Tourism in the Turnov region
Turistická nabídka Turnovska
Museum of the Bohemian Paradise
The Museum of the Bohemian Paradise has an impressive exhibition on geology and minerals, giving you an insight into the local tradition of stone-working and jewellery crafting. However, it also has sections on archaeology, history, ethnography and climbing, featuring Mikoláš Aleš’s original panoramic work entitled Slaughter of the Saxons below Hrubá Skála, which is one of the biggest paintings in Europe. The museum also includes Dlaskův statek farmstead in Dolánky u Turnova, which is a typical example of the traditional folk architecture of the Pojizeří region.
Turnov Synagogue
Turnov Synagogue, dating from 1719, is the only synagogue in the Liberec region that survived the Second World War. From the 1960s it was used as a warehouse, but was declared a cultural heritage site in the nineties and was purchased by the Town of Turnov in 2003. In 2008 the synagogue was reopened to visitors and began to be used by the public again. It hosts exhibitions, talks and concerts of Jewish music.
Hrubý Rohozec Chateau
Visitors to the state chateau of Hrubý Rohozec can enjoy a tour of thirty lavishly furnished rooms, formerly the representative and residential quarters of members of the noble Des Fours Walderode family. There are three tours available, as well as a chateau café and a romantic English-style park.
Valdštejn Castle
Valdštejn Castle, the family residence of the Lords of Valdštejn, is one of the oldest castles in the Bohemian Paradise. It was founded in the second half of the 13th century on three massive blocks of sandstone. The castle complex is dominated by the 18th-century Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. Valdštejn was built into the form we see today by the Lexas of Aehrenthal in the 19th century. Valdštejn plays host to a number of cultural events throughout the year. Its night-time tours and special children’s tours are particularly popular.
Legends of the Bohemian Paradise
Children and adults alike can enjoy a wander through the Bohemian Paradise with twelve figures from local legends. The Travel Map is your essential helper and guide on your walk, while the Travel Log lets you collect stamps from the places you’re recommended to visit and complete some fun tasks, and you can read about the various myths in the Twelve Legends brochure. If you complete all the tasks in the Travel Log and collect enough stamps, you can pick up some nice rewards in participating Information Centres around the region.
Tourism in the Turnov region
Nature trails in Turnov
There are three nature trails running through Turnov, giving visitors an insight into the town’s craft tradition, prominent local figures, the history of Judaism and the local fauna and flora.
The “Stone-working Trail, Famous Stonemasons of Turnov” is all about the tradition of stone-working and jewellery crafting in Turnov and about some of the leading lights of these arts. It includes five crimson boards, situated in Skálova and Sobotecká streets and on Mariánské náměstí. The individual stops also present a brief history of the town and local sights worth seeing, such as the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Pacltova huť smelting works, the Secondary Professional School of Applied Art and some notable buildings in Skálova street.
The history of the local Jewish community is covered by the walk entitled “On the Trail of Judaism in Turnov”, which has three blue information boards. You can find them near the Turnov synagogue and by the Jewish cemetery.
The “Chateau Nature Trail”, almost four kilometres long, takes you on a pleasant stroll from the town centre into the Jizera valley and to the chateau of Hrubý Rohozec. The seven green boards are mostly dedicated to the flora and fauna in the area, as well as the Jizera River and Hrubý Rohozec Chateau, which is well worth a visit.
Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise
The Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise is the main hiking route, marked in red, linking the principal sights in the Bohemian Paradise. It is a total of 119 km long. The origins of the trail date back to the second half of the 19th century, when Vojta Náprstek used to visit Prachov Rocks.
The Golden Trail has been a fixed part of the Bohemian Paradise since the end of the 1930s. The Czech Tourist Club (KČT) opened it up to the public and marked all the routes. It is first mentioned in a publication issued by the Bohemian Paradise county to promote tourism and raise awareness in 1937.
http://www.zlatastezkaceskehoraje.cz
Biking in the Turnov region
Turnov Biking Circuit
Cyclists can enjoy the “Turnov Biking Circuit”, which takes in a number of places of interest and heritage sites around the town. The circuit is marked with the local signs, follows the existing cycle routes and describes a 24-km-long circuit around the town and the nearby villages. One place you can join it is at the Turnov-město railway station. There are rest areas and information boards with clear maps all along the route.
viz https://www.infocentrum-turnov.cz/dr-cs/27522-turnovsky-cyklookruh.html
Greenway Jizera
The Jizera River, the largest right-hand tributary of the Elbe, rises on the southern slope of Smrk in the Jizera Mountains, from where it flows roughly 165 km to join the Elbe, at Lázně Toušeň near Prague.
The supraregional biking trail no. 17, otherwise known as the Greenway Jizera, runs like a green thread alongside the river.
The Greenway Jizera runs 170 km from the Jizera Mountains through the foothills of the western Giant Mountains, the Horní Pojizeří region, the Bohemian Paradise and along the Elbe to Prague. You ride along recently built sections, quiet roads and unpaved trails. In some places you have to climb up hills out of the Jizera valley, but don’t be put off by the tougher sections and head off to enjoy the sights. Along the way, you’ll experience the magic of six unique landscapes taking in their natural monuments, castles and chateaus, and some interesting feats of technical engineering, as well as fine examples of folk and church architecture.
You can ride or walk the whole trail; some sections can also be done on skates or a scooter, or even on a boat. The most well-known and popular stretch is from Turnov to the Malá Skála region, which allows you to fit all these activities into a one-day trip.
