Želízy – Rock Art, Culture and the Liběchovka Floodplain

Želízy takes you to rock art, the memory of Franz Kafka, a distinctive wetland landscape and a family-friendly swimming pool. Several clearly distinct themes are therefore available for exploring the area: the Liběchovka Floodplain, artistically carved sandstone rocks, a cycling route and a day at the pool with various facilities for children and adults.

The Liběchovka Floodplain and Protected Landscape

The Liběchovka Floodplain in Želízy lies at an elevation of 175 metres above sea level and is the lowest point of the CHKO Kokořínsko–Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area. The wetland’s protected status is also clearly documented: in 1997, the Liběchovka wetland system became part of the internationally important Ramsar site “Mokřady Liběchovky a Pšovky”. Those wishing to include landscape and nature themes in their travel plans will therefore find a precisely described starting point here.

Rock Art, Kafka and Václav Levý

A memorial plaque in Želízy commemorates Franz Kafka’s stays for spa treatment in November and December 1918, from January to March and in November 1919, and in August and September 1923. The Čertovy hlavy create a particularly striking cultural highlight: two sandstone sculptures about nine metres high, carved into the rocks by the sculptor Václav Levý between 1841 and 1846. From the Želízy primary school building, the Čertovy hlavy are freely accessible via the blue-marked hiking trail.

The Václav Levý Circuit also passes through a world shaped by sandstone. Along the route are the Harfenice rock relief, depicting a woman with a harp, and a sandstone sphinx. The Václav Levý Circuit runs via Tupadly along the Liběchovka stream to Želízy. At the Klácelka Cave, there are large-scale reliefs of Jan Žižka and Prokop Holý, as well as dwarfs forging weapons for the Blaník Knights.

A Swimming Pool and Cycling Route for Different Day Plans

The Želízy swimming pool has a 20 × 40-metre pool, a separate paddling pool and a children’s water slide. It is family-oriented and supplied with drinking water from its own well. Toilets, showers and changing rooms are also part of the facilities. The Cyklistický okruh ze Želíz na Kokořínsku is available as a cycling route for a different focus. This allows you to distinguish between rock art, landscape, cycling and time spent by the water when planning your trip, without mixing up the area’s themes.

Želízy as a Starting Point for Your Choice

If you are looking for accommodation in Želízy, you can first decide which of these documented experiences should shape your stay. Culture enthusiasts can focus on Kafka, Václav Levý and the reliefs; families can take the swimming pool’s facilities into account; and for nature-focused days, the Liběchovka Floodplain offers its own thematic focus.

Discover More Destinations

For comparing other destinations, you can also include Ledčice, Kralupy Nad Vltavou, Čakovičky, Všestudy, Ovčáry U Dřís, Neratovice, Tuhaň and Kanina.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Mělník District.