Turnov is a town on the Jizera river in the northern Czech Republic. It has about 14,500 inhabitants and lies in the southern part of Liberec Region. It is a traditional center for gemstone polishing, glass craftsmanship and arts. Turnov lies in the heart of the Bohemian Paradise nature reserve which makes it a wonderful place for tourists and summer residents. The town is also an important traffic crossroads of 3 railways and the Prague–Liberec highway. Turnov has a large Museum (finalist in European museums competition), 3 galleries, 6 churches and a synagogue. The small old town of Middle Ages urbanism is surrounded by modern garden neighbourhoods and large parks representing an organic connection between urban areas and nature. The region is well known for many castles, châteaux and excellent rural architecture