| Generální projektant | New Visit s.r.o. |
| Klient | Město Náchod 2014, Národní památkový ústav 2015 - 2022 |
| Autoři | ing. et ing. Tomáš Jiránek, Ondřej Černík, DiS. |
| Spoluautoři | ing. Kateřina Ludvíková, DiS., Ing. Jan Chaloupský |
Prior to the intervention, the Castle Hill in Náchod faced a serious geostatic threat. A significant volume of rainwater from the castle’s roofs and stormwater concentrated in several locations—especially along the southern wall of the castle—posed an acute risk to the stability of the hill. There was an imminent danger of a landslide involving a large mass of soil along with mature trees rooted shallowly on the slip surface of the rocky massif, potentially cascading down to the lower foot of the slope. This area includes the historic Masaryk Square and Karlovo Square in the town of Náchod, putting the entire row of houses at the base of the hill at serious risk.
In 2014, project planning began with a conceptual architectural and landscape study, geostatic calculations, and public consultations. The cultural and historical value of this national heritage site defined the approach to working with the castle and urban landscape. The aim was to restore the hill’s cultural and natural significance by reinforcing the interconnected relationship between people and nature. The aristocratic site—Náchod Castle—was envisioned as a regional landmark within the Czech-Polish landscape context. The project, initiated by the City of Náchod in cooperation with the National Heritage Institute, aimed to strengthen the spatial and cultural ties within the Náchod region.
To ensure that water could flow smoothly and in a controlled manner toward designated drainage areas—while maintaining pedestrian accessibility in the lower castle grounds—a system of “contour-aligned” paths was designed. In areas with exposed bedrock outcrops, several bridges were proposed, using a modular steel construction with custom open-grid grating. These elongated footbridges have become a distinctive feature of the project, allowing water to pass freely beneath them as it continues toward the base of the slope. Where the terrain permits, paths are laid directly onto the hillside surface.
The image shows the only remaining original path leading up to the castle. The historic stone staircase has been completely reconstructed, and the accompanying linden tree avenue has also been restored. At the base of the hill stands a sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk—an original Baroque piece carved from Božanov sandstone, now fully restored. A new network of paths now weaves through the hill, making it accessible to both local residents and visitors to Náchod and its castle. The paths also serve as scenic viewpoints, offering vistas over the town, the Náchod landscape, the Dobrošov ridge, and Česká Čermná—part of the border zone with Poland that stretches toward the rising Orlické Mountains.
The project is an example of landscape architecture in its full interdisciplinary and artisanal scope. It represents a holistic approach to architecture—an architecture of relationships. Terms such as public space, open landscape, urban or forest landscape, green or blue-green infrastructure, and many others belong to the vocabulary of the landscape architect. In this context, relationships are formed between the city, landscape, people, and nature—interwoven with culture and history, or more precisely, with the memory of the place.
The photograph shows the “Belvedere by the Wedding Linden Tree.” The old linden is encircled by a newly built retaining wall, designed as a destination, a place for meeting, and—last but not least—a viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the Orlické Mountains, Dobrošov, Česká Čermná, and beyond into Poland. From this spot, one can also see the historic Masaryk Square in Náchod, as well as the city theatre and Hotel Beránek (formerly "U Beránka")—an Art Nouveau building designed by architect Alois Čenský in the 1920s.
Note: Architect Alois Čenský is also known for Prague’s Vinohrady Theatre and the Měšťanská beseda cultural hall.
Over the centuries, Náchod Castle evolved from its original Gothic fortress, founded in the mid-13th century, into a residential chateau with fortification features and an extensive economic hinterland. What was once a forested and pastoral landscape gradually transformed into a hunting, agricultural, and grazing landscape—what we today refer to as a cultural landscape. The castle hill is surrounded by forest, while the immediate vicinity of the castle features a representative “forest park” and ornamental gardens.
The castle’s architectural form developed from its Renaissance transformations in the 16th and 17th centuries to the late Renaissance style that remains preserved today, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Over time, the estate was held by several noble families, including the Czech House of Smiřický of Smiřice, the Italian Piccolomini family, the Duchy of Courland, and finally the German princely house of Schaumburg-Lippe.
Source: zamek-nachod.cz
