Kostelec nad Labem – Town History and Floodplain Landscape

Kostelec nad Labem combines medieval town history with a diverse river landscape. The originally royal town is situated at a ford across the Elbe; its historic part is designated as a heritage zone. Cultural landmarks and near-natural areas thus stand side by side on an equal footing. Those exploring the town can admire historic architectural forms and then turn their attention to the floodplain landscape with its meadows, bodies of water and wetlands.

Historic Churches and Special Landmarks

The construction of St. Martin's Church is dated to the second half of the 13th century. It was subsequently rebuilt in the Late Gothic style and given Baroque features. Restoration took place in 1894; the church retains Gothic elements. St. Martin's is a cemetery church and originally served as a parish church. Its architectural history therefore brings together several periods, from its medieval beginnings through its Late Gothic alteration to its Baroque transformation.

The Jewish cemetery is also one of Kostelec nad Labem's historic sites. It was founded in 1594 on the eastern bank of the Martinský stream in the suburb of Písek. Numerous tombstones of considerable art-historical value have been preserved, including many from the last quarter of the 19th century.

St. Vitus Church adds its own architectural history to this tour. It is a three-nave Gothic church with a polygonal presbytery and was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. St. Martin's and St. Vitus thus offer an opportunity to observe different approaches to older architectural fabric.

River Floodplains and Paths Along the Water

The Polabí u Kostelce natural monument is an exceptionally well-preserved river floodplain. Its characteristic feature is a mosaic structure of floodplain forests, meadows, bodies of water and wetlands. Numerous rare plant and animal species occur in this habitat. The various landscape elements give the area its varied character: open meadows alternate with wooded areas, bodies of water and wet zones.

In the northern part of the Kostelec nad Labem area, Staré Labe has the character of a floodplain forest. The river landscape therefore has different focal points even within the natural monument. For cyclists and pedestrians, a modernized section of the Elbe Trail is available on a paved asphalt path. A ten-kilometre-long modernized section runs between Kostelec nad Labem and Tuhaň. Its length and paved surface provide a clear basis for planning an outing of the desired scope and combining the route with shorter visits to the town.

History Along a Short Educational Trail

The Městský informační okruh is a short educational trail presenting the history of Kostelec nad Labem. It comprises six stops with information panels. The limited number of stops makes the tour manageable, while the panels address individual aspects of the town's history. Together with the heritage zone, churches and sites of remembrance, it provides a historical perspective that can be combined with a walk or a section along the Elbe.

Other Places in This Area

For further searching for places in this area, you can also visit Lobeč, Nedomice, Hostín, Vraňany, Hostín U Vojkovic, Kralupy Nad Vltavou, Kojetice and Čakovičky.

For the higher-level travel overview: Mělník District.