The historic town centre with the castle complex is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.

It lies in the Central Bohemian Uplands and within the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area.

During the Hussite Wars, the town was conquered by the Orebite army of Jan Roháč of Dubá.

During the rule of Fridrich Trčka of Lípa in the first half of the 16th century, the town experienced its greatest development.

It contains two castles (called Dolní and Horní – "Upper" and "Lower"), Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother of God, and three houses.