Johannite Commandery

The commandery in Český Dub was established after 1237, when Havel of Lemberk donated the local territory under Ještěd to the Johannites. The first written records of the commandery appear after 1291. Commanderies were a combination of a spiritual place, a military facility, and a hospital. They were located near trade routes at a distance of a day's pilgrimage. Commanderies thus served travelers as infirmaries, dormitories, and refreshment stations.
The Johannite commandery was very important in its time – it stood along the road to Zittau, and its importance is evidenced by the visit of the Holy Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV in 1357. The commandery's existence was ended by the Hussite Orphans, who burned down the surrounding area in 1425. A Renaissance chateau and then a town house were gradually built on the site of the commandery. It was in its cellar in 1991 that Tomáš Edel, then director of the Podještědské Museum, discovered the unusually well-preserved remains of the commandery. A small and large hall in the Romanesque-Gothic style and a Romanesque chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist have been preserved. Today, the commandery has been reconsecrated, liturgical ceremonies and concerts are held there, and it is undergoing extensive reconstruction.
You will begin your visit to the commandery at the Podještědské Museum, where you can not only purchase a ticket, but also meet your guide – without whom a visit to the commandery is not possible. Tours take place from April to September, with special tours available by prior arrangement.
The long-distance St. James' Way and the long-distance cycle route from Hradec Králové to Hrádek nad Nisou pass through Český Dub, so it's up to you which route you choose.