Where to Warm Up and Find New Experiences When the Weather Turns Bad
Not every day is made for long walks or mountain hikes. At times like these, Northern Bohemia offers plenty of ways to enjoy winter days indoors. Museums, chateaux, galleries, science centres and wellness facilities provide a welcome place to warm up, have fun and discover something new even when the weather outside is less than inviting. Here are a few tips for places to visit on days like these.
Chateaux That Stay Awake in Winter
Let’s start with chateaux. Two of them in Northern Bohemia remain open during the winter months. The first is Sychrov Chateau in Bohemian Paradise, which you may recognise from Czech fairy-tale films such as Goldilocks or The Immortal Aunt. The main tour takes you through the richly furnished representative and private rooms of the former Rohan family residence. The chateau is also open during the winter months, but we recommend checking the current tour times before your visit and ideally booking tickets online.
The second chateau you can visit during winter is Zákupy Chateau. It is open all year round, with a special winter tour available during the colder season. The route takes you through part of the first floor, including the apartment of the Emperor’s Lord Chamberlain, the Cardinal’s Room, rooms belonging to the Empress’s Lady-in-Waiting and interiors furnished as a First Czechoslovak Republic-era apartment. The tour also includes the chateau chapel and historic kitchen. Here too, it is worth checking the current tour times before setting off.
Museums in the Jizera Mountains
Although the Jizera Mountains are more commonly associated with winter sports and hiking, there are also several places where you can escape cold and wet weather. Our first tip, especially suitable for families with children, is the Detoa Toy Museum and Factory. During a guided tour, you can look directly into the production of traditional wooden toys, see the individual stages of processing and watch the toys being assembled by hand. The site also includes a factory shop and creative workshops where children can try making something themselves. As the tours are very popular, advance booking is recommended.
If glass art appeals to you more, head to the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou, one of the most important institutions of its kind in Central Europe. It houses the second-largest glass collection in Czechia as well as the world’s largest public collection of glass Christmas ornaments.
Our final tip will delight anyone interested in technology and history. The Automoto Museum Lučany is housed in the renovated building of a former glassworks in Lučany nad Nisou. Its industrial setting provides the backdrop for a collection of historic cars, motorcycles and other remarkable technical exhibits. The museum is normally open at weekends, but we recommend checking the current opening hours before your visit.
Liberec
Liberec has plenty to offer during winter too. At the heart of its entertainment scene is iQLANDIA, a modern science and entertainment centre featuring more than 400 interactive exhibits spread across several themed sections. Technology and the laws of nature are presented in an accessible and entertaining way that appeals to both children and adults.
For younger explorers, iQPARK in the Centrum Babylon complex is an ideal choice. Designed primarily for children aged 3 to 8, its four floors are filled with interactive stations that introduce the world around us through games, experiments and hands-on activities.
An Underwater World
We also have two tips for animal lovers. For the first, we will stay in Liberec and visit the Botanical Garden. Although you might expect mainly flowers and tropical plants, its modern pavilions also house freshwater and marine aquariums. In the pleasant warmth of the greenhouses, you can watch colourful fish, aquatic animals and fascinating underwater scenes.
Another place to discover the underwater world is the Public Aquarium in Česká Lípa. Its educational exhibition focuses on tropical fish and features more than fifty aquariums containing a colourful variety of species from around the world. Alongside fascinating facts about life beneath the surface, you can also learn more about the natural processes that shape our world.
Warmth and Relaxation
When the weather calls for relaxation rather than exploration, a visit to a spa or wellness centre is just what you need. For a traditional spa atmosphere, head to Lázně Kundratice, where treatments available by advance booking include peat wraps, whirlpool baths and paraffin wraps.
If you prefer something more modern, try the Pytloun Wellness Hotel Harrachov, where a mountain setting, beautiful views and a peaceful atmosphere come together. Its WELLMOUNT wellness centre is also open to the public and offers a swimming pool, Finnish sauna and other opportunities to relax. Places like these are ideal for recharging your batteries during cold and gloomy winter days.
