Places in surroundings

KOST

Originated after 1371; it´s builder was probably Peter of Wartenberg. After him Kost was acquired by the Hasenburgs and after them by the Schellenbergs palazzo Schellenberg. Jan of Biberstein, added behind the first gate the "renaisance" wing with the big kitchen. Under Kryštof Popel of Lobkowicz in 1576 originated the whole southern part of the Castle with the brewery. The plan of Albrecht of Waldstein to redesign Kost into a country home and at the same time to remain a stronghold, was interrupted by his death in 1634. In 1635 a part of the castle was destroyed by fire after which it ceased to be inhabiteted by the proprietors. The Czernins of Chudenicz changed, at the end of the 17th cent., the gothic palace with the appartments into a granary. The Castle suffered durning the 30-years-war and was to be destroyed. After 1867 it was in part reconverted in neogothic style. The Castle is dominated by the angular White Tower, five storeys high, the south-eastern part pointing towards the Plakánek valley. The tower is a part of the battlements erected from stone blocks. It was destined to the defence. The mansarde roof dates only from the 18th century. The Castle further has a smaller cylindrical tower of the end of the 14th century close to the main gate. From the enrance one acceeds through 3 gates to the arkades of the Biberstein Palace to the internal courtyard which is surrounded by the tower Palace, the Castle Chapel, the unfinished Waldstein sala-terrena, the White Tower, the old Palace with the cylindrical tower and the Schellenberg Palace which bears a tablet with the Schellenberg coat of arms: a sows head and leave decorations. The internal castle was protected by a strong wall with battlements with a bannister and some more external defenses on thedefge of the abyss.

The way:

Špindlerův Mlýn - Vrchlabí - Nová Paka - Jičín - Sobotka - Libošovice - Podkost
total: 69 km, 1 hour

ADRŠPAŠSKO-TEPLICKÉ CAVES

The Bozkov Dolomite Caves are situated on the northern slope of the Bozkov village in the hilly landscape of the Krkonoše foothills. The entrance into the underground space was discovered by dolomite miners in the 1940s, but only in 1957 the underground system of fissure corridors, partly filled with water, was discovered. The Bozkov dolomite caves is a labyrinth of underground corridors and cavities situated not very deep under the surface. The typical and unique decorations of the accessible caves consist in quartz ledges and listels in walls and ceilings. Some of the hollows are even filled with stalactites and stalagmites, including interesting small eccentric stalactites and stalagmites, in addition to the traditional calcite decoration. Attractive items of the sighseeing route also include underground lakes with crystal-clear blue-greenish water. The Bozkov dolomite caves is the only cave system in North Bohemia accessible to the public. The caves and their surroundings is a protected area conditioned by the nature and landscape protection law.

The way:

Špindlerův Mlýn - Vrchlabí - Lánov - Rudník - Trutnov - Chvaleč - Adršpach
total: 64 km, 1 hour

BOZKOVSKÉ DOLOMITOVÉ JESKYNĚ

The way:

Špindlerův Mlýn - Vrchlabí - Jilemnice - Poniklá - Semnily - Bozkov
total: 45 km, 45 min. hour

DVŮR KRÁLOVÉ NAD LABEM

The Zoological Garden was founded on the site of an original private park with beautiful copy of a rennaisance castle (the original is located near Vinna), which had been built by the faktory owner Richard Neumann at the beginning of the 20th century. After the textille industry had been nationalized in 1945, there was a municipal Nature History Muzeum in the "villa" and also cages with European animals around it- a basis to the future Zoo. The Zoo was officially opened to the public on May 9th, 1946 on the territory of just 6,5 ha. The Zoological Garden was founded on the site of an original private park with beautiful copy of a rennaisance castle (the original is located near Vinna), which had been built by the faktory owner Richard Neumann at the beginning of the 20th century. After the textille industry had been nationalized in 1945, there was a municipal Nature History Muzeum in the "villa" and also cages with European animals around it- a basis to the future Zoo. The Zoo was officially opened to the public on May 9th, 1946 on the territory of just 6,5 ha.

The Zoo offers the classis Garden with all the Animal Houses and more than 2,400 animals in exhibits. In grassy summer exhibits Safari (area of 27 ha) are African hoofed animals and birds. The visitors can take a twenty minutes ride in special Safaribusses and, for at least a while, observe the "wild"animals iand imagine the distant African continent. The Safaribus ride with comment of trained drivers is included in the entrance fee. Through the Zoo area ride the Zoo-Trains. The Restaurant "At the Lemur's" and summer kiosks are working. All the Houses are opened to handicapped visitors, except the Picture Gallery in the little castle (first floor) of the Zoo. Dogs are accepted, but they must be under the control and the whole stay in the Garden on the lead. The dogs can enter the Houses as well as the Restaurant. During the summer season are at some places the drink points for the dugs with the bowls.

Here you find: the Carnovore house, the World of Birds, the World of Water, the Nocturnal World, the Elephant House, the Pigmy Hippo House, the Lion Tamarin House, the Primate House, Sommer Exhibits, Safari.

The way:

Špindlerův Mlýn - Vrchlabí - Trutnov - Dvůr Králové nad Labem
total: 46 km, 1 hour