Kounice: History and Landscape

When looking for a hotel in Kounice, your interests can help you decide: would you like to focus on the town’s architectural history, the landscape, or a particular trail? The castle and church offer points of interest for historical topics; Na skále and Kounický háj represent geology and woodland. The following highlights make it easier to plan your stay around one of these themes.

The castle and the protected church complex

Kounice Castle stands on the site of a former, probably medieval fortress. Between 1612 and 1634, under Jan Rudolf Trčka, it was rebuilt and expanded into a three-wing Renaissance castle. A Baroque redesign followed in 1719; a chronogram above the castle gate points to this change. This makes it possible to distinguish several phases in the building’s history. The protected complex of the Church of St. James the Greater (“kostel sv. Jakuba Většího”) also includes more than a single building: it comprises the grounds of the former cemetery, an enclosing wall with two gates, a flight of steps in front, and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. The church and castle therefore offer different points of interest if you are interested in Kounice’s historical layers.

Geology and woodland landscape

Na skále is located 1 km southwest of Kounice. The disused quarry is a fossil flora site in sandstones and claystones of the Peruc Beds. The site is freely accessible; by car, you can get within 250 m of it. Kounický háj represents a different side of the landscape: the typical lowland and hilly-region deciduous forest has developed into a mixed forest with diverse woodland flora. The quarry and the forest thus point to two distinct nature themes in Kounice—geological traces in the rock and a diverse woodland.

The Kounická cesta

The Kounická cesta nature trail runs along side streets in Kounice, across meadows beside the floodplain of Kounický potok and along the edge of an orchard, leading to the Cihelna pond in the west of the municipality. At present, the route is marked with green-and-white nature trail signs and has three stops. It offers a way to discover local paths and landscape features along a single route. The route, markings and number of stops may change; check the latest trail information before setting out.

Brewing history and a cycling race

The brewing tradition in Kounice was revived when a batch of Kounický ležák was brewed for the first time in 112 years. The brewing history also includes Sladovna – Panský pivovar, an original Renaissance brewery from the second half of the 16th century. The former malt house is also among Kounice’s surviving monuments. The 15th edition of the “Kounická šlapka” cycling race was announced for 2026. If you would like to include the race in your travel plans, check the latest event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Jíkev, Jizbice, Milčice, Kolaje, Hradčany, Budiměřice, Dymokury, Kovanice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.