Pecka

Pecka still has the atmosphere of a small peaceful town in the Podkrkonoší region with some beautiful sights. The tidy sloping square with the Baroque Church of St. Bartholomew is lined with burgher homes from the mid-19th century and the Roubal and Koruna hotels. There is also a Baroque plague column with a statue of the Virgin Mary. You can also stop by the Kredum Gallery, visit the gemstone exhibition and shop, and see how the original fruit stone products are made – jewellery made from fruit stones, and cushions and toys filled with fruit stones.
 
The absolute pearl of the town of Pecka is the Gothic-Renaissance Pecka Castle, founded towards the end of the 13th century in order to protect the provincial borders and gold mines in Stupná. The tours will take you to the reconstructed Harant Palace where you can learn about the most famous owner of Pecka, Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice (1564–1621), as well as to the exposition dedicated to the history of the castle and the town of Pecka. The second tour includes a stylish open-hearth kitchen, a torture chamber and a basement vault with an exposition on medieval eating habits and hygiene.
 
There are various cultural events and fencing shows at Pecka Castle during the main season. You can also visit the local swimming pool with a campsite and climb up a hilltop called the Krkonoše Lookout. It used to be a popular spot with the author Karel Václav Rais, and today a marked trail to Lázně Bělohrad passes through there. Some of the popular tourist destinations around Pecka include Zvičina, the highest peak with the Raisova cottage and the Church of St. John of Nepomuk, or the zoological garden and safari in Dvůr Králové nad Labem.