Kosmonosy: Loreto Chapel, Castle and Nature Reserves

The Loreto Chapel in Kosmonosy was built between 1702 and 1708 based on a design by the Italian architect Giovanni Alliprandi. The Loreto complex includes the central Santa Casa, which is surrounded by cloisters and decorated with reliefs depicting the life of Mary, statues of prophets and replicas of Italian frescoes.

Culture and History

Kosmonosy Castle began as a Renaissance fortress commissioned by Adam Krajíř between 1560 and 1570. The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was built from 1671 to 1673 and is considered one of the first Baroque churches in the Mladá Boleslav area. Most of the sculptures and decorations in this church were created by the Kosmonosy sculptor Josef Jelínek.

The Piarist College in Kosmonosy is a four-winged building complex with a central courtyard and covered passageways opened by arcades. It remains protected as a cultural monument.

The Kosmonosy Grammar School developed into a cultural centre of the region; the Baroque musicians Jiří Benda and Jiří Ignác Linka were among those who attended this school.

Kosmonosy Castle houses a museum on the history of the town, with a particular focus on the 20th century. The museum has seasonal opening hours from May to September, on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m.

Those exploring sacred architecture in Kosmonosy will encounter the Loreto complex and the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; the museum in the castle represents the town's history, while Altamira presents prehistoric reconstructions. Baba and Vrch Baba provide distinct natural settings, with forests, open land and exposed basalt dikes. The cultural themes can thus be distinguished by architectural history, urban development and prehistory.

The Altamira open-air prehistoric museum next to Kosmonosy Castle Park includes replicas of prehistoric structures, including Celtic semi-subterranean houses, a bakery and a weaving workshop, a hay barn, a stable and a small field. From April to October, Altamira is open to the public on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Kosmonosy Castle Park was opened to the public after the Second World War.

Nature and Trails

The Baba Nature Reserve in the vicinity of Kosmonosy covers approximately 122 hectares and consists mainly of deciduous forest, with oak-hornbeam and beech woodlands.

The Vrch Baba Nature Reserve in the vicinity of Kosmonosy protects a complex of near-natural forest and open-land ecosystems, as well as exposed basalt dikes. The educational trail through this nature reserve begins and ends in the centre of Kosmonosy-Horní Stakory.

In 2019 and 2020, a natural swimming pond was proposed as the centrepiece of the Obora Park leisure complex in Kosmonosy.

When choosing hotels in Kosmonosy, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions form a separate decision framework. These factors may be weighted differently depending on the travel plans, while the choice of location remains open between the Loreto Chapel, castle history, museums, prehistoric reconstructions and nature reserves.

Other Places in the Destination

Dlouhá Lhota, Srbsko, Koryta, Strašnov, Žďár, Tuřice, Žehrov, Strenice

For the higher-level travel overview: Mladá Boleslav District.