Kostomlaty Nad Labem – Culture, Traditions and Nature

Kostomlaty Nad Labem offers several distinct themes to consider when planning a trip: Mydlovar Castle, the Church of St. Bartholomew, the Mydlovarský luh Nature Reserve and the annual Staročeské máje tradition. If you are looking for a hotel, start by considering what you want to focus your stay on: historic buildings, nature or a particular date in May. The following highlights offer concrete points to help you decide.

Mydlovar Castle and its architectural history

The ruins of Mydlovar Castle stand in the floodplain forest along the Elbe. The castle was abandoned in 1553. Its layout includes a rectangular inner ward, an approximately trapezoidal outer bailey, a double moat with a rampart, and surviving remains of a substantial curtain wall. The two areas differ in their ground plans; the moat, rampart and wall remains add further structural elements. Mydlovar thus brings together a precisely dated historical turning point and a nuanced architectural layout. For travelers interested in culture, this provides a specific focus on the castle’s history and architecture.

Church and memorial plaque

Another architectural highlight is the Church of St. Bartholomew, a Baroque religious complex dating from the last quarter of the 18th century. The complex includes a bell tower and sculptures. The dates refer to different things: 1553 marks the castle’s abandonment, while the last quarter of the 18th century dates the church. These are two distinct historical reference points to explore if you would like to make architectural history a focus of your trip.

Another cultural trace can be found at the ČD railway station: a memorial plaque there commemorates Bohumil Hrabal, who worked at the station. The plaque adds a biographical connection to a specific place to the architectural history. This allows you to distinguish between the architectural themes of the castle and church and the remembrance of Hrabal’s work at the station.

Staročeské máje in May

Staročeské máje takes place every year on the second Saturday in May. The tradition includes a procession through the town, accompanied by musicians and a festively decorated horse-drawn carriage. This makes the tradition a seasonal reason to visit, distinct from the historic buildings and the nature of the protected area. The recurring Saturday provides a point of reference for timing; if you plan your trip around it, check the specific date and program for that year in advance. Program details may vary.

Habitats in Mydlovarský luh

The Mydlovarský luh Nature Reserve comprises natural eutrophic waters with associated aquatic vegetation, transitional mires and quaking bogs, as well as mixed ash-alder floodplain forests and other mixed floodplain forests along large rivers. The habitats mentioned range from bodies of water to wetland areas and floodplain forests. Eutrophic describes nutrient-rich waters; together with the associated aquatic vegetation, this gives a more precise picture of this part of the protected area. For nature enthusiasts, this diversity offers a focus in its own right alongside the town’s cultural attractions.

A guide to your hotel search

The municipal office sells municipal souvenirs, a tourist badge and stickers. If you plan to pick up any of these keepsakes, check their availability before your trip. This distinction can help you organize your travel dates and the focus of your stay before looking for hotel offers that suit your plans.

Discover more destinations: Kouty, Dobšice, Běrunice, Dymokury, Podebrady, Pátek, Vrbová Lhota, Seletice.

Back to the main travel overview: Okres Nymburk.