Mladoboleslavsko

BOHEMIAN PARADISE

It is the beauty of its natural scenery and the romance of its historical heritage sites that make the Bohemian Paradise so special. There are few places where you’d find so many natural attractions, castles, chateaus and fine examples of folk architecture all so close together.

Back in 1955 it was declared the first Protected Landscape Area in the country – the Bohemian Paradise Protected Landscape Area. The main reason for making this a protected area was the extraordinary diversity of the local landscape, with its characteristic rock towns and flora and fauna communities. The Bohemian Paradise was included in the European Geoparks Network in 2005, and ten years later the Bohemian Paradise Geopark became part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network.

HRUBÁ SKÁLA REGION

Together with Prachov Rocks, the Hrubá Skála rock town is one of the biggest in the Bohemian Paradise. It is situated between the castle of Valdštejn and Hrubá Skála Chateau and is characterised by its high towers, rock massifs and steep canyons.

There are several hiking routes running through the Hrubá Skála region. The most well-known is the Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise, which is marked in red and takes in a number of viewpoints with fascinating vistas of the valley as well as the tops of the rock towers. One of the most beautiful of these spots in the Hrubá Skála region is the Mariánská viewpoint, which is on the yellow trail near Hrubá Skála Chateau. It offers a unique panorama of the chateau itself, part of the Hrubá Skála rock town, and especially the main landmark of the Bohemian Paradise, Trosky Castle.

Hrubá Skála rock town is popular not only with hikers, but also with climbers, as the sandstone towers offer the perfect conditions for a challenge. There is also a symbolic climbers’ cemetery, which is a pilgrimage site and commemorates the tragic fates of some of these brave souls.

DOLÁNKY

Formerly a separate village, Dolánky u Turnova is one of the thirteen districts that now make up the town of Turnov. Its position by the Jizera River and the famous Dlaskův statek farmstead has made it a well-known and much-loved destination for tourists, canoeists and rafters.

The Dolánky valley has been a popular place for swimming outdoors since time immemorial. Not only could bathers freshen up in the Jizera River, but from the mid-1960s they were also able to swim in the made-made outdoor pool. There used to be two swimming pools there, a paddling pool, changing rooms, showers, a play area and a restaurant.

Unfortunately, the site was located in an active flood zone, which hampered efforts to renovate it, and so it was closed down after thirty years. In 2000, when the pools were filled in, plans were made to build a new outdoor swimming complex in Maškova zahrada, which opened up to visitors in 2016.

A new natural resort will open in Dolánky in the future, with a lake for swimming in, which will add further natural appeal to the Jizera Valley.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE SURROUNDING AREA

• The Chateau Nature Trail links Hrubý Rohozec Chateau with the centre of Turnov. The trail is almost 4 km long and starts on náměstí Českého ráje square, but you can also walk it the other way round. Its seven stops are devoted mostly to local flora and fauna, the Jizera River, and other points of interest.
• Dlaskův statek farmstead in Dolánky u Turnova is a typical and particularly well preserved example of the traditional folk architecture of the Pojizeří region. It is open to the public and its ethnographic exhibition includes a replica village dwelling and agricultural and craft tools.
• The Bohemian Paradise House of Nature near the Dlaskův statek farmstead offers and interactive exhibition, a sensory experience presenting the phenomena of the oldest protected landscape area in the Czech Republic.
• The Josef Pekař Nature Trail includes six stops dedicated to the prominent historian Josef Pekař. The route links Dolánky, the historian’s birthplace of Malý Rohozec, and Jenišovice, where Josef Pekař is buried. The four-kilometre-long trail follows the green route markers.
• Hlavatice lookout tower – a lone sandstone rock, the top of which reached via a spiral iron staircase. There are beautiful views of the surrounding area from the summit.
• Valdštejn Castle – the family seat of the Lords of Valdštejn and one of the oldest castles in the Bohemian Paradise. It was built 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.
• Hrubá Skála rock town – a sandstone rock town characterised by its imposing towers, some of which reach heights of up to 55 metres, and its plunging canyons. You’ll find a number of popular lookout points, such as the Mariánská viewpoint, Na Kapelu viewpoint and U Lvíčka.
• Hrubá Skála Chateau – the chateau, built on massive sandstone rocks, now houses a hotel and a restaurant. However, you can explore the chateau courtyard and climb the steps up to the tower walkway, from where there are some wonderful views.