Náchod is a pleasant town in northeastern Bohemia right on the Polish border. The surroundings are beautiful — rolling hills, forests, and a frontier feel. It's not a major destination but makes a good base for exploring the region, particularly for those interested in Czech inter-war military history.
Above the town stands Náchod Castle, a well-preserved Renaissance château that dominates the skyline. Masaryk Square below is picturesque and unhurried, lined with arcaded burgher houses.
The area around Náchod contains some of the most significant Czech border fortifications from the 1930s. The Březinka infantry blockhouse, built as part of Czechoslovakia's defensive line against potential German attack, has been enthusiastically restored by volunteers and opens daily in summer. The larger Dobrošov Fortress is a few kilometres south, with extensive underground galleries to tour. Several monuments mark the Battle of Náchod of 1866 on the ridge east of town.
Across the border in Poland, about 10 km away, is the spa town of Kudowa-Zdrój, worth a short excursion for its mineral springs, its park colonnades, and the unsettling Skull Chapel in the suburb of Czermna.