Hrádek () is a town in
Rokycany District
Rokycany District () is a district in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Rokycany.
Administrative division
Rokycany District is formed by only one administrative district of municipality with extended competence: ...
in the
Plzeň Region
Plzeň Region or Plzeňský Region (also known as Pilsen Region; ) is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the western part of the historical land of Bohemia and named after the capital, Plz ...
of the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. It is an industrial centre.
Administrative division
Hrádek consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
*Hrádek (767)
*Nová Huť (1,955)
Etymology
The Czech word ''hrádek'' (a diminutive from ''hrad'') means 'small castle'.
Geography
Hrádek is located about southeast of
Rokycany
Rokycany (; ) is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 14,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones, urban monument zone.
Admini ...
and east of
Plzeň
Plzeň (), also known in English and German as Pilsen (), is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 188,000 inhabitants. It is located about west of P ...
. Most of the municipal territory lies in the
Å vihov Highlands Å vihov may refer to places in the Czech Republic:
*Švihov (Klatovy District), a town in the Plzeň Region
**Å vihov Castle in the town
*Å vihov (RakovnÃk District), a municipality and village in the Central Bohemian Region
*Å vihov, a village an ...
. The northern forested part extends into the
Brdy Highlands and includes the highest point of Hrádek, the hill Hrádecký vrch at above sea level.
Hrádek is situated in the valley of the
Klabava River. It lies in a plateau on the left bank of the river. Hrádek together with Rokycany and
Kamenný Újezd forms a contiguous built-up area along the Klabava River.
History
The first written mention of Hrádek is from 1325, when King
John of Bohemia
John of Bohemia, also called the Blind or of Luxembourg (; ; ; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of Poland. He is well known for having died while fighting ...
donated Hrádek to
Peter I of Rosenberg
Peter I of Rosenberg (; died 14 October 1347) was lord chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia, who acted as regent during John of Bohemia's absences at war between 1339 and 1346. He was a patron of Vyššà Brod Monastery and is thought to have com ...
. The village of Nová Huť (literally 'new smelter') gained its name in 1854.
Since Middle Ages the Klabava valley region specialized in iron ore mining and iron production. This industrial aspect was further strengthened in the 20th century when both communities (Hrádek and Nová Huť) formed functionally one settlement with their economy centered around the Hrádecké železárny ironworks. Later both villages merged into one municipality.
[
After World War II, local steelworks have expanded filling most of the area along the Klabava River. These investments were accompanied by massive residential construction that completely transformed Hrádek. New housing project grew in area between old Hrádek and Nová Huť villages covering the plateau south of the Klabava River. Rapid population growth followed and Hrádek acquired urban character. In 1970, Hrádek was promoted to a town.][
]
Demographics
Economy
After 1989, Hrádecké železárny ironworks went through transformation. In 1996, it became part of Z-Group Steel Holding company.
In 1998, Borgers company opened new factory in the town. It produces textile components for automotive industry.
Transport
Hrádek is located on the railway line of local importance leading from Rokycany to PÅ™Ãkosice
PÅ™Ãkosice is a municipality and village in Rokycany District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 400 inhabitants.
PÅ™Ãkosice lies approximately south-east of Rokycany, south-east of Plzeň, and south-west of Prague
...
.
Sights
Hrádek is poor in monuments. The only protected cultural monument is a rural wooden house from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Notable people
* VladimÃr Jirásek (1933–2018), slalom canoeist
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hradek (Rokycany District)
Cities and towns in the Czech Republic
Populated places in Rokycany District