Podkost – Hiking, Village History and Kost Castle

Podkost lies below Kost Castle and is also the starting point of a 20-kilometre circular route. Another hiking route leads through the village and on to the castle and Plakánek Valley. Alongside routes of different lengths, the landscape and the village’s history are among the things that shape a stay here.

Hiking from and through Podkost

The “Okolo Sobotky z Libošovic” route is 10.6 kilometres long and is described as moderately difficult. It runs mainly along forest and field paths, using third-class roads for a shorter section. The route passes through Podkost and continues to Kost Castle and Plakánek Valley. This trail therefore connects a range of landscape and cultural attractions in one trip.

The circular route from Kost Castle is longer at 20 kilometres and is also moderately difficult. It starts and ends in Podkost and follows red- and green-marked hiking trails. There are several steep ascents and descents along the way. The two routes therefore differ in more than just length: the shorter route is described mainly in terms of its path surfaces, while the steep ascents and descents are specific features of the longer circular route.

Plakánek Valley: Rocks, Forest and Nature Trail

Plakánek Valley lies near Kost Castle, among sandstone cliffs and coniferous forests by Obora Pond. A nature trail runs through the valley between sandstone cliffs and along the Klenice River. Information boards explain the local history, geology and natural processes, offering a way to learn about the landscape and its natural and historical context.

In 2020, a section of the hiking trail in the valley was stabilised with a boardwalk at a heavily waterlogged spot. The Údolí Plakánek Natura 2000 site includes land in the cadastral area of Podkost and overlaps with the nature reserve of the same name. Its protected features include caves that are not accessible to the public, as well as the rare fern Vláskatec tajemný (Trichomanes speciosum).

Village History and Kost Castle

According to surviving accounts, the village of Podkost below Kost Castle was founded in 1636. Historic craft buildings in the village served the castle and its brewery. A former cooperage has been preserved in house no. 8. In addition to its location below the castle, these buildings give the village its own historical character.

Kost Castle, at Podkost 1, stands on a massive sandstone spur in a wooded valley and is considered the best-preserved Gothic castle in Bohemia. One of its distinctive features is the White Tower, whose ground plan is an irregular trapezoid. From a particular vantage point, all four edges can be seen at the same time. This makes the tower’s shape a specific architectural detail to look out for during your visit.

The castle offers guided tours in four formats: one focused on the Kinský family, one exploring the mystery of the medieval torture chamber, a combination of both themes, and a shorter route for visitors with limited time. Check the current tour options before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Jičín, Úlibice, Rokytňany, Milovice U Hořic, Valdice, Parezska Lhota, Stav, Samšina

For the broader travel overview: Jičín District.