Stará Lysá: Baroque Chapels and a Long History

Landscape and Location

Stará Lysá lies in the central Polabí region, in gently rolling countryside near the confluence of the Labe and Jizera rivers. The municipality includes extensive pine and mixed forests as well as predominantly agricultural land. Forests and open farmland together shape the surrounding landscape. If you choose a destination for its landscape and cultural attractions, Stará Lysá offers both: surroundings shaped by forests and fields, and several historic buildings.

Quiet roads run through the municipality and are also suitable for cycling. This may be a useful consideration when planning a cycling trip. Stará Lysá is not directly connected to the rail network; rail services can be accessed at the station in Lysá nad Labem. When planning your journey, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the town itself and this rail connection.

History Through the Ages

The oldest written records of Stará Lysá date back to the 11th century. One specific event is recorded for 1013: Prince Jaromír was held captive by Prince Oldřich at the ducal court in Stará Lysá. The oldest market in Lysá, located in Stará Lysá, is documented in 1293 under the name “antiqum forum Lyssa”. These dates point to different stages in the town’s history, from the early Middle Ages to market activity in the 13th century.

Archaeological finds also form part of the town’s history. Finds from tar kilns dating to the 15th century have been discovered at the “Za pecí” site. History enthusiasts can consider written records and archaeological traces as different ways of exploring the town’s past.

Chapels, Memorial Trees and a Bell Tower

In Čihadla, which is part of Stará Lysá, stands the protected Baroque Chapel of Saint Symeon. It is an original religious building of considerable aesthetic and landscape significance. Another protected site is the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist: this late Baroque religious building dates from the first half of the 18th century. The two chapels provide distinct architectural landmarks within the town’s cultural history.

Six small-leaved lime trees, which are among Stará Lysá’s memorial trees, stand by the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist. Another cultural and historical landmark is the approximately 700-year-old memorial lime tree. Beside it is a stone cross dating from 1840. A bell tower also stands at a crossroads; it is a vernacular building from the first half of the 19th century. Together, these places illustrate different forms of remembrance and religious architecture.

Bon Repos and Local Traditions

About two kilometres north of Stará Lysá, on a wooded ridge, Count F. A. Špork founded the Bon Repos hunting lodge and the Hermitage of Saint Jerome after 1715. Its location outside the town sets this historic landmark apart from the chapels and memorials in Stará Lysá.

Cultural events and folk traditions are also part of local life, and associations in Stará Lysá help keep them alive. The traditions mentioned include balls, pilgrimages and church festivals. If you would like to combine your trip with an event, it is useful for planning to distinguish these traditions from the historic buildings that can be visited year-round.

Discover more destinations: Vrbová Lhota, Seletice, Vykáň, Sokoleč, Prerov Nad Labem, Velenka, Chrást, Žitovlice.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.