To the Extinct Volcanoes Baba and Dědek

The landscape of the Jizera Region has ​​an ancient volcanic past, which in places remains visible to this day. Near Kosmonosy, you will discover the basalt peaks of two extinct volcanoes – Baba and Dědek. You will also walk through the Jizera Valley, and perhaps visit Loreto.

The trip begins in Kosmonosy on the square, from where you will follow the blue tourist trail to the Vrch Baba u Kosmonos nature reserve. Before that, visit the Kosmonosy Loreto area. The pilgrimage site consists of Baroque cloisters with the Chapel of St. Martin, surrounding the Holy House (Santa Casa), and the bell tower outside the enclosed area.

The main attraction of the trip – the Baba and Dědek hills – can be explored more closely thanks to the nature trail, which will literally take you through the rocks. From Dědek hill, you will enjoy views of part of Bohemian Paradise and Ještěd.

• Interesting fact: The nature trail is an ideal destination for a trip with children. The information boards have information for adults on one side and an entertaining board of the  elf Nefelinek educational trail for children on the other. There are lots of interesting tasks and information waiting for them. In addition, there is the option of sitting at the table and a fireplace below the Baba peak, so you can have a nice picnic.

Behind the Baba peak, you will leave the educational trail and continue along the blue tourist trail towards Bakov nad Jizerou. Your steps will also lead you past the small GARP Brewery. Here you will enjoy not only the famous craft beer, but also grilled specialities.

The second half of the route leads through the Jizera Valley, where in addition to beautiful nature, you can also enjoy the view of the romantic ruins of the Zvířetice Château across the river. If you have enough time, take a small detour and climb up to the ruins. It is freely accessible and in the information centre under the castle, you can learn, thanks to virtual reality, what the château looked like in the days of its glory.

• Tip for you: Before you set off, replenish your energy with delicious coffee and cake at Cafe Rendez-Vous in Kosmonosy. On the way back, you can stop for a larger meal at the VISTA restaurant, which you can find in Kosmonosy on the shore of the Toťák pond. If you get hungry along the way, stop in Bakov nad Jizerou at the GARP Brewery. While visiting the ruins of Zvířetice Castle, you can also visit the Hrnčířský dvůr Zvířetice. In addition to many beautiful ceramic products, you will also find delicious home-made desserts and grilled delicacies.

In Josefův Důl, your journey along the river ends and in about an hour you will reach the centre of Kosmonosy, where you started from. If you have small children, you can choose a short option for a trip to the volcanoes – a circuit along the nature trail, which is less than 3 kilometres long and starts from the village of Horní Stakory.