Hořice V Podkrkonoší – Sandstone, Sculptures and Sweet Traditions

Hořice V Podkrkonoší combines sandstone art, historic architecture, viewpoints and a special regional sweet treat. If you would like to combine a cultural stay with easy explorations, you will find topics here ranging from the museum and sculptures to child-friendly trails.

Sandstone shapes the culture and townscape

The Městské muzeum has a permanent exhibition on the tradition of sandstone mining and the artistic processing of sandstone in the Hořice region. The adjacent Štorchova síň hosts themed exhibitions. Sochařský park U Sv. Gotharda I and II contains more than 100 sandstone sculptures by sculptors from Europe, Asia and America and is freely accessible year-round. Also worth visiting is the Baroque Kostel Narození Panny Marie, built according to plans by Kilián Ignác Dienzenhofer between 1741 and 1748. The Masarykova věž samostatnosti on Hořický chlum serves as a war memorial and observation tower. From its viewing platform, you can enjoy views of the panorama of the Krkonoše Mountains and the fertile Elbe lowland of Polabí.

Trails and discoveries for different age groups

You can reach the Galerie plastik from the town square via a red-marked hiking trail in about ten minutes on foot. Vrch Gothard is also freely accessible year-round and can be reached from the town square via a red-marked hiking trail in about ten minutes on foot. For families, the approximately 1.5 km-long Chlumíčkova stezka is an interesting option and is suitable for strollers and very young children. The Naučný okruh complements the offering with 14 stations and information boards at the town’s most important sights.

Hořické trubičky: A tradition to discover

Hořické trubičky are one of the characteristic specialties of the town. They must be rolled by hand, as machine production is not permitted. Since 2007, they have carried the European Union’s protected geographical indication and may only be produced in Hořice and the surrounding area. Traditional artisanal production resumed in Hořice after 1990; in 1999, production was started by Pravé hořické trubičky, s.r.o. In Smetanovy sady, the Trubičková stezka teaches children in particular about the history and production process. It comprises seven stations and seven tasks and leads to a secret solution word.

Active excursions and special events

The Traily Hořice consist of Grizzly, Dáška and Potoky. They range from low to moderate difficulty, have a combined length of 3.7 km and are located in the immediate vicinity of the town, in woods near Koupaliště Dachova. The natural outdoor swimming pool is known for its remarkable wooden architecture from the 1920s. At the Hořické sochařské sympozium, held every two years in July at Lom U Sv. Josefa, you can watch internationally renowned sculptors at work. The first symposium took place in 1966.

Other destinations to look for include Volanice, Sedliště, Zelenecká Lhota, Mlynec, Kozojedy, Střevač, Petrovičky and Bystřice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Jičín.