Hrádek (Rokycany District)
Town in Plzeň, Czech Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hrádek (German: Hradek) is a town in Rokycany District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,800 inhabitants. It is an industrial centre.
Hrádek | |
|---|---|
Former houses of ironworks workers | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Hrádek Location in the Czech Republic | |
| Coordinates: 49°42′47″N 13°39′17″E | |
| Country |  Czech Republic |
| Region | Plzeň |
| District | Rokycany |
| First mentioned | 1325 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Marcela Sobotková |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.05 km2 (2.34 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 440 m (1,440 ft) |
| Population (2025-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 2,754 |
| • Density | 455/km2 (1,180/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 338 42 |
| Website | www |
Administrative division
Hrádek consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):[2]
- Hrádek (767)
- Nová Huť (1,955)
Etymology
The Czech word hrádek (a diminutive from hrad) means 'small castle'.
Geography
Hrádek is located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) southeast of Rokycany and 18 km (11 mi) east of Plzeň. Most of the municipal territory lies in the Švihov Highlands. The northern forested part extends into the Brdy Highlands and includes the highest point of Hrádek, the hill Hrádecký vrch at 549 m (1,801 ft) 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 donated Hrádek to Peter I of Rosenberg. The village of Nová Huť (literally 'new smelter') gained its name in 1854.[3]
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.[3]
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.[3]
Demographics
Economy
Transport
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.[9]
Notable people
- Vladimír Jirásek (1933–2018), slalom canoeist
