Náchod
| Náchod | |||
| Town | |||
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| Country | Czech Republic | ||
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| Region | Hradec Králové | ||
| District | Náchod | ||
| Commune | Náchod | ||
| River | Metuje | ||
| Elevation | 346 m (1,135 ft) | ||
| Coordinates | 50°25′01″N 16°09′47″E / 50.41694°N 16.16306°ECoordinates: 50°25′01″N 16°09′47″E / 50.41694°N 16.16306°E | ||
| Area | 33.32 km2 (12.86 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 20,408 (2015-01-01) | ||
| Density | 612/km2 (1,585/sq mi) | ||
| First mentioned | 1254 | ||
| Mayor | Jan Birke | ||
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 547 01 | ||
   Location in the Czech Republic
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| Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
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Website: www |
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Náchod (Czech pronunciation: [ˈnaːxot]; German: Nachod [ˈnaːxɔt]); a town in the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region. Náchod is located in the valley of the river Metuje, in an upland area between the mountain ranges of Krkonoše and Orlické hory. It is the seat of a district court, the office of district prosecuting attorney and a number of district chapters of other government agencies, several primary and secondary level schools, a hospital and other social facilities. Sights include a magnificent castle and other places in and around the town (Nové Město nad Metují, Ratibořice, Kuks, Trutnov, Broumov). The area offers a variety of natural sights and opportunities for outdoor activities (hiking, cycling, skiing, rock climbing in sandstone formations).
Knight Hron of Načeradec founded a castle in mid-13th century to protect a tract of an old trade road from Prague to Breslau (Wroclaw), and the town below probably at the same time. The first record of its name is dated in 1254.
An earlier settlement was located in the area known as Staré Město (Old Place), with 13th-century St. John the Baptist’s Church. The town was fortified with walls and bastions early in the 14th century.
Owners of the castle included kings John the Blind and George of Poděbrady. Over time the castle grew into a large fortress. Powerful and rich Smiřický family acquired the domain in 1544, and had the castle rebuilt into a comfortable Renaissance château; the town also flourished at the time, and was endowed with privileges almost equal to royal charters. The town bought a manor at nearby Slané in the County of Kladsko (Kłodzko) in 1601, which remained its property till 1945.
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Wikipedia