The most beautiful valley in the Kolín region, near the village of Doubravčice, is formed by the Šembera river and its left-hand tributary, the Lázný potok, in the form of a rocky canyon. The local landscape is often compared to Šumava in character.
Šembera, a river belonging to the Elbe river basin, springs near Vyžlovka at an altitude of 415 m above sea level and its flow measures 23 km. Estuary to Výrovka u Zvěřínka in the Nymburk region at an altitude of 182 meters. On the way to Český Brod, Šembera fed a total of 9 ponds in the past: Balík, Žabinec, Dívčí, Šember (under the castle), Stodol, Řešeto, Mrzák, Tuchorazský and Podviňák, the last two of which still exist today.
In the Šembera valley there are also the remains of one of the oldest Slavic fortifications in Bohemia - the Old Castles and also the small remains of the medieval Šember Castle.
The romance of the local valley was discovered in the mid-20s by hikers from Kolín, Český Brod and Prague, at first they came here on foot from the railway stations in Český Brod and Říčany. They started to spend the night here under a canopy or under an overhang called "Sing-sing Cave", but already in 1929 they built the first cottage called "Unalaska". It belonged to everyone and was freely accessible, soon the place became known as Colorado and Kansas. When the hikers from Český Brod built a cottage in Colorado called "Old Ohio", the foundation of one of the oldest tramp settlements in Bohemia was established. In 1948, the so-called United settlements of Kozojedsky valley (abbreviated as SOUK), which still exist today. In 2008, 270 cottages and log cabins were registered.
I invite you for a nice walk, which we will start in Český Brod. In the center of the town we will see the historic center with the Cathedral of Sts. Gotharta and a detached Gothic bell tower, look at the city walls with the Kouřim Gate. Red leads us through the city park with the Church of the Holy Trinity and the nearby belfry, we pass the tennis courts and follow them along the stream to the busy intersection of roads outside the city. From the intersection we continue along the side road through open terrain. We will pass the pond Podviňák with a camping ground until we reach the crossroads at Mill Pond under Tuchorazí. There are a few information panels about the surroundings. Here at the crossroads the red turns to the left and a slight ascent we arrive at Tuchoraz Fortress. The oldest mention of the fortress is from the turn of 13. and 14. century. In the seventies 15. It was rebuilt by the land scribe Mikuláš Sviták of Landštejn into a small but splendid castle. Only the remains of the palace, parts of the peripheral masonry with a block-shaped corner of the bastion and above all the entrance 20 m prismatic tower have been preserved from the original Gothic development. Ve 2. On the first floor of the tower covered with a mansard roof, a beautiful star vault resembling a Parlerian pattern has been preserved. Visiting the fortress is possible by prior arrangement or you have to wait for one of the events held here.
Gothic bell tower in Cesky Brod
From the crossroads below the fortress, we can choose how to go further. Either along the red wide, meandering valley along the forest path, which we get to the crossroads. On Sembe. The last section about 1,5 km before this crossroads is on the side road. Or choose from about year 2007 marked blue path and from the edge plays yellow. In both cases we arrive at the crossroads Na Šembeře, where there is a newly built parking lot.
An interesting section of the Šembera River awaits us from this crossroad. After about 200 meters, red turns right along the stream, the other signs continue straight up the gentle hill.
Kouřim Gate in Český Brod
We walk on the right and after a while on the left bank of the stream and ascend slowly. From the shaky Vackova footbridge we enter the most attractive part of the stream. Šembera flows through a canyon between steep rocky walls. We climb the rocky path, when the terrain allows, we go to the boulder bed and so we reach the crossroads with a yellow sign. Turn left on yellow and climb slightly to the left Hrádku Šember. A massive rampart with a moat, which protected the entrance to the hillfort, is unmistakable. At the furthest point of the headland, high above the river, behind the next ditch in the rock, the Šember castle stood.
city walls in Český Brod
After visiting the modest remains of the castle we return to the crossroads of red and yellow and continue through the valley upstream Šembera. The road turns into a comfortable forest path, which leads to a crossroad Pod sv. Martin. The information board tells us that already in the 1920s, this place was discovered by the first adventurers and built the first cottages of the later settlement Colorado.
Holy Trinity Church, belfry at the back
The green-marked path will lead you to the Church of Sts. Martin, who recalls the former defensive function of the tabernacles and is the only remnant of the extinct village. Today's appearance was given by the Baroque modifications from the year 1769.
Green will also guide us through the village Kozojedy and above it on the main road to Kutná Hora we look for a suburban bus stop and return home.
Or you can also take a walk from Kozojedy to Český Brod.
What are we after?
East of Prague, between Český Brod and the village of Kozojedy, there is an interesting valley of the Šembera River with massive boulders in the riverbed. In the past, these places used to cross the border between the Czech and Zličany tribes.
We will visit and see the modest remains of the castle Šember hidden behind the mighty rampart of the former hillfort.
Let's take a look at the tower of the Tuchoraz Fortress from a distance or near and see the historical monuments in Český Brod.
What did we like most and what didn't?
Interesting deep canyon valley of river Šembera. Uniquely preserved tower of the fortress Tuchoraz. Very nice is the historical center of Cesky Brod with its underground, walls and other monuments.