North-East Bohemia is a region of rich history, full of beautiful natural sceneries and dramatic contrasts. The romantic, rugged sandstone rocks, eroded by both water and wind, are the mountaineers' paradise.
Thousand of mountaineering enthusiasts have climbed the
sanstone needles, touching the hard sand which, somewhat northwards, in small towns with a long-stading tradition of glass-making, is melted into the famous Bohemian glass. One of the other main attractions of this part of the Czech Republic is that it has not become a mass destination. The crowds are attracted either by the grandeur of Prague or the height of the Krkonose Mountains, Long, warm summers mean that the weather is fine from late spring through to early autumn. For the Krkonose, or for Prague, avoid July and August when both positively heave with tourists.
Father to the nort, behind the cone-shaped mount Jested with its looking tower, beyond the ridge of the Jizerske mountains, where Bohemia's territory juts out into Poland, and under the hill of Smrk, lies the Early Baroque Frydlant Chateau.
Hradec Kralove is situated in North-East Bohemia in Labe river basin, near the junction of Labe and Orlice rivers, about 220 to 280 meters above the sea level. Climate of Hradec Kralove corresponds to the mid-European climate, eg. The transient type of climate between the maritime and continental climate of mid-latitudes.
The understated trio of the Cesky raj, Orlicke hory and Broumov are a little different. Here, adventure is not in
climbing the highest mountain or walking the furthest distance, but discovering what's hidden behind the strangely shaped rocks or hearing legends of wicked noblemen and
ruined castles.
This region of industrial towns and protected landscape is something for everyone.
Hradec Kralove is the natural provincial capital of northeast Bohemia. It is not only an Historical Landmark Reservation, but also a center for the production of machinery, chemicals, pottery, food items, and musical instruments. Hradec Kralove is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most beautiful Bohemian cities. Today's development deliberately follows definite traditions. The effort is to make this interesting and cultivated city famous to both Europe and the rest of the world as a "showcase" of the Czech Republic.
Hradec Kralove, a former royal town and at present a district town, is situated in the Labe lowlands on the confluence of the Labe and the Orlice rivers. It is located at 50
o 11' north latitude and 15
o 52' east longitude, 226 metres above sea level [at the confluence]. Its whole area is 105 km
2 and at the end of 1995 it had 99,940 inhabitants, i.e. 951 inhabitants per 1 km
2. Hradec Kralove is nowadays the eighth largest city in the Czech Republic. The name [Hradec] itself meant a little castle, the attribute "Kralove" is a substantivized adjective "kralova" [Hradec Kralove was a dowry town of the Czech queens who used to stay there.] Also the name Hradec Kralove nad [upon] Labem was used.