Rambling through the Bohemian Paradise

TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR

Let us invite you to the Bohemian Paradise – a picturesque region situated 90 km north of Prague capital. The name expresses unique harmony of nature beauty of sandstone rock cities and various landscape with valuable historical sights and folk architecture. The Bohemian Paradise is included in the UNESCO list in category of geoparks. It is an excellent opportunity how to spend your holiday discovering beautiful nature and history - you will pass through narrow corridors of rock cities, interesting rock labyrinths and splendid viewpoints and you will also visit the little rock castles ruins. You will go along well-marked tourist paths. The length of the 1 day route is 10 – 26 km. There is also possibility to modify the route for bikers. The cozy hotel room and nice stuff prepared to realize your wish will be award on every day of your stay here in the Bohemian Paradise. The luggage transfer is ensured during the stay in the Bohemian Paradise.

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This route was designed by Lubomír Hoška. He has his own travel agency and tour operator business.

Michaela Provazníková is a travel agent. She speaks fluent English.

PHONE NUMBER +420 603 824 497

TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR

PHONE NUMBER +420 603 824 497

TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR

IMPORTANT INFORMATION If you get in trouble, call english-speaking Michaela on telephone number +420 603 824 497, please. You will be advised or she will seek for help.

All tracks are lead along the tourist very well-marked paths. Tourist mark for hikers has an uniform size of 10 cm x 10 cm. There are used the following colours in the Czech Republic: red, blue, green and yellow. Margins are white. Attention! In case that you loose the tourist mark, you will have to go back on the place, where you saw it for the last time. You will also have to take care of disgressions. You will also see bigger marks, which are for bikers and their edges are yellow.

We are able to change the route on the client wish, e.g. incl. the train or bus ride.

The luggage transfer is ensured from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All hotels have 3 stars. Rooms are comfortable with bathrooms and TV. Accommodation is provided incl. continental breakfast. All hotels also have a wireless Internet connection WIFI. Accommodation is provided including dinner. You will have dinners from menu list at the price of 200 CZK per person.

TOWN INFORMATION CENTRES JIČÍN – Valdštejnovo náměstí 1, tel. +420 493 534 390 SOBOTKA – Náměstí Míru 3, tel. +420 493 571 587 TURNOV – Náměstí Českého ráje 26, tel. +420 481 366 255 PHONE NUMBER +420 603 824 497

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PHARMACIES in towns of Jičín, Sobotka and Turnov MEDICAL EMERGENCIES – HOSPITALS JIČÍN – Bolzanova street 512, tel. +420 493 582 111 TURNOV – 28. října street 1000, tel. +420 481 446 111 MORE INFORMATION Important telephone numbers: Emergency 112, Police 158, Rescueguard 155, Firemen 150 Automatic bank machines are in Jičín, Sobotka and Turnov.

Post stamp on a postcard costs 17 CZK. Exchange rate: 1 £ - 28 CZK 1 € - 25 CZK Bank-notes are 50, 100, 200, 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 5 000 CZK. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK. Address of the Czech travel agency: HOŠKA - TOUR, nám. K. V. Raise CZ - 507 81 Lázně Bělohrad e-mail: hoska-tour@hoska-tour.cz tel.: +420 493 792 520 fax: +420 493 792 210

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LUGGAGE TRANSFER

Jičín

TRANSFER

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DAY 1 - ARRIVAL Arrival at the international airport Prague – Ruzyně according to a flight schedule during the day. The airport lies about 20 km northwest of Prague.

Transfer to the Bohemian Paradise (Jičín) Variant a) City bus No. 100 goes with you from the airport to the final bus station ZLIČÍN. In this final bus station you´ll take the underground (Metro) line B and go to the final underground station ČERNÝ MOST. There is also a bus station in Černý Most.

After leaving the underground you´ll go to a bus station and go to JIČÍN. Buses leave from bus stops No. 1, 2 and 4. Fare is about 140 CZK. Timetables are mentioned in your package from the Czech travel agency.

After getting off the bus in Jičín you will go left up the hill to the Valdická gate (a tower), which is the characteristic town silhouette seen from afar. You will turn right and after approx. 50 m you will meet a motorway – do not cross it and turn left and there is Havlíčkova street with your hotel in front of you. The hotel is about 100 m far from the Valdická gate.

Variant b) The fastest transport to the Bohemian Paradise - Jičín, based on the previously taxi booking. The driver will wait for World Walks clients in the airport hall when they check in. He will have the poster with the name of World Walks in his hands. Travel time by a taxi from the Prague airport to Jičín is about 1,5 – 2 hours.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR Accommodation: hotel*** Jičín The hotel is situated near the tre of the town. It is a newly built hotel with a nice restaurant and comfortable rooms. If clients arrive during the day, there is a time to visit a picturesque renaissance town of Jičín.

JIČÍN ~ Freedom of the city since the early 14th century. It flourished especially in the first half of the 17th century when it was owned by Albrecht from Wallenstein.

Jičín was proclaimed a town´s reservation due to its sights. The Baroque chateau (there are a museum, a town´s gallery, a permanent exposition of the work of academic painter R. Pilář and Hall of Three Emperors there) and houses with arcades belong to the nicest buildings of the town. A battle of the Prussian and Austrian armies took place in the surroundings in 1866.

THE VALDICKÁ GATE ~ The characteristic silhouette of the town is formed by the Valdická gate (a three-storey tower from the late Gothic).

Its height of 52 m guarantees an excellent view.

JIČÍN´S CHATEAU ~ Jičín chateau in the north-eastern corner of the square was originally the residence of Mikuláš Trčka of Lípa, and was rebuilt after 1608 by Zikmund Smiřický into a two-storey Renaissance chateau with arcades. In 1620, the chateau was destroyed by an explosion of gunpowder. During the rule of Albrecht of Wallenstein in the years 1624 -1633, a new early Baroque chateau was built. Today it houses the district museum and a gallery. The Church of St. James the Elder standing next to the chateau is the torso of the intended Bishop‘s cathedral, which Albrecht of Wallenstein decided to build in the years 1627-1634. A square with arcades of the ducal Valdická brána (Valdice Gate).

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DAY 2 JIČÍN - PRACHOVSKÉ SKÁLY ROCKS Basic route: 11 km + circuit trip through the Prachovské skály rocks.

Shortened route: 7,5 km + circuit trip through the Prachovské skály rocks 3,5 km.

The route leads in an undulating terrain and ends in a rugged rock city.

Accommodation: Hotel*** Prachovské skály Hotel is situated in a romantic part of a natural reservation of Prachovské skály rocks.

VALDŠTEJNSKÁ LODŽIE ~ A summer house called Valdštejnská lodžie is one of the most important cultural and architectural sightseeings of the Jičín region. This suburb "entertainment centre" was built by

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Albrecht of Wallenstein between 1630 and 1634. A large preserve and a park invite to have a walk there.

ZEBÍN ~ A distinctive basalt conical peak above the village of Sedličky, 600 m W of Valdice, a typical landmark of the Jičín region. Its SW slope was damaged by quarrying. A chapel of St. Mary Magdalene from around 1700 with a painting of the saint on its top, the climb is difficult.

From the chapel there is a splendid panoramic view, including the whole of the Jičín basin, the Bradlec, Kumburk, Tábor, Kozákov, Veliš hills and the city of Jičín. Zebín is also a protected natural reserve with rare thermophilic vegetation. An isolated and very ancient Church of All Saints stands in a cemetery on the south slope. It received its present Baroque appearance around 1700 and houses two paintings with Passion themes from 1614, unique Czech art pieces from the Mannerism period. A wooden polygonal belfry stands on the slope behind the church.

PRACHOVSKÉ SKÁLY ROCKS ~ A natural place of interest situated on the northwest margin of the Jičín basin. The rock town was created through eroding of the originally compact table of rectangulary shaped sandstones of the latest chalk period with characteristic basaltic places: Svinčice (415 meters), Velké Hůry (458 meters) and Přivýšiny (464 meters). It is a real paradise for rock climbers and tourists. There is a thick net of tourist marked paths leading through the cloughs fringed with sandstone walls (Čertova kuchyně - Devil´s kitchen, Císařská chodba - Emperor´s corridor, Na vodách, Na stájích, Točenice) and to beautiful viewpoints (Pěveckého sboru Křížovský, Pechova, Českého ráje, Míru, Lepařova, Hakenova, Hlaholka and others).

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DAY 3 PRACHOVSKÉ SKÁLY ROCKS - NEPŘÍVĚC Basic route: 16 km.

The walk in a mild terrain with beautiful views.

Accommodation: hotel*** Sobotka Hotel is situated on the edge of the village with a view to a picturesque landscape. It includes double room with breakfast (the Czech cuisine, specialities of the hotel, fish).

PAŘEZ ~ A ruin of a small Gothic rock castle from the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was burned down after it had become a refuge of robbers. Only remnants of rooms cut in the rock, a stone tower and the peripheral walls were preserved. Groschen of Wenceslaus IV. were found here.

MLADĚJOV ~ A classical chateau from 1769 which was rebuilt to gain a Neo - Baroque appearancce in 1913. Nowadays it is used for economic purposes. An originally Gothic church from the 14th century, that was rebuilt in the Baroque style, has been preserved. A wooden belfry from the 18th century.

SOBOTKA ~ A town founded in 1498 from an original market village.

The Renaissance town hall with a tower that was reconstructed in the Empire style, a GothicRenaissance church of St. Mary Magdalene and one or two-storey houses belong to the town´s zone of sights. Sobotka is the birthplace of the poets V. Šolc and F. Šrámek. There is a permanent exposition in Šrámek ´s house.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR HUMPRECHT ~ A small Baroque hunters‘ chateau from 1666 -1672 on a basalt hill at Sobotka. It was built as an imitation of the Galata tower in Istanbul with an elliptical floor plan. Černínský oval hall is noteworthy for its acoustics - in it, sound resonates with multiplied power. Wall paintings noting the life of Heřman and Humprecht Černín of Chudenice. Exhibition of the noble Černín family and the museum of the Soboka region.

DAY 4 NEPŘÍVĚC – HRUBÁ SKÁLA Basic route: 26 km (24 km).

Shortened route: 18 km.

The route runs in the undulating terrain of enchanting valleys with nice views and romantic castles.

Accommodation: Hotel*** Hrubá Skála Hotel is situated in a former cha teau standing on the rock blocks with an unique view.

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VESEC ~ A small village situated between the Humprecht and Kost castles. There are timber cottages at the village. It was proclaimed a village conservation area in 1995. Vesec is a popular place to film crews, who filmed many movies here, mostly fairy tales.

PLAKÁNEK ~ A romantic valley of Klenice stream flanked by sandstone rocks and pine forests between Kost castle and Střehom. The 1,5 ha Obora lake overgrown with rushes adds charm to the place. It was a favorite spot of poet F. Šrámek.

KOST ~ The best preserved Gothic castle in Bohemia was built in the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries on a sandstone rock in the middle of three valleys. The core of the castle was formed by an old palace, a residential tower and a chapel. The castle was burned down several times.

New parts of the castle were built in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the Thirty Years´ War it was used for economic purposes only. The exposition has been formed from the property of the Kinský family. There is a Renaissance kitchen and an exhibition of historical weapons from the military museum.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR PODTROSECKÁ VALLEYS ~ An unusually attractive tourist and holiday area of the Bohemian Paradise. Here in the 16th century, people built a system of ponds from the valley floodplain and the marshes to utilise the territory economically and today, it forms a space of extraordinary scenic and natural value.

The unique canyon valley is bordered by sandstone cliffs and these also often form the shores of the ponds. We count eight of them: Vidlák with a restaurant, parking lot and campsite; Krčák; Rokytnický and Hrůdka; the shallow Dolský, Podsemín and two of the most sought after „swimming holes“ - Nebák and Věžák. The pond Věžák is located in an exquisite valley and thanks to this appealing location it has been selected several times as the backdrop for family film shoots (e.g. „Jak dostat tatínka do polepšovny“ [How to Get Dad into an Approved School]). A nature preserve Podtrosecká Valleys protects the most extensive complex of marsh isotopes in CHKO Český ráj (The Bohemian Paradise Protected Scenic District).

TROSKY ~ Remnants of a castle of the Vartenberk family that was built in the 14th century on a steep basalt volcanic rock massif which is divided into two towers. The higher tetragonal one is called The Maiden and the lower and more robust is named The Old Woman. The core of the castle was formed by a castle palace and a courtyard with farm buildings. Thanks to its defensive stone wall and advantageous strategic position the castle stood well against all military attacks.

Since the Thirty Years´War the castle has become desolate. A nice view to a big distance.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR HRUBÁ SKÁLA ~ On the site of the original castle from the 14th century, built on a monumentally high cliff, stands the Hrubá Skála chateau. Reconstruction of the castle changed it into a more comfortable noble Renaissance residence in the second half of the 16th century and in the middle of the 19th century it was again reGothicised. In the same region of the sandstone plateau stands a church built in romantic Gothic, from which a connecting bridge with valuable Baroque statues leads to the chateau. The chateau is a private hotel today, but visitors may enter the courtyard and the tower with its wonderful view. The nearest vicinity of the chateau provides tours in a rock city, the arboretum in Bukovina, the rock passage called Myší díra (the Mouse Hole) or a visit to the cave called Adamovo lože (Adam‘s Bed).

You will obtain the most beautiful view of the chateau as well as one of the most beautiful views of Český ráj itself from the nearby Mariánská vyhlídka (a viewpoint).

DAY 5 HRUBÁ SKÁLA – MALÁ SKÁLA Basic route: 20 km (22 km).

Shortened route: 15,5 km (17,5 km).

The trail leads in a rock city in a hilly terrain with nice views and little rock castles.

Accommodation: hotel Malá Skála You will sleep 2 nights in this hotel. It is situated near the train station.

It offers comfortable rooms with unique views to Vranov and Suché skály rocks, a nice restaurant.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR HRUBÁ SKÁLA ROCK CITY ~ A plateau with a rock city of the same name (called „Skalák“ by the rock climbers). Hrubá Skála rock city consists of about 400 sandstone towers. Some of them are 60 meters high (380 meters above the sea level). This rock city is divided in four major areas: Dračí skály (Dragon´s rocks) and Zámecká rokle (the Chateau gorge), Kapelník (Conductor), Maják (Lighthouse) and Údolíčka (Valleys). Below the Mariánská viewpoint there is a symbolic cemetery of dead climbers (Expedition Peru and others). Vyskeř hill (465 meters) and the surroundings of Hrubá Skála (424 meters) dominate above the rock blocks. The Golden path of the Bohemian Paradise and a 4 km long instructive path with a number of viewpoints lead along the way in the upper part of the plateau.

VALDŠTEJN ~ It was founded in the middle of the 13th century by the Markvartic family. Albrecht of Valdštejn ( Wallenstein ) , a famous military leader , came of this family later on. The castle became desolate in the 16th century. In the Baroque period it became a well known place of pilgrimage. Romantic changes from the 19th century complete the appearance of the area . A stone bridge with Baroque statues and a chapel of St. John from Nepomuk are of extraordinary value.

HLAVATICE ~ A lonely rock located at the edge of Hruboskalská plošina (the Hruboskalská Plateau), as if created as an observation point.

We ascend to the top along stairs with railings, from whence there is a wonderful view on Turnov, Ještěd and also in the direction of Bezděz.

The observation point is continuously open. Access along the redmarked hiking trail from Turnov or Hrubá Skála (Valdštejn).

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TURNOV ~ The town was founded in the 13th century by Jaroslav and Havel from the Markvartic family on a headland above Jizera river. It developed to an important center of trade and crafts. Cuting of precious stones and unique production of jewels from the Bohemian garnets made Turnov world-wide known. In 1884 Secondary school of Applied Arts was founded here as the only one of this kind in the whole Europe.

Several times reconstructed Renaissance town hall from 1526 has been preserved. Gothic church of St. Nicholas from the 14th century was reconstructed in the Renaissance style and finally in the Baroque style in 1722. Neo-Gothic church of the Virgin Mary from the 19th century with an unfinished tower is the dominant of the town. Church of St. Francis from Assissi from the 17th century was burnt down several times and finally reconstructed at the beginning of the 19th century. The town´s theatre from 1872- 1874 is a reduced -size copy of the Prozatimní theatre in Prague. There is a huge exposition of precious stones, jewels, geology, archeology, history and ethnography in the Museum of the Bohemian Paradise and also a seat of the administration of the Bohemia Paradise.

MUSEUM ~ In this museum we find a unique collection of precious stones from Czech and international sites, exhibitions about the past and present of gem processing in Turnov, including goldPHONE NUMBER +420 603 824 497

TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR smith work. The museum has collected documents about the mineral and cultural wealth of the region since 1886. There is a jewel case of Czech garnet, an exhibition of significant personalities of the region and folk culture of central Jizera river. Arranged in the gallery are exhibitions of creative arts, regional history, ethnography, mineralogy and stone masonry. The most famous exhibit is certainly the panoramic painting „Pobití Sasíků pod Hrubou Skálou“ (The Massacre of the Saxons under Hrubá Skála) - one of the largest oil paintings in Europe. The painting is 10 x 8.5 metres in dimensions and was painted by M. Aleš, V. Jansa, V. Mašek and V. Bartoněk. The museum is the organizer of many traditional folk celebrations and events enlivening the craft tradition of the region.

DOLÁNKY ~ There is a Dlask´s farm - one of the most beautiful and most typical gems of half-timbered architecture in the region. The original building from 1716 was brought to the banks of Jizera river at the end of the 18th century to a site that has never been threatened by the almost regular flooding of Jizera river. In this one-storey residential building with its wonderfully decorated gable and porch, the graphic designer Josef Dlask, who also wrote a history of the farmstead, was born and lived here. Entry to the object is through a stone gate with Baroque wooden bell tower. The exhibition of the farmstead displays how our predecessors lived, including their agricultural and craft tools. There is also the Rakoušův sroubek (the Rakouš little log cabin) from 1807, brought here in 1959 from Hrubý Rohozec. A national ethnographic celebration is held in the area (fair, feast, festival).

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DRÁBOVNA ~ A small rock town with modest remnants of a medieval castle.

FRÝDŠTEJN ~ A ruin of a castle from the Middle Ages (14 th century) out of which a big tower has been preserved (diameter 9 meters) . It is the dominant of the Vranovský ridge. There are also remnants of walls of the inner castle as well as those of rooms which were cut in the rock. In the course of the Hussite Wars the castle was besieged but without success. A century later it became desolate.

DAY 6 TOUR AROUND MALÁ SKÁLA Basic route: 16 km.

A diverse track with a hill climbing and passing through a rock labyrinth.

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TRAVEL AGENCY HOŠKA - TOUR VRANOV ~ This castle on a narrow and steep rock ridge is also called Skála and was built around the year 1425. The core of the castle is composed of a multi-storey palace surrounded on three sides by rock blocks.

Legends and some Medieval depictions support the idea that there were windmills on the rocks. The deteriorating castle exchanged owners and in 1803 came into the hands of F. Z. Romisch, a failed, excited, slightly mad romantic. He turned Vranov into a Pantheon, covering the rock with a great number of memorial inscriptions and monuments, noting various heroic acts and personalities and busts of the three emperors, victors over Napoleon, were installed in the Hall of Heroes. On the sunny slopes of the Pantheon, he ultimately established a vineyard (the northernmost in Bohemia). The neo-Gothic chapel, a small path carved in the cliff, caves and various memorial plaques have been preserved.

MALÁ SKÁLA ~ The first records about this summer resort in the valley of Jizera river date from 1432. On the rock ridge above the right bank of Jizera there is a romantic Pantheon and a chateau from 1700 that was later given an Empire appearance. Nowadays it is used for economic purposes. There are many folk timbered buildings in the village.

A huge two-storey house with a vault on the first storey called the Bouček´s farm is accessible to public.

BOUČKŮV STATEK FARMHOUSE ~ A typical display of halftimbered folk architecture of the central Jizera river region. Located here is a permanent exhibition of the history of Malá Skála region, a gallery of creative art, wooden Nativities from the workshop of an academic painter Josef Jíra and a style restaurant.

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SUCHÉ SKÁLY ROCKS ~ They used to be called the Teacher´s organ. They are also named the Czech Dolomites. A natural place of interest (23 hectars, proclaimed in 1965) situated 1,5 km from Malá skála.

In the landscape it is a really attractive sandstone sharply broken ridge.

BESEDICKÉ SKÁLY ROCKS ~ A rock labyrinth at Besedice. In the middle of five gorges there is a grotto with a symbolic chapel of the church of the Moravian brothers. In the course of counterreformation these rocks were used as a refuge by persecuted non-Catholics.

KOZÁKOV ~ The highest peak (744 m) in the area, a part of the Ještěd and Kozákov hills ridge, a 162,83 ha national natural monument established in 1985. The hill is made of three types of rocks – melaphyre (S and SE crown with precious stones findings – in the Votrubcov quarry ), sandstone (SW slope, for example Babí and Kudrnáčova pec) and basalt (N slopes with quarries ). The Riegrova chata chalet was built on the top between 1926 and 1928, enlarged in 1939, partially burnt down in 1962 and reopen in 1966. A 40 m viewing tower was opened in 1994 a few steps from the chalet. The view from its accessible gallery is magnificent. You can see in all directions with nothing obstructing the view of Krkonoše, Jizerské a Orlické Mountains, Bohemian Paradise, Bezděz castle, Říp, Milešovka, Ralsko, Klíč and Ještěd hills. Kozákov hill is notorious for paragliders.

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DAY 7 - DEPARTURE Departure to Prague during the day according to a bus schedule. The bus stop is on the main motorway in Malá Skála. It is about 200 m across Jizera river. Buses go to a bus station Praha - Černý Most. Clients who have the accommodation booking in Prague hotel, they will receive the Voucher from the Czech travel agency.

You will go by underground (metro) line B from ČERNÝ MOST to a changing MUSTEK station and you will change the underground line A and go only 1 station to MUSEUM station.

After leaving the underground you will go down along Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) and turn left to the second street (Ve Smečkách).

Accommodation: Hotel*** Praha All rooms are equipped with private bathroom, satellite TV, telephone and well stocked mini-bar. Rich breakfast buffet.

Restaurant offers a daily menu with its traditional Czech cuisine and specialities of a regional cuisine.

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