Discover Josefuv Dul: Castle, Jizera and Hiking Trails

Josefův Důl lies in a loop of the Jizera River. The built-up area is surrounded by green spaces and smaller wooded areas on the adjacent slopes. At the same time, the town tells the story of the Leitenberger family, the textile industry and the technology of a small hydroelectric power plant. Two hiking routes pass through Josefův Důl. This gives you a choice between cultural history, exercise and an active day at the sports facility.

Castle, Park and Textile History

The castle in Josefův Důl is a representative Neo-Renaissance building with a Baroque core. It was built after 1860, probably based on a design by Ludwig Zettl, and served as the Leitenberger family’s preferred summer residence together with its park. The castle park included allegories of the four seasons by Prague sculptor Tomáš Seidan. The main façade of the Leitenberger villa opens onto a landscaped park that separates the building from the factory grounds and the workers’ settlement; Eduard Petzold designed this park.

The local textile industry was established in 1763 through the relocation of a manufactory from Kosmonosy and reached its greatest prosperity under the management of the Leitenberger family. In 1868, textile production in Kosmonosy ended; all operations were relocated to Josefův Důl. The settlement of Josefův Důl was established as a workers’ settlement for the former textile factory that exists today.

Crypt and Small Hydroelectric Power Plant

The Chapel of the Holy Cross with the Leitenberger family crypt was built in 1880 based on a design by Ludwig Zettl. The Neo-Gothic chapel is located southeast of the villa at an elevated position and offers a view of the former calico factory grounds. The Leitenberger crypt lies in the greenery above Josefův Důl along a hiking trail and is empty because the family’s remains were transferred to Austria in the 1980s.

The small hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in the first half of the 1940s and later served the TIBA textile company. To this day, it is equipped with the two original vertical Kaplan turbines from 1942. For safety reasons, the reinforced-concrete bridge over the weir to the machine buildings was closed to the public around 2006.

Hiking Routes and Active Days

The Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise runs along a 25 km route from Mladá Boleslav via Michalovice, Josefův Důl, Bakov nad Jizerou, Klokočka and Klášter Hradiště nad Jizerou to Mnichovo Hradiště. The route “Through the Jizera River Valley to the Romantic Ruin” leads from Mladá Boleslav via Debř and Josefův Důl to Láskov and back to Mladá Boleslav via Debř. In addition, the SK Josefův Důl sports facility offers football, tennis, foot tennis, volleyball, basketball and a children’s playground. When looking for accommodation in Josefův Důl, you can choose your preferred focus based on these facts: historical sightseeing in the town, hiking or sports facilities.

Other Places for Your Travel Planning

For your further travel planning, you can also visit Doubravička, Belá Pod Bezdezem, Neveklovice, Krásná Ves, Dlouhá Lhota, Knezmost, Branzez and Muzsky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Mladá Boleslav.