Kolín

Late spring to early autumn is the best time to visit. Summers are warm and good for walks along the river. Winters are cold and grey, and some museums open on fewer days.

The biggest annual event is Kmochův Kolín, an international brass-band festival held every June since 1961. Bands from across Europe play concerts in the old town and march in a parade to the main square.

St Bartholomew's Church is the town's landmark and a national cultural monument. Its tall Gothic choir was rebuilt in the 14th century by Peter Parler, the architect of St Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

Bell Tower stands next to the church. The belfry now holds the church treasury exhibition and a collection of bells, run by the regional museum.

Karlovo náměstí, the main square, is lined with arcaded houses. In its centre stands Plague Column, a Baroque column with a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Regional Museum in Kolín occupies a historic house on the main square. Its exhibitions cover the archaeology, history and nature of the Kolín region.

Synagogue stands in a quiet courtyard of the former Jewish quarter. The building existed by 1422 and was rebuilt in its present early Baroque form in 1696. Today it is used for exhibitions and concerts.

Old Jewish Cemetery was founded in the first half of the 15th century and used until 1887. Its crowded, leaning gravestones, the oldest from 1492, make it one of the most atmospheric sights in town. Ask at the town information centre about access.

Observation Tower is a functionalist water tower from 1928 near the river. In 2015 it was converted into a lookout tower.

Kolínská řepařská drážka is a historic narrow-gauge railway, first built in the 1890s to carry sugar beet. Today heritage trains run on selected days, so check the timetable before you go.

A few things to do in Kolín beyond sightseeing:

• Join the Kmochův Kolín festival: In June, watch brass bands and majorettes parade through the streets and listen to open-air concerts.
• Relax on Kmochův ostrov: This island park in the Elbe is a local favourite for walks and summer events. It has František Kmoch, honouring the composer.
• Ride a heritage train: Take a trip on Kolínská řepařská drážka on one of its operating days, when the small locomotives pull historic carriages through the fields.

Kolín sits in the middle of central Bohemia, so several good trips are close. They are listed from closest to farthest.

• Kutná Hora: just south of Kolín, ≈25 min by bus. A UNESCO-listed silver-mining town with the Cathedral of St Barbara and the bone chapel in Sedlec.
• Kačina chateau: ≈20 min by car. A large Empire-style chateau in a landscaped park, today home to the Czech Countryside Museum.
• Poděbrady: ≈15 min by train. A spa town on the Elbe with a castle, a colonnade and flower gardens.
• Kouřim: ≈20 min by car or ≈40 min by bus. A small walled town with an open-air museum of rural folk buildings.
• Pardubice: ≈20 min by fast train. A lively city with a Renaissance castle, a pedestrian old town and a gingerbread tradition.
• Prague: ≈40 min by fast train. Easy to combine with a stay in Kolín if you prefer a quieter base.

• By air: The nearest international airport is Prague (PRG), about 70 km away. Take a bus from the airport to Prague's main station, then a train to Kolín.
• By train: Kolín is a major rail junction on the main line east of Prague. Trains to Prague run several times an hour, and the fastest take about 40 minutes. Direct trains also run east to Pardubice and on to Moravia. Book on České dráhy.
• By car: From Prague, take the D11 motorway east and turn off towards Kolín. The drive takes about an hour.

• On foot: The old town is small, and all the central sights are within a short walk of the main square.
• Public transit: Kolín's city buses are part of the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) system. Buy tickets in the PID Lítačka app or from the driver. Details are on the PID website.
• Cycling: The Elbe cycle route passes through town, with flat riding along the river in both directions.

• Is a car worth it?: Not needed in town, which is compact and walkable. A car helps for Kačina chateau, Kouřim and the villages of the region, though trains and buses cover the main towns well.
• Parking: Parking in the historic centre is limited and paid. Use the car parks on the edge of the old town and walk in.

Kolín is not a gourmet destination, but you can eat well on classic Czech dishes such as roast pork with dumplings, goulash and fried cheese. Lunch menus on weekdays are good value.

For the best choice, head to Karlovo náměstí and the streets just off it. Cafés, pubs and restaurants cluster here, several with outdoor seating in summer.

Kolín is a safe town for visitors, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Use normal care with bags at the station and on crowded trains. Tap water is safe to drink.

Kolín was founded as a royal town in the 13th century under King Ottokar II, and its first written mention dates from 1261. In the 14th century, under Emperor Charles IV, Peter Parler rebuilt the choir of St Bartholomew's Church, giving the town its famous skyline.

Jewish people settled in Kolín from the 14th century. The community grew into an important centre of Jewish life. Synagogue and Old Jewish Cemetery are the main traces of this long history, which ended with the Holocaust.

On 18 June 1757, the Battle of Kolín was fought west of town during the Seven Years' War. The Austrian army under Leopold von Daun defeated Frederick the Great of Prussia. It was Frederick's first defeat in the war and forced him to end the siege of Prague. Memorials stand near the village of Křečhoř.

In the 19th century, the railway made Kolín an important junction and industrial town, a role it still has today.

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