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Jičín is situated at an altitude of 276 m in the valley of the river Cidlina and is one of the gateways to one of the most beautiful regions of Bohemia, the Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj). The town was a residence of the Bohemian dowager queens since 1293 and obtained the status of a town in 1302, that of a royal town in 1438. After the Battle at the White Mountain (Bílá Hora, today part of Prague) in 1620, Albrecht of Wallenstein (Valdštejn) chose the town as main residence of his Duchy of Friedland (Frydlant) in 1623. Wallenstein's magnificent castle at Jičín later became the place where in 1813 the so-called 'Holy Alliance' of Austria, Russia and Prussia against Napoleon was formed.

The Valdická gateway [background centre] was built as part of he town's fortifications in 1568–1578 and received its final shape in 1840. The tower is 52 m high; 156 steps lead up to a gallery which offers a magnificent view on the old town.

The cathedral of St. James the Greater [background right] was built in 1627 in Baroque style.

The palace [right] was built for Albrecht of Wallenstein in 1624–1634 in place of the older Renaissance palace of 1608 that had been partially demolished by an explosion in 1620. After a fire in 1768, the palace was reconstructed in Late Baroque style until 1775.

Valdštejn square [foreground] is the centre of the old town and covers an area of 13,170 m².