Bozkov combines pilgrimage history with caves and marked trails. The village is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Bohemia and Moravia. Coming from Semily to Bozkov, the first Bozkov landmark you reach is the Sejkorská Chapel, which itself became a place of pilgrimage. Chapels, a church and trails tell different sides of the village’s history and give you several ways to shape your stay.
Pilgrimage Sites and Architectural History
At the U Matičky Chapel, the story of a spring takes center stage: the chapel was built in 1900 at a spot where a spring had flowed since time immemorial. The spring was believed to have healing powers. A statue of the Virgin Mary was brought here from the disused cemetery chapel. This traditional belief is part of the site’s history; it should not be taken as a present-day claim about the spring.
The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary also offers a specific point of reference in time. Its cornerstone was laid and consecrated on September 23, 1690, and the church was built in 1693. The 49-meter-high tower is open to the public. This offers a different way to visit than the caves, where guided tours are available.
Dřevěnka was added to the list of cultural monuments in 2011. In the Vošmenda stream valley, natural beauty combines with examples of folk architecture. These include a former mill and residential houses that have retained their original character. Those interested in architectural and local history will find further tangible traces in the village and valley, alongside the religious sites.
Caves and Landscape
The Bozkov Dolomite Caves were declared a national natural monument in 1999. The Jezerní Dome contains the largest underground lake in the Czech Republic. The caves are open to the public as part of guided tours. Before visiting, check the current tour options so you can plan this part of your stay accordingly.
The caves, pilgrimage history and landscape of the Vošmenda Valley offer different points of interest: underground nature, religious heritage and traditional architectural forms. You can decide which theme you would like to focus on during your trip without reducing the area to a single attraction.
Hiking Trails and Cycling Route
The Palacký Trail is 20.5 kilometers long and runs from Tanvald to Podspálov. From the trail, visitors can take a blue-marked side path to the Bozkov Dolomite Caves, continue to Bozkov, and then return to the trail via a green-marked route. The 20.5 kilometers refers to the entire Palacký Trail, not just this side trip. This distinction helps you plan the full route and the connection via Bozkov separately.
Other marked hiking trails lead from Bozkov to Semily, Vysoké nad Jizerou, Bohuňovsko and Jesenný.
Bozkov is also part of a named cycling route: Cycle Route 1074 passes through the village from Semily to Vysoké nad Jizerou. The hiking trails and cycle route offer different ways to include Bozkov in a trip. When choosing a hotel in Bozkov, you can start by deciding whether you want to focus mainly on local history, a guided cave tour, or a route on foot or by bike.
Discover more destinations: Bystrá Nad Jizerou, Olešnice, Turnov, Vichova Nad Jizerou, Roztoky U Jilemnice, Nová Ves Nad Popelkou, Stružinec, Jesenný.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Semily.
