Niměřice Chateau is a modest classicist mansion near Mladá Boleslav, wrapped in an English park, hiding a history far richer than its quiet surroundings suggest. It was here, in the summer of 1862, that Bedřich Smetana composed his first opera, and the estate's owner became one of the driving forces behind Czech national revival.

The countryside around Niměřice is a peaceful, rural corner of central Bohemia - gentle fields, tree-lined lanes, and a calm that belies the estate's eventful past. The surrounding English park invites strolls in any season, while the neo-Romanesque Chapel of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary adds a romantic touch to the landscape. In spring and summer the greenery highlights the chateau's classicist architecture beautifully, while autumn brings a moodier, golden atmosphere.

• From Mladá Boleslav - reachable by car or local road, easy walking around the grounds, no hiking experience required
• The chateau lies off the main trail network, so it's best combined with a visit to the wider Mladá Boleslav region

• The chateau is privately owned and open to visitors only occasionally
• Look out for the Chapel of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary, featuring a sculpture by Václav Levý
• In nearby Dolní Cetno and Kovaň, Prince Rudolf Thurn-Taxis once ran a sugar refinery and a brewery

It's worth knowing that Niměřice is where Bedřich Smetana wrote 'The Brandenburgers in Bohemia' - his first opera, which launched his celebrated career as a composer.