Kostelec Nad Orlicí – Castle Culture and Trails Along the Orlice

Between Castle Culture and the Orlice

Kostelec nad Orlicí combines impressive architectural history with educational trails, water and landscapes. At its center is Nový zámek, a composed architectural ensemble designed by Heinrich Koch in the 1830s in the Classicist and Biedermeier styles. It belonged to the aristocratic Kostelec branch of the Kinský family and today offers several different insights into culture and local history.

Nový zámek houses the permanent exhibition “Life in the Biedermeier Era.” In the basement, a museum exhibition provides information about the town of Kostelec nad Orlicí. There are also the Kinský Gallery, 13 exhibition rooms, as well as openings and art exhibitions. This means that a visit need not be limited to the architecture: depending on your interests, domestic culture, town history or changing art exhibitions can take center stage. The park of Nový zámek is open year-round and can be visited free of charge.

Historic Places with Different Stories

The churches also make the town’s development visible. The late Baroque Church of St. George was built by František Kermer from 1769 to 1773. Its furnishings are characterized by the late Baroque and Rococo periods; one of its special details is a late Gothic Madonna. The Jan Amos Comenius Church, formerly the Church of St. Wenceslas, is an accessible early Baroque church from the late 17th century. Starý zámek, meanwhile, stands on the site of a former fortress that had been founded before 1620. After a fire in 1668, a Baroque chateau was built there.

The memorial culture of Kostelec nad Orlicí includes the “Kameny zmizelých,” or Stolpersteine. They are a memorial site for the victims of the Holocaust and the Nazi regime. Today’s Church of St. Anne replaced a cemetery chapel founded in 1572 and was built from 1685 to 1691. Together, these places do not form a uniform sightseeing program, but rather offer different approaches to architecture, religion, town history and remembrance.

Educational Trails, Cycle Path and Water

For days outdoors, the educational trail of Městské lesy Kostelec nad Orlicí offers a clearly defined route: the marked trail on the edge of town is 3.3 km long and equipped with 12 interactive information panels. In Lesopark Lípová stráň, a nature park on the Divoká Orlice flowing through Kostelec nad Orlicí, there are three signposted educational trails. These include the K.-J.-Erben educational trail, a moderately difficult route measuring 3.1 km, and the Mistra-Jan-Hus educational trail, a walk described as easy and measuring 1.9 km.

Another option is the 2 km cycle path from Kostelec nad Orlicí to Doudleby nad Orlicí, which is suitable for cycling and inline skating. For a quieter time outdoors, the Koupaliště Kostelec nad Orlicí outdoor swimming pool is situated in peaceful surroundings along the Orlice. Those interested in river activities can use Kostelec nad Orlicí as a suitable starting point for navigating the Divoká Orlice.

Taste and Local Tradition

Culinary events also form part of the town’s cultural character. At the Food Festival, the Český královský institut presented the “Ochutnejte historii” stand with a historical menu. It was based on tradition, seasonal ingredients and the roots of Czech cuisine. The Food Festival was held for the eighth time on the last Saturday in August in the gardens of Nový zámek in Kostelec nad Orlicí, where selected delicacies could be sampled.

Depending on whether culture or activity takes center stage, this creates a different focus for the stay, without requiring the individual experiences to become one uniform program.

Other Places in the Same Selection

If you would like to compare more places, you can find Janov V Orlických Horách, Byzhradec, Přepychy, Sediviny, České Meziříčí, Nebeská Rybná, Javornice and Lukavice here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.