When you say Skodovka in the Czech Republic, everyone thinks of Mlada Boleslav, a small town in the middle of Central Bohemia. This town is home to the headquarters of the Skoda company, the world-famous Czech automobile manufacturer.
I'm happy to take you on a stroll in the heart of Mlada Boleslav if you happen to be a vehicle enthusiast or are planning a visit to the city.
All the photos in this article were taken by me during my visit to Mlada Boleslav in September 2022.
Where is Mladá Boleslav
Mlada Boleslav is located in Central Bohemia, north of Prague, the Czech capital, which is about a half-hour drive away. About 40 000 inhabitants live here, and the Jizera River flows through the town.
The best way to get to Mlada Boleslav is by car, the town is adjacent to the D10 motorway, which connects Prague with Liberec in northern Bohemia. Mlada Boleslav also has a bus and train station with frequent intercity connections.
Start of the walk
I made a trip to Boleslav by car, which I recommend parking in the multi-story car park near the Klaudian Hospital. From there, we'll head through the old town to the castle, which houses the Mlada Boleslav Museum and offers a stunning view of the city.
After parking your car, proceed slightly up Palackého Street to the Municipal Theater. The street is lined with historic, well-maintained late-nineteenth-century houses, making for a pleasant walk away from the busy roads.
Sokol house
On your left, you will pass the House of the Sokol Association, a successful physical education organization that experienced its greatest boom in the second half of the 19th century. Sokol's goal was to increase the physical and moral growth of the Czech nation.
Municipal Theater
Just down the road is the Municipal Theater. The theater house was built in the neo-Baroque style and officially opened at the beginning of the 19th century. Locals hold the theater in high esteem and gladly attend the many performances that it puts on.
Just after the theater, turn right into a narrow unmarked alley and go through it at its end.
Metal path
At the end of the alley, you will come across a strange information panel on the left side called the Metal Path.
The panel is part of an educational trail about 7 km long, which leads through the most interesting places in the center of Mlada Boleslav. Each audiovisual panel made by the smithy of David Szalay is equipped with an ingenious mechanism and a hand crank, which you can turn without hesitation.
When the control signal sounds, you will be able to select one of the audio narrations that relate to the location.
Old town and walls
Now carefully cross the busy street and turn left opposite the parking house into Na Karmeli Street. Continue walking for about ten minutes, slightly down to the city walls.
On your right, you will pass the Skoda Auto Private College, where Skoda trains its best future developers, managers, and other management to help further grow the brand and awareness of Skoda cars.
When you get to the old walls, look down. All below you, you will see the modern and booming Skoda Auto buildings, marking the massive development and prospects of the Skoda brand.
MY TIP: If you want to get up or down the walls quickly and don't want to climb the steep hill, use the public lift located in the walls.
After you have walked along the walls and enjoyed the view, turn up at the old water tower to Bělská Street, which leads you to the Town Hall and Old Town Square.
Town hall, Old town square
The Town Hall, whose tower overlooks the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti), is a focal point of the area. Take a peek at the town from the top of the Town Hall Tower if you have a few minutes and don't mind climbing a few flights of steps.
In warm weather, the water fountains in the square's center provide a welcome respite, especially for the little ones.
Walk through the square lined with colorful old houses until you reach the castle, which houses the Museum of Mladá Boleslav.
Castle museum
The majestic castle rises on a spur, below which modern Mlada Boleslav is built, and the Jizera River flows.
The fortress was first mentioned around the middle of the tenth century. The castle was used by the Nazi troops during World War II, afterward became a storehouse for textiles, and was reconstructed as a museum in the 1970s.
In the Castle Museum Hrad you can get acquainted with life in the Mladá Boleslav region through permanent exhibitions; interesting are various displays that change over time.
After visiting the museum at the castle, follow the same route through the town back to your car – see the map with signed points below.
Best café in Mladá Boleslav
Are you thirsty or in the mood for a good coffee? Stop by the Škoda nazajít café on the corner of Old Town Square. We tried the cappuccino here, and it was absolutely fantastic! Have a dessert with your coffee; you have plenty to choose from!
Skoda Auto museum
A visit to the Škoda Museum is a must for any car fan! If you bypass the Klaudian Hospital, you will reach Václav Klement Street, which takes you directly to the museum.
The Skoda Museum tells the complete story of the Skoda brand, from its beginnings in 1895 to the present day. The museum is a modern representation of the brand, welcoming visitors to more than 1,800 m2 of exhibition space in the old manufacturing halls for a colorful, engaging, interactive, and multimedia journey through the company's history.
From the oldest Skoda cars such as Octavia to the most modern models like Eniaq with the battery systems, you won't know which vehicle to see first! And if you find that you are getting hungry or thirsty, you may refuel at the stylish restaurant and café Vaclav.
Who are the two gentlemen in front of the museum? These are Laurin and Klement, the founders of the brand Škoda in Mladá Boleslav.
The Skoda Customer Center is just next to the museum, and right behind it, large production halls stretch from which thousands of new automobiles with the Skoda emblem roll out every day.
The Skoda Customer Center is just next to the museum, and right behind it, large production halls stretch from which thousands of new automobiles with the Skoda emblem roll out every day.
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