Visitors choosing Hrádek for culture and walks will find several different points of interest: the history of the settlement, the Church of St. George, the visible rampart on the site of the former fortress, and part of the chateau park of Hrádek u Nechanic. There are also route descriptions with different destinations. For planning purposes, it is useful to distinguish between the names: Hrádek u Nechanic Chateau is located in Lubno u Nechanic.
Traces of the settlement’s history
The settlement of Hrádek was first mentioned in a document in 1377 in connection with the nobleman Bořek of Hrádek. A circular rampart is visibly preserved on the site of the former Hrádek fortress, on plot No. 15. Together, these details point to different historical landmarks: an early written reference to the settlement and a visible remnant on the former fortress site.
The Church of St. George also tells the story of several building phases. A wooden parish church is documented there from 1384. It was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War and rebuilt in stone in 1692. The present church is single-nave and Early Baroque. It is listed as an immovable cultural monument in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic under registration number 29516/6-620.
The chateau park of Hrádek u Nechanic
The chateau park of Hrádek u Nechanic was established in 1844 and today covers about 18 hectares. Part of the park lies in Hrádek. The area figure describes the size of the park, while the reference to Hrádek indicates one part of its location. This makes it possible to distinguish the park’s name from the municipality without treating them as the same place.
The chateau park can normally be visited without a guide. Special events and guided tours may be exceptions. If you want to plan your visit around a guided tour or event, check the visiting arrangements in advance. This takes into account both the usual option of walking around without a guide and the exceptions mentioned.
Routes with different destinations
The walk to the Jehlický vrch viewpoint follows a red-marked hiking trail through the forest to a shelter with a view. Visitors choosing this route as their main activity can follow this specific combination of a woodland trail, viewpoint and shelter.
For cyclists, cycle route 144 connects the municipality of Hrádek with Hrádek u Nechanic Chateau. Another route description leads through a gate to the chateau’s side gate; from there, you can continue into the chateau park. The destinations mentioned are different: the walk focuses on the viewpoint, while cycle route 144 connects the municipality with the chateau. The route to the side gate offers the option of continuing from there into the park.
The chateau’s history and choosing the right location
Hrádek u Nechanic Chateau in Lubno u Nechanic was built between 1839 and 1857 by František Arnošt, Count Harrach, as a representative summer residence for the Harrach comital family. Its history is a different historical focus from the documented mention of the settlement and the church’s building history. The location helps distinguish the chateau from the attractions in Hrádek.
Discover more destinations: Měník, Chlumec Nad Cidlinou, Mžany, Písek, Boharyně, Stěžery, Třebechovice Pod Orebem, Jílovice.
For the overview of the wider area: Hradec Králové District.
