Kostomlaty Nad Labem offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: the ruins of Mydlovar Castle stand in the floodplain forest along the Elbe, the village is home to a Baroque religious complex and a memorial plaque to Bohumil Hrabal, and the Mydlovarský luh nature reserve protects various floodplain habitats. The Staročeské máje, an annual local tradition, are another attraction. When choosing a holiday rental, you can decide whether to focus your stay more on history and architecture, the natural landscape or this event.
Mydlovar Castle: history and layout
Mydlovar Castle was abandoned in 1553. Its layout can be understood through several clearly defined structural elements: the castle core is rectangular, while the outer bailey is roughly trapezoidal. There is also a double ditch and rampart, as well as surviving remains of a substantial curtain wall. These different ground plans and defensive features stand side by side, so the ruins can be described through more than just their name or history.
Two aspects are therefore important when viewing the castle: the historical turning point of its abandonment in 1553 and the layout of the complex. The ruins’ setting in the floodplain forest along the Elbe adds a connection to the landscape to this architectural perspective. Those interested in historic sites will find specific details here about the core, outer bailey and fortifications, which differ from the later Baroque architecture in the village.
Baroque architecture and places of remembrance
The Church of St Bartholomew is a Baroque religious complex dating from the last quarter of the 18th century. The complex also includes a bell tower and sculptures. It offers a different perspective on the village’s history from Mydlovar Castle: here, the focus is on Baroque architecture and the components of the church complex, while the castle is defined by its fortifications and its history up to its abandonment.
A memorial plaque to Bohumil Hrabal, who worked there, is located at the ÄŚD railway station. The plaque adds a connection to literary history and to a person associated with the station.
Staročeské máje: an annual event
The Staročeské máje take place every year on the second Saturday in May. They include a procession through the village, accompanied by musicians and a festively decorated horse-drawn carriage. Check the exact date for the year of your visit before travelling; programme details may vary. Unlike the permanent architectural and commemorative sites, this local tradition takes place at a specific time of year. If you want to plan your trip around the Staročeské máje, the date is therefore a separate point to consider.
MydlovarskĂ˝ luh Nature Reserve
The MydlovarskĂ˝ luh Nature Reserve includes natural eutrophic waters with aquatic vegetation, transitional mires and quaking bogs, as well as mixed ash-alder floodplain forests and other mixed floodplain forests along large rivers. These different habitats give the area several ecological facets: waters and aquatic vegetation sit alongside mires and floodplain woodland communities. For nature enthusiasts, its appeal lies in the variety of protected habitats, not just one type of landscape.
The floodplain forest along the Elbe, where the ruins of Mydlovar Castle stand, and the habitats described in the nature reserve are two distinct ways to explore nature and the landscape.
Practical information
The municipal office sells gifts related to the municipality, a tourist badge and stickers. If you specifically want to take one of these items home, check availability before your trip. It is also worth checking the exact date and programme details for that year’s Staročeské máje. Both are details that may change; by contrast, the historical and architectural features of the castle and church are enduring themes that help put the village in context.
Discover more destinations: Pátek, Stará Lysá, BÄ›runice, ZboĹľĂÄŤko, Dobšice, Libice Nad Cidlinou, Dlouhopolsko, Poušť.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Nymburk.
