To Prague’s east, Kolín is an industrial, somewhat nondescript, town on the River Labe’s banks. Nonetheless, it is a handy place for a break on the journey from or to Kutná Hora, and it boasts an excellent main square with a Renaissance-style town hall and the impressive Saint Bartholomew Gothic Church. The splendid choir of this church was put together by Petr Parléř.
In 1848, the most famous son of the town, František Kmoch, was born here. Kmoch is revered by fans of brass band music globally: Czech bandmasters virtually held a monopoly over Austro Hungarian military bands, and Kmoch was supreme among them. A tribute is paid to Kmoch in June each year when fans from all over the world come together in Kolín and fill the air with the uplifting sound of trombones, tubas and trumpets.
