Hradec Králové: Discover the City’s History, Architecture and Nature

City History at the Confluence

Hradec Králové combines urban history with an appealing landscape at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers. The development of Hradec Králové is presented particularly vividly in the permanent exhibition “Cesty města”. It takes visitors from prehistory to the First Republic, using multimedia interactive elements. One section presents Hradec Králové as one of the oldest legally recognized cities and explains its urban development from the 13th to the 16th century.

Later eras also have their own distinct character: Another section of “Cesty města” explores the lives of residents during the period when the city was a bastioned military fortress, up to the war of 1866. For a trip with children or people with different interests, the exhibition therefore offers several ways to engage with history without limiting it to a single theme. The digital planetarium building also houses the interactive exhibition “Mikrosvět – makrosvět”. The exhibition in the digital planetarium focuses on a distinct aspect of the cultural offering and expands the selection of interactive visits.

Art and Modern Architecture

The permanent exhibition “České umění 20. století a jeho škatulky” at the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové examines the categories used to classify 20th-century Czech art. Architecture offers another way to explore the city’s history. The original and diverse buildings designed by architects Josef Gočár and Jan Kotěra earned Hradec Králové the nickname “Salon of the Republic”.

A prominent landmark is the Renaissance Bílá věž. The 72-metre-high tower offers views from its gallery over Hradec Králové and towards the distant peaks of the Krkonoše and Orlické Mountains. Bílá věž also offers an interactive tour with modern audiovisual elements. The Gočár Staircase was built in 1909–1910 and is a significant work of modern architecture in Hradec Králové. When exploring the cityscape, you can therefore choose between visiting a single tower and taking in several distinctive buildings. This places a specific viewpoint and the city’s architectural diversity side by side from different perspectives.

Pond and Forests South of the City

If you would like to include walks, cycling or summer swimming alongside cultural activities, Biřička Pond is one of the distinct natural attractions around Hradec Králové. It lies south of the city in the Nový Hradec area and is used for walking, cycling and summer swimming. The pond and surrounding forests can be reached from the centre of Hradec Králové by public transport on routes 1 or 2. When planning your trip, this allows you to distinguish between urban exhibitions and time spent in wooded surroundings. This creates a clear change of setting in your daily itinerary: in Hradec Králové, exhibitions and historic architecture come together, while south of the city, the pond and forests provide the setting for outdoor activities or summer swimming.

More Places for Your Research

Other places that you can include in your research within the same selection are Petrovice U Nového Bydzova, Skalice, Kunčice, Prasek, Káranice, Sendražice and Mokrovousy.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hradec Králové District.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Hradec Králové - Czechia Network.