Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

264 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp288–91 and pp292–5

P Big Square
The historic sights of the Old
Town (Staré Město) are clus-
tered around its former
market square (Velké
náměstí). One of the
most opulent build ings
here is the Old Town
Hall (radnice). This
Gothic edifice, erec-
ted before 1418,
was remodelled in
the late 16th century
in the Renaissance
style and the two clock
towers were added
in 1786. The hall
served as a prison
during the late 16th century.
On the southern side of the
square stands the Bishop’s
Palace, one of the town’s
finest Baroque buildings. It
was designed by Giovanni
Santini, a Bohemian architect
of Italian origin who also
created its magni ficent
entrance portal. Adjacent is
the small-scale Baroque Špulak
House (Dům U Špuláků). It
was remodelled in 1750 by
local architect F Kermer. The
20-m (66-ft) column in the
square was erected in 1717 in
thanks giving for sparing the
town from the plague of the
pre vious year. The monument
is probably by sculptor and

Located at the confluence of the Labe and Orlice rivers,
Hradec Králové is one of the most beautiful towns in
Bohemia. It first appeared in historical records in 1225
and later became an important Hussite and then Counter-
Reformation centre. In the 20th century, the town
acquired a new face when architects Jan Kotěra and
Josef Gočár built many Modernist structures outside the
medieval centre. The New Town (Nové Město) was
developed between 1920 and 1930 by the two architects.

Hradec Králové 4

architect GB Bullo. Adjoining

the square to the northeast is

the medieval Small Square

(Malé náméstí).

R Cathedral of the

Holy Ghost

Velké náměstí.

This Gothic cathedral

(Katedrála sv

Ducha), founded in

1307, is proof of the

town’s wealth. In

1424, the church was

the tem porary burial site

of Jan Žižka, leader

of the Hussite

move ment. Striking

features of its plain interior are

the late-Gothic, 15th-century

high altar, and in the south

aisle, the Baroque altarpiece

with a painting of St Anthony

by Petr Brandl. The pewter

baptismal font, dating from

1406, is one of the oldest

in Bohemia.

P White Tower

Franušova 1. Tel 495 513 966.

# Apr–Sep: 9am–noon, 1–5pm daily.

The 72-m (235-ft) tall

Renaissance belfry next to the

cathedral was erected in 1589.

The white stone used as the

building material gave the

structure its name White Tower

(Bílá věž), though the stone is

now grey. The replacement

clock fitted in 1829 can be

mislead ing – the small hand

points to the minutes and the

large one to the hours.

R Church of the Assumption

of the Virgin Mary

Velké náměstí.

This church (Kostel

Nanebevzetí Panny Marie)

was built for the Jesuit Order

by Carlo Lurago in the mid-

17th century. A century later,

the church burned down and

only the chapel of St Ignatius

Loyola, with its wall paintings

and a picture by Petr Brandl

of the glorification of the

saint, was spared. The present

façade, with its two towers,

dates from 1857. The former

Jesuit College, the long

building to the right of

the church, dates from

the late 17th century.

E Modern Art Gallery

Velké náměstí 139/140. Tel 495

514 893. # 9am–noon, 1–6pm

Tue–Sun. & http://www.galeriehk.cz

The striking five-storey Art

Nouveau building of the

Modern Art Gallery (Galerie

Interior of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Old Town Hall and White Tower in Big Square

Relief from the house

opposite the cathedral