Hradec Kralove












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            Hradec Kralove is the oldest town in Bohemia, the historical and cultural centre of East B

            100,000 inhabitants. Hradec Kralove is about 100 km from the capital of Czech Republic Pra
            easily accessible by bus, car or rail.



            The first signs of settlement by farmers here date from the 3rd century B.C. In the 10th c
            settlement called Hradec (Castle) became a busy one. In 1225 Hradec became a free royal to

            century it became a dowry town of Czech queens, and later the word Kralove (of Queens) was
            name.


            The centre of the old town a historical monument reservation is formed by the triangular s
            náměstí. Standing in its centre is a 19-m high plague column. The square is dominated by t

            Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Ghost from 14th century, adapted in Neo-Gothic style in the 1
            its neighbourhood stands the sandstone White Tower from the 16th century with the second b
            Bohemia (weight 10 tons). The old Renaissance Town Hall has two late Baroque towers. On th

            of the square is the large bishop s residence from 18th century, built with the participat
            Santini.


            Nowadays, the town is a centre of the engineering industry (production of plants for sugar
            distilleries and of oil engines), but also food industry, works producing Petrof pianos an
            branches. Hradec Kralove is a town of culture and education. It is the home of two faculti

            Charles University in Prague (the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Pharmacy), and the U
            Kralove (with the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Management and Informatics), an
            Medical Academy.