Why Mladá Boleslav
Situated roughly 45 kilometres northeast of Prague, Mladá Boleslav is the second most populated city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, with approximately 48,000 residents. The city sits on the left bank of the Jizera River at its confluence with the Klenice River, with its historical center elevated on a promontory above the water. Geographically, the surrounding territory spans the Jizera Table to the west and the Jičín Uplands to the east, reaching its highest elevation at 301 metres on the slopes of Chlum hill.
The settlement was established in the second half of the 10th century when Duke Boleslaus II constructed a fortified gord, giving the location its name to distinguish it from an older town near Prague. Promoted to a town in 1334, Mladá Boleslav became a major centre for the Unity of the Brethren in the 16th century, producing the first printed map of Bohemia in 1518. Though damaged during the Thirty Years' War and subsequent fires, the city experienced renewed development in the 19th and 20th centuries, largely driven by industrial expansion and the 1895 founding of the automotive manufacturer Laurin & Klement, which later became Škoda Auto.
The well-preserved historical core is protected as an urban monument zone and includes four central areas historically known as Staré Město, Nové Město, Podolec, and Pták. Dominating the city skyline is Mladá Boleslav Castle, a 14th-century fortress reconstructed in the Renaissance style that now houses the Regional Museum and local archives. In the main square area, the 16th-century Old City Hall displays sgraffiti decoration and features an 18th-century lookout tower accessible to visitors, while the nearby Neo-Romanesque New City Hall continues to serve civic functions. Another notable historic building is the Templ Palace, a late 15th-century Gothic residence used for heritage exhibitions and cultural events.
Visitors can learn about the region's industrial heritage at the Škoda Museum, located within former factory buildings, or view the Functionalist Secondary Industrial School designed by Jiří Kroha in the 1920s. Religious landmarks include the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the 14th-century Church of Saint John of Nepomuk on Náměstí Míru, the Church of Saint Gall set within a park, and the restored former Church of Saint Bonaventure.
Transportation to and through the city is facilitated by the D10 motorway running between Prague and Turnov, as well as primary roads I/16 and I/38. Railway travelers can access the town via three main rail hubs: Mladá Boleslav hlavní nádraží, Mladá Boleslav město, and Mladá Boleslav-Debř.
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