Discover Jablonec nad Nisou District

Jablonec nad Nisou District combines the distinctive character of the Jizera Mountains with an unusually vivid history of glassmaking and railways. If you would like to combine nature, active discovery and culture with your family, you will find several clearly distinguishable themes here: forests and rock formations, special railway lines, museums, craft traditions, and trails for hikers and cyclists.

Landscape between forests and rocks

The landscape of the Jizera Mountains includes remnants of mountain spruce forests and extensive mixed forests dominated by beech trees. There are also rock formations, rock towers and rocky viewpoints. The Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area extends to Jablonec nad Nisou and the surrounding foothills. A particularly striking natural feature is Suché skály, a protected national nature monument with approximately 20 rock towers.

From Malá Skála, you can reach Vranov-Pantheon on foot via a red-marked trail.

The cog railway and railway history

The cog railway, known as Zubačka, offers a world of its own. The rack railway connects Tanvald, Kořenov and Harrachov and runs along the steepest railway line in the Czech Republic. During historic rides, you can travel on a historic rack locomotive. The Cog Railway Museum in Kořenov presents the history of Zubačka and the surrounding railways. Those who want to combine landscape and technology will therefore find a distinctly different way to experience the region here than through a museum visit alone.

Glass, jewellery and regional handicrafts

Jablonec nad Nisou is home to the Museum of Glass and Jewellery, which brings together glass and jewellery collections in one institution. The Čarovná zahrada exhibition presents Czech glass spanning seven centuries. In addition, the Cestou jizerskohorských sklářů educational trail connects the glass museum in Jablonec with Kristiánov.

In Pěnčín, the local tradition of glass pressing workshops, known as Drikety, has also been preserved. Beadgame produces pressed and cut glass beads from glass rods and semi-finished glass pieces. Beadgame’s history dates back to 1948; exhibits include pressing, grinding and cutting machines, tools for finishing beads, and threading machines. For a visit appealing to different interests, this topic offers an illustrative insight into materials, production and regional craft traditions.

Exploring by bicycle and visiting Pěnčín

Several documented excursions complement the cultural and natural attractions. The Císařský kámen cycle route leads from Jablonec nad Nisou via Rádlo and Milíře to the Imperial Stone lookout tower. Another route, entitled Bike through the Nisanka lookout tower to the spring of Nisa, includes the Nisanka lookout tower and the source of the Lusatian Neisse.

At Kozí farma Pěnčín, there are information boards about the local flora and fauna, a barefoot trail, and an excursion train that makes a circuit through the farm area. Seasonal tourist buses connect Bedřichov with Janov, Hrabětice, Jablonec nad Nisou, Josefův Důl, Albrechtice, Desná and Tanvald. Another historical curiosity awaits you in Frýdštejn: several rooms in the core of the castle were carved directly into sandstone blocks.

For further orientation in the area, you can also visit the following pages: Albrechtice, Bedřichov, Jablonec nad Nisou, Janov nad Nisou, Nová Ves nad Nisou, Smržovka, Tanvald, Desná, Jílové, Kořenov, Velké Hamry, Vlastiboř, Sasadel, Železný Brod, Frýdštejn, Pulečný, Držkov, Zbirohy, Radčice, Koberovy, Plavy, Příchovice, Desná v Jizerských horách, Josefův Důl, Malá Skála, Jensovice, Loužnice, Rádlo, Maršovice, Skuhrov, Jiřetín pod Bukovou, Líšný, Dalešice, Jistebsko, Žďár, Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou and Volešník.

For the broader travel overview: Liberec.