Some 40 km south-east of Prague, the town of 8,000 inhabitants between the mountain ranges of the Hřebeny and the Brdy is a favourite holiday destination. With copious forests around, the town and close neighbourhood provides many opportunities how to enjoy one's holiday both in summer and in winter. The first mention of Dobříš in writing dates back to 1252. The ancient city was famous for the productions of leather gloves and of vices. There are several memorable monuments in the town: the Town Hall, formerly a wooden construction (1725), rebuilt in the late baroque style in 1821; the late l8th-century late-baroque château, used as the writers' seat after 1945; the Vargač castle, a former l4th- century Gothic castle rebuilt to granary later; the Most Holy Trinity Church of 1797; the Holy Rood Church with churchyard built in 1589 and later converted into the nobles' crypt; the late lóthcentury Jewish cemetery; Karel Čapek Memorial at Stará Hut' near the Strž pond holds an exhibition of the life and work of the famous Czech writer.