The church, castle, and river landscape offer different ways to experience Horky nad Jizerou: the buildings tell the story of a ford and several historical periods, while Stará Jizera focuses on the preserved former channels of the Jizera. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these different points of interest can help you decide which aspects of the town you would like to explore more closely.

Church of St. Nicholas and the History of the Castle

The Church of St. Nicholas complex includes the Kostka Chapel and the former surrounding cemetery. It is listed in the state register of immovable cultural monuments. The first written record of the church by the ford across the Jizera dates from 1357. The history of the castle is also linked to this river crossing: the castle stands on the site of an old wooden fortress that guarded an important ford.

The castle retains architectural features from various periods. A four-sided stone tower survives from the original Renaissance chateau. The castle also includes a surviving tower from the Gothic fortress; a chapel is located on the tower’s first floor. The area around the church and the fortress or castle is an archaeological monument. The different connections—to the ford, the fortress, and the later castle—give the town’s history a tangible setting.

The present-day Church of St. Nicholas was built as part of a construction project carried out between 1723 and 1738. The construction work from 1723 to 1725 was carried out by Mikuláš Rossi, a master builder from Italy who was based in Mladá Boleslav. Artistic details include reliefs from the workshop of Matyáš Braun. The late Baroque chapel contains an altarpiece of the Nativity by J. F. Leubner, dating from the first half of the 19th century. The period when the church was built, the surviving towers, and the later painting offer different points of interest for visitors with an interest in cultural history.

Stará Jizera and the River Landscape

Stará Jizera is a protected natural monument between Dražice and Horky nad Jizerou. It consists of former river channels in a meander of the Jizera and is one of the last surviving examples of a floodplain ecosystem along this river. The focus here is therefore a type of landscape distinct from the buildings and their history: what matters is the course of the river and its preserved former channels.

Two former river channels, known as pools, are preserved in the protected area. The larger one is called Stará Jizera and is horseshoe-shaped. This distinctive shape makes it easy to see how the two bodies of water differ, without needing to know a long history of the area. Those interested in the destination’s natural side can also explore its floodplain ecosystem, while the church and castle offer insights primarily into architectural and cultural history.

A Cycling Route as Another Point of Interest

Cycle Route 17 Greenway – Jizera runs along the banks of the Jizera through Horky nad Jizerou. It extends from the river’s confluence with the Elbe to Turnov. This means that, alongside the cultural and historical sites, a named cycling route is also relevant to planning a trip. You can consider whether to focus your stay mainly on the buildings or also include the route and river landscape; no journey times or stages are specified.

The castle and its associated buildings are currently used by a vocational school. Check whether access is possible before visiting. This will help you plan your visit realistically and avoid assuming that the school is open for public tours.

Discover more destinations: Branzez, Dobrovice, Horní Slivno, Sukorady, Vrátno, Košátky, Krnsko, Dlouhá Lhota.

For the broader travel overview: Mladá Boleslav District.