Dobrovice

Dobrovice is a town in Mladá Boleslav District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,700 inhabitants. It is known for one of the oldest sugar factories in the world.

Dobrovice consists of eight municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

Chloumek, Libichov and Sýčina form an exclave of the municipal territory.

Dobrovice is located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of Mladá Boleslav and 43 km (27 mi) northeast of Prague. It lies on the border between the Jizera Table and Jičín Uplands. The highest point is the hill U doubku at 367 m (1,204 ft) above sea level.

The first written mention of Dobrovice is from 1249. In 1541, lords of Chlum built a fortress in Dobrovice. In 1558, Dobrovice gained town rights and the fortress became a castle.

There is a sugar factory in the town since 1831. It is the biggest and the oldest sugar factory in the Czech Republic, one of the oldest sugar factories in the world and the oldest one still working in its original premises. Since 2004 the sugar factory holds the name of its owner, French conglomerate Tereos.

Dobrovice is located near the D10 motorway from Prague to Turnov, which briefly runs along the northwestern municipal border.

Dobrovice is located on the railway line Mladá Boleslav–Nymburk. However, the train station is situated outside the built-up area, between the fields southwest of the town proper.