Hradec Králové

The first written mention dates back to 1225, and since then the city has fundamentally changed its appearance several times. It was a dowry town, a bastion of the Hussite resistance and the seat of the Counter-Reformation or a military fortress. At the beginning of the 20th century, the architects Jan Kotěra and Josef Gočár significantly contributed to its design, thanks to which Hradec Králové was nicknamed the "Salon of the Republic" due to the originality and diversity of Art Nouveau and functionalist architecture.

The city mixes Gothic with Renaissance buildings, Baroque with modern architecture and we can find almost all representatives of artistic styles.

Sights and interesting places

The highest landmark of Hradec Králové is the White Tower, 72 meters high and equipped with a gallery, from which there is an impressive view of the entire city and its surroundings. The third largest and heaviest bell in the Czech Republic is located in the tower.

An interesting building is the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, designed by Jan Kotěra, and which is now a national cultural monument. There is also the Elbe Power Plant in Hradec Králové, a unique Art Nouveau building designed by František Sandera. It is a technical monument, which is still functional and used.

In Hradec Králové, there is also the Giant Aquarium, the largest freshwater aquarium with an underwater tunnel and the possibility of direct contact with tropical animals. At the southern edge of the city, in one of the most beautiful places in the city, we also find the Observatory and Planetarium.

Of the church buildings in Hradec Králové, perhaps the most famous is the church of St. Ducha.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová