Valdice: Monastery History and the Golden Trail

Valdice offers two clear starting points for planning your trip: the architectural and local history surrounding the former Carthusian monastery, and the Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise, whose routes pass through Valdice. Churches and monuments add to the cultural perspective on the town. Depending on whether you are mainly interested in early Baroque architecture or a hiking route, these themes can shape the focus of your stay. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether the town’s history or the Golden Trail route is the deciding factor in your trip planning.

The Monastery and Its Architectural History

The founding of Valdice is associated with August 10, 1627: on that day, Albrecht von Valdštejn founded the Carthusian Monastery of St. Bruno. The monastery was completed in 1632, and the monastery church in 1668. This divides the building history into the founding, the completion of the monastery, and the later completion of the church. The former monastery is a significant early Baroque architectural complex associated with the architects A. Spezza and J. Marini. This connection gives the town’s history a specific architectural context in addition to the dates.

The former monastery cannot be visited inside, as it is still used as a prison. Therefore, do not plan an interior visit, and check access information before your trip.

Church and Monuments

The Church of St. Joseph stands in the center of Valdice, on the village square along the main road. It has a rectangular floor plan; the chancel is set back and has a segmental termination. This means that its outline at the end is curved. The tower is also described precisely: its four-sided body is set well into the main structure, and its belfry reaches the height of the roof. The floor plan, chancel, and tower offer different points of reference for understanding the building’s architecture.

In the town center, opposite the municipal office, stands a Baroque statue of St. John of Nepomuk dating from 1696. It was restored between 1988 and 1992. The date of its creation and the restoration period therefore represent different stages in the monument’s history. A memorial to political prisoners and victims of the communist regime was unveiled in front of the prison gate. This memorial in front of the prison is freely accessible to the public.

Routes Through Valdice

The Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise offers a concrete comparison of route lengths. One 26.5-kilometer route runs from Kozákov to Jičín via Železnice and Valdice. A 36-kilometer alternative also runs via Železnice and Valdice to Jičín. The difference between the two distances is 9.5 kilometers. Both route descriptions name Valdice and Železnice as places along the way and Jičín as the destination; Kozákov is expressly listed as the starting point for the 26.5-kilometer route. This lets you compare the routes by their length and the places named.

Planned Route to Železnice

As of October 1, 2024, the Valdice–Železnice project envisaged a shared, publicly lit pedestrian and cycling path. The infrastructure was intended to divert non-motorized traffic from a busy road to this path. This is a planned project, not confirmation that it has been completed. Before planning a specific route, check its current implementation status and any subsequent extensions.

Discover more destinations: Zámezí, Dětenice, Zámostí-Blata, Vysoké Veselí, Žeretice, Bukovina U Pecky, Lukavec U Hořic, Bříšťany.

For the broader travel overview: Jičín District.