The city of Jicin is a particularly famous Historical Landmark Reservation with unique architecture. It was the first city in Central Europe to be entirely designed by one architect; in this case, by Nicolo Sebregondi in 1634 on a commission from Albrecht von Valdstejn (Waldstein). As a consequence, the majority of that work in the old town has remained intact up to the present day. Though Valdstejn's death hampered completion of this unique municipal plan, it did not ultimately affect the work done in the center of the city.
The Jicin area was settled even in prehistoric times, and archaeological discoveries have proven that people with different customs and cultures once existed there. Slavic tribes appeared as early as the sixth century. The fort settlement in
the Prachovske Skaly (Powder Rocks) was inhabited between the eighth and eleventh centuries, when Bohemia was unified under the rule of the Prague Premyslid Kings. In the middle of the 1200's, the Brada Castle was built and its function as the capital of the area was later taken over by Velis Castle, situated more to the south.
Most of contemporary Jicin was part of royal lands at the end of the 13
th century. The Velis area belonged to Queen Judith, who was the wife of King Wenceslas II. The earliest written report mentioning Jicin also dates from this time. Jicin was originally located on the site of today's Stare Misto village near the Velis Castle, but the city was later moved further north and the city walls
were built. The Velis area was purchased by Jesek of Vartenburg from John of Luxemburg in 1337, and Jicin lost its royal status, becoming a tribute town. During the 1500's, Jicin took on
a Renaissance brick look, and the Valdice Gate, with the appearance of a two-story prism with a tunnel underneath, was built using the former Gothic walls. After the year 1630, Jicin was acquired by Albrecht Vaclav Eusebius von Valdstejn from the Smiricky Family. He liked the city and began a generous reconstruction program there, as he wanted it to be not only an administrative and economic center, but also the location of a bishopric. The architects, mainly Italians, brought with them elements of a new construction style called
"Mannerism".
The town's chateau was built according to the designs of Andreas Speza, and later supplemented with those of Giovanni Pieroni. Adjacent to the chateau was a large garden and underneath that, the first Valdstejn mint. A provost's residence was also built next to the new church. In 1816, the Velis Gate and the Chapel of St. John the Baptist were torn down, the Prague Gate disappeared, and the city walls were no longer maintained. The symbol of the city became the Valdice Gate, which gained today's look in 1840. The city possesses a valuable historic center, the ruins of the original city walls, and Historical Landmark Reservation status, which was achieved in 1967. For the tourist, the most interesting nearby areas are the Powder Rocks and further to the north, Trosky and Kozakov.
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