Day 1: “Getting to know Jablonec nad Nisou”

A + B - today we'll begin with a walk around the town, remarkable from the off for its three squares, one above the other. The upper square (Horní náměstí) is home to the Church of the Holiest Heart of Jesus (kostel Nejsvětějšího srdce Ježíšova), the middle square (Mírové náměstí) boasts the Functionalist New Town Hall, and the lower square (Dolní náměstí) is where the Old Town Hall stands. From here it is only a short distance to the newly-repaired Church of St. Anne (kostel Sv. Anny), the oldest monument in Jablonec (dating back to the 17th century). Visitors can also admire a number of Art Nouveau buildings (in 28. října Street and Podhorská Street). Indeed the Old Catholic Church (Starokatolický kostel) on B. Němcová Square is one of the most prominent religious Art Nouveau buildings in Central Europe.

Neither should we ignore the Museum of Glass and Costume Jewellery, which after reconstruction in 2004 is home to exhibitions of "The Charming World of Costume Jewellery" and "The Magic Garden - Seven Centuries of Bohemian Glass". Also on display are collections of glass, costume jewellery, coins, medals, and plaques (address: U Muzea 4, tel.: +420 483 369 011, web:  www.msb-jablonec.cz).

Interested in seeing how glass beads were made in the distant past or even trying it out for yourself? All this awaits you at the historic Korálek Pressing Shop (address: Maršovická 437, tel.: +420 483 302 203), where you will find a genuine glassmaking furnace and blowpipes, where you can hear about the history of it all, and where you can have a go at making actual glass beads for yourself.

The rest of the day can be spent sitting in one of the many restaurants of Jablonec or taking the "Jablonec Sightseeing Tour" (approximately 15 km), which will allow you to see the area right beside the town. You might like to pay a visit to the Petřín observation tower and restaurant, have a swim at the dam during summer, or even swim at the swimming pool and water park when the weather is not so good ( www.bazenjbc.cz, tel.: +420 483 319 328).