Mladá Boleslav District: Sugar-Making Tradition, Culture and Landscape

Sugar, automotive history and nature trails give Mladá Boleslav District many different facets. In Dobrovice, the museum tells the story of sugar production, distilling, sugar beet cultivation and the history of the town. The area around Dobrovice is also considered the birthplace of sugar beet cultivation in Czechia; sugar has been produced there continuously since 1831. For anyone interested in the region, it offers an introduction that spans everything from a local tradition to a long history of production.

Nature trails, landscape and longer routes

The Chlum nature trail combines natural history and archaeology with practical guidance: ten information panels cover these two subjects. Chlum is a protected nature park and a European Site of Community Importance; it is also of notable archaeological interest. Its landscape includes oak-hornbeam forests, flowering beech forests, wet meadows, orchards and white slopes. Part of the nature trail is accessible by bike and runs along a cycle path.

The Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise offers a different way to explore: it starts in Mladá Boleslav, passes through Mnichovo Hradiště and continues toward Jičín. Its route through several towns makes it a different kind of hiking option from the themed nature trail in Chlum. The Příhrazské skály also bring together landscape and history: they include Drábské světničky, a rock castle on the Hrada plateau.

Populations of Siberian water crowfoot and the narrow-mouthed whorl snail occur in Rečkov. The area also includes bog and purple moor-grass meadows, as well as semi-natural wet alder forests. These natural features differ from the information panels in Chlum: here, the focus is on particular plant and animal species and different wetland habitats.

Museums, castles and regional history

The castle in Mladá Boleslav dates back to the second half of the 10th century and now houses the regional museum. Its exhibition uses animation, sound and lighting effects to make the displays appealing to children too. By contrast, automotive history takes center stage at the Škoda Museum. It is located in original production halls where cars were made until 1928. The brand’s history is presented interactively and using multimedia across 1,800 square meters of exhibition space. The collection comprises around 360 objects, including production cars, rally cars, prototypes, engines, motorcycles and a bicycle.

Architectural history can also be explored at different locations. The Loreta in Kosmonosy is an architectural monument built between 1702 and 1708 to a design by Giovanni Alliprandi. In Bělá pod Bezdězem, sections of a 14th-century fortification have survived; the town also has a Renaissance castle. The castle in Benátky nad Jizerou is associated with the astronomer Tycho Brahe, who stayed there. At Loučeň Castle, the focus is on the English park, which features twelve mazes and labyrinths. In Jabkenice, the memorial museum is housed in the forester’s lodge associated with Bedřich Smetana.

Mladá Boleslav Region offers active holidays, culture and historic sights, cycling and hiking trails, romantic landscapes, and activities for children. To travel from Prague to Mladá Boleslav, you can go by car, bus, train or bicycle on marked cycle routes. Direct trains leave from Prague Main Railway Station; buses depart from Černý Most and Letňany. Check the timetable before you leave for your travel date, as transport connections may change.

Choose according to your own plans, and consider the journey to Mladá Boleslav separately if it is important for your trip.

Discover more destinations

Dobsin, Kosmonosy, Knezmost, Brezina, Bakov Nad Jizerou, Muzsky, Skokovy, Žehrov, Branzez, Zakopaná, Rohatsko, Loukovec, Josefuv Dul, Dolni Bousov, Srbsko, Bezno, Belá Pod Bezdezem, Strašnov, Sovínky, Jungbunzlau, Kobylnice, Strenice, Březovice, Chotětov, Dalovice, Dlouhá Lhota, Dobrovice, Dolní Slivno, Domousnice, Čachovice, Hrdlořezy, Jabkenice, Katusice, Klášter Hradiště Nad Jizerou, Krnsko, Kropáčova Vrutice, Ledce U Mladé Boleslavi, Luštěnice, Mečeříž, Mnichovo Hradiště, Mohelnice Nad Jizerou, Obrubce, Předměřice Nad Jizerou, Semčice, Sojovice, Sukorady, Všejany, Vlkava, Mukařov U Jiviny, Smilovice, Brodce, Žďár, Chocnějovice, Bukovno, Ctiměřice, Ptýrov, Petkovy, Horní Bukovina, Niměřice, Doubravička, Řitonice, Horky Nad Jizerou, Rokytá, Horní Slivno, Hrušov, Husí Lhota, Charvatce, Chudíř, Jizerní Vtelno, Kochánky, Kolomuty, Koryta, Kosořice, Košátky, Kováň, Kovanec, Strážiště, Velké Všelisy, Lipník, Loukov, Rokytovec, Nemyslovice, Nepřevázka, Neveklovice, Nová Telib, Nová Ves U Bakova, Obruby, Skorkov, Pětikozly, Písková Lhota, Plazy, Prodašice, Přepeře, Rabakov, Sudoměř, Řepov, Sezemice U Mnichova Hradiště, Skalsko, Boseň, Malé Horky, Hradec, Střehom, Ujkovice, Veselice, Vinec, Vrátno, Žerčice, Židněves, Tuřice, Krásná Ves, Plužná, Zdětín, Bradlec, Benátky nad Jizerou, Ledce

For the regional travel overview: Central Bohemia.