Soberaz on the eastern edge of the UNESCO Geopark Český ráj

Soberaz lies entirely within its cadastral area on the eastern edge of the UNESCO Geopark Český ráj. Alongside this geographical setting, the village has several historic points of interest: the Chapel of St Peter and Paul, rural houses, a statue of the Virgin Mary and a monument. For orientation, a blue-marked hiking trail through the cadastral area and the educational trail on the history of the 1866 war in the Hořice region add to the picture. The village can thus be explored through both its landscape and its architectural and commemorative history.

Landscape and trails

The geopark encompasses the entire cadastral area of Soběraz, which lies on the eastern edge of the UNESCO Geopark Český ráj. This landscape designation therefore applies not just to a single point. A blue-marked hiking trail also runs through the cadastral area. The colour provides a clear guide when planning your route, but trail markings can change: check the markings before setting out.

The educational trail “Following the Traces of the 1866 War in the Hořice Region” includes Soběraz as one of the participating municipalities. Its title places the subject in the context of the 1866 war in the Hořice region. Thus, in addition to the landscape, hiking and the history of the year 1866 offer distinct points of interest when planning a trip.

Local history and architectural monuments

The first written mention of Soběraz dates from 1362 and appears in the court book of the town of Jičín. A later date of note is 1717, when the Carthusians from Valdice built the Chapel of St Peter and Paul. These dates mark different points of reference: 1362 relates to the first written mention, while 1717 marks the construction of the chapel. The historical record of the village is thus distinct from the specific building history of one structure.

Rural House No. 35 stands in the western part of Soběraz. It is an example of carving and folk architecture from the late 18th century. Both aspects give the house a distinctive historical character: its classification points, on the one hand, to artistic woodcarving and, on the other, to the rural architectural forms of the period. House No. 39 is a protected cultural monument. In this case, a different aspect comes to the fore: its monument status.

The statue of the Virgin Mary in Soběraz dates from 1870. The monument in front of the local cemetery commemorates the Hussite past and those who fell in the First World War. The two references have different emphases: the statue has a specific date, while the monument brings together two historical themes of remembrance.

Getting there and finding your bearings

The quickest way to reach Soběraz is via a turn-off from the Jičín–Lomnice nad Popelkou road, between Valdice and Železnice.

When planning your trip, it is useful to distinguish between features that relate to an area and those tied to individual sites: the geopark encompasses the entire cadastral area, while the houses, chapel and monument are connected to specific historical points. The hiking trail runs through the cadastral area; the educational trail includes Soběraz as a participating municipality. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Soberaz, you can first consider whether the landscape, architectural history or a historical trail is most relevant to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Svatojanský Újezd, Chyjice, Cerekvice Nad Bystřicí, Libošovice, Jinolice, Horní Nová Ves, Milovice U Hořic, Bašnice

See the broader travel overview: Okres Jičín.