Interesting places in Jizera region

Spálov

One of the points of departure for your boating trip on Jizera River can be the confluence of calm Jizera and wild Kamenice. This beautiful spot is an ideal place for getting on a boat. If you use our boat rental, that’s where your boating trip can begin.
Nearby downstream is located a small campsite “Paraplíčko” with a training rapids (WW I), which can be during the optimal water level nice adrenalin variegation of the trip even for less experienced watermen. From Podspálov is possible to sail only when there is sufficient water level (virtually except for summer months), because the power station above Líšný and newly also in Železný Brod take majority of the water from the river away and part of the riverbed below the weirs is not passable. During a spring thaw or after heavy rains can the more experienced watermen connect a trip to “Paraplíčko” with sailing the lower reaches of Kamenice (from Jesenný = WW II).

The section Spálov – Malá Skála: 9,7 km

The Kamenice River

Kamenice is a popular wild river, which is sought by watermen from the whole republic. It rises in Jizerské hory (1 084 m above sea level) and its 33 km long reaches flows through number of towns, with Tanvald as the biggest of them. The riverbed is passable after rains or thaw. The most sought-after part of the river from Plavy to Jesenný is during a high water level very difficult and is considered as one of the most difficult rivers in middle Europe. The river can be divided in five parts. For the ordinary mortals is appropriate only the final part – from Jesenný to Podspálov. Not far from the bridge is a weir, where is better to take the boats over because there can form a very dangerous cylinder during high water level. You can end the sail on the left bank under the road bridge Podspálov or continue further on Jizera River.

Riegrova trail

Riegrova Trail is a route from the confluence of Kamenice and Jizera in Podspálov, which leads through a romantic valley of Jizera and rocky canyon of the Jizera Gallery to Semily. It was named after a famous Semily native, Doctor František Ladislav Rieger. The history of the trail began in the end of the 19th century, when the Czech Tourist Club built so-called old part of Rigerova Trail, a 13km long path from Źelezný Brod to the confluence of Kamenice and Jizera. In 1901 there appeared an idea of prolonging the trail through the valley of Jizera up to Semily, however the enthusiasts met with the opposition of the owner of the land there, who didn’t have good relationships with the city. The ice wasn’t broken until 1908 and then a new part of the trail from Podspálov to Semily was started was started to build. The construction, which was being realized by an architect Karel Kryka, was very demanding.
The demandingness of the construction can be demonstrated on a 12m long tunnel and a 77m long suspension gallery above the Jizera River. There was also built Böhm’s lookout, with a nice overview of the river. Over 300 kg of explosives was used for the construction and it took 3 months to finish it. The opening ceremony took place in October 1909 and the trail immediately got a public awareness – just a year after its opening visited the trail over 80 000 of tourists.

Small hydro-electric power station in Spálov

The construction began in 1921 by the confluence of Jizera and Kamenice. The building operations were farmed out to company Ing. Nejedlý, Řehák and Co., the remarkable area was designed by the master of art noveau and cubism and Německý Brod native, Emil Králíček. The machinery of floodgates and gangplanks was provided by Prášilové Brothers and Co. from Libeň, the turbines by Breitfield and Daněk Company from Blansko and the electrical equipment of the switch room by F. Křižík Company.
The raceway to the power station is channelled from the weir by a 1323m long gallery, driven in a very hard diabase and then by 437m long masoned channel. The machine room was got into a trial run on 12th May 1926 and the power station was working ceaselessly for 72 years. In 1998 was the power station shut down because of the modernization. The main motto of the reconstruction was to keep the uniqueness, authenticity and beauty of the power station and give it back the youth and freshness. The modernization noticeably increased the power of the plant from 2MW to 2.4 MW, the average annual production rose by 30% and is nudging 12GWh.
The power station in Spálov is possible to visit even nowadays, the tours take place from May to September. The power plant is a part of Riegrova Trail, which belongs to one of the most beautiful trails in the Czech Republic.

“Paraplíčko” rapids and boating centre

A training rapids (WW I) and small campsite run by watermen from Železný Brod. During ideal water level is suitable for training of basic skills on flowing water, especially for kayak - paddlers (during higher water level flows the water over stones and the diving line disappears) and as an adrenaline variegation of sail on Jizera even for less experienced watermen.
From Podspálov is possible to sail only when there is sufficient water level (virtually except for summer months), because the power station above Líšný and newly also in Železný Brod take majority of the water from the river away and part of the riverbed below the weirs is not passable. During a spring thaw or after heavy rains can more experienced watermen connect a trip to “Paraplíčko” with sailing the lower reaches of Kamenice (from Jesenný = WW II).

Železný brod

In this glass-making town, located in a deep valley of Jizera River can be found various historical sights. You definitely should not miss a visit of the Town Gallery of Vlastimil Rada or the theatre. Every year various events take place, e.g Źeleznobrodský fair (the second weekend in June) when the whole city is filled with stands with traditional products, spectacles and accompanying culture programme for families with children. “Glass town” is a big festival of the glass-making craft and takes place at the weekend in the second half of September. You can also visit glass-making fair, expositions, professional seminars and rich culture programme. 

Official web page of Železný Brod.

Village Líšný

A small village on the bank of Jizera Rivera is one of the gates to the Bohemian Paradise. You can get on boats there, nearby a small hydro-electric power station. A popular boating section of the river Líšný – Malá Skála – Dolánky (12.5m) starts here. The raceway from the power station makes it impossible to pass for boats coming from the direction of Železný Brod, so the boats have to be carried for a short distance. The main riverbed of Jizera is not passable from the weir downstream and so watermen have to use the said raceway. In this small village is our base with refreshment, where you can also rent boats, transport and other services.
A new cycle path Greenway Jizera should definitely be mentioned here. It lines the left bank of the river and invites to have a ride on a scooter upstream. Our scooter and bike rental is getting more and more popular, since the village Líšný is a so–called station of departure on the Greenway Jizera cycle path.

Many natural and architectural places of interests can be found in the near vicinity. The village is an ideal point of departure for trips to Suché Skály and other beauties of the Bohemian Paradise.

The section Líšný – Malá Skála: 2,6 km

Suché skály

A grand sandstone rock ridge towers high above the forests and from the distance resembles a dragon’s back. This wonderful rock formation attracts climbers from wide vicinity and creates a typical outline of Maloskalsko.
The rocks were created by pushing of the horsts, when the lower layer of the massif was slid up and turned slightly perpendicularly to the Earth’s surface, which created a unique geomorphological locality, which is without a parallel in the Czech Republic. There are approximately 20 towers (Main, Hawk’s, etc.). Suché skály were in 1965 declared national

Malá Skála

Žlutá plovárna

Žlutá plovárna is a popular tourist destination of both waterman and hikers in the Bohemian Paradise. This romantic area is ideal for spending your free time on the bank of the Jizera River and creates the main base for our services, especially boat and scooter rental or rope centre. You can find there a buffet with draught beer, a lodging house and a campsite. Thanks to the Greenway Jizera cycle path, which crosses the area of Žlutá Plovarna, is the location ideal for relaxation and sport activities. On the opposite bank of Jizera is located a high-capacity parking lot and information centre, where you can get information and order our services.

With the beginning of the new millennium began a new history of this place as well, when the demand for services in the tourist industry brought in this place a family business SUNDISK Ltd., which has built there a biggest rope centre in the Bohemian Paradise and the Liberec Region and which every year expands the assortment of the boat rental. Nowadays we are able to satisfy more than 300 people interested in a trip on canoe, kayak or other types of boats. We do not only the route from Malá Skála to Dolánky, but much further, up to Benátky nad Jizerou and Mladá Boleslav.

The lodging house Vila Malá Skála is located in a near proximity to the area of Žlutá Plovárna. The building has a capacity of 25 beds and is ideal for school groups, which have all the services and the beauties of the Bohemian Paradise within easy reach. The boat rental Jizera is a fixed star on a field of active holiday in the Bohemian Paradise. You can look forward to plenty of new things that we every year prepared for you – our customers.

In Malá Skála in Žlutá plovárna we offer:

• Rentals – boats, scooters, bikes, in-line skates
• Rope centre
• Watermen lodging house
• Camp
• Bufet
• Toilets
• Parking lot
• Courts (beach volleyball, futnet), climbing frames for children 
• Information centre
• The boating route Malá Skála – Dolánky: 9.1 km long

 

Bouček's Farm

Bouček’s farm is a typical example of a vernacular building in the foothill of Jizera Mountains. A tier timber house is open to the public. You can see there a gallery of Malá Skála – a collection of paintings and sculptures from more than 120 Czech artists of the 20th century. Part of the building is also an exhibition about local history of Malá Skála region, accompanied by period photographs and postcards. Bouček’s farm functions also as a seasonal information centre, on the ground floor is a restaurant.

Vranov Castle

A rock castle Vranov, located on a narrow and steep sandstone cliff above the right bank of Jizera, was founded by Heník of Valdštejn around 1425, but already in the 16th century was stated as abandoned. The castle is nearly 400 m long and is nowadays considered the longest and most complex rock castle in the Czech Republic.
The biggest change in the castle came in the first half of the 19th century when was the domain bought by a textile industrialist František Zachariáš Römisch. From his incentive were in the remains and close vicinity placed monuments glorifying prominent writers and poets, legendary heroes, Czech rulers and military leaders. Römisch named the whole former fortified settlement “Pantheon”. Up to the present time is in the area preserved a number of intricate paths, caves and a commemorative plaques and also the Hall of three emperors, which was build in memory of the victory of allied troops against Napoleon in the Battle of Lipsko (Battle of the Nations) in 1813.
The dominant feature of the Pantheon is a Neo-Gothic folly with a little slatey tower from 1826.  Below the rock wall is positioned a hewn castle well, from which goes a path to the lookout “Zahrádka”, looming 60 m over the river.

Frýdštejn Castle

This majestic residence with a dominant tower on a rock cliff is a location of shooting a famous Czech fairytale. Frýdštejn is a ruin of a Gothic rock castle from the second half of the 14th century. Up to the present time are preserved hewn rooms and round tower. Already in 1565 was the castle stated as abandoned, the date of its foundation is unknown, as well as the exact date of establishing the domain of Frýdštejn. The first reference of the castle is from 1385.
The main dominant feature of Frýdštejn Castle is a big tower, built on the highest rock to get the possibility of see the whole surroundings. The tower is the best preserved part of the castle, with approximately 15 m of height, 9 m in diameter and 2m thick walls. The Frýdštejn Castle has been open to the public since the nineties, when the Enhancing Society in Turnov, which bought the castle from the dukes of Rohan of Sychrov in 1892, had the brickwork in the remaining walls toughen.

Křížky

One of the important stopovers during your trips on Jizera River is the village Křížky. On the bank of the river can be found our cosy Guest house Křížky with a restaurant and garden, where you can relax and gain strength for further journey. Thanks to its position on the Greenway Jizera cycle path is ideal for renting bikes, scooters and in-line skates. One of the most beautiful parts of the cycle path along the Jizera River starts there. Downstream in the direction of Dolánky winds the path through a wide canyon of the serpentine Jizera River, where you are not disturbed by road traffic. Within the project Greenway Jizera was fixed the surface of the path and there were also built beautiful suspension bridges to bring you across the river.

The Guest house and pub Křížky

This picturesque place on the bank of the Jizera River is cut out for active relaxation and trips in the Bohemian Paradise. The guesthouse is suitable for families with children, but its capacity has the ability to accommodate larger groups as well, such as school trips or company events.

You can find here a wide range of services:

• Restaurant – Czech cuisine, bar
• Garden – Refreshment, fireplace, playground
• Accommodation - apartments and standard rooms for groups
• Boat, scooter, bike and in-line skates rental
• Courts

Dolánky

On the bank of Jizera, less than 3 km before Turnov, lies a picturesque village called Dolánky. This fairy-tale place is a popular destination of trips in the Bohemian Paradise, especially due to Dlask’s farm, a prominent historic building of vernacular architecture of the 18th century.
Our base with boat and scooter rental is located there, as well as a parking lot, buffet and nature campsite on the bank of the river.
Up the weir finishes the majority of the boating trips from Žlutá plovárna. The weir in Dolánky is not passable and the boats have to be carried over on the right bank. We will transport the boats back to Malá Skála and you can continue on scooters on in-line skates. A small themed log house offers refreshment directly on the Greenway Jizera and is also used by the visitors of the camp by the river. In the high season will be newly built toilets and showers there.

Use our services:

• Refreshment, climbing frames
• Campsite – toilets, showers
• Parking lot
• Boat, scooter, bike and in-line skates rental
  
  The boating route Dolánky – Přísovice/Ploukonice: 9.7 km long

 

Dlask’s farm

A typical and rarely well-preserved example of a house in the Jizera Mountains foothills. The former farmstead and village magistrate’s office was built in a picturesque valley of Jizera River in 1716. There have been carried out many building operations since the erection of the building, the biggest ones took place in 1794 and 1841. The farmhouse is a single urbanistic unit, surrounded by a trabeated wall with two gates, the upper one built of bricks, with a wooden bell tower built in 1794, and a wooden bottom one.

The residential wing with adjunctive farm buildings is tier, timbered. The cow barns and stables were built of bricks in the same year as the upper gate. The original layout of the house was in 1789 extended by a timbered room on the first floor, adapted in 1842 to a part reserved by a farmer on his retirement. The building complex is supplemented by lavishly decorated gable and a porch with hewn balusters. From the original buildings in the area of the yard is still well-preserved timber barn.
Part of the farm house is also a statue of Madonna from 1784 and tier timber warehouse, which was in the sixties moved from Malý Rohozec.

Hrubý Rohozec Chateau

The Hrubý Rohozec Chateau was founded around 1280. It is located on the north-west border of Turnov and is one of the oldest historical sights of this area. The chateau creates a distinct dominant feature on the rock above Jizera River.
The visitors seek the chateau also for its unique decoration of the exposition made of dried flowers. The chateau is surrounded by a small nature-landscaped park, where you can find minute stone-cutting romanticism elements. The park is connected with the Chateau path, which descends on many stairs down to the chateau’s ditch. From this place you can see how massive the rock on which the chateau stands is. Going further on this path, you will come to the Jizera River and via the nature paths above the river is possible to reach the Český ráj square in Turnov.

Turnov

Since 1886 has the Museum of the Bohemian Paradise in Turnov been collecting records about the cultural and historical development of both the city and region. The collections are rich in collections of archaeology, ethnology, mineralogy, history, arts, books and archive entries. What makes the museum in Turnov special compared to other local museums is its specialization on history and present of gem-cutting industry, gold smithy, jewellery production and documentation of gem stones. The gem stones, Czech garnets and the jewellery made of them attract many visitors from the Czech Republic and abroad.

Lázně Sedmihorky

The former hydrotherapeutic spa was founded in 1842, with the name derived from a strong spring “Sedmihorka”. The springs in the vicinity of Sedmihorky are linked by a tourist “Angr path”. The spa was from the second half of the 19th century plentifully visited by many prominent guests, for example a famous writer Jan Neruda. The picturesque surroundings and close proximity of the fascinating rock city in Hrubá Skála made one visitor in the 1870s say: “Those rocks, it’s a real paradise!”, and from that time is this area called the Bohemian Paradise.
The name gradually spread to similar places in the close proximity. In Sedmihorky, on the grounds before the wooden colonnade is a monument from J.V.Myslbek dedicated to MUDr. Antonín Šlechta, the founder of the spa.

Sychrov Chateau

In the 15th century was in the location of today’s chateau a hold. In the 16th century was built a stone manor, which got name “Sychrov”. In the epoch of The Thirty Years’ War belonged the domain of Svijany and Sychrov to Albrecht of Valdštejn.
Towards the close of the 17th century erected the family of Lammott of Frintropp a baroque chateau with a tall tower. In the years 1740-1820 was the chateau in possession of the family of Valdštejn from a branch of Mnichovo Hradiště. The most important period for the chateau began on 30th August 1820, when it got in the possession of family of Rohan, who were members of old French nobility. The chateau was twice rebuilt, the first time to classicism and then in the half of the 19th century to neoghotic, according to the project of the architect Bernard Grueber. All the interior decoration was made by Czech craftsmen lead by a carver Petr Bušek.
In 1945 was Sychrov according to the decree nr. 12/1945 confiscated. From  1st May 1950 has the castle been open to public. In 1955 was the chateau declared a national cultural monument.

Ploukonice

If you anchor your boat in Ploukonice, you should definitely not miss bathing in a sand quarry and refreshment in a local cosy camp, where can you drink the beer from Svijany. This picturesque village on River Jizera is by a bridge connected with Příšovice. The camp is an ideal place of departure to forests and rock cities of the Bohemian Paradise. You can use for your trips our boating equipment rental.

The boating route Ploukonice – Mnichovo Hradiště: 15.8 km

Příšovice

The camp Jizera in village Příšovice is located in the south part of the Liberec Region. Příšovice lies in the basin of Jizera Rive, which creates the south boarder of a very flat area. You can rent boats in the camp, and not far away is a pond “Písečák”, where you can bath, fish or windsurf.

The boating route Příšovice – Mnichovo Hradiště: 15.8 km

Places of interest in the vicinity

Drábské světničky

The remnants of a rock castle hewn in the rock on the sandstone edge of plateau “Mužský” close to Mnichovo Hradiště. This unique sight will please you while walking through the large rock city and it is loved especially by children. The place was inhabited already in the 13th century, in the beginning of the 15th century was in the place built a castle. There were about 30 rooms hewn in the rock blocks, connected by wooden catwalks and ladders. The rooms were used as store rooms, people lived in wooden houses.
Around 1430 was the castle enlarged by Hussites, who needed control over the road in the valley of Jizera. After the Battle of Lipany was the castle abandoned. During the Thirty Years’ War was the place sought by the people of the neighbouring villages and in the World War II used the rooms partisans from the ranks of climbers. You can see a model of Drábské světničky in the museum in Mnichovo Hradiště.

Mnichovo hradiště

One of the most beautiful towns on Jizera River is Mnichovo Hradiště. You can get there on boats from our boat rental; the town is another significant entranceway to the Bohemian Paradise. The town lies in a beautiful landscape close to Mladá Boleslav. It was founded by the monks from a nearby monastery Hradiště in 1250.The most important tourist attraction is the state chateau, which for centuries belonged to the family of Valdštejn. Other interesting buildings are located in the city centre, which is an urban monuments preservation area as well.

The boating route Mnichovo Hradiště – Bakov nad Jizerou: 8.8 km

Valečov Castle

The castle is located near Mnichovo Hradiště. You can get there by train and then continue via a red nature trail. You should definitely visit Drábské světničky, a unique area which is located not far from the Valečov Castle. You can also see remainders of a small castle Klamorno and a very interesting lookout.

Bakov nad Jizerou

Camp Šlégl is located on a grassy plot next to a nature swimming pool in a leisure area and is suitable especially for families with children. It can be a point of departure of trips connected with visiting near cultural sights. We can, upon request, transport all the boating equipment there and will take care of you.

The boating route Bakov nad Jizerou – Mladá Boleslav: 8.7km

Michalovice – Mladá Boleslav

Mladá Boleslav is definitely worth to visit. You can see there many historical sights. The Michalovice Castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century and the first owner was Jan of Michalovice. The family of Michalovice owned the castle until 1468, when it died out. Part of the castle is a massive cylinder tower, which was damaged during the railroad construction in the 19th century and since then is slanted. On the castle is a commemorative plaque of Karel Hynek Mácha, which was placed here in the year of the hundred years’ anniversary of his visit.

Mladá Boleslav

The main attraction of the city, where have been for more than 100 years produced cars, is ŠKODA AUTO MUSEUM, which is opened seven days a week. The visit will be interesting especially for boys; others will definitely have fun in a large historical centre of the city. In a mediaeval Castle and a neighbouring Temple are museums and other cultural attractions. Interesting is also a renaissance city hall with sgraffiti facade and lookout tower. There are two exceptional ecclesiastical buildings, the church of St. Havel and Sbor Českých bratří, which is unique thanks to its generous renaissance architecture.