Hradec Králové - Czech Republic

About Hradec Králové :

In ancient times the elevation between two rivers, together with many tributaries and marshes, formed the natural barrier, protecting the inhabitants of this region. The first signs of the settling of farmers here in the later Stone Age date from the third century B.C. Many relics from later periods, particularly of the life of the people of the cinerary fielsds, are to be seen in to regional museum. In the 10th century the settlement, called Hradec, belonged to the Slavník family. When they were anihilated, it became the property of the Czech princes of the Poemysl family. In 1225 Hradec became a free royal town. It grew rapidly, new trades sprang up, and the size of its population and its importance soon made Hradec the wealthiest and largest Czech town after Prague. At the beginning of the 14th century it became the dower town of the Czech Queens and later the word Králové was added to its name. In the first half of the same century a new landmark arose in the town, the Gothic brick - built cathedral, a sign of royal favour. In 1337 John of Luxemburg conferred on Hradec all the privileges of a royal town. A famous chapter in the history of Hradec Králové was the Hussite period. In 1420 it became a Hussite town for a long period and a year later it welcomed the great millitary commander, Jan Žižka of Trocnov, at its gates. In the years 1574 - 1580 another outstanding monument arose, the Renaissance White Tower with the second largest bell in Bohemia, Augustin. The town burned down three times during the 15th and 16th centuries. In the first third of the 19th century Hradec Králove became the centre of patriotic activity among the Czechs in the nort-east of Bohemia and, for a time, the most important centre of Czech writing. At the turn of the century the town rid itself of its fortifications and a building plan was worked out which was entrusted right from the begining to famous architects. Architect Profesor Jan Kotira built the Municipal Museum in 1909 -12 according to the new urban conception. Every May, an Air Ambulance Show is held for both the general public and Air Ambulance personnel. Every June the Theatre of European regions, an international theatre festival, takes place. Since 2004, Hip Hop Kemp, one of the biggest European hip hop festivals, has been held every year in August. "Jazz goes to town", an international jazz festival, is held in Hradec Králové every October. The city's museum currently holds one of the oldest surviving collections of Czech Renaissance polyphony, the Codex Speciálník manuscript.

MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.hradeckralove.org/