The home of Skoda
This is not to be confused with the Volkswagen subsidiary that sells millions of cars throughout Europe. Plzen's Skoda works produces trains, trams, subway cars and turbines. But the town's greatest contribution is in the form of Pilsener beer, Of course it was one of the town's original ethnic Germans, Joseph Groll, the first brewed it using the local hops and the town's remarkably soft water. Today Plzen is the home of Pilsner Urquell.