Brief History of Hradec Kralove

Hradec Kralove is one of the oldest and most important cities in the history of Czech lands.

Apart from archeological surveys uncovering remainders of barbaric settlements, the Hradec Kralove starts to play more significant role during the in 10^th century. It was a trading post guarding the fords across the Labe river on the trade route between Prague and Krakow (Krakow was for some time part of the Czech kingdom).

It’s importance raised significantly in 14^th century, when it was established a capital city of so called “dowry cities”—part of nowadays Eastern Bohemia belonging to the queen mother and serving as her seat and the source of her wealth.

City kept it’s importance through the centuries, although heavy damaged by the great fire in 18^th century and battered during two wars between Austria and Prussia for the part of Silesia and dominance in middle Europe. The second of these wars was finally lost for Austria in a great battle of Sadova, small village near Hradec Kralove. After a whole day of fighting Prussia lost around 9000 thousand men, but managed to turn around whole Austrian Northern army which retreated with the coming sunset, leaving almost 45.000 as casualties and practically losing the war. Except of “battle of nations” near Leipzig, battle of Sadova is the greatest battle of the 19^th century. You can find monuments of all kinds almost everywhere around Hradec Kralove commemorating victims of those shambles.

During “la belle epoque” and the era between two world wars (“first republic”) it was one of the most expanding settlements, both in size and in beauty. Famous architects like J. Gocar, J. Kotera or O. Liska left here some of their best works. Because of those masterminds trying to trump each other here, relatively small provincial town started its architectonic boom.

During the era of communism, monotone gray condominiums and industry zones started to spread around the city, but luckily the atmosphere of the historic quarters has not suffered major damages.

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