Nové Město pod Smrkem

Nové Město pod Smrkem (Neustadt an der Tafelfichte) is a town in Liberec District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,800 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages Hajniště and Ludvíkov pod Smrkem are administrative parts of Nové Město pod Smrkem.

Etymology
The name literally means "New Town under Smrk".

Geography
Nové Město pod Smrkem is located about 20 km northeast of Liberec, on the border with Poland. The northern part of the municipal territory lies in the Frýdlant Hills, the southern part extends into the Jizera Mountains. The highest point is a contour line below the top of Smrk at 1115 m above sea level. The built-up area is situated in the valley of the Lomnice Stream.

History
Nové Město pod Smrkem was founded in 1584 by Melchior of Redern and called Nové České Město (Böhmisch Neustatt, literally "New Bohemian Town"). There were discovered iron ore and tin veins. In 1592 it received town privileges. From 1901, the town has its current name. Since 1945, only the Czech name is used.

In 1938, the town was annexed by Nazi Germany and administered as a part of the Reichsgau Sudetenland. After World War II, the German-speaking population was expelled.

Transport
Nové Město pod Smrkem is the final station of a railway line from Liberec.

Sights
The Church of Saint Catherine was founded in 1607 and the tower was added in 1697. The nave was rebuilt to its present form in 1821–1829.

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is located in Ludvíkov pod Smrkem. It dates from the second half of the 13th century and belongs to the best-preserved building in the region from this period. Modifications were made in the 16th and 18th centuries.

Notable people

 * Vincenz Hasak (1812–1889), German Catholic historian
 * Alfred Baeumler (1887–1968), German philosopher

Twin towns – sister cities
Nové Město pod Smrkem is twinned with:
 * 🇵🇱 Leśna, Poland
 * 🇵🇱 Mirsk, Poland
 * 🇵🇱 Świeradów-Zdrój, Poland