Jičín - Libosad

1. Valdstein Square - Libosad (2 km) - below Zebín peak (2,5 km) - Kbelnice (4,5 km) - Valdstein Square (6,5 km)
2. Valdstein Square - Libosad (2 km) - Valdice (3 km) - below Zebín peak (4 km) - Kbelnice (6 km) - Valdstein Square (8 km)

Jičín is the district town mentioned for the first time in 1293 as a possession of Czech queens. The town expanded rapidly during the rule of Albrecht of Valdstein at the beginning of 17th century. The first neo-baroque landscape composition in Bohemia was founded here then.
Our route starts on the Valdstein square where you can see a baroque Marian column from the beginning of 18th century, empire coronation well from 1836 and a fountain with a statue of Amfitrité by sculptor Sucharda. A large baroque chateau situated in the south-eastern corner of the square houses the district museum and gallery. In June 1813 negotiations between the Austrian emperor Franz I. and representatives of Russia and Prussia took place there. The negotiation leaded to conclusion of "Saint Alliance" against Napoleon. Next to the chateau there stands an unfinished church of St. James the Great. Valdická Gate is the dominant of the square and of the whole town. The tower is 52 m high and it offers a fabulous view at the surroundings. The houses standing on the Valdštejn square are mostly renaissance and baroque with arcades.
You will leave the square by passing through the Valdická Gate. Behind the gate there is a junction of marked tracks; you will follow the red-marked route round the fountain to the Havlíčkova street. Going straight ahead you will enter the linden tree alley - one of the best preserved parts of Valdstein neo-barogue composition of landscape. The alley is 1,7 km long and is formed by 1200 linden trees. Still following the red marks, you will see former barracks on the left side and sports complex on your right. At the end of the alley there is a park called Libosad with a Valdstein Loggia, which is certainly worth a visit. In the northern corner of the park there is a romantic hermitage.
Now you can decide whether you will keep following the red-marked track to the village of Valdice or follow the shorter yellow-marked track below the hill of Zebín.
Following the red-marked route you will get to Valdice. There is a junction of tourist trails (later you will follow the blue one leading below the hill of Zebín). In Valdice you can see the complex of former Carthusian monastery with the church of the Assumption. The monastery was founded in 1627 by Valdstein and later was formed into a prison. Now you have to join the blue track and follow that one along the hill of Zebín until you get to the complex of cemetery, church and wooden bell tower where you will meet the yellow mark again. Lovers of view points can go up to the basalt peak of Zebín. On its top there stands the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. From the church follow the blue mark, passing a farmstead where horses are breeding. You will pass the former army exercising ground and get to the junction of blue and yellow tracks. The yellow track will lead you Kbelnice. You will cross the river of Cidlina and get to the junction of marked tourist tracks. You will join the blue-marked route turning left and leading back to Jičín. If you are a lover of history, you will appreciate the remains of battle between Prussian and Austrian army that took place in Kbelnice on 29th June 1866. You will walk along the river of Cidlina and get to the dike of the pond of Kníže. Turn left at the gallery "Na Hrázi"; at the College building turn right and go straight through Palackého street which will lead you back to the Valdstein square.