Podkost combines distinctive castle architecture with its own village history and hikes in the Plakánek Valley. Kost Castle stands on a massive sandstone spur in a wooded valley and is considered the best-preserved Gothic castle in Bohemia. The irregular trapezoidal floor plan of the White Tower stands out: from a certain vantage point, all four edges can be seen at once.
Hiking from Podkost: two routes
The two routes offer different distances. The “Around Sobotka from Libošovice” route is 10.6 kilometres long and is considered moderately difficult. It passes through Podkost, then continues to Kost Castle and into the Plakánek Valley. It runs mainly along forest and field paths, with a shorter section on third-class roads. Another circular route starts and ends at Kost Castle in Podkost. It follows red- and green-marked hiking trails, is 20 kilometres long and is also considered moderately difficult. Several steep ascents and descents are part of the route. The comparison therefore involves more than just 10.6 and 20 kilometres: the shorter route runs mainly along forest and field paths and partly on third-class roads, while the longer circular route is characterised by red and green trail markings and several steep ascents and descents. These details complement the shared moderate difficulty rating with specific differences in the routes.
Plakánek Valley: nature trail and protected area
Plakánek Valley lies near Kost Castle, between sandstone cliffs and coniferous forests by the Obora pond. A nature trail runs between the cliffs and along the Klenice; its information boards explain local history, geology and natural processes. The Údolí Plakánek protected area protects caves that are closed to the public, as well as the rare fern Vláskatec tajemný (Trichomanes speciosum). The Natura 2000 site includes land in the cadastral area of Podkost and overlaps with the protected area of the same name. In 2020, a section of the hiking trail in the valley was stabilised with a boardwalk where the ground was heavily waterlogged.
Podkost and its village history
According to surviving accounts, the village of Podkost was founded below Kost Castle in 1636. Historic craft buildings in Podkost served the needs of Kost Castle and its brewery. A former cooper’s workshop has been preserved at No. 8. The founding date and surviving workshop offer insight into different aspects of local history: the village’s origins and earlier craft work.
Kost Castle and visitor tours
Kost Castle offers visitor tours in four different options: one about the Kinský family, one about the mystery of the medieval torture chamber, a combined tour covering both subjects, and a shorter route for visitors with little time. You can choose according to your interests or schedule: the combined option brings together the two subjects, while the shorter route is intended for visitors with little time. Check the current tour options before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Češov, Kyje, Třtěnice, Sedliště, Konecchlumí, Cerekvice Nad Bystřicí, Butoves, Ostružno
For the wider travel overview: Jičín District.
