Novy Bydzov : Czech Republic

Novy Bydzov is a town in the Czech Republic, in Hradec Kralove Region. It is situated near Hradec Kralove and Chlumec nad Cidlinou on the river Cidlina.

History
The town was the property of the Vartemberg family as early as in the year 1325, in 1516 it passed into the hands of the Pernstein family and since 1548 it was in the holding of the Wallensteins. In 1569 Novy Bydzov was exempt by payment from servitude and became the royal dowry town. During the years 1751-1784 it was the royal seat of the newly created Novy Bydzov region which indcluded the Krkonose Mountains from Vrchlabi through Jilemnice, Nova Paka, Jicin, Horice, Novy Bydzov, Chlumec nad Cidlinou and Podebrady as far as Sadska. In 1784 the seat of the region was transferred to Jicin due to its position, but the name of the region remained the same until 1850..
Novy Bydzov was then from 1850 until 1960 the district center. After districts had been abolished it did not cease to be the natural center of the region.

Historical an cultural monuments
Gothic church of St. Lawrence (early 14th century)
old Jewish cemetery (founded in 1520), the third largest in this country
Marian plague column at Masaryk Square (completed in 1716)
Baroque church of St. James at Metlicany (1768-1775)
neo-Gothic Town Hall designed by J. Mica (1862-1865).
Municipal museum in the building of the Savings bank - a variety of exhibits (prehistory of the Novy Bydzov region, guilds, arts and crafts, the Bydzov Ark and paintings by Petr Brandl, folklore, prof. Nevyjel memorial hall and the sculptures of the naive artist Vaclav Kudera-Krapik).
Famous people
Marek Bydzovsky of Florentinum (1540-1612) - rector of Prague University, mathematician, astronomer and historian
Alois Gallat (1827-1901) - author of humouristic books and a journalist
Josef Nemec (1805-1879) - husband of the writer Bozena Nemcova
Josef Eduard Proche ( 1822-1908) - outstanding horticulturist
Karel B. Madl (1859 - 1932) - art historian and critic
Jan Malat (1843-1915) - music composer and a techer - born in Stary Bydzov, not far from Bydzov itself