Červený Kostelec, Náchod District, Hradec Králové District, Czech Republic

🇨🇿 Červený Kostelec (Rothkosteletz) is a town in Náchod District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic.

Administrative parts The villages of Bohdašín, Horní Kostelec, Lhota za Červeným Kostelcem, Mstětín, Olešnice and Stolín are administrative parts of Červený Kostelec.

Etymology The word kostelec is derived from kostel (i.e. "church") and meant "fortified church". To distinguish it from other municipalities with the same name, the adjective červený (i.e. "red") was added in 1876, which referred to the red Permian formation that was uncovered here, and to the coloring of the local stream, which occurred during floods.

Geography Červený Kostelec is located about 8 km (5 mi) north-west of Náchod and 34 km (21 mi) north-east of Hradec Králové. It lies on the border between the Giant Mountains Foothills and Orlické Foothills. The highest point is the hill Končinský kopec at 530 m (1,740 ft) above sea level.

History The first written mention of Kostelec is from 1362. In 1876, it was promoted to a town and changed its name to Červený Kostelec.

Transport Červený Kostelec lies on the interregional railway line Prague–Trutnov and on the line from Hradec Králové to Svoboda nad Úpou.

Culture Since 1952, the town hosts the Červený Kostelec International Folklore Festival.

Sights The most notable building is the Church of Saint James the Great. It was originally a Gothic building from the 14th century, destroyed by fire in 1591. It was renewed in 1668 and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1744–1754 based on plans of architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.