Nový Bydžov: History, Museums and Local Traditions

Nový Bydžov combines an unusual historic town layout with museums, significant religious and secular buildings, and vibrant local traditions. The protected historic centre was laid out as an almost regular square and is considered one of the oldest urban planning concepts in Bohemia. In the town plan, the main streets form a right-angled cross whose axes point towards the four cardinal directions. This creates a clearly recognisable framework in which the town’s history and cultural discoveries belong closely together.

Town History between the Museum and the Market Square

The town museum was founded in 1888 and is located on two floors of the Art Nouveau building of the savings bank on Masaryk Square. The historical exhibition includes earthenware, porcelain, glass, jewellery and other works of art. It also features Baroque paintings by Petr Brandl, including “The Crucified” and “Our Lady of Sorrows” from 1733. The collection therefore ranges from decorative art objects to specific works of Baroque painting.

The Stuchlíkovi Toy Museum in Nový Bydžov offers a different perspective in time. It contains thousands of exhibits and presents a collection with pieces dating from the pre-war period through the 1980s. Those who wish to compare different generations and eras through tangible everyday objects will find an independent approach to cultural history here.

Historic Sites and Notable Buildings

The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in 1520 in the southern part of Nový Bydžov behind the town walls and is dated to the years 1520–1885. It covers an area of more than half a hectare and contains over 1,480 gravestones. Its dating and the large number of preserved gravestones make it a particularly tangible record of local history.

Other defining buildings include the Gothic Church of St Lawrence from the early 14th century and the Neo-Gothic town hall, built in 1862–1865. The town’s Jirásek Theatre is associated with the year 1887 and was opened after its completion in 2003. Thus, different building periods stand side by side in Nový Bydžov, without the town’s history being limited to a single era.

Traditions and Orientation for Your Trip

Local customs are also part of the town’s character. The oldest written records of Merenda in Nový Bydžov date back to 1750; its tradition remains alive to this day. In addition, a small brewery was established in 2022, resuming beer production there after 50 years. These two examples combine historical continuity with newly revived local production.

The Tourist Information Centre of Nový Bydžov is located on the first floor of the Balounka Villa on Husova třída and provides travel information for the region. For tourist routes, a downloadable overview of the sights along the blue and red routes is available. If you would like to plan your stay thematically, this provides a concrete basis for further orientation, without the town being defined solely by individual sights.

Other Places for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to compare other destinations alongside Nový Bydžov, you can find Střezetice, Stěžery, Dohalice, Habřina, Kosice, Boharyně, Lodín and Lovčice here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hradec Králové District.