Castles Staré Splavy

The poet Karel Hynek Mácha fell in love with the countryside around the village of Doksy in the Česká Lípa district so much that he set the plots of many of his famous poems here. Consequently, many significant places were named after him, such as Máchovo jezero, as well as the entire region Máchův kraj. This part of the Liberecký kraj is a popular destination visited year-round by tourists from both the Czech Republic and abroad. One of the attractions, especially for history lovers, is the ruin of hrad Bezděz, which towers above the village of the same name.

Hrad Bezděz was founded by King Přemysl Otakar II in the second half of the 13th century. It is known as the place where Václav II was imprisoned at a young age. During the following period, several noble families resided in the castle: the Berkové, the lords of Michalovice, the lords of Cimburk, the Vartenberkové, and the Valdštejnové.

At the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, hrad Bezděz was damaged. Albrecht z Valdštejna briefly attempted to save it, but he ultimately did not complete his plan to rebuild the castle into a modern fortress. For a time, the castle was an important pilgrimage site, but subsequently, it only fell into disrepair and gradually turned into a ruin. At present, however, it is one of the best-preserved ruins in the Czech Republic.

Even though the "tooth of time" has left its mark on hrad Bezděz, one can still see the intact remains of several palaces, fortifications, and two towers. The space of the castle chapel is also exceptional. Thanks to the National Heritage Institute, a roof reconstruction took place at hrad Bezděz at the beginning of the 20th century, and the castle was subsequently sold for a symbolic price to the Klub československých turistů. They also continued with the rescue and repairs of the castle. In 1953, the castle was transferred to state heritage care.

Visitors who wish to visit hrad Bezděz may take advantage of the period from the beginning of April to the end of October. The tour takes place without a guide. Visitors can orient themselves using a printed plan of the castle. You will visit the castle chapel, as well as the royal, manorial, Templar, or burggrave's palace. The latter palace served as the residence for the castle administrators. The most prominent of these administrators was the knight Oldřich Tista z Libštejna, with whose help King Charles IV managed to establish a pond near Doksy, today's Máchovo jezero.

Hrad Bezděz lies in the Chráněná krajinná oblast Kokořínsko - Máchův kraj. It is part of the Přírodní rezervace Velký a Malý Bezděz. Several endangered species of plants and animals can be found here, such as a population of the alpine longhorn beetle. Therefore, it is necessary to follow certain rules associated with visiting nature reserves and protected landscape areas. Only through this can we preserve the natural environment for our fauna and flora, with the prospect of further development.

Hrad Bezděz itself was an inspiration for other significant artists besides Karel Hynek Mácha. You can see it in paintings by Josef Mánes, Alois Bubák, and Cín Jelínek. It also appeared in the libretto by Eliška Krásnohorská, subsequently in the opera Tajemství by Bedřich Smetana, and also in a series of historical detective novels by the author Vlastimil Vondruška. Children will also find something to enjoy. The castle of Bezzub, which you certainly know from the popular comic strip by Jaroslav Němeček, is in fact hrad Bezděz. One of the longest-running comic strips in the Czech Republic, Čtyřlístek, even acquired its own Muzeum Čtyřlístku in Doksy.

In addition to the castle, the museum, and the lake, you can visit many other interesting places here. Start in Doksy with a visit to the chateau, which includes the aforementioned museum, and you can continue to the Muzeum Karla Hynka Máchy. During summer days, you will enjoy water fun at Máchovo jezero. Those who do not only enjoy swimming or water sports can have fun at the Aquapark Staré splavy, located directly on the shore of the lake.

If you are already sufficiently captivated by this region, just one thing is needed. Find a suitable place where you can rest your head at night and recharge your energy for a new day full of new experiences. For example, accommodation near hrad Bezděz is an excellent starting point. You can begin your day with history, continue through culture, and relax by the water. Comfortable apartments, cottages, guesthouses, and many campsites are waiting for you. Everyone will choose their own. So, you just need to plan the date and you can start packing. We are sure that you will definitely enjoy your time here.

The mysterious Hrad Houska can be found in the eastern part of the Kokořínsko region, in the cadastral area of Houska, which falls under the municipality of Blatce. Thanks to its quick accessibility from Prague (less than 50 kilometres), this castle enjoys high visitor numbers for one-day trips, yet it is also a popular tourist destination during longer stays in Severozápadní Čechy. Currently, Hrad Houska is protected as a cultural monument of the Česká republika and is one of the best-preserved castles.

On the site of the present-day castle, there originally stood a fortified settlement. It was commissioned by Slavibor of the Pšovan family for his son, Houska. The contemporary Hrad Houska was built during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II sometime in the first half of the 13th century, concurrently with the nearby hrad Bezděz. It served as an important royal castle, but it subsequently passed into the possession of the nobility, a state that lasted until 1924. Following this, the castle came under the administration of Václav II, and was later owned by the lords of Dubá, the Hrzán family of Harasov, the Valdštejn family, the Kounic family, and many others.

During the succession of owners, Hrad Houska underwent several structural modifications. From an originally impregnable Gothic castle, it gradually passed through all styles, including late Romanesque. The current appearance of Houska could be characterised as a Renaissance château with elements of a Gothic castle.

In 1924, the castle was purchased by the president of the Škoda works, Mr Josef Šimonek. He carried out the necessary modifications at Hrad Houska and used it as a representative family residence until 1939. Due to its location in the Sudety region, it was used by the German army until the end of the Second World War. Since 1950, the archive of the Státní knihovna in the Klementinum has been housed at Hrad Houska. At the beginning of the 1990s, the castle was returned to the original owners through restitution – Ing. Jaromír Šimonek and MUDr. Blanka Horová.

It was precisely during this period (1999) that Hrad Houska was opened to the public. It became a venue for various cultural and social events, such as fairs, where visitors may encounter swordsmen and dancers or try their hand at various period crafts. Performances by singers and musicians will delight the ears, and a wealth of interesting information can be learned by visiting one of the permanent or seasonal exhibitions.

Hrad Houska may be visited from April to October. During the tour, a guide will lead visitors through typical sets of Gothic three-part apartments, spiral staircases, and a gallery in the courtyard. Probably the most valuable part is the closed rectangular chapel with preserved wall paintings from the first half of the 14th century, as well as the so-called Zelená komnata, which also contains original paintings from 1520. Also very interesting are the hunting salon with fallow deer trophies, the knights' hall, and the dining room with a ballroom, all of which have undergone extensive restoration.

Visitors should certainly not miss the separate tour circuit Dantovo peklo. It is located in the premises of the former carriage house and consists of a sound-enhanced and hand-carved depiction of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Karel Hynek Mácha also placed his novel Cikáni at Houska after he happened upon the site with his friend Eduard Hindl during his journey to hrad Kokořín.

The surroundings of Houska are not particularly opulent, though a smaller ornamental garden can be found here. It was founded around 1590, when Tobiáš z Harasova resided here. Currently, several woody plants grow here, among them interesting Caucasian firs, pines, and a number of cypresses. In any case, it makes for a pleasant trip, which can be combined with visits to other attractive places in the Kokořínsko region.

These may be castles, châteaux, or natural attractions, but also visits to various towns or picturesque villages. For example, Doksy offers a great deal. Among other things, visitors will find the Muzeum Karla Hynka Máchy, the Muzeum Čtyřlístku popular with children, and last but not least, Mácháč, also known as Máchovo jezero. Here, both young and old can enjoy themselves on the water and on land, in winter and in summer.

The entire Kokořínsko and Máchův kraj regions are popular tourist destinations. A number of high-quality accommodation facilities can be found here as well. We are happy to assist with their selection. Are you looking for accommodation near Hrad Houska? There is nothing simpler than choosing whether cottages and chalets, apartments, or private accommodation suit you best. Or do you prefer hotels and guesthouses? Do not worry, campsites are also available for less demanding travellers. The choice is entirely up to you.