The Rakovnik region is situated near Prague, but resting aside main transport routes and industrial centres. It is a region with a rich history, and is typical for its undulating landscape with deep woods the south near the river Berounka, which turn into the Rakovnik Basin with
the Dzban Mountains in the north.
Production such as engineering, manufacturing of tiles, detergents and soaps or excellent beer have a tradition of more than 100 years. Most of these industries are represented by companies with foreign capital, which have recently invested considerable financial means in technical and technological equipment comparable with European standards.
One of the indubitable advantages of the Rakovnik region is its vicinity and good transport connection with Prague. This facilitates use of the northern part of the district with the most important transport route, road I/6 Prague - Karlovy Vary - Cheb, as a good place for manufacturing, warehousing and other servicing activities, which could reduce transport congestion in Prague.
The biggest advantage of our district is the high quality of the environment. Almost one-third of its area is occupied by the Protected Natural Reserve Krivoklatsko, which in 1978 was declared a biospherical reserve
registered in the UNESCO list. As well as the other protected reserves, the natural parks Dzban and Jesenice, it has been used for recreational purposes for a long time.
The most attractive recreational area of the district is Krivoklatsko with unique nature and important cultural and historical monuments, the most famous being the state castle Krivoklat, the ruins of the Krakovec and Tyrov castles, the Lany and Slabice chateaux with large parks and a number of monuments of folk architecture. This splendid part of the district is also referred to as the
"country of Ota Pavel" after the famous Czech journalist and writer. This writer poetically captured the special magic of the landscape in the valley of the river
Berounka. Rakovnik carries the seal of a royal town and its central part has been declared an urban monument zone. Visitors are charmed by the large Hus Square with a Baroque Town Hall, merchant houses and the Gothic St. Bartholomew Church with a belfry. Majesty can be felt from the Gothic Town Gates, the Prague Gate and the High Gate, which remind us of bygone ages.
The town of Rakovnik is the administrative and geographical center of a region which lies at an elevation of approximately 320 meters above sea level and is made up of several distinct areas that differ from each other in their natural conditions and historical development.
Rakovnik is located 50 kilometres to the west of Prague, and although is not a transit point for the primary arteries in the area, it is an intersection of railroad and highway connections. This may be why it provides high class access to the peace and quiet of nature, with charming scenery and the visible traces of human activities dating back to times immemorial to the present.
In the town itself, one's first glance comes across many monuments testifying to the own's royal status which was bestowed on Rakovnik by the emperor Rudolf II. in 1588. The town center, which has the greatest density of historical buildings bordered by ramparts, some of which remain to this day, was declared an urban historical landmark in 1922. The Rakovnik of today, which is famous for ceramics, chemicals, and engineering products, sprawls out over 1,850 hectares (of which there are 60 hectares of greenery) and has a population of over 17,000.
To the south and east of the town, there are two areas called Cistecko and Krivoklatsko, which can be justifiably included among the most beautiful areas in Bohemia. The river Berounka flows through these relatively low volcanic highlands, blessed with wooded and occasionally rocky valleys interspersed with virgin meadows. The annual influx of tourists mainly visit the small town of Krivoklat, thanks to its castle, which belonged to Czech lords, and thanks to its romantic surroundings. On the northern edge of a vast wooded preserve, there lies the village of Lany, which is especially well known for its castle, which was built at the end of the 16
th century and became a favorite of T. G. Masaryk, who made it his presidential seat.
Tourists can avail themselves of the services of the local public airport, which, during the height of the tourist season, offers sight-seeing flights.
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