Introduction to Plzen

88km (55 miles) SW of Prague

"Zde se narodilo pivo." The phrase ("the birthplace of beer") greets you at almost every turn in Plzen. And they aren't kidding. Some 400 years ago, a group of men formed Plzen's first beer-drinking guild, and today beer is probably the only reason you'll want to stop at this otherwise industrial town. Unfortunately for the town, its prosperity and architecture were ravaged during World War II, and few buildings were left untouched. The main square, Námestí Republiky, is worth a look, but after that there's not much to see.