Jičín is a town situated in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies within the Jičín Uplands, positioned approximately 41 kilometres northwest of Hradec Králové and 70 km northeast of Prague. The settlement rests on the banks of the Cidlina River, which flows through its municipal territory alongside several smaller watercourses and five fishponds. Geographically, it serves as a gateway to the Bohemian Paradise region, although that protected landscape area begins beyond Jičín's own borders.

The town was founded in the 13th century near Veliš Castle before moving northward to its current fortified location. Its first written mention dates to August 1, 1293, in a document by Queen Judith of Habsburg. History is deeply intertwined with Albrecht von Wallenstein, who acquired Jičín in 1621 and rebuilt it extensively during the Thirty Years' War. After his death in 1634, the town passed to the Trauttmansdorff family in 1710, ushering in a High Baroque period of construction.

The historic centre is well preserved and protected as an urban monument reservation, featuring a regular Gothic street layout around Valdštejnovo náměstí. Key landmarks include Valdštejnský Castle, which houses the Regional Museum, and the unfinished Church of Saint James the Great. The town also contains the Baroque Valdštejnská lodžie summer house and the Libosad park, connected by a long linden alley. Remnants of Renaissance fortifications, such as the Valdice Gate, remain visible within the urban fabric.

Jičín is culturally linked to the fairy tale character Rumcajs and hosts an annual festival celebrating this theme. The town offers various sights including Jewish heritage sites like a synagogue documented since 1773 and a nearby cemetery. Visitors can explore the Wallenstein Baroque composed landscape, which connects sacral buildings and landmarks through designed axes. The area provides opportunities for cultural engagement through museums, galleries, and historical exhibitions located within its preserved architecture.

As of 2025, Jičín has a population of 16,101 inhabitants. It serves as an administrative hub, connected by the I/16 and I/35 roads and railway lines to Prague and Hradec Králové. The nearest commercial airport is Pardubice Airport, located about an hour away by car. The town also features a recreational airfield for private aircraft. Its location in East Bohemia provides access to nearby natural attractions like the Prachov Rocks, situated just a short drive from the downtown area.