Nymburk and its surrounding

Nymburk district is situated in the eastern part of middle Bohemia, in the river Elbe Basin lowland. Because the district is not very far from Prague, it has the chance to be attractive even for foreign tourists. Over the weekend and longer stays in Nymburg region, area with eventful history, interesting natural localities and number of cultural places of interest and not least with the spa in Podebrady, are opportunity for incoming travel agencies and for individual tourists too.

Except the very Nymburg and nearby Podebrady are worth for visiting towns Lysa nad Labem, Prerov nad Labem, Libice nad Cidlinou, Sadska, Bysicky or Rozdalovice and Loucen. Interesting are collections of folk architecture in Bosinn, Sovenice, Pojedy nebo Vinice.

The town Nymburk has got an eventful history reaching deep to the past. Archaeological findings date settlement since the earlyStone. Nymburk gained the town rights in 13th century and together with another towns in middle Bohemia it became the part of line of fortification protecting Prague. The centre of the town was the place with the Minster of Saint Giles, which oldest part was built in 1274. The part of the town orientated to the Elbe was protected by brick wall with fifty defensive towers and four gates. Remnants of the fortification have been preserved to the present day and create an interesting dominant.

At today's Place of Premyslovcu (Premyslides) there is staying the building of renaissance Town Hall built of fair-faced brick walls and sandstone blocks. On its facade there is immured the municipal coal-of-arms of the year 1546, over the vaulted mazhaus (entrance of the house used as public house). In the middle of place is staying the Marian Column of the year 1707. Turkish tower - renaissance octagonal waterworks is a notable technical place of interest. Native visitors will certainly not miss an opportunity to taste so-called Postrizinske pivo (Postrizina beer) boiled in Nymburk Brewery, which is well known thanks to a novel by Hrabal and later the pictures Postriziny.

As a town of count Spork used to be called Lysa nad Labem. About the history of that place give an account findings from the third and fourth century and discovery of Roman coins from the first century B.C.. Written documents from the 11th and following centuries argue its relations between the town and the dynasty of Premyslides. Liberal count Frantisek Antonin Spork deserved well of today's form and especially singular sculpture decoration by baroque statues. Traces of his tivities you can find even in a broader neighbourhood of Lysa. Considerable and modern institution operating in Lysa nad Labem is the local fair place, which organises plenty of interesting exhibitions. Not only you can make there a bargain, but there you can gain number of useful recommendations and inspirations.

During visiting Nymburg and its surrounding you should not leave out Podebrady. The spa on the river Elbe experienced utmost prosperity during the feudal lords of Kunstat. They gained the town from Charles the Fourth. Most significant person of this noble clan was Jiri z Podebrad (George of Podebrady), who had been elected for the bohemian king in 1458. He chartered to Podebrady the town rights and accorded it by municipal coal-of-arms. Notable historical landmark was a discovery of rich springs of water with a high content of mineral substances and gas. The first balneal season was started already in 1908. The healing springs of that place were, and always are, used by patients with cardiac and vascular diseases. Thanks to it changes the architecture of the town. Among the spa houses there are track of inside town parks, colonnade, shops and resting zones. Except the therapeutic stays offer the spa number of constitutional, relaxing and sporting stays. It is not possible to omit the famous local glassworks, which are well known thanks to its production of ground and pressed glass. Near lake invites to swimming and water sports during the summer months.

About its eventful history could be proud Prerov nad Labem too, originally a setting, raised to a township in 1499. There had been built a renaissance chateau there at time of Emperor Ferdinand the First. In the first half of 19th century was found there one of the first ethnographical museums - thanks to Habsburg Louis Salvator Tuscan. Later become the museum the base for open-air museum, where is situated a dozen of objects of folks architecture from the Elbe basin. There you can find expositions describing the way of life and workmanship of our ancestors.

Libice nad Cidlinou is connected with the house of Slavnikovci, from which descended famous bishop - Saint Vojtech (Adalbert) The noble family was slaughtered during the contest for power with the dynasty of Premyslides in 995. Area of the original Slavnikovci´s fortification is considerable archaeological place of interest. There is staying the Church of Saint Vojtech - gothic building on the place of original Romanesque church. In 1836 it was rebuilt in the up-to-date pseudo-renaissance form.

In princely house Sadska took place Diets in years 1110, 1138 and 1189. There was later founded a chapter there. Sadska became the town in 1562 and gained the city arms. Today is possible to find in Sadska the Church of Saint Apolinar (Apollinaris). Out of its original gothic building remains only a presbyter and rib vault. Today appearance has the church, after rebuilding, since 1750. Baroque Chapel of the Dolorous Virgin Mary with a prismatic tower and octagonal belfry was built according the drawing of K.I. Dienzenhofer.

Bysicky, founded by count F.A. Spork, is another evidence about the activities of this landowner. The village is distinctive by circled village green, to which place are situated frontsides of the houses. It was founded in 1717.

In the village Rozdalovice there was originally renaissance castle rebuilt to its baroque form in 1760. Interesting is its decoration of frontage and the place in front of the entrance, designed by M.J. Brokof. Worth for seeing is an empire town hall and baroque Church of St. Havel (Gallus) with two towers. In a street bellow the church there is couple of houses, built out of logs, with a small archways, demonstrating burgess architecture of the end of 18th century.

Loucen is another historical place, commemorated since the year 1223 by a fort. The village was in an ownership of several Czech noble families, which participated on rebuilding of the castle. Notable was the house of Thurn - Taxis. Thanks to Erich Thurn-Taxis the village entered to the history of sport in 1893. As a former Cambridge student the gentleman founded the first castle football team, which played in the same year its first match with German club Regatta.

From Loucen is today leading a tourist pathway through beautiful forests, around a pond, spring called "Bozi voda" (God's water) and around two sandstone sculptures reminding general Fürstenberk.

INFORMATION: http://www.Czech.Tourism.cz