Sobotka - Plakánek - Kost

Square of Sobotka - Roubenka (4,5 km) - Kost (6,5 km) - Libošovice (9 km) - Square of Sobotka (13 km)

Sobotka was raised to town on 24th August 1498. The gothic-renaissance church of St. Mary Magdalene is the dominant of the town. On the square there is also an originally renaissance town hall which was later rebuilt in the empire style. Many half-timbered houses from the end of 18th century can also be seen in the town of Sobotka. The most famous one is Šolcův farmstead where a gallery is housed today. Our red-marked track leads from the square along Boleslavská street. Passing the town-council office you will get to the park where a modern sculpture "House underneath the half-moon" by Claudio Permiggaini is situated. Still following the red track you will get to the village of Osek. A wooden bell tower from the beginning of 17th century stands next to the church of Blessed Virgin. At the end of the village you will turn right to a narrow road that will lead you to a small village of Střehom - the Memorial Reservation of Folk Architecture. Here you can see half-timbered story houses and an ancient mill. You will follow both red and blue trails leading along the pond of Komorník to the village of Rašovec with a little well called Roubenka.
The blue track leads behind the well to the right into a rocky valley called Vesecký Plakánek. We will follow the red-marked track through a picturesque valley called Plakánek. Canyon valley in between sandstone rocks was proclaimed the Nature Preserve in 1990. At the end of the valley, passing the pond of Obora, a monumental castle of Kost will appear before you. The castle was founded at the end of 14th century and today it belongs to the best-preserved gothic castles in the Czech Republic. Visit to the castle is possible with a guide. In the surrounded rocks there are remains of historic settlements and a dog-cemetery.
From the junction by the Bílý pond we will continue along the red-marked trail to the Prokopské valley that will lead us to the village of Libošovice. There is a church of St. Prokop, originally built in a post-gothic style; a neo-gothic tower was added later. In front of the hotel Český Ráj there is a junction. You will continue by following the blue-marked track, pass the railway station of Libošovice and get to the crossroad. There is a white-marked cycling route leading to Nepřívěc. Keep following the road with blue marks. You will come to a crossroad where the blue track turns right to the village of Vesec, which was proclaimed the Memorial Reservation of Folk Architecture. There you have to turn left to a non-marked road leading to Sobotka.
On your right hand you will see the chateau of Humprecht. In front of the entry to the swimming pool of Sobotka you will meet the yellow-marked track that will lead you up to the baroque chateau. A visit of interiors is possible with a guide. Following the yellow track you will pass the cemetery where the graves of two famous writers can be found - Fráňa Šrámek and Václav Šolc. The yellow track will lead you back to the square of Sobotka.