South

The 1866 Austro – Prussian war battlefield

In Václavice, Branka, Vysokov, Provodov, Šeřeč, Kleny, Starkoč, in Dubno forest, Zlič and Česká Skalice, there is a number of monuments, tumuli or simple little tinny crosses commemorating tragic battles in 27th and 28th June 1866. Most graves and monuments are found at places of the severest battles. Next to a chapel Na Dobeníně in Václavice, there is a monument with an eagle made of sandstone dedicated to dead soldiers of the 25th Austrian battalion. Opposite, there is a high marble spire commemorating soldiers, who died in the VI. Austrian second marshal Vilém Ramming`s army corps. In a near forest, there are other graves and monuments. The highest is the 13 metres high obelisk in Branka, dedicated to the 4th and 6th Austrian cuirassier regiments. The most beautiful monument is a statue of a Czech soldier on guard, with Jaroslav Vrchlický`s verses cut into it. It was made by sculptors Quido Kocian and František Hnátek and dedicated above Vysokov in 1906. Next to a chapel in Vysokov, by road, by railway in Staré Město and in Náchod cemetery, there is a number of monuments commemorating soldiers, who died in 27th June 1866. Monuments spread around the country from Starkoč to Česká Skalice, are a silent commemoration of blood shed in vain in a battle of 28th June. A taper black granite square by a road through a Dubno pheasantry commemorates death of 72 soldiers of the 75th Austrian infantry. In the Dubno forest, there is a sandstone statue of sleeping Czech lion on a large sandstone socle. Under the monument, there repose 80 dead soldiers and a lieutenant Adolf Studnička of the 77th Austrian infantry. A pyramidal monument on a hill above Zlič pond is dedicated to the dad of the 5th field infantry. By road from Zlič, at the edge of Česká Skalice, there is a cemetery for the 1866 war soldiers. In its front side, there were put the monuments from various parts of a Česká Skalice battlfield – this area is under the surface of the Rozkoš dam now.
Česká Skalice – its history dates from the beginning of the 13th century. There were two small villages with fortresses at that time – Malá a Velká Skalice (Small and Big Skalice). Česká Skalice is renowned for its textile production in its modern history. A history of textile production is presented in Textile museum expositions, the only one of this kind in Czech republic. In national culture and history, Česká Skalice is associated with the Czech renascence. The dahlia festival, which takes place here since 1837, is together with a dahlia exhibition in a museum area, the most significant culturally social action in the town. To the architectonically interesting sights belongs a neogothic town hall from 1864; the pillar of the Holly Virgin from the 18th century; the Božena Němcová monument in the square; the World War one dead memorial in T. G. Masaryk street, made by František Bílek; Barunka`s school in Boženy Němcové street (the classroom is arranged in its 1824 – 33 look, the time when little Božena Němcová attended it, the teacher’s flat; the town history and the battle of 1866 exposition); Ascension of the Holy Virgin church in Malá Skalice; so called small presbytery by the church; statues by the church made Platzer and Braun`s students; Božena Němcová museum with historic Dahlia hall, Textile museum and the fortress of Small Skalice.

The Rozkoš valley dam

The Rozkoš dam, called an East bohemian see, covers an area of 800 hectares, its average depth is 10 metres. It prevents floods on the Úpa river; it is a water reservoir for irrigation in the Labe country and affects flow of the Labe river. By the road from Česká Skalice to Náchod, there is a Rozkoš car–camping with year-round functioning and a capacity of 3500 persons. For visitors, there are many possibilities of spend their free time – for example a summer cinema, hotel, restaurant, stands with refreshments, miniature golf, bike and sports utensils rental, water spiral chute, sauna and children’s playground. The dam is a sought-after place for family recreation, water sports lovers and fishermen.

National natural and cultural landmark Babiččino údolí (Grannie`s valley)

This remarkable natural and cultural area covers an area of approx. 780 hectares and follows the Úpa river on both of its banks from Česká Skalice to Havlovice. A collection of buildings and areas including the Ratibořice castle, Staré Bělidlo (Old bleachery], mill, mangle, Grannie and children group of statues, Panský hostinec (Lord`s inn), Rýzmburk summer house, bridges in Úpa valley, and Victoria`s weir, together with a nature make a remarkable esthetic complex, which with its unique atmosphere, makes a strong impression on visitors and evokes the period, which Božena Němcová depicted in her books. The whole Grannie`s valley is one of the most visited parts of the region. From May to October, there is an educational trail with 18 information boards from Česká Skalice to Ratibořice. Through a valley from Česká Skalice to Havlovice, there goes a cycle-way “The Božena Němcová circuit” and numerous tourist paths.

The Ratibořice castle – originally a hunting seat had Vavřinec Piccolomini rebuilt in 1708.

• In 1800 had it the duchess Kateřina Vilemína Zaháňská rebuilt in a comfortable empire summer residence and founded an English park with valuable tree species in the castle vicinity.
• In the castle park opposite the greenhouse, there used to be the real Pankl family`s flat under a barn. Unfortunately, the place is unkempt and desolated.
• The hunting pavilion, an empire building from 1800. is situated by a valley road from Ratibořice and Česká Skalice in so called Bažantnice.
• The Grannie and children group of statues was made by Oto Gutfreund and an architect prof. Pavel Janák. Its cornerstone was laid in the presence of Alois Jirásek in 25th July 1920. The sculptural group was dedicated in a big national ceremony in 9th July 1922.
• A mill got a miller Antonín Ruder from Suchovršice by Úpice in by marriage in 1773. His son, a father from Božena Němcová`s Babička (Grannie) sold the mill to a Náchod authorities, which had an empire mangle building built out.
• The old bleachery, wooden timbered cottage covered with shingle, had the miller Antonín Ruder built in 17th July 1797. A nearby one storey bleachery building had the authorities built after 1842.
• The Victoria`s, weir, which was originally wooden, was rebuilt several times during an irrigation system construction and later during the river regulation.
• The Rýzmurk castle and a summerhouse – Founder of the Rýzmurk castle probably was a member of the family with a golden stirrup in their heraldry – Rubín from Rýzmburk. He fought by Přemysl Otakar`s side in Moravské pole and died here. Then the castle became property of the lords from Dubé, Oldřich from Černčice, Arnošt from Kácov, Jan Zajíc from Házmburk, Jindřich Poděbradský, Petr from Adršpach (added Červená Hora and Vízmburk), Jan from Pernštejn, Bernard Žehušický (large-scale reconstructions), Bedřich from Kounice and finally Smiřičtí from Náchod, who did not reside here permanently.

Červená Hora – The village is mentioned as a part of the Červená Hora domain in 1291. It is situated above the Úpa valley near the castle remains of the same name. In the village, there is an original brick bell tower with shingle roofing from 1730. The castle was founded in the second half of the 13th century on a high spit of a red sandstone rock above Úpa as one of three castles in a river basin. It was built by the lords of the family with a golden stirrup in their heraldry and as its first owner is known Sezema from Červená Hora. At the end of the 14th century, the castle was a property of a Prague archbishop Jan from Jenštejn. Later, lords from Dubé and from Náchod owned it. In Hussite wars period, Hynek from Dubé, junior, keen supporter of a catholic side held it in his possession. As a revenge for spoliation of Hussite Krčín, orphan soldieries sieged the castle in 1427 and destroyed. Nowadays, there can be seen only small remains of the former castle.

Jaroměř – Josefov – Jaroměř is the oldest town of the Náchod region, mentioned in 1126 for the first time. In the town on the Labe, Úpa Metuje confluence, we can find the St. Nicholas’s church, Marian sculptural group from an outstanding baroque sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun`s workshop and a nice gravestone on a cemetery by the same author. Jaroměř is a birthplace of the world-famous Czech painter Josef Šíma. A visitor of the town museum does not only learn about history of the Jaroměř region, but a J. Šíma`s, sculptor and medallist O. Španiel`s and a sculptor J. Wagner`s permanent exhibitions are also worth seeing. The museum is located in a former Wenke`s department store, a valuable modern European architectural landmark. A railway museum with the oldest moveable steam locomotive called Kafemlejnek (Coffee-mill) is also remarkable. You can find it near the railway station. The town and the fort Josefov are unique landmarks of a classicist fort construction. The fort, built in 1780 – 1785, is a culmination and at the same time the end of then central European fort systems development. Yet, it never served its purpose. During the Austro – Prussian war all armies avoided it. A fortification, linden alleys on ramparts, classicist architecture – this all kept an atmosphere of the Josef II times alive. Till now, an elaborate underground corridor system, which used to have 45 kilometres in length, came down to the present. Part of these is open to public.
Velichovky – The spa, in which a treatment began in 1898, has a good reputation thanks to a moor, which is the only kind in our republic. The spa treatment is intended for patients with locomotive organs illnesses.

Kuks – Unique nature and baroque art museum complex built by a Count F. A. Špork and intended for representative and educational purpose. In its original size, besides the hospital, it included the chateau, spa and other buildings as well. Finding mineral springs stimulated its foundation. Nowadays, the hospital church of St. Trinity by G. B. Alliprandi from 1710 dominates the monuments preservation area. On the terrace in front of the church, there stand 8 statues of the Blessed, blessed and mournful death angels, and angel of faith are M. B. Braun`s best works. In front of the hospital, there is a sculpture gallery, where Braun`s most valuable works are kept. On an opposite Labe bank, there is a staircase to a former castle; a few spa buildings and a folk architecture, which came down to the present.