeur of Saint Vitus Cathedral, the architecture of the Old Royal Palace, and enjoy stunning views over the whole of Prague.

We continue to the picturesque Lesser Town (Mala Strana) and across the Charles Bridge. We head for the river, for a 2-hour boat trip through the city center. We enjoy close up views of the waterside attractions, as we sail right under Charles Bridge. The boat provides an ideal opportunity to relax, with a buffet-style lunch.

Back on dry land, we continue our Prague tour with a walk through the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), before arriving at the Old Town Square. We will finish our guided tour at the Wenceslas Square.

The tour will be organized by a Prague Information Service agency.


3) Kutná Hora UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage

Time and Date: 9:00-16:00 on Friday 17th August 2012
Price: free

The picturesque medieval town of Kutná Hora, part of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage, is situated approximately 60 km east of Prague.

The sources of the beauties and riches of Kutná Hora are in the silver mines that were exploited most intensively in the 14th and 15th century. At that time the town rivallet Prague itself in importance.

During this excursion you will see interesting and most impressive sights as the unique Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara, the patron of saint miners, the nearby Hrádek building which has a direct relationship with the town's mining past, Wallachian Court (Vlašský dvůr) which is an important building, originally a Royal Mint, that once produced Prague groschen as well. Then you will see the Gothic fountain, and the Archdeacon's Church of St. James, and the Sedlec Ossuary.