Hradec Králové combines city history, architecture and its location at the confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers. Its cultural offerings span from prehistoric times to 20th-century art, while striking buildings offer further ways to explore the city. South of the city, the Biřička pond is also a destination for walks, cycling and swimming in summer. Different interests can therefore guide your choice of where to stay: historical developments, architecture or activities by the water.
City history across different eras
The permanent exhibition “Cesty města” traces the history of Hradec Králové from prehistoric times to the First Republic, using multimedia interactive elements. One section presents the city as one of the oldest towns to be granted legal recognition and explains its urban development from the 13th to the 16th century. Another section focuses on residents’ lives during the period when the city was a bastioned military fortress, extending through to the 1866 war. This brings together the long sweep of history, specific stages in the city’s development and the living conditions of its residents.
Art and architecture in Hradec Králové
The permanent exhibition “České umění 20. století a jeho škatulky” at the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové examines the categories used to organise 20th-century Czech art. Its focus differs from that of the city history exhibition: here, the subject is the ways art is categorised. The nickname “Salon of the Republic” refers to the original and diverse buildings by architects Josef Gočár and Jan Kotěra. The Gočár Staircase was built in 1909–1910 and is an important work of modern architecture in Hradec Králové.
Views and interactive exhibitions
The Renaissance White Tower is 72 metres high. From the gallery, it offers views of Hradec Králové and the distant peaks of the Krkonoše and Orlické Mountains. The White Tower also offers an interactive tour with modern audiovisual elements. Its height and views on the one hand, and the tour on the other, provide two different ways to experience the building.
Another interactive exhibition format is housed in the digital planetarium building: “Mikrosvět – makrosvět”. Interactive exhibitions thus complement the cultural themes of Hradec Králové, alongside city history and art.
The Elbe, the Orlice and Biřička pond
The confluence of the Elbe and Orlice rivers shapes the landscape around Hradec Králové. Biřička pond lies south of the city in the Nový Hradec area. It is used for walking and cycling, as well as swimming in summer. The pond can be reached from the centre of Hradec Králové by public transport on lines 1 or 2; check the route information before travelling. Alongside exhibitions and buildings, this offers a different kind of focus: activities by the water, with swimming in summer as an additional option.
Discover more destinations: Těchlovice, Osičky, Starý Bydžov, Předměřice Nad Labem, Hlušice, Jílovice, Nový Bydžov, Hvozdnice.
See the overview of the wider travel area: Hradec Králové District.
