Doksy - the North Bohemian summer resort

There is nothing that can be more relaxing and pleasant than lying on the shores of a lake, watching the sunset, while listening to an excerpt from a poem by Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha. To do just that, thousands of tourists mainly from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, the Netherlands but also from the Czech Republic, come to the little town of Doksy in North Bohemia...

Doksy, photo: Zákupák / PD

"My name is Alena and I'm from Prague but have my country cottage here. I come here as much as I can because I love the nature. I have a family, you know, and this is a place that everyone enjoys coming to. The lake is beautiful and very popular in the summer, when it is warm. People from the neighbouring countries come and camp in this area. You can swim, ride in the boats, and yachts. We even have tennis courts and mini golf courses."

And very good restaurants?

"That's very important. People with all tastes will be happy here! I think that is why the poet Karel Hynek Macha was inspired here and Milos Forman, whose family lived here, became a good film director - because they visited a beautiful area with good food!"

Although film director Forman is yet to make a movie set in this part of the world, Karel Hynek Macha's most famous poem, Maj or May, is about this region. That is why this breathtaking lake in front of me is called Macha's Lake. Dr Renata Mauserova is the director of the town's cultural centre:

"Macha's Lake is actually a pond, which was established in 1366 by Emperor Charles IV. Until the second half of the 20th century, it was called Velky Rybnik or Big Pond. But, Karel Hynek Macha, who really was an outstanding poet visited Doksy and its surroundings several times and glorified the region in his most popular poem - Maj or May. So, since 1961, the region is called Macha's Region and the water body is called Macha's Lake."

Doksy - Castle, photo: Zákupák / PD

The little town of Doksy is located in North Bohemia, less than an hour away from the Czech-German border. Despite having a population of only 4,000 it boasts a large number of places ideal for hiking, biking and other sports as well as natural sights and, of course, historical sights. Dr Renata Mauserova:

"The most dominant historical sight is St. Bartholomew's Church which dates to the Czech Baroque period - 1638. The portal's main altar from 1670 to 1680 has a statuette of Our Lady of Montserrat, also known as the Black Madonna. It is one of only three existing copies. There's also the organ, which dating back to 1628 is the oldest in Bohemia. We also have a Renaissance Castle in the English Park, next to the farmyard, although, today it is an apprentice centre that's not open to the public but its hall is occasionally used for cultural events. Doksy is dominated by its newly reconstructed square with its Marian sculptural group of the Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. John of Nepomuk, St. Florian, and St. Antonio de Padua."

I am now in front of the oldest house in the town, the so-called Hospitalek or Little Hospital, built in 1669. Today, this cute little half-timbered building is actually the Karel Hynek Macha Museum, housing two permanent exhibitions. One concentrates on the life and works of the poet and the other, in another part of the building, is on fishery and fish pond cultivation. However, it originally was first a poorhouse, an orphanage, a library, and then a hospital. Dr Renata Mauserova:

Doksy - Hospitalek, source: Public domain

"In front of the Hospitalek stands a restored statue of St. Prokop. It is the same statue, which was originally situated in the fields close to the village of Duba - to commemorate the dramatic tale of a man who is said to have murdered his father."

"What I like about the Doksy area is the forests, especially in the autumn, because my family and I all go mushroom picking."

And how many do you usually find?

"Several baskets full."

Can you show me where you look for them?

"That is a question you should never ask. We all have our secret places and if you ask us where they are, we send you in the opposite direction. But this place here is also one of my favourite places. When I go for a walk, I stop here at this stone block called Kraluv Stolec, the King's Seat. It is the highest one here and they say that Charles IV came here very often to sit and look at the lake and to relax. Another place I go to is Bezdez Castle. You get a great view from there. When the sky is clear, you can see Prague and even the Alps."

But it's quite a walk uphill, isn't it?

"Oh yes. But it is worth it, especially in the summer when they have cultural activities."

Bezdez Castle, photo: Jan Sovka / Creative Commons 3.0 Unported

"Bezdez Castle was founded in the 13th century by the Czech ruler of the early Middle Ages, King Premysl Otakar II but the most remarkable sight on the hill is the gothic chapel. Every summer, the town of Doksy organises cultural festivities during which we celebrate Karel Hynek Macha and our history with a march up the hill with lots of music, costumes, and other types of entertainment."

Before leaving Doksy, one should find the time for a last stop. The Doksy railway station has a so-called Count's Waiting Room, which used to serve the Waldstein family, a large financial contributor to the building of a railroad between Bakov nad Jizerou and Ceska Lipa. To take a look at this former waiting, you can ask to get the key from the stationmaster. The room now houses paintings of regional sights from the Prague painter Hugo Ullik.