Náchod and its surroundings, called „the land of magical beauty“ by its famous native, the writer Josef Škvorecký, is situated between the Krkonoše and the Orlické mountains by the border with Poland. The history of Náchod goes back to the 13th century, when a boundary castle was built on the rocky promontory above the river Metuje and in the valley below a town developed.

The Gothic castle was founded in the mid-13th century to provide fortified protection to the mountain pass from Bohemia to Klodzko. In the course of time the castle underwent a number of reconstructions and adaptations, mainly in the Renaissance and Baroque styles, that were completed as late as in the 18th century.

 
A number of significant noble families owned the castle - of Poděbrady, Pernštejn, Smiřice, the Trčkas, the Piccolominis, the Desforsas, the Kurons, the Schaumburgs. It was during the ownership of the house of Smiřice that the late Gothic castle was rebuilt in the style of Renaissance. The complex of buildings around five courtyards offers a view over the town from top of the towers or from the terraces. Besides the usual visiting tour, tourists can enjoy seeing the Gothic cellars, the chapel, the garden from the times of the Piccolominis, a landscaped park, and live bears in the castle moat. The Náchod of today has a population of almost 21 000 and its architecture has gone through numerous transformations from the Gothic, through Renaissance and Baroque styles and in the 20th century through neo-Renaissance, Art deco and Functionaism. The Art deco is represented by several interesting constructions. In the years 1912-1914 the architect Dr. Alois Čenský designed the local hotel U beránka and Dr. Josef Čížek the building of the Municipal Theatre housing the most beautiful community halls in the region.

In the direction of Česká Skalice you can visit the region of the writer Božena Němcová, the castle Ratibořice, the valley Babiččino údolí, and the water reservoir Rozkoš, and you can reach the Krkonoše mountains via Červený Kostelec. In the direction of Nové Město nad Metují, there is the castle of Nové Město and the valley of the river Metuje which can take you to a place called Peklo, where you can see a tourist lodge designed by D. Jurkovič, and further to the village Slavoňov and its unique wooden church. The route from Teplice nad Metují to Broumov will take you through Hronov with the native house of the writer Alois Jirásek and through Police nad Metují and the nearby hills Ostaš and Hvězda to arrive in the complex of sandstone formations Adršpašské and Teplické skály and to Broumovské stěny in the proximity of the town Broumov itself with its remarkable Benedictine Baroque monastery and the church of St. Adalbert.

Of the nine protected landscape areas of the surroundings of Náchod the largest and most significant one is that of Broumov, established in 1991. Its main aim is the protection and gradual rehabilitation of landscape, of the variety of species of the local fauna and flora, supervision of the exploitation of the reserves of excellent quality subterranean water beneath the Police chalk basin, of the natural resources, agricultural and forest land and the development of environment-friendly type of tourism.

The urban protected area Josefov became part of the town Jaroměř in 1948. The fortified town, founded by the Emperor Josef II, represented a model example of European fortification building. Also the stronghold Dobrošov within the system of fortifications from the years 1935-38 keeps attracting visitors. The reconstructed Jirásek lodge at Dobrošov, Hvězda in the Broumovské stěny and Žaltman in the Jestřebí mountains, all those are popular outlook spots that offer a panoramatic view of the countryside.

The surroundings of Náchod are connected with the life and work of many men and women of Czech literature - Božena Němcová, Alois Jirásek, Josef Čapek, Josef Škvorecký or Egon Hostovský. Among the traditional cultural events the best known are the festival of amateur theatre ensembles the Jirásek Hronov, the International Folklore Festival Červený Kostelec, the International Alpinists Film Festival in Teplice nad Metují and the Náchod Camerata Nova. Other popular events are the music festival of chamber orchestras the Smetana Days in Nové Město nad Metují, the encounter of amateur puppet theatres the Boučka Jaroměř, the festival of student work the Náchod Fine Season, the festival of film comedy the Nové Město Pot of Laughter and the amateur film festival the Vysokov Cock.