Česká Skalice (; ) is a town in

Náchod District Náchod District () is a district in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Náchod. Administrative division Náchod District is divided into four administrative districts of municipalities with extended ...

in the

Hradec Králové Region Hradec Králové Region (, ) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic located in the north-eastern part of the historical region of Bohemia. It is named after its capital Hradec Králové. The region neighbours the Pardubice Region in t ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. It has about 5,000 inhabitants. It lies on the shore of

Rozkoš Reservoir Rozkoš Reservoir () is a reservoir in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. With an area of , it is the List of dams and reservoirs in the Czech Republic, eighth largest reservoir in the country. Location Rozkoš is located in the H ...

. The town is known for the

Ratibořice Castle Ratibořice Château () is a chateau in Ratibořice village (part of Česká Skalice) in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It stands on an elevated plain below which valley in the bend of the Úpa river widens. Together with Babi� ...

and Grandmother's Valley, both associated with the work of one of the most important Czech women writers, Božena Němcová.

Administrative division

Česká Skalice consists of six municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Česká Skalice (3,454) *Malá Skalice (993) *Ratibořice (9) *Spyta (75) *Zájezd (203) *Zlíč (198)

Geography

Česká Skalice is located about west of

Náchod Náchod (; ) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 20,000 inhabitants. It is known both as a tourist destination and centre of industry. The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and i ...

and northeast of

Hradec Králové Hradec Králové (; ) is a city of the Czech Republic. It has about 94,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Hradec Králové Region. The historic centre of Hradec Králové is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech R ...

. It lies in the Orlice Table. The town is situated on the

Úpa The Úpa () is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Elbe River. It flows through the Hradec Králové Region. It is long. Etymology The name is of the Illyrian language, Illyrian or Celtic languages, Celtic origin, from the wor ...

River. The Grandmother's Valley (''Babiččino údolí'') along the river is protected as a national nature monument. Part of

, on whose shores the town is located, lies in the municipal territory.

History

In '' Chronica Boemorum'' is mentioned a trade route from

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

through this area in the 11th century. In the early 13th century, two settlement with fortresses were founded near this route and named Malá Skalice and Velká Skalice. In 1490, they are first referred to as one village named Česká Skalice. In 1504, Česká Skalice was promoted to a

market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...

and in 1575, it was promoted to a town. In the 19th century, the town was industrialized and textile factories were established.

Demographics

Transport

The I/33 road from

(part of the

European route E67 European route E 67 is an E-road running from Prague in the Czech Republic to Estonia and by ferry to Finland. It goes via Prague, Wrocław, Warsaw, Kaunas, Panevėžys, Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki. The route is known as the Via Baltica ...

) passes next to the town. Česká Skalice is located on the railway lines–

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

–

Trutnov Trutnov (; ) is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 30,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. Administrative division Trutnov consists of 21 ...

and

Pardubice Pardubice (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 92,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the Elbe River. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Repub ...

– Svoboda nad Úpou.

Sights

The

and Grandmother's Valley is the most popular tourist destination. It is visited for its connection with life and work of Božena Němcová, who belongs among the most impactful Czech writers. The castle was built in the Baroque style and rebuilt in the Neoclassical style. Next to the castle is a castle park. Part of the landscape with a direct link to Němcová's literature is also a remote mill and ''Staré bělidlo'', a romantic wooden log cabin. The area of the castle and valley is protected as a national cultural monument. Among the landmarks of Česká Skalice is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, located in Malá Skalice. It is a Baroque building from the 18th century. In Malá Skalice is Museum of Božena Němcová. Until 2017, there was Textile Museum as well, but it was closed and the exposition was moved to nearby Dvůr Králové nad Labem.

Notable people

* František Rint, 19th-century woodcarver * Božena Němcová (1820–1862), writer; lived here * Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe (1864–1946), German princess * Frederick of Schaumburg-Lippe (1868–1945), German prince * Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe (1873–1962), German princess * Adelaide of Schaumburg-Lippe (1875–1971), German princess

Twin towns – sister cities

Česká Skalice is twinned with: * Bardo, Poland *

Liptovský Hrádok Liptovský Hrádok (; ; ) is a town in northern Slovakia, in the region of Liptov. History First mentioned in 1341, Liptovský Hrádok was named after the nearby castle. The castle, also known as Liptovský Hrádok, was built originally for use ...

, Slovakia * Polanica-Zdrój, Poland *

Rüschlikon Rüschlikon is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Horgen District, Horgen in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Zürich (canton), Zürich in Switzerland. It is located on the west shore of Lake Zürich. Coat of ar ...

, Switzerland *

Warrington Warrington () is an industrial town in the Borough of Warrington, borough of the same name in Cheshire, England. The town sits on the banks of the River Mersey and was Historic counties of England, historically part of Lancashire. It is east o ...

, England, United Kingdom

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ceska Skalice Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Náchod District