Discover Hronov: Theatre History, Springs and Hiking Trails

Hronov combines theatre history, vernacular architecture and trails through the landscape along the Metuje. The town is ideal if you would like to combine cultural discoveries with a hike: at the Jiráskovo divadlo, in exhibitions, at mineral springs and on hiking routes, you will encounter very different sides of the town.

Theatre and Alois Jirásek

The Jiráskovo divadlo is the dominant building on the square in Hronov and was built according to a design by the architect Jindřich Freiwald. Since 1931, it has been the annual venue for the international amateur theatre festival Jiráskův Hronov. The Jiráskovo muzeum is located on the second floor. The exhibition explores the history and folk traditions of the Hronov region, as well as the life and work of Alois Jirásek. He was born on 23 August 1851 in Jiráskův rodný domek.

Family discoveries and historic sites

The Jiráskovo muzeum has an interactive theatre exhibition for families with children. Visitors can try out various theatre professions and engage in creative play there. Jiráskův rodný domek is also an example of traditional vernacular architecture from the end of the 18th century. The exhibition conveys the atmosphere of a family bakery with folk-style furnishings and non-original bakery equipment. Stará papírna – Čapkův mlýn also features an exhibition about the childhood of the Čapek siblings and the surroundings that inspired them to create numerous fairy tales.

Smaller cultural monuments also give Hronov its distinctive character. The former cemetery next to the Church of All Saints is now a meditation garden with Stations of the Rosary. The Baroque Marian column group on the square in Hronov dates from 1725. The svobodný dvůr stands on the site of a former medieval water castle and is a rare monument of vernacular architecture.

Hiking and springs along the Metuje

If you would like to explore Hronov on foot, the moderately difficult Kolem Turova do Maršovského údolí route offers a longer impression of the landscape. It begins in Hronov, passes through Velký Dřevíč by Blaník Jiráskova kraje and Turov to a plateau above the settlement of Maršov nad Metují, then descends into the Metuje valley. The Cesta psa Voříška leads mostly downhill towards the former hronovský mlýn mill, which was once a paper mill. Jiráskův rodný domek and the mineral springs in the adjacent park are located nearby.

The Hronovka and Regnerka mineral springs are alkaline iron-bearing springs. They emerge near the bank of the Metuje from a shared spring structure. The spring structure was reconstructed in 2013; an information board about the springs is located nearby. This makes it possible to connect literature, craftsmanship, landscape and water within a compact thematic area, without the individual stops offering the same experience.

Other destinations in the area

For your further search, you can also consider Zlícko, Česká Čermná, Žernov U České Skalice, Nový Ples, Horní Adršpach, Jaroměř, Zábrodí and Česká Metuje for your search.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Náchod.