Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/254

220 entrance to a subterranean church or „crypt“. We would glance at St. Cosmas’ and Damian’s with the mausoleum of St. Wenceslaus erected 1654. St. Clements chapel a fine old building dates from 1099. St. Mary’s with its marble floor, was founded 1604, it has frescoes by Hellich and an organ—said to be the largest in Bohemia. Many thousands of pilgrims come here to adore the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin.

Crossing the Labe, we arrive at Brandýs where there is ancient castle above the river. The two churches of note are: the decanal church of St. Paul and St. Peter containing a picture by Škréta.

This is quite near to the much patronized bath Houška.

From Brandýs to Mělník (24 km). It is situated on the right bank of the Labe—just above its junction with the Vltava. This is an important vineyard centre, the cultivation of the wine was much improved by Charles IV. importing cuttings of the most approved kinds from Burgundy, and this endeavour to improve is continued under the auspices of the specialists who impart instruction in the „Wine and Fruit-growers School. The quality of the wine can easily be tested by „sampling“ it at V. J. Šimoneks.

The archdecanal church of St. Peter and Paul is a gothic edifice with a fine groined ceiling, it was founded in the 12th. century. The castle of Prince z Lobkovic, is a noble residence, it possesses a well arranged museum. The chapel of St. Ludmila, of the 14th. century, with a picture by Škréta. The gothic town-hall has a chapel of St. Barbara (1395) and here there is a magnificent hymnbook and a chalice of the 16th. century. In the Market-place there is an old well 70 m in depth. Of the fortifications, only the Prague gate is in good repair. There is a monument to Charles IV., the great benefactor of the town.

Four miles to the North of Mělník is Liběchov with a fine castle, and in the neighbouring wood Klácelka, there are a number of statues cut in the rocks by the Bohemians sculpture Levy (1820—70).

We start from Mělník, cross the Labe and catch a train on the state railway at Beřkovice for Roudnice