Sobotka

Sobotka lies on the edge of the Bohemian Paradise and combines impressive cultural monuments with the experience of a protected landscape. For your travel planning, this means you can combine historic architecture, folk art, literature and an educational trail focused on different aspects of a stay. Sobotka is particularly interesting for travelers who want not only to collect sights, but also to get to know the history and distinctive character of a place.

Humprecht Castle and distinctive architecture

Humprecht Castle was built by the Italian architect Carlo Lurago between 1666 and 1668 as a summer and hunting residence for Count Humprecht Jan Czernin of Chudenice. Its shape alone distinguishes the aristocratic residence from other castles: It has an elliptical ground plan and a crescent moon as a roof finial. This makes the building distinctive and easy to remember even as a standalone cultural attraction.

On the second floor, there is a viewing gallery 13 meters above the ground. From there, you can enjoy views of the distinctive landscape destinations of the Bohemian Paradise. A visit thus combines viewing a historic building with looking out over the landscape on whose edge Sobotka lies.

Folk architecture, gallery and sacred art

The Šolcův statek farmhouse from 1811 tells another chapter of the region's culture. It is one of the best-preserved examples of folk architecture in the Bohemian Paradise. The building also houses the Karla Samšiňáka Gallery. Historical construction and fine art thus come together in one place.

The church Kostel sv. Maří Magdaleny s farou is also worth a closer look. Its exceptional late Baroque interior was created in the workshop of the Jelínek sculptors from Kosmonosy. Those interested in details, craftsmanship and historic interiors will find here a different way of engaging with Sobotka's culture than in a castle or museum.

Literature at the municipal information center

The Fráňa Šrámek Museum presents a modern exhibition that combines literature, space and a multimedia experience. The exhibition includes the writer's original study, his personal library and a Hall of Poetry. The museum is located directly on the square in Sobotka's municipal information center. This location makes it an easily identifiable cultural stop within the town and complements the historic sights with a literary perspective.

Landscape in Český ráj

If you would also like to explore the area on foot, the Údolí Plakánek educational trail runs through the part of the Český ráj Protected Landscape Area belonging to Sobotka. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether the focus of your stay should be on castle and museum visits, on architecture and literature, or on the landscape of the Bohemian Paradise. Sobotka offers several clearly distinct themes without requiring you to commit to just one way of traveling.

More places for your research

You can find further destinations for your travel planning in Ohařice, Podhorni Ujezd A Vojice, Cholenice, Vitiněves, Prachov, Bříšťany, Žlunice and Mlynec.

For the overview of the higher-level destination: Jičín District.