Nový Bydžov: Discover the city’s history and culture

Nový Bydžov combines a distinctive historic center with museums, an old Jewish cemetery, and buildings from different centuries. Its cultural highlights range from the town plan and early buildings to extensive collections and a local tradition.

A town plan with clear forms

The protected historic center was laid out as an almost regular square; this urban design is among the oldest in Bohemia. The main streets also form a right-angled cross in the town plan, with its axes pointing in the four cardinal directions. These details describe two distinct features: the approximately square layout of the historic center and the cross-shaped alignment of the main streets. Those interested in urban planning will find both the form of a protected historic area and a striking feature of the town plan here.

Museums and their collections

The Stuchlíkovi Toy Museum in Nový Bydžov has thousands of exhibits; its collection spans from the prewar period to the 1980s. The municipal museum was founded in 1888 and occupies two floors of the Art Nouveau savings bank building on Masaryk Square. Its historical exhibition includes earthenware, porcelain, glass, jewelry, and other art objects. It also features Baroque paintings by Petr Brandl, including “The Crucified” and “Our Lady of Sorrows” from 1733. The two museums focus on different kinds of collections: toys from a broad span of time in one, and historical objects and Baroque paintings in the other.

The Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in 1520 in the southern part of Nový Bydžov, behind the city walls, and is dated to the years 1520–1885. It covers more than half a hectare and contains over 1,480 tombstones. The founding year and date range place the cemetery in its historical context; the area and number of tombstones convey its scale. Historical dates thus sit alongside specific details about its size at this site.

Buildings and their historical dates

The Gothic Church of St. Lawrence dates from the early 14th century. The Neo-Gothic town hall was built between 1862 and 1865. The municipal Jirásek Theatre is associated with the year 1887 and opened after its completion in 2003. The dates given for these buildings refer to different points in time: the church is dated to the early 14th century, the town hall’s construction period is specified, and the theater is associated with 1887 as well as its later opening date. This distinction helps avoid treating the theater’s construction history and opening as the same event.

Merenda and local beer history

Merenda is a local tradition in Nový Bydžov; its earliest written records date back to 1750. In 2024, the tradition was described as still thriving. A microbrewery was established in 2022 and resumed beer production after 50 years. A long-standing tradition thus meets a more recent chapter in local beer production. If you are considering a visit to the brewery or making a purchase, check in advance what options are currently available.

Visitor information

The Tourist Information Center is located on the first floor of Villa Balounka on Husova třída and provides travel information for the region. A downloadable overview of attractions along the blue and red routes is available for planning tourist walks. You can take this information into account when planning your time in Nový Bydžov, while the museums, cemetery, and buildings each offer their own historical focus.

Discover more destinations: Vrchovnice, Mokrovousy, Libčany, Roudnice, Šaplava, Králíky U Nového Bydžova, Hořiněves, Smiřice.

Back to the regional travel overview: Hradec Králové District.