Brandys nad Labem-Stara Boleslav (Czechia)

Brandys nad Labem-Stara Boleslav (Brandeis-Altbunzlau) is an Elbe River cruise port and town in Czech Republic's Central Bohemian Region, with a population of around 20,000. The town is located approx 25 km (16 mi) northeast from the country's capital city Prague and is also part of Greater Prague (metro area).

The town actually combines two formerly separated towns - Brandys nad Labem (on Elbe's west bank) and Stara Boleslav (on river's east bank). The settlement was founded in the mid-13th-century and initially named "Boleslav" - after Boleslaus I the Cruel (aka Boleslav I, 915-972, reign as Duke of Bohemia between 935-972), who in the early-10th-century built here a castle. Boleslav I was of the House of Premyslid - Czech royal dynasty reigning the Duchy/Kingdom of Bohemia in the period 867-1306).

In 1960, the adjacent towns (Brandys nad Labem and Stara Boleslav) were administratively united. By population (around 20,000), Brandys-Boleslav is the country's second-largest dvojmestí (double town) - after Frydek-Mistek (Moravian-Silesian Region, eastern Czech Republic) which has a population of over 55,000.

Stara Boleslav is a historical town (surrounded by stone ramparts) and Central Bohemia's oldest pilgrimage site. The town is best known for the murder in 935 of Prince Wenceslas I (Vaclav I, 907-935) by his younger brother Boleslav. After his death, Saint Wenceslas became Czech's patron saint. A basilica dedicated to St Wenceslas was built in 1039 by Bretislav I (aka Bohemian Achilles, 1002-1055) at the site of Vaclav's murder (since then - a pilgrimage site). Since 2003, the St Wenceslas National Pilgrimage to Stara Boleslav is the country's largest celebration of St Wenceslas Day (September 28).

As cruise port, Brandys-Boleslav is included in the regular schedule of one of Europe's largest river cruise companies - Nicko Cruises (Mystic Cruises-owned brand and subsidiary). The next table shows the Florentina ship's 9-day Elbe River cruise tour itinerary as ports sequence and times (arrival/departure). The roundtrip from homeport Prague visits only Czech ports and its prices start from ~USD 1400 per person (double occupancy cabin rates).