Machov

Machov (German: Machau) is a market town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,000 inhabitants.

Machov
Market town
General view of Machov
Flag Coat of arms
Machov Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°29′57″N 16°16′37″E
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Hradec Králové
District	Náchod
First mentioned	1354
Area
• Total	19.39 km2 (7.49 sq mi)
Elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population  (2025-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,049
• Density	54/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes	549 31, 549 63
Website	www.machov-obec.cz

Administrative division

Machov consists of four municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):^[2]

• Machov (492)
• Bělý (123)
• Machovská Lhota (109)
• Nízká Srbská (318)

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Mach, meaning "Mach's (court)". Mach used to be used as an abbreviation of the name Matěj.^[3]

Geography

Town square in Machov

Machov is located about 12 kilometres (7 mi) northeast of Náchod and 29 km (18 mi) south of the Polish city of Wałbrzych, on the border with Poland. It lies in the Broumov Highlands. Machov, Machovská Lhota and Nízká Srbská lie in the valley of the Židovka Brook. Bělý lies on the Třeslice Brook, which flows into the Židovka in Nízká Srbská.

Machov entirely lies in the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area. Near Machov, there are important resources of drinking water thanks to a geological substratum that filters rain water.^[4]

History

The first written mention of Machov is from 1354. It was probably founded during the colonization of this region in the 13th century. In 1465, it is first referred to as a market town. In 1545, it became a part of the large Náchod estate. The most significant owner of Machov was Ottavio Piccolomini, during whose cruel rule began the discontent of the population leading to a peasant uprising in 1775.^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1869 2,480 —     1880 2,510 +1.2% 1890 2,441 −2.7% 1900 2,255 −7.6% 1910 2,113 −6.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1921 1,890 −10.6% 1930 1,884 −0.3% 1950 1,489 −21.0% 1961 1,358 −8.8% 1970 1,238 −8.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1980 1,186 −4.2% 1991 1,147 −3.3% 2001 1,112 −3.1% 2011 1,074 −3.4% 2021 1,042 −3.0%
Source: Censuses[6][7]

Transport

On the Czech-Polish border is the road border crossing Machovská Lhota / Ostra Góra. There are no railways or major roads passing through the municipal territory.

Sights

Church of Saint Wenceslaus

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus was originally a wooden church from the 14th century with a separate bell tower from 1586. This church fell into disrepair and was replaced by the current Baroque building in 1675. On the square there is a Baroque Marian column from 1761.^[5]

A protected small-leaved lime tree with estimated age of 500 years grows near the house No. 26.^[4]

In Nízká Srbská is a preserved smithy from 1799. In Machovská Lhota is a former evangelical rectory from 1813.^[4]

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic

Machov is twinned with:^[8]

• Radków, Poland