Discover Rakousy: Jizera Valley, Nature and Culture

Rakousy lies in the Jizera Valley between Turnov and Malá Skála. The village combines a culturally rich historic landscape with protected forest communities and trails that follow the course of the river. This allows you to shape your stay in many different ways: through nature observation, a hike or bike ride, regional history or a trip along the Jizera.

Landscape along the Jizera

A special natural area is the Bučiny u Rakous Nature Reserve. It protects a near-natural forest community consisting predominantly of beech trees aged between 80 and 115 years. The trees grow on marl sandstone. For visitors, this combination of forest, underlying geology and age structure makes the character of the landscape more tangible, without reducing the area to an ordinary woodland.

Bučiny u Rakous is also an ecologically significant biocentre of regional importance. It lies along an supraregional biocorridor in the Jizera Valley. Those who value protected landscapes when choosing their excursions will find a concrete connection to nature here, right in the surroundings of Rakousy.

Hiking, cycling and waterways

Tourist and cycling routes pass through Rakousy. These include the Greenway Jizera with the Průlom Jizery educational trail. The educational trail follows the course of the Jizera from Malá Skála to Turnov, making the river a connecting line between the two places. For an active day out, this lets you choose a route that does not simply end at a single viewpoint, but instead follows the landscape of the river valley.

Waterway users also have a clear option: the municipality of Rakousy recommends travelling down the Jizera from Malá Skála to Zrcadlová koza. This section differs from the tourist and cycling routes through its perspective from the river. In this way, Rakousy can be discovered not only on foot or by bike, but also as part of a water route.

History and unusual details

The first official mention of Rakousy dates back to 1540. Other unusual features of the village include eight timbered cottages of the Turnover type. Both details give Rakousy its own historical profile, extending beyond its mere location in the Jizera Valley.

Another local landmark is the iron cross of Rakousy. The cross stands on the left side of the dead-end road from Turnov to Rakousy (Zátoň), near the municipal office. The iron cross probably dates from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Those who pay attention to small cultural and historical sights during a tour of the village will find a precisely located point of interest here.

The Zbirohy castle ruins lie in the immediate surroundings of Rakousy. They are freely accessible in the nearby area. The original complex has preserved cellars, a water cistern and, above all, a palace wall up to 10 metres high. The ruins add a clearly visible historic setting to your stay.

Cultural life in Rakousy

The Jizeran Theatre Association was founded in 1924 and re-established in 1998. It contributes to cultural life in Rakousy and takes part in various shows with theatre performances. The association also organises balls, children's carnivals, children's days, carnival processions, Easter traditions, Christmas carol singing at the Nativity scene and excursions, among other events. This shows that culture in Rakousy is expressed not only through historic buildings, but also through recurring community events.

More destinations for your search

If you would like to extend your travel planning beyond Rakousy, you can also visit the pages for Veselá, Mrklov, Rychlov, Bělá U Staré Paky, Roprachtice, Valterice, Benecko and Klokočí U Turnova.

For the higher-level travel overview: Semily District.