Mladoboleslavsko

Route: Turnov – Dolánky – Drábovna – Frýdštejn – Malá Skála – Zbirohy – Zrcadlová Koza – Turnov (approx. 21.5 km)

Points of interest along the route:

Dlask’s Farmhouse in Dolánky – Dlask’s farmhouse is a typical example of a traditional house of the Jizera region. The former freeholder’s farmstead and manorial court was built in 1716 and has undergone numerous structural modifications over time. The farmhouse forms a standalone unit surrounded by a timber palisade with two gates – the upper one made of stone with a wooden belfry and the lower one made of wood. From the original buildings, a timbered barn has been preserved. The complex includes a statue of the Virgin Mary from 1784 and a two-storey timbered granary, which was relocated from Malý Rohozec in the 1960s.

Drábovna near Malá Skála – This small sandstone rock town lies on the right bank of the Jizera River between Malá Skála and the Vranov valley. Modest remains of a medieval castle can be found here. It is also an archaeological site from the Neolithic period – a settlement of the Lusatian culture. The summit plateau is divided by wild ravines into several sections. The most notable ravines include Vondrova, Foukané díry, Přední and Zadní Kostel, and Varta.

Frýdštejn Castle – The well-preserved ruins of this 14th-century rock castle rise above the Jizera River valley. This typical guard castle is a striking landmark of the Malá Skála region. Partly carved into the rock, its tight spaces forced the builders to create a multi-level design. The castle was defended by walls, including a large round tower. Interestingly, parts of the Czech fairy tale film About Princess Jasněnka and the Flying Shoemaker were filmed here – specifically, the scenes at the witches’ castle.

Bouček’s Farmhouse – Bouček’s farmhouse is a timbered, two-storey building with a gabled roof and a richly articulated front on the masonry part, marked with the year 1813. It is a beautiful example of folk architecture. Original Classicist features have been preserved inside. The building houses a permanent exhibition about the history of the Malá Skála area and a gallery of visual art. On the ground floor, there is a traditional restaurant called "Boučkova hospoda". The whole complex is completed with an annex and a barn.

Besedice Rocks – This romantic labyrinth of sandstone rocks lies above the left bank of the Jizera River near the village of Besedice in the Bohemian Paradise region. A circular trail leads through the rocks, introducing the most significant locations in the area. The main rock group is Chléviště, featuring the Cave of the Exile Václav Sadovský of Sloupno and stunning viewpoints. In the rock cluster U Kalicha, you’ll find an altar with a carved chalice and the year 1634. The rock walls bear an excerpt from The Last Will and Testament of J. A. Comenius, verses about the Kralice Bible, and writings by the Franciscan monk J. Vitásek.