A stream running through the town, a Baroque church with a trompe-l’œil altar and cycle routes with clearly specified details offer different ways to explore Stara Paka. There is also a former school that now houses the local library, and a ski lift on the southern slopes of the Staropackých hor. The area’s attractions range from architectural and art history to cycling tours and winter planning.
Valley and landscape
The Rokytka stream runs through Stará Paka from southeast to northwest. The town lies in a valley formed by Příčnice Hill and the Staropackých hor ridge. The stream and the shape of the valley describe different scales: the stream flows through the town, while the hill and ridge form the valley in which Stará Paka lies.
Church and historic buildings
The Baroque Church of St. Lawrence dates from 1754 to 1760 and stands on a rise next to a cemetery. Sculptures and gravestones from the 18th and 19th centuries can be found there. The church’s furnishings include a trompe-l’œil altar by J. Kramolín, dating from 1780. The construction period, elevated setting and altar offer different historical and artistic points of interest.
The former school, building no. 22, is another type of building: this single-storey timber-framed house stands on a masonry foundation. Its shingle-covered roof has a gabled design with a half-hipped end. The building was erected around 1790 and used as a branch school from 1799. Today it houses the local library; check whether access is possible before visiting. A late Baroque cross stands in front of the former school.
Other sculptures add to the town’s history. The statue of Saint Anne teaching the young Virgin Mary dates from 1797. The statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, dating from 1803, is housed in a niche chapel built later. At the entrance to the cemetery stands the Ukřižovaný, a valuable artefact from 1856, made in the workshop of A. Sucharda, who came from Nová Paka.
Cycle routes, ski lift and railway
Tourist routes run through the municipality, including KČT cycle route No. 4294 from Libštát to Hostinné. A route description dated June 21, 2022, classifies the Kundratický okruh as moderately difficult; the 37-kilometre route passes through Stará Paka. The two routes offer different points of reference for planning: the endpoints indicate the course of the KČT cycle route, while the length and difficulty level provide a specific measure for the Kundratický okruh. As route conditions can change, check them before setting out.
A ski lift with a 400-metre descent is located on the southern slopes of the Staropackých hor. If you plan to use it in winter, check in advance whether the lift is operating during the relevant season. National railway line 030 (Liberec–Jaroměř) also runs through Stará Paka. Timetables can change, so check the current times for your specific journey.
Discover more destinations: Nevratice, Ohařice, Vitiněves, Markvartice U Sobotky, Holovousy, Kumburský Újezd, Třebnouševes, Samšina.
For the wider travel overview: Okres Jičín.
