Náchod facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Náchod
Town
View from the castle
Flag Coat of arms
Náchod Location in Czech Republic
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Hradec Králové
District	Náchod
First mentioned	1254
Area
• Total	33.34 km2 (12.87 sq mi)
Elevation	346 m (1,135 ft)
Population  (2024-01-01)
• Total	20,036
• Density	600.96/km2 (1,556.48/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	547 01

Náchod is a cool town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It's home to about 20,000 people. Náchod is famous for its beautiful sights and busy industries. The old part of town, especially the castle, is very well-preserved. It's even protected by law as a special "urban monument zone."

Exploring Náchod's Parts

Náchod is made up of several smaller areas and villages. These include Babí, Běloves, Bražec, Dobrošov, Jizbice, Lipí, Malé Poříčí, Pavlišov, and Staré Město nad Metují. Each part adds to the town's unique character.

Where is Náchod?

Náchod is located about 31 kilometers (19 miles) northeast of Hradec Králové. It sits right on the border with Poland. The town is nestled in a valley, with the Metuje river flowing through it. The area is part of the Orlické Foothills. The highest point nearby is Malinová hora, which stands at 637 meters (2,090 feet) above sea level. You can also find two fishponds, Podborný and Odkaliště, in the northwest.

A Look Back in Time: Náchod's History

Náchod started as a small settlement called Branka, meaning "Gate." It was near an important land crossing. In the mid-1200s, a knight named Hron of Načeradec built a castle here. A town then grew around the castle. This was done to protect an old trade route that went from Prague to Kłodzko Land. The first time Náchod was mentioned in writing was in 1254. By the early 1300s, the town had strong walls and towers for defense.

Náchod square and castle around 1740.

Many important people owned the castle over the years. These included kings like John of Bohemia and George of Poděbrady. During the Hussite Wars, a big conflict, Náchod was taken over by the Hussites. The castle grew into a large fortress. In 1544, the rich Smiřický family bought the castle. They turned it into a fancy Renaissance home. The town also thrived during this time, getting special rights almost like a royal town.

The Thirty Years' War in the 1600s was a tough time for Náchod. The Smiřický family lost their property because they supported the losing side. The land was then sold to the Trčka of Lípa family. Later, in 1634, the Emperor gave the land to his general, Ottavio Piccolomini. This Italian family owned Náchod next. The town faced military actions and changes in religion. However, it also saw some improvements. The castle was rebuilt in a grand Baroque style. The first street in town was paved in 1638. After a big fire in 1663, a new town hall was built. The Church of St. Lawrence was also rebuilt.

The main square in Náchod in 1866.

The Piccolomini family line ended in 1783. The Náchod area was then inherited by the Desfours family. In 1792, they sold it to Duke Peter von Biron. He brought more culture to Náchod, even starting a theater at the castle. When the duke passed away in 1800, his daughter Katharina Wilhelmine inherited Náchod. After her death, the princes of Schaumburg-Lippe bought the castle. They owned it until 1945.

The mid-1800s brought big changes. The town got an elected council. Industry and schools grew quickly. Many new buildings went up, like the Neo-Renaissance town hall and the Art Nouveau theater. A railway was built, and the textile industry boomed from 1882. Náchod became a major cotton industry center in Austria-Hungary. At the start of the 1900s, Náchod was even called the "Manchester of the east."

Before World War II, strong border defenses were built around Náchod. These were to protect Czechoslovakia from a possible German invasion. During World War II, Germany occupied the town. Náchod had very few German residents at that time.

Náchod's Economy

Today, most people in Náchod work in the service industry. Tourism is very important for the town's economy. The biggest employer is the local hospital. Some large industrial companies here make electric motors, like ATAS elektromotory Náchod and Ametek elektromotory. There's also Rubena Náchod, a rubber factory.

The town still has a textile industry tradition. Bartoň – textil, a cotton-weaving mill founded in 1867, is still operating. The Primátor Brewery, started in 1872, also has a long history.

Getting Around Náchod

Náchod is an important transport hub. There's a road border crossing with Poland called Náchod / Kudowa Słone. The I/33 road, which is part of the European route E67, connects Hradec Králové to Náchod and the border. Another main road, I/14, also runs through the town.

Náchod is also on two railway lines: Broumov–Starkoč and Týniště nad Orlicí–Teplice nad Metují. The town has three train stations and stops: Náchod, Náchod zastávka, and Náchod-Běloves.

Cool Places to See in Náchod

Aerial view of Náchod Castle.

The Church of Saint Lawrence and the New Town Hall.

Náchod Castle

Náchod Castle is the most famous landmark in town. The state has owned it since 1945. You can visit the castle's inside rooms. They show off collections from Prince Ottavio Piccolomini's time, like old tapestries. You can also see collections of medals and coins. Don't miss the Gothic cellars and the tall observation tower. The castle even has a moat with bears, which is the biggest bear enclosure in the country!

Churches and Old Buildings

The Church of Saint Lawrence is right in the middle of Masarykovo Square. It was first mentioned in 1350 and rebuilt in the late 1500s.

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was built between 1709 and 1716 in a beautiful Baroque style.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist is in Staré Město nad Metují. It was built in the 1200s in the Gothic style. It was updated several times over the centuries. Since 1791, it has been used as a cemetery church.

The Spa in Běloves

The village of Běloves was once famous for its spa. People knew about its healing water as early as 1392. The spa opened in 1818 but closed in 1996. Even though the old spa buildings are not in use, the town built a small colonnade. It has two mineral springs and an exhibit about the spa's history. This new area opened in December 2019.

Famous People from Náchod

Náchod's Sister Cities

A medal from 2010 celebrating 15 years of friendship between Náchod and Kłodzko.

Náchod has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called "sister cities."

Images for kids

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  Náchod Castle

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  Náchod Castle

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  New Town Hall

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  Hotel and theatre "U Beránka"

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  Church of Saint Michael the Archangel

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  Staré Město nad Metují