A Czech border town with a 13th-century hilltop castle and Renaissance square. Local breweries produce Primátor beer, and thermal springs flow in nearby Běloves.
Náchod, a town of 20,000 residents in the Hradec Králové Region, lies at the northeastern edge of Czechia near the Polish border. Walk through medieval Gothic cellars beneath the town center, watch brown bears in the castle moat, or taste mineral water from two springs at the restored colonnade. The 16th-century Church of Saint Lawrence dominates the main square with its white facade and tall spire.
Exploring Náchod Castle
Climb to Náchod Castle for a look into aristocratic life and local wildlife. The castle rooms display original tapestries from Prince Ottavio Piccolomini's era and an extensive collection of coins and medals. From the observation tower, look out across the red rooftops of Náchod and the rolling Orlické Foothills. Three brown bears live in the castle moat - the largest bear enclosure in Czechia. You can watch them from several viewing points as they swim, play, and rest. The castle opens daily from April to October, with guided tours running every hour.
Historic Town Center
Walk through Masarykovo Square, where the white Church of Saint Lawrence rises above surrounding buildings. The church dates to 1350, with major reconstruction work completed between 1570 and 1578, creating its mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Local guides lead tours through the network of Gothic cellars under the streets, explaining how medieval merchants used these cool spaces to store food and conduct trade. Tours run daily in summer months and on weekends in winter.
Mineral Springs and Former Spa
Visit the modern colonnade in the Běloves district to taste water from two active mineral springs. The springs produce naturally carbonated water rich in minerals, with a distinct iron taste. While the main spa complex closed in 1996, the new colonnade opened in 2019 includes an exhibition about the spa's 178-year history. Through photographs and artifacts, learn about the daily routines of spa guests and staff from 1818 to 1996. The colonnade opens daily, and bringing your own bottle to fill with mineral water is permitted.
Getting to Náchod
Drive to Náchod via the I/33 road (European route E67) or take a train through one of three stations: the main station, Náchod zastávka, or Náchod-Běloves. Regular trains run on the Broumov–Starkoč and Týniště nad Orlicí–Teplice nad Metují lines. The train journey from Prague takes between 2.5 and 4 hours and requires one connection. Local buses connect the train stations to the town center every 30 minutes during daytime hours.
