Mělník District: Wine, Castles and Sandstone Landscapes

Wine, River and Sandstone in Mělník District

Mělník District combines a wine tradition documented since at least the 10th century, historic places along the water and the sandstone landscape of Kokořínsko. Depending on the experiences you are looking for, your journey may lead to medieval cellars and cultural sites in Mělník, to castles and gardens, or along paths through forests, gorges and protected landscapes.

The Labe forms the main river axis of the Mělník region and flows into the Vltava below Mělník. Several remnants of floodplain forests are protected as nature reserves. Other protected areas are spread throughout Mělník District. In the northern part of the Mělník region, the landscape consists of block sandstone in the Polomené hory, which are generally known as Kokořínsko. The Kokořínsko Protected Landscape Area lies partly in the Mělník region and is administered from Mělník.

Culture, Wine and Historic Sites

The Mělník Regional Museum is a special destination for culture and regional tradition. Wine was produced and stored in its original medieval cellars. Wine tastings are available for groups by prior arrangement. In this way, historic rooms and the wine industry still associated with Mělník and its surroundings come together directly.

The Mělník Ossuary, or charnel house, also tells the long history of the town. It served as an ossuary at least from the 1530s until 1787. Bones and skulls are arranged there in the shapes of an anchor, a cross and a heart. Another distinctive cultural site is Nelahozeves Castle: the building is a 16th-century Renaissance castle and is one of the few preserved Renaissance castles in the Czech Republic. Visitors can explore the museum, the castle garden and the surrounding paths.

Kokořín Castle stands on a sandstone rock above the Kokořín Valley and is surrounded by forest. In Hořín, the yellow hiking trail leads from the signpost at the castle to the Hořín locks. Historic architecture, water engineering and the characteristic landscape therefore complement one another, without every destination focusing on the same theme.

Paths Through Forests, Gorges and Rock Landscapes

The 6.3-kilometre Mšeno Route leads to Debř Forest Park, a natural amphitheatre, Průsečná skála, through Náckova rokle and to Obří hlava, Žába and Frantičkova alej. The Chorušická zákoutí Route connects an educational trail in a forest gorge, a rock cellar and the Chorušice dairy.

The route in the Kočičina Valley includes the Barcalína Cave and a viewpoint overlooking Kokořín Castle. For children, the Medvídka Chloumáka educational trail in Mělník offers playful information about the local nature and its inhabitants. These activities thus range from cultural and historical interiors to short explorations in forests and among rocks.

Guidance for Choosing Your Place to Stay

For travel orientation, Mělník railway station is assigned to PID Zone 4 and DÚK Zone 990 within Mělník District. There is also a public car park near the station. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first decide whether wine and urban history in Mělník, castles and gardens, the river landscape or the sandstone trails of Kokořínsko should be the main focus.

Other Places in Mělník District

For further searches for suitable places in Mělník District, see here: Melnik, Kokorinsky Dul, Zlosyn, Cesky Raj, Mšeno, Dolany, Vysoká, Chorušice, Cítov, Dolní Beřkovice, Čakovičky, Horní Počaply, Kly, Kojetice, Kokořín, Kostelec Nad Labem, Tišice, Kralupy Nad Vltavou, Ledčice, Liběchov, Lobeč, Mělnické Vtelno, Nebužely, Nelahozeves, Neratovice, Obříství, Olovnice, Spomyšl, Úžice, Velký Borek, Veltrusy, Vraňany, Všestudy, Všetaty, Řepín, Libiš, Hořín, Vojkovice, Býkev, Byšice, Čečelice, Dobřeň, Zlončice, Hostín, Hostín U Vojkovic, Chlumín, Lužec Nad Vltavou, Medonosy, Chvatěruby, Malý Újezd, Střemy, Jeviněves, Kadlín, Zálezlice, Kozomín, Liblice, Nedomice, Stránka, Ovčáry U Dřís, Postřižín, Želízy, Vidim, Vrbno, Hoření Vinice, Tuhaň, Újezdec, Kanina, Nosálov and Dolní Zimoř.

For the higher-level travel overview: Central Bohemia.