Celebrated Czech castles and chateaus awarded Google's Crystal Pin

Google's Crystal Pin awards have been announced, recognizing the most celebrated castles and chateaux in each of the Czech Republic's fourteen regions.

These awards, celebrating the nation's cultural treasures, were determined through evaluations and reviews by visitors to historical sites on Google Maps, the company said in a press release.

While some well-known landmarks like Prague Castle, Karlštejn Castle, and Český Krumlov Castle received accolades, regional gems like Hradec nad Moravicí, Kroměříž, and Telč also claimed the prestigious honor.

Representatives from these historical sites accepted the unique awards, created by the Czech design studio KLIMCHI, at the close of the summer season. Google revealed the three most highly rated castles and chateaux in each region, with one receiving the coveted Crystal Pin.

Although presented by Google, these awards are a testament to the experiences shared by visitors on Google Maps.

According to Google spokesperson Iva Fialová, "The award may come from Google, but it is essentially recognition from people who visited these sites, enjoyed their visit, and shared their positive experiences on Google Maps."

The Golden Pin awards were also presented internationally. In Slovakia, some top-rated castles and chateaux according to Google Maps users included Bojnice Castle and Ľubovňa Castle. Romania boasted Peleș Castle, while Poland celebrated the Royal Castle in Kraków.

This marks the second time the Crystal Pins have been awarded in the Czech Republic. Last year, regional culinary and hospitality treasures were honored. This year's selection criteria considered factors such as star ratings, total reviews, and the completeness of profiles on Google Maps and Google Search, as of the end of May 2023. The resulting list of castles and chateaux showcases the diversity of cultural heritage across Czech regions.

The Crystal Pins, crafted by artisans from Kamenický Šenov in the region known as the Crystal Valley, draw inspiration from Google Maps' location pins. Each pin is unique, with tiny bubbles within reflecting the thousands of places featured on Google Maps.

As František Jungvirt, the creative director of KLIMCHI Studio, explains, "The material itself, from which the award is made, represents the fragility of relationships with visitors. The soda bubbles that have created a unique pattern inside each pin represent thousands of places found on Google Maps. The award serves as a mirror-like object reflecting the place that achieved success according to visitors."

In addition to these accolades, artificial intelligence within Google Maps now aids travelers in finding not only the fastest route to their chosen destination but also the most fuel-efficient route if there is a difference between the two.

By identifying all relevant routes between point A and point B and calculating fuel consumption based on historical and real-time traffic, elevation, road type, and other data, users can compare approximate fuel savings and time differences between the routes, making travel planning more efficient and eco-friendly.