Baroque chapels, an old memorial lime tree and accounts of a historic market give Stará Lysá a cultural and historical character. The town lies in the central Polabí region, amid gently rolling countryside near the confluence of the Labe and Jizera rivers. Forests and farmland also shape the municipal area.

Landscape in the Central Polabí Region

The area around Stará Lysá combines extensive pine and mixed forests with predominantly agricultural land. Alongside the gently rolling surroundings, these two landscape features are important characteristics of the area. Visitors choosing a destination for its combination of local history and rural surroundings will find both within the same municipal area—without this implying a specific route or set itinerary.

Historical Traces and Dates

The earliest written records of Stará Lysá date from the 11th century. A specific political episode is recorded for 1013: Prince Jaromír was held captive by Prince Oldřich at the ducal court in Stará Lysá. In 1293, the oldest market of Lysá is recorded in Stará Lysá under the name “antiqum forum Lyssa”. These dates represent different periods in the town’s history: an early written record, an event at the ducal court, and a market later explicitly associated with the town.

Chapels, Memorial Trees and a Bell Tower

In Čihadla, which belongs to Stará Lysá, stands the protected Baroque Chapel of Saint Symeon. It is an original religious building with an important aesthetic and landscape-shaping role. Another protected chapel is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The Late Baroque building dates from the first half of the 18th century; six small-leaved lime trees near the chapel are among the memorial trees of Stará Lysá.

A roughly 700-year-old memorial lime tree is another cultural and historical landmark. Beside it stands a stone cross dating from 1840. At a crossroads is a bell tower, a vernacular building from the first half of the 19th century. The chapels, trees, cross and bell tower differ in age and construction; together, they provide tangible points of reference for the town’s history.

Bon Repos and Archaeological Finds

About 2 km north of Stará Lysá, the Bon Repos hunting lodge and the Hermitage of Saint Jerome were founded after 1715 by Count F. A. Špork on a wooded ridge. This historical landmark is located north of the town, and its founding is associated with a specific period and patron.

Another historical reference comes from the “Za pecí” locality, where archaeological finds of tar kilns dating from the 15th century have been recorded. These can be distinguished chronologically from the later founding of Bon Repos and add an archaeological site to the area’s history.

Getting Here and Getting Around the Municipal Area

Stará Lysá is not directly connected to the rail network; the station in Lysá nad Labem is used instead. If you plan to travel by train, check the connection to this station before setting off. For getting around the municipal area, the lightly trafficked roads are relevant: they run through the area and are also suitable for cycling. Rail access and cycling therefore offer different options for planning a trip, without assuming a specific route or travel time.

Cultural Events and Folk Traditions

Local associations contribute to cultural events in Stará Lysá and keep folk traditions alive. These include balls, pilgrimages and church fairs. The examples represent different forms of cultural life and should not be taken as a single, fixed events programme.

Discover more destinations: Prerov Nad Labem, Městec Králové, Okřínek, Velenice, Žitovlice, Jizbice, Rozdalovice, Zbožíčko.

For the broader travel overview: Nymburk District.