Travel Guide Kolín

This city of 32,000 inhabitants stretches along both sides of the Elbe, as the river flows through the Polabí plain. It is said to have been founded by King Přemsyl Otakar II in the second half of the 13th century. Favored by various rulers, it developed rapidly and became an important cultural and administrative center. Kolín is a small town with a wealth of important religious monuments, boosted by the establishment of numerous local and foreign firms (chemicals, agri-food, mechanical engineering, merchant port). It is also one of the country's biggest car producers, with Citroën, Peugeot and Toyota factories. Among the town's famous natives, the Franco-Czech mime Jean-Gaspard Deburau (Jan Kašpar Dvořák in Czech, 1796-1846) inspired the character of Pierrot in Marcel Carné's film Les Enfants du paradis. Kolín boasts a beautiful central square (Karlovo Náměstí), just a few steps from the river. At its center is a beautiful red sandstone fountain dating from 1780 and a Plague Column (Morový Sloup) dating from 1682. The square is surrounded by colorful houses with beautiful signs. The town hall dominates the area. Its location dates back to 1494, but the building you see today was not erected until the late 19th century. It's hard not to appreciate its beautiful neo-Renaissance facade and the sgraffiti that brighten up the entire square. In the former Jewish ghetto, you can still visit a cemetery and a Renaissance synagogue. Pushing open the door reveals a beautiful interior.Transportation. To/from Prague: 40 minutes. From/to Pardubice: 25 minutes.