Czech Republic is a small country in the heart of Europe, which has an appeal for visitors. Thanks to its location at the crossroads of various cultures, Czech Republic has countless cultural and historical points of interest. Despite the complicated visa rules, these destinations attracted a relatively high number of foreign tourists even before the velvet revolution. Czech capital, Prague, is more than 1 000 years old and has a wealth of historic architecture of different styles. Because of this, the city has become a favored location for many international film makers. The rest of the country has just as much to offer the independent traveler, with 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites including the picture-postcard town of Český Krumlov, the chateaux and landscaped gardens of Lednice-Valtice, and the Renaissance architecture of Telč. Travelers, who want to see more than just Prague, can rent a car at Prague airport, drive with it through country and return it to Ostava airport or Brno airport for example. Among the most beautiful scenic areas are the Šumava National Park, which takes in the forested mountains and lakes around the headwaters of the Vltava River, the weird and wonderful rock pinnacles and gorges of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, and the spectacular caves and underground rivers of the Moravian Karst. The rich agricultural area of Moravia in the eastern half of the country offers rolling ranges of wooded hills, vineyards, folk art and more castles. Here wine is more popular than beer, which is a specialty of Bohemia, and life moves at an even more relaxed pace.Traditional Czech food is heavy and quite fatty, and is excellent in the winter and nothing goes as well with the excellent Czech beer as some of the best examples of the traditional Czech cuisine, like pork, duck, or goose with knedlíky and sauerkraut.