Hrádek: History and Castle Park

Hrádek brings together local history, the Church of St. George, and the castle park of Hrádek u Nechanic, part of which lies in Hrádek, with a range of opportunities to explore on foot and by bike. These highlights can be clearly distinguished when choosing a theme for your stay: settlement history and the church, a historic park, or routes to a viewpoint or the castle. This can help you decide which of Hrádek’s different facets you would like to shape your stay.

Local History, Fortress, and Church

The settlement of Hrádek was first mentioned in a document in 1377 in connection with the nobleman Bořek of Hrádek. A visible circular rampart remains on the site of the former Hrádek fortress, on plot No. 15. These two details point to different aspects of local history: the early written record and a visible remnant of the former fortress grounds.

The Church of St. George also has several clearly distinct historical periods. It is documented as a wooden parish church from 1384, was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, and was rebuilt as a stone church in 1692. The single-nave early Baroque church is listed as an immovable cultural monument in the Central Register of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic under registration number 29516/6-620. The dates refer to different stages: 1384 to the wooden parish church and 1692 to the stone replacement building.

The Castle Park of Hrádek u Nechanic

The castle park of Hrádek u Nechanic was established in 1844 and today covers about 18 hectares. Part of the park lies in Hrádek; the area given refers to the entire grounds. The portion within the village and the size of the park are therefore two different spatial details.

The park can normally be visited without a guide. Special events and guided tours may be exceptions. If your visit coincides with such an event or tour, check the visiting arrangements. The park’s origins and its current approximate size also provide two distinct points of reference for the grounds.

Routes on Foot and by Bike

The walk to the Jehlický vrch viewpoint follows a red hiking trail through the forest to a shelter with a view. The route described thus connects a forest section with a clearly named destination. A route to the castle passes through a gate to its side gate; from there, you can continue into the castle park. This description therefore identifies access to the park as a continuation from the side gate.

For cyclists, cycle route 144 connects the municipality of Hrádek with Hrádek u Nechanic Castle. The routes mentioned differ in their destinations: the walk leads to the viewpoint, the route at the side gate offers the option to continue into the park, and the cycle route connects the municipality with the castle. Depending on whether you want to focus on the viewpoint, park, or castle, a different theme may be the right choice for your stay.

The History of the Castle in Lubno u Nechanic

Hrádek u Nechanic Castle in Lubno u Nechanic was built between 1839 and 1857 by František Arnošt, Count of Harrach, as a representative summer residence for the Harrach count’s family. Its 19th-century construction and its role as a summer residence provide a different historical focus from the earlier settlement history and the construction phases of the Church of St. George. Hrádek and the castle thus highlight different chapters of regional history, without describing the same period or function.

Discover more destinations: Běleč Nad Orlicí, Lubno, Vysoký Újezd, Předměřice Nad Labem, Kosičky, Nové Město Nad Cidlinou, Třesovice, Kunčice.

View the wider travel overview: Okres Hradec Králové.