Mikroregion |
KraloviceThe town which lies 35km north of Pilsen, close to primary state highway 27, is the traditional administrative and cultural centre for the north-eastern part of the Pilsen District. With a population of 3,500 inhabitants, Kralovice is the administrative centre for 44 villages and towns with 22,000 inhabitants. There are many shops, hotels, guest houses, a camping site, restaurants and pubs in the town. In addition there are also a variety of sports and cultural opportunities too. Kralovice is a starting off point for discovering interesting sights of historical interest in the northern Pilsen District. These sights include the former Mariánská Týnice Monastery – at present the museum and gallery of the northern Pilsen District, Manětín Castle, the town of Rabštejn, the Plasy Monastery, Kaceřov Castle, the Střela River valley and the Berounka River with the ruins of the Krašov and Libštejn Castles. Kralovice is fi rst mentioned in 1183 as a village with a fort. In 1400, Kralovice was chartered by emphyteusis and received more business and legal privileges managed under the old municipal legislation. The arrival in the 16th century of the Gryspek family from Gryspach brought a boom to Kralovice. In 1547, at the request of the Gryspek family, King Ferdinand I promoted Kralovice to a town. A municipal government was established in the town at the end of the 18th century. Between 1850 and 1949 it was the seat of the state administration for the judicial and political district of Kralovice. The town grew quickly throughout the 19th century and had 355 houses and 2,000 inhabitants. Even greater prosperity came during the 1st Republic and after World War II. |