Semily between textile history and the Jizera Valley

Semily combines the textile history of the Podkrkonoší region with the starting point of the Riegrova Trail. FABRIKA 1861 explores the area’s industrial past; exhibitions and distinctive architectural and artistic works add to the cultural offerings. You can tailor your stay to a variety of interests: industrial history and architecture, or a route through the Jizera Valley.

Textile history and FABRIKA 1861

The Nová přádelna building is part of an extensive site dating back to 1861. The site was once one of the most important centres of the textile industry in the Podkrkonoší region. Its historical context therefore extends beyond the individual building: the site reflects the former importance of textile production in this part of the region. Guided tours of FABRIKA 1861 introduce the industrial architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries, its architectural and technical features, and the history of the textile industry. This gives you the opportunity to explore the site’s architectural features alongside its industrial past.

Exhibitions, events and guided tours

FABRIKA 1861 regularly hosts exhibitions. It also organises concerts, festivals, parties and other events for the general public. All areas of FABRIKA 1861 are open to visitors during public events or as part of private guided tours. The rooms of the Ludmila Clock Tower on the site are also included in guided tours. Since access depends on events or private guided tours, and tour options may change with the programme, check which event or tour is available for your visit date in advance.

An exhibition with a regional perspective

The exhibition “Léčitelé Pojizeří a Podkrkonoší” features more than 30 figures from an area stretching from Liberec to Trutnov and south to Jičín. It includes a detailed reconstruction of the treatment room of Semily healer Květoslava Patočková, as well as an authentic recording of her voice. Personal details about a healer from Semily are presented alongside a broader regional overview. The exhibition offers a different approach to cultural history than the FABRIKA 1861 tours, which focus on industrial architecture and textile production.

Architecture and wood carving

The Sbor Dr. Karla Farského is an expressive building with a dynamic arrangement of its architectural volumes and Gothic echoes in the form of a pointed arch. Inside are wood carvings by Vladimír Komárek (1928–2002): “Mistr Jan Hus na kazatelně” and “Karel Farský v zamyšlení nad písmem svatým,” both dating from 1958. Here, the architecture and art can be appreciated through specific features: the building’s dynamic design, the pointed arch and the two dated carvings.

Riegrova Trail and green route

The Riegrova Trail starts in Semily and runs for 5 km via Bítouchov, the Jizera Valley and Podspálov. It passes through the scenic landscape of the Galerie Natural Monument and the Údolí Jizery a Bítouchova Nature Reserve. One of the route’s notable features is a 77-metre-long suspended gallery with views of the Jizera. The green route “Zelená šlápota” passes the open-air exhibition “Cesta do pravěku.” These routes offer different points of interest: the Riegrova Trail passes through protected landscapes and features the suspended gallery, while Zelená šlápota offers the open-air exhibition.

Discover more destinations: Sekerkovy Loučky, Záhoří U Semil, Roztoky U Jilemnice, Libštát, Klokočí U Turnova, Rakousy, Poniklá, Končiny

For the broader travel overview: Okres Semily.