Tucked into the historic town of Český Dub is a genuine architectural surprise - a medieval Johannite commandery that, until the early 1990s, everyone assumed had vanished without a trace. It wasn't until 1991 that the small and great halls, along with the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, were rediscovered, forming today one of the finest examples of late Romanesque and Gothic architecture in the Czech Republic.

What makes this place special is its raw authenticity - thick stone walls and vaulted rooms that once served the Knights Hospitaller founded by Havel of Lemberk, husband of St. Zdislava, back in the 13th century. The chapel has been reconsecrated and is once again used for liturgical purposes, so visitors experience it as a living space rather than a static museum. The commandery forms part of the protected complex of Český Dub Castle, making it easy to combine with a stroll through the surrounding Podještědí countryside, where views open up toward the Ještěd ridge, particularly atmospheric in autumn and winter.

• Český Dub town centre - short walk of a few minutes, easy difficulty
• Český Dub Castle - the commandery lies directly within the historic castle grounds

• Managed by the Podještědí Museum in Český Dub
• The Chapel of St. John the Baptist has been reconsecrated and hosts liturgical services
• Heritage protection extended to the rediscovered commandery spaces as of 8 December 1995

Interesting fact: for decades it was believed nothing of the commandery survived - only a chance discovery in 1991, aided significantly by Tomáš Edel, revealed the halls and chapel hidden for centuries.