Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/253

219 are produced at Messrs Červený’s world-famed factory. W. W. Tomek (1818—1905) the celebrated Bohemian historian was born here. From Králové Hradec by Veliký Osek (51 km) to Libice, theethe [sic] birthplace of st. Vojtěch (Adalbert) second bishop of Bohemia (982), on to Poděbrady (7 km) the chief attraction of this place, is the castle where George, the excellent king of Bohemia was born in 1427, and elected in the town-hall of the old town of Prague 1458. The arch-decanal church has a silver plated altar, pictures by Brandl and Škréta. The tomb of Kunhuta first wife of George (whose monument stands in front of the castle) is in the church.

It is well to stop at Nymburk (14 km), the most ancient town on the banks of the Labe. The decanal church of St. Aegidius is an old gothic structure of brick dating from 1282—1305. Parts of the fortifications and gates are well preserved. The town-hall was originally a monastery of the Augustinian friars. There is a statue here, of St. Vojtěch erected in 1687.

Passing Lysá (16 km) where the castle has an extensive library, a picture gallery and collection of rare engravings, we arrive once more at Prague after a run of 34 km.


 * first-class 70 cr., second-class 47 cr.

To see the interesting towns and districts of the North of Bohemia, we must start from the Station of the Austrian North Western Railway (Rakouská severo-zapadní dráha, Oesterreich. Nord-Westbahn).

We first go to Stará Boleslav (Alt Bunzlau) by way of Lysá (45 km). The castle was founded in 930 by prince Boleslav, who had it built according to a roman model. In 935, prince Wenceslaus was murdered here at the instigation of his brother Boleslav. In memory of the martyred prince, Břetislaus founded a church: St. Wenceslaus’, in the style of a roman basilica which to day can be easily traced in the foundations. Beneath the presbytery is the