The first note on Svijany dates back to 1345. Svijany used to belong to the estate of the Vartemberk family. Jáchym Ondřej Šlik obtained the Svijany estate from them, and after the Battle of White Mountain Albrecht of Waldstein obtained his confiscated property. In the 19th century the Waldstein family sold the Svijany estate to the House of Rohan who had their seat in near Sychrov.

Svijany and its environs offer good conditions and facilities for hiking, cycle touring and recreation.