Landmarks, rock towns, sport and tips for families — all within reach from the centre of Broumov.
Broumovsko is a region where baroque architecture meets sandstone rock towns.
Monasteries and churches by the famous Dientzenhofers, rock labyrinths within reach and the calm of the borderland countryside. Click through the places worth a trip — and in the evening return to your apartment in the centre.
Both our houses stand in the historic centre of Broumov — an ideal base for each of these trips.
1 / 4The Benedictine Monastery of St Wenceslas is the landmark of Broumov and one of the most significant Baroque monuments in the country. Its present form dates from a grand rebuilding to plans by Kryštof and Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer in the early 18th century. The sprawling complex now lives as an educational and cultural centre with galleries, a café and a garden, so you can spend time here pleasantly even beyond the tours themselves. For guests staying in the centre it's the closest big experience — literally a few steps from the square.
The guided tours take you into the Church of St Adalbert and the refectory, where a copy of the Turin Shroud from 1651 is displayed — it was discovered in the monastery in 1999 and is the only historical copy in Central Europe north of the Alps. In the cellars you can see the Vamberk mummies from the 17th and 18th centuries, which were moved here from the crypt of the church in Vamberk. The monastery garden is freely accessible for free and houses the monastery café Café Dientzenhofer. Tours are subject to an admission fee, and the range of tours is widest in season.
1 / 3On the greens and meadows around Broumov stands a group of Baroque churches unmatched in the Czech landscape — most were designed between 1709 and 1743 by the famous architects Kryštof and Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. Each church has a different ground plan and silhouette, and yet together they form a single, thoughtfully conceived whole sensitively set into the landscape. For its exceptional value the group was declared a national cultural monument in 2022 and is currently seeking inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The group comprises eleven buildings: churches in Božanov, Otovice, Šonov, Vižňov, Ruprechtice, Vernéřovice, Heřmánkovice, Martínkovice and Bezděkov nad Metují, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows on Hvězda and the Church of St Wenceslas right in Broumov. The villages lie within roughly ten kilometres of town, so the churches make up a lovely loop by car or bike. The interiors are usually open mainly in season during guided tours and cultural events; for the rest of the year the churches are worth admiring at least from outside. You can start at St Wenceslas, which is within walking distance of both apartment houses.
1 / 3This unassuming timbered little church in the middle of the Broumov cemetery is the oldest surviving all-wooden sacred building in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest of its kind in Central Europe. It is first mentioned as early as 1383, when it was referred to as the old parish church; after being burned down during the Hussite siege of the town it acquired its present form around 1449. It has been a national cultural monument since 2008. It stands on Křinická Street just a short way from the centre, so you can easily walk here.
The little church is surrounded by a covered wooden gallery on which hang nine boards with chronicle entries from 1542–1847 — locals recorded on them the fires, floods and other disasters that befell the town. Inside, a rare stencilled ceiling painting from after 1450 has survived, with plant motifs and hunting scenes, while the gallery holds Renaissance and Empire tombstones. It is open in season from June to September, and the tour is subject to an admission fee. Expect an intimate half-hour stop rather than a grand tour — but the place has all the more atmosphere for it.
1 / 4Mírové náměstí is the historic heart of Broumov — its regular layout has survived since the 13th century and is still lined with burgher houses with arcades. In the middle stands a Baroque Marian column from 1706 from the workshop of the sculptor Jan Brokoff, commissioned by Otmar Zinke, abbot of the Broumov monastery. It's a natural starting point for exploring the town and the whole Broumov region, and at the same time a pleasant place to simply sit over a coffee.
Take a close look at the Marian column — statues of saints stand around the base and, atop the twelve-metre column, a statue of the Madonna with the Infant Jesus. On the square you'll also find the old town hall, one of the oldest in Czech subject towns, whose building now houses the information centre with maps and tips for trips in the area. Under the arcade and in the surrounding lanes there are several cafés and small shops, and a short walk from the square stands the Broumov monastery, the town's main landmark.
1 / 2The Broumov brewery sits in the Olivětín district and carries on the brewing tradition founded here in the 14th century by Benedictine monks — beer has been brewed on the present site for over three hundred years. Its flagship is the monastic beer Opat, made from the brewery's own malt, Saaz hops and water from an artesian well right on the premises. It is one of the smaller breweries that still keep their own malthouse, and it is precisely this honest, craft production that makes it worth a visit. From the centre of Broumov it's a pleasant walk along the Stěnava river.
The guided tour takes you through the operation and the brewery museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of brewing in the Broumov region, and finishes with a tasting. Public tours run mainly in summer; off season they can be arranged in advance for groups, and an admission fee applies. Besides the classic pale lagers, the brewery also makes dark and special beers, such as cherry or hemp. Right by the brewery there is a company shop where you can buy the entire range.
1 / 4The Broumov Walls are a national nature reserve — a twelve-kilometre-long sandstone ridge separating the Broumov Basin from the Police region. Here you'll find rock towns, deep ravines, famous rock mushrooms and a series of viewpoints looking out on both sides of the ridge. The best-known spot is Hvězda hill with the Baroque Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, completed in 1733 by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer on the ground plan of a five-pointed star. The combination of wild sandstone landscape and Baroque architecture makes this trip one of the highlights of the entire Broumov region.
From the chapel's stone gallery a view opens over the entire Broumov Basin and the border zone of the Javoří Mountains. Right next to it stands the wooden Swiss-style tourist chalet Hvězda from 1856, where you can get refreshments in season. The most convenient access is from the Hvězda car park, from where it's only a short walk to the chapel; longer marked trails lead from the hamlet of Slavný or through Kovářova rokle ravine. Keep to the marked paths — you are in a reserve with precious rock nature.
1 / 3The largest rock town in Central Europe and a national nature reserve, made up of two connected parts — the Adršpach and Teplice Rocks. This labyrinth of sandstone towers, gorges and viewpoints ranks among the most famous natural sites in the Czech Republic, and from Broumov it makes the most classic full-day trip. Adršpach draws visitors with fairy-tale scenery around the rock lake, while the Teplice Rocks offer a wilder and noticeably quieter loop. You can do both parts in one day, but each is worth a visit of its own.
In Adršpach the sightseeing trail leads past the Gothic Gate of 1839, to the Great Waterfall and to the rock lake, where in summer you can take a boat ride — tickets are bought on site. In high season an online reservation of both the entry ticket and parking for a specific day and time is required, as the trail has limited capacity. The Teplice Rocks offer a roughly six-kilometre loop of 2–3 hours among formations such as the Rock Crown or the Martin Walls, and it tends to be quieter here than in Adršpach. Lovers of calmer trails can also head to the ruins of Skály Castle (Bischofstein) above the hamlet of Skály near Teplice nad Metují.
1 / 3Just across the Polish border rises the Gór Stołowych National Park — the Table Mountains, one of the most remarkable rock areas in Central Europe. Slab-like sandstone summits create a landscape unmatched in either the Czech Republic or Poland: vast plateaus, deep clefts and a maze of boulders. From Broumov you can reach the park entrances by car in about half an hour, making it an ideal full-day trip just next door. Anyone who loves Adršpach or the Broumov Walls will find their wilder Polish relative here.
Two spots are best known: Szczeliniec Wielki, the highest peak of the Table Mountains (919 m), with a stone staircase leading up to its plateau and a loop among the rocks with views of the Broumov region and the Krkonoše Mountains, and Błędne Skały, a tight rock maze of narrow passages and squeezes where The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was filmed. Szczeliniec is easiest to reach from the village of Karłów, from where it's about an hour's walk up. Both spots are open in season for an admission fee and can comfortably be done in a single day.
1 / 3A small family ski area in the hamlet of Janovičky in the Javoří Mountains, close to the Polish border and just a few kilometres from Broumov. It's the nearest skiing to the apartments — the gentle, daily-groomed and machine-snowed slopes suit families with children and beginners above all. Don't expect a big resort, but that's exactly its charm: no queues, an easy-to-read hill and peace and quiet for your first turns. And because Janovičky lies on a ridge, it's worthwhile outside winter too.
In winter three shorter slopes with three lifts operate here, including a rope tow for the little ones, and on some evenings there's floodlit skiing. Right on site there is an equipment rental, a ski school and a snack bar, and parking is free; the local pub is also there for a meal and to warm up. In summer Janovičky is a popular starting point for hikes and bike trips along the ridge of the Javoří Mountains, and marked routes lead from here to the former border crossing into Poland. Lift operation depends on snow conditions, so check the current status before you set off.
1 / 4Bike resort Broumovsko is a network of marked cycle routes and trail loops covering the entire region — from relaxed family rides across the Broumov Basin to singletracks and technical off-road tracks around Machov and Božanov. The routes run along ridgelines with far-reaching views, over rocky descents among sandstone rocks and past the Baroque landmarks of the Broumov countryside. There's something here for families with children as well as for the experienced biker looking for a serious dose of elevation. And best of all: you set off on most loops straight from the apartment door — Broumov lies at the heart of the whole network.
Families will appreciate the easy loops along the quiet roads of the Broumov Basin, more able riders the trail loops and singletracks near Machov and Božanov; experienced bikers can take on the Stone Path, the most demanding crossing of the Broumov Walls. The marked routes can be combined into half-day and full-day trips, with refreshment stops along the way. Those riding without their own bike will find bike rentals in the region as well as charging stations for e-bikes.
1 / 3AQA Land in Meziměstí is a modern outdoor swimming pool, officially called the Health and Sports Complex, which grew up on the edge of the little town close to the Polish border. It opened in 2010 and differs from classic swimming pools with facilities closer to a small water park. From Broumov it's just a few minutes by car, making it the nearest proper summer refreshment — ideal for hot days when you don't feel like a hike in the rocks.
Swimmers can enjoy a twenty-five-metre pool with four lanes, and next to it a leisure pool with massage jets and water features, fed by a sixty-metre water slide and a wide chute. The little ones have their own paddling pool and a play area with a sandpit and climbing frames, and the site also has minigolf, table tennis and a multipurpose court. There are changing rooms, refreshments and a car park right by the site. It is open in the summer season for standard admission.
1 / 3The table mountain Ostaš (700 m) rises above Police nad Metují and is one of the natural landmarks of the Broumov region; it has been protected as a nature reserve since 1956. On its summit and slopes hide two sandstone labyrinths — the Upper and the Lower with the Cat Rocks. The place is wreathed in legends: during wars the inhabitants of surrounding villages hid in the rocks, and the names of formations such as the Traitor or the Mound of Death recall those times to this day. Compared with the better-known Adršpach Rocks, it also tends to be noticeably quieter here.
The marked loop through the Upper Labyrinth starts at the car park in the cabin settlement below the summit and is about three kilometres long; it is easy and children can manage it too. The path runs among rock towers and narrow passages, and the finest view over the countryside is offered by the Frýdlant overlook. Following the green markers you can descend into the Lower Labyrinth to the Cave of the Czech Brethren — a thirty-metre rock cleft where, according to legend, persecuted Protestants secretly gathered. Entry to the rocks is free, parking in season is subject to a fee.
A small family pizzeria in the historic centre of Broumov, in Stanislav Opočenský lane between Mírové náměstí and the monastery. It's one of the highest-rated establishments in town — the owner bakes the pizza himself and guests repeatedly praise the friendly service and honest preparation in their reviews. The setting is informal and homey, exactly the kind that goes with good pizza.
The menu offers around a dozen kinds of pizza, from classics to your own combinations, and you can also put the toppings together to your own taste. With the pizza you can have wine, beer or coffee. It's usually open in the afternoon and evening hours, so it's an ideal choice for an unhurried dinner after a full day out.
1 / 3An established Broumov restaurant with a bar just below Mírové náměstí, on U Dolní brány Street. Locals and visitors to town come here for honest Czech cooking and well-poured beer. Besides the main room with the bar it has two private rooms, so even a larger group can settle in comfortably.
On weekdays ready-made lunch dishes are cooked here, while in the afternoon and at weekends you order from the menu. On tap they have beers from the Pilsen brewery including Pilsner Urquell, and non-alcoholic beer is available for drivers. Private rooms can be booked in advance, and parking is possible in the neighbouring car park.
A classic Czech restaurant in the culture house building below the town walls, right next to the Broumov theatre. No frills, but honest cooking and very good ratings from locals and visitors alike. For guests of Apartmány za divadlem it's the nearest restaurant — literally around the corner.
Czech classics are cooked here, and during the week the main draw is the lunch menu, which a good part of the town comes for. The space is generous, so there's room for a family or a bigger group too. Bear in mind that the restaurant operates mainly on weekdays during the day, so it's best suited for lunches.
1 / 3A monastery café in the building of the former monastery grammar school, right by the entrance to the grounds of the Broumov monastery. Its calm, inspiring setting with a historic atmosphere makes it the most pleasant place in town to sit down for a coffee and slow down for a while. In the warm months you can sit outside too.
Here they serve coffee from a Trutnov roastery, from a blend mixed exclusively for this café, along with pastries, teas and homemade lemonades. You can also taste wines from the Benedictine cellars and buy regional products from the Broumov region. The café is open to the public — you don't need a ticket for the monastery tour.
1 / 3A patisserie and café right on Mírové náměstí, a few steps from both our houses. It holds the Czech Specials certification and relies on regional ingredients, so it's more than an ordinary patisserie — rather a little showcase of the flavours of the Broumov region. A pleasant stop for a coffee and something sweet during a walk through the centre.
Besides pastries and quality coffee, they have ice cream from Opočno, open sandwiches and regional specialities including local sheep's cheeses. You can have the sweet and savoury treats on the spot or take them with you on a trip. Thanks to its location on the square, it's an ideal first and last stop of the day.
1 / 3A modern sports and relaxation complex in Bukovice near Police nad Metují, popular with athletes and families with children alike. The biggest draw is a generous adventure golf course with 36 holes on two eighteen-hole loops — a more entertaining and varied take on minigolf that both children and adults enjoy. Thanks to the playground and restaurant, you can easily spend a whole afternoon here.
Besides adventure golf there are two outdoor tennis courts, a multipurpose sports hall, a modern gym and courts for footvolley and beach volleyball. After sport, the wellness area with a Finnish and a bio sauna and a whirlpool comes in handy. Refreshments are provided by the on-site restaurant.
1 / 3The former textile mill Walzlovka in Meziměstí has been transformed into a 'factory of experiences' — an entertainment centre under one roof that reliably saves any rainy day. At its core is a bowling alley with four professional lanes, plus a climbing and bouldering wall, a laser shooting range and archery.
The offer is rounded out by a fitness centre, indoor sport shooting ranges and a salt cave, while the youngest guests can enjoy children's bowling and a play corner. Right on site you'll find the Švejk restaurant with a First Republic atmosphere, a summer terrace and a playground, so the whole family will be comfortably entertained.
1 / 3A family farm on the edge of Broumov, where children can get really close to the animals. Alongside the classic farm animals live camels, llamas and alpacas, kangaroos, ostriches, donkeys, lemurs and porcupines. Many of them can be petted and, together with the keepers, fed.
The grounds are just the right size for a pleasant morning or afternoon, and a playground with swings keeps younger children entertained. From the enclosures there is also a lovely view of Broumov with its monastery and the surrounding hills. The farm is open year-round.
1 / 3The legendary metal construction set Merkur has been made in Police nad Metují since 1919, and here it has a whole museum to itself. On display are hundreds of models from cranes and bridges to extensive railway layouts — children are thrilled by the giant builds, while adults happily reminisce about their own childhood at the display cases.
Since 2024 the museum has shared a joint entrance with the Museum of Paper Models, so you can see both exhibitions in a single visit. The tour pairs nicely with a stroll around the square in Police and makes an ideal programme for rainy days.
1 / 3The second-oldest museum of paper models in the world and at the same time the largest permanent exhibition of its kind in the Czech Republic. Over a thousand paper cut-outs and models – castles, cathedrals, aeroplanes, ships and entire cities – show what patience and ordinary paper can achieve.
The exhibition appeals to children, model-builders and anyone who loves examining things down to the last detail. The museum shares a joint entrance with the Merkur Construction Set Museum, so you can see both collections in a single visit to Police nad Metují.