Smiřice

Smiřice (Smirschitz) is a town in Hradec Králové District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,100 inhabitants.

Administrative parts
The villages of Rodov and Trotina are administrative parts of Smiřice.

Geography
Smiřice is located about 9 km north of Hradec Králové. It lies in an agricultural landscape of the East Elbe Table. The highest point is the flat hill Lískovec at 296 m above sea level. The town is situated on the right bank of the Elbe River.

History
The first written mention of Smiřice is from 1361. It was originally a settlement between two branches of the Elbe with a fortress, which was later rebuilt to a castle. Smiřice was the centre of a large estate owned by various noble families, most notably by the Smiřickýs of Smiřice (until 1476), the Trčkas of Lípa (1498–1636) and the Sternbergs (1685–1780). In 1659, the village was promoted to a town.

Transport
The D11 motorway runs next to the town.

Smiřice is located on the railway line heading from Pardubice and Hradec Králové to Jaroměř.

Sights
The main landmark of the town is the Smiřice Castle. The fortress, which formerly stood on the site of the castle, was most likely rebuilt in the first third of the 17th century. Artistic modifications were made around 1700 by the Sternbergs. Today the castle is privately owned and is gradually reconstructed.

A notable monument is the castle chapel of the Epiphany. This large Baroque chapel was probably built according to design by Christoph Dientzenhofer between 1699 and 1711.

Twin towns – sister cities
Smiřice is twinned with:
 * 🇵🇱 Boguszów-Gorce, Poland