Sobotka

A small heritage town at the southern gate of the Český ráj, overlooked by the baroque Humprecht hunting lodge — hometown of the poet Fráňa Šrámek, with a railway station near the square.

Sobotka closes the Český ráj off to the south: a small town of timber-framed houses around a broad square, protected as a heritage zone. Above it on a wooded hill stands Humprecht, the round baroque hunting lodge built in 1666–72 for Humprecht Jan Černín of Chudenice, known for the unusual acoustics of its central hall and the view from its tower. The town is the hometown of the poet Fráňa Šrámek (1877–1952), whose museum keeps his Prague apartment moved here piece by piece. The railway station is about 600 m from the square and sees most of its traffic from walkers heading for Humprecht, Plakánek valley and Kost castle.