Náchod

Náchod consists of ten municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): • Náchod (12,128) • Babí (635) • Běloves (1,306) • Bražec (257) • Dobrošov (113) • Jizbice (246) • Lipí (402) • Malé Poříčí (246) • Pavlišov (194) • Staré Město nad Metují (3,534) ==Etymology==

The name is derived from the Old Czech word náchod, i.e. 'place of arrival' (here meaning "the place where one arrives into the land" in connection with the land gate that was located here). ==Geography==

Náchod is located about northeast of Hradec Králové, on the border with Poland. It lies in the northern tip of the Orlické Foothills. The highest point is the hill Malinová hora at above sea level. The town is situated in the valley of the Metuje River. There are two fishponds in the northwestern part of the municipal territory: Podborný and Odkaliště. ==History==

The predecessor of Náchod was a settlement called Branka (meaning 'gate') near the land gate, located in the area today known as Staré Město ("Old Town") with the Church of Saint John the Baptist from the 13th century. Knight Hron of Načeradec founded a castle and then a town below the castle in the mid-13th century to protect the territory through which an old trade route from Prague to Kłodzko Land passed. The first written mention of Náchod is from 1254. The town was fortified with walls and bastions in the early 14th century. Owners of the castle included kings John of Bohemia and George of Poděbrady. During the Hussite Wars, Náchod was conquered and owned by the Hussites. In 1437 it was captured by the celebrated robber knight Jan Kolda of Žampach, and retaken by George of Poděbrady in 1456 and included in his estates. Over time the castle grew into a large fortress. The powerful and rich Smiřický family acquired the estate in 1544 and had the castle rebuilt into a comfortable Renaissance residence; the town also flourished at the time, and was endowed with privileges almost equal to royal towns. During World War II, the town was occupied by Germany. Náchod had virtually no ethnic German population. ==Demographics==

{{historical populations ==Economy==

The service sector is the major employer in Náchod. Revenues from tourism are crucial for the economy of the town and the whole region. The largest employer based in the town is the hospital. The largest industrial companies are ATAS elektromotory Náchod and Ametek elektromotory, both producers of electric motors, and the rubber factory of Rubena Náchod. The tradition of textile industry is held by the last surviving cotton-weaving mill Bartoň – textil, founded in 1867. Long tradition has also the Primátor Brewery, founded in 1872. ==Transport==

On the Czech-Polish border is the road border crossing Náchod / Kudowa Słone. The I/33 road (part of the European route E67) connects Hradec Králové with Náchod and the border crossing. The second main road that runs through Náchod is I/14 (specifically its section from Trutnov to Ústí nad Orlicí). Náchod is located on the railway lines Broumov–Starkoč and Týniště nad Orlicí–Teplice nad Metují. The town is served by three stations and stops: Náchod, Náchod zastávka and Náchod-Běloves. ==Sights==

Náchod Castle Náchod Castle is the main landmark of the town. Since 1945, the castle is owned by the state. The interiors are open to the public, its exhibits include collections from Prince Ottavio Piccolomini's time (e.g. tapestries) or phaleristic and numismatic collections. Other sights include Gothic cellars and the observation tower (keep), and a moat with bears, which is the largest bear enclosure in the country. Ecclesiastical buildings The Church of Saint Lawrence is located in the middle of Masarykovo Square in the historic town centre. It was first mentioned in 1350 and rebuilt in 1570–1578. The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was built in 1709–1716 in the Baroque style. The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Staré Město nad Metují was built in the Gothic style in the 13th century and reconstructed in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Since 1791, it is only a cemetery church. Spa The village of Běloves was known for its spa. The first mention of the healing water is from 1392. The spa was founded in 1818 and closed in 1996. Although the spa complex is in a desolate state, a small colonnade with two mineral springs and permanent exhibition on the history of spa was built by the town and opened in December 2019. ==Notable people==

• Antonín Strnad (1746–1799), meteorologist and geographer • Jan Letzel (1880–1925), architect • Jan Roth (1899–1972), cinematographer • Václav Černý (1905–1987), literary scholar and writer • Josef Týfa (1913–2007), type designer • Luba Skořepová (1923–2016), actress • Josef Škvorecký (1924–2012), writer • Petr Skrabanek (1940–1994), physician • Josef Tošovský (born 1950), economist and former prime minister • Václav Kotal (born 1952), football player and manager • Libor Michálek (born 1968), economist and politician • Vratislav Lokvenc (born 1973), footballer • Pavel Bělobrádek (born 1976), politician • Martin Štěpánek (born 1977), freediver • Petr Schwarz (born 1991), footballer ==Twin towns – sister cities==

Náchod is twinned with: • Bauska, Latvia • Halberstadt, Germany • Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland • Kłodzko, Poland • Partizánske, Slovakia • Persan, France • Tiachiv, Ukraine • Warrington, England, United Kingdom ==Gallery==

Nachod castle1.jpg|Náchod Castle Nová radnice (New townhall), Náchod 01.JPG|New Town Hall Nachod Hotel U Beranka.jpg|Hotel and theatre "U Beránka" Náchod, kostel sv. Michala 02.jpg|Church of Saint Michael the Archangel Staré Město nad Metují (Náchod) - Drtinovo náměstí.jpg|Staré Město nad Metují ==References==