Hradec Králové Region - Královéhradecký kraj
Hradec Králové is the administrative centre of Hradec Králové Region (www.kr-kralovehradecky.cz). The Region consists of 5 districts - Hradec Králové, Jičín, Náchod, Rychnov nad Kněžnou and Trutnov. A typical feature of this territorial unit is a large quantity of medium-sized and smaller settlements; the settlement structure is rather uneven and scattered.
Hradec Králové Region occupies the territory of northeast Bohemia. In its mountainous northern and eastern part, there are Krkonoše (the Giant Mountains), Broumov highlands and Orlické mountains; towards the southwest, the landscape gradually falls into the Elbe Lowlands. Krkonoše are our most visited mountains. Thanks to the volume of precipitations and temperature ranges, the lower parts of the region have favourable conditions for agricultural production. The main water-management axis consists of the Elbe with its lef-bank tributaries the Úpa, Metuje and Orlice. The southern regional border passes through the Hradec - Pardubice agglomeration.
Raw material deposits are not rich. The deposits of good-quality glass sands in Jičín area and the extraction of gravel sands along the Elbe are the most important. The prevailing economic sector is industry with textile industry as a traditional branch. The most frequent is cotton industry in Dvůr Králové nad Labem and Trutnov. Hradec Králové has become the centre of engineering. Important branches also include rubber processing (Náchod) and foodstuff industry.
Soil and climatic conditions of the lower parts of the region are favourable for the cultivation of sugar beet and wheat. In the higher areas, less demanding crops (oats, barley and fodder) are grown. In Jičín area, fruit growing is of importance.
The Krkonoše National Park is our most frequently visited mountain area in the summer and winter seasons. Sandstone "rock towns" in Prachovské, Adršpašské and Teplické skály are among further national attractions of the region. There are also numerous historical monuments with the highest protection status. The region avails of balneological centres ranking among important Czech spas - Janské Lázně, Lázně Bělohrad, Velichovky.
In the area of Hradec Králové region, the Krkonoše national park has been established. In 1992, it was included in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) global biosphere reserve network as a cross-border biosphere reserve Krkonoše/Karkonosze, including Krkonoše national park with its buffer zone on the Czech side and Karkonoski Park Narodowy on the Polish side of the mountains. Hradec Králové Region also includes two protected landscape areas: Broumov and Orlické hory areas.
With a view to tourism, Hradec Králové Region includes the following tourist marketing regions: Český ráj, Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) and East Bohemia.
Municipalities in Trutnov, Náchod and Rychnov nad Kněžnou districts are associated in Euroregion Glacensis and participate in cross-border cooperation. Regional activities should be promoted in the future by the construction of a motorway network and its connection to Czech-Polish border crossings.
