Follow the footsteps of Kafka and beyond
Czechia has a story — quite literally. William Shakespeare set his play The Winter’s Tale in the mysterious land of Bohemia. Its mythical image has endured for centuries, in Prague and many other places across Czechia. So come and embark on this special literary journey!
Literary Czechia: follow Franz Kafka
Czechia offers both beautiful nature and birthplaces of world literature. The best way to explore them is by train — comfortably, with a view of the Czech landscape, the perfect backdrop for free-spirited traveling.
Why literature? In 2026, the Czech Republic will be the honored at the prestigious Frankfurter Buchmesse, under the motto “Czechia – A Country on the Coast”, a metaphor inspired by Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale.
On Hašek’s path to Prague
Following the trail of writer Jaroslav Hašek, the author of the legendary novel The Good Soldier Švejk, set out for Prague, where Hašek lived, wrote, and worked as both a journalist and a bohemian figure. Then, continue by train to Lipnice nad Sázavou, where he spent the final years of his life. By the way, Prague is perfectly accessible by public transport.
The world-famous writer Franz Kafka is inseparably connected with Prague. Take a walk through the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) and visit the Franz Kafka Museum, which presents an exhibition documenting his life and work. Prague locations such as the synagogue or the Old Jewish Cemetery shaped the atmosphere of Kafka’s writing. During your stroll through Prague, stop by the moving sculpture of Kafka’s Head by artist David Černý next to the Quadrio shopping center on Národní Street.
Prague in Dan Brown’s book
Let’s follow Kafka with another global literary star, the American author Dan Brown. He set the plot of his 2025 novel The Secret of Secrets in Prague, presenting its Gothic architecture, Prague legends, and mystical references from a slightly different perspective.
© CzechTourism.
In Casanova’s and Kundera’s footsteps
This literary journey does not end in Prague. The town of Duchcov in North Bohemia invites visitors to its chateau, where the famous lover Giacomo Casanova spent the last years of his life working as a librarian.
The city of Brno offers a journey in the footsteps of Milan Kundera. His works, written in both Czech and French, are characterized by philosophical reflection. Kundera became a major literary figure especially in France, and his books The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Joke are admired around the world. In Brno, follow the route from Masaryk University to the Moravian Gallery, where you’ll find the Kundera Library.
Trains and literature, a perfect combination
If you are drawn to the connection between literature and the railway, take the journey following writer Jaroslav Rudiš, a Czech-German author. Start in Liberec and on Mount Ještěd in North Bohemia, and continue by train through Jablonec nad Nisou, Tanvald and Broumov. A romantic blend of literature and experiences — a Czechia specialty!
